India, May 30 -- Widely seen as relics of an era gone by, animal herders come to public attention mostly when their herds disrupt vehicular traffic. However, according to a recent University of Oxford Policy Report, they provide nearly Rs 6,000 crore worth of services annually in Jammu & Kashmir alone. These ecosystem services are key to preventing natural disasters like forest fires and floods; and supporting irrigation, hydropower, and urban water supply in the Himalayan Union Territory.

The report is based on J&K's 'transhumant' pastoralists - semi-nomadic animal herders who move with their animals during summers from villages in the plains or foothills (the districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua) to high pastures in the upper reaches (...