Die Beiträge dieses Sammelbandes sind aus einem interdisziplinären Workshop hervorgegangen, zu dem sich im April 1995 die Projektteilnehmer zweier Hochgebirgs- Schwerpunktprogramme der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft getroffen haben. Nordpakistan und Nepal standen dabei im Zentrum. Das für alle Teilnehmer leitende Thema war die Dynamik der Beziehungen zwischen Hoch- und Tiefländern in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart und ihre Auswirkungen in den Bergregionen auf Handel, Bevölkerungsstruktur, Politik, ethnische und religiöse Identitätsprozesse sowie Umweltnutzung und -übernutzung. Zusätzlich werden entwicklungspolitische Aspekte und Maßnahmen diskutiert, mit denen nachhaltige Entwicklung in den Himalaya- Regionen von Pakistan, Indien und Nepal gesichert werden soll. CONTENTS Dynamics of Highland-Lowland Interaction – Past and Present Irmtraud Stellrecht: Dynamics of Highland-Lowland Interaction in Northern Pakistan since the 19th Century Christoph Dittrich: Food Security and Vulnerability to Food Crises in the Northern Areas of Pakistan Benno Pilardeaux: Agrarian Transformation in Northern Pakistan and the Political Economy of Highland-Lowland Interaction Thomas Hoffmann: Historical Relations between Northeastern Nepal and its Indian and Nepalese Foreland, Exemplified by Migration from the Solu-Khumbu District Rainer Graafen: Trade and Trading Villages between Tibet and the Lowlands – The Districts of Mustang and Kaski Christian G. Seeber: The Current State of Research on Historical Development – Processes in the Area of Mustang/Lo. Questions Concerning the Crystallization, Decline and Foundation of States and Settlements Identity Formation in the Context of Change Martin Sökefeld: Discourse and Action – Unequivocalness and Ambivalence in Identifications Andreas Dittmann: Central Goods and Ethno-Linguistic Groups in the Bazaars of Northern Pakistan – An Example of Central Place Theory Modifications in Mountainous Environments Johannes H. Löhr: History as a Social Practice – An Example from Northern Pakistan Ulrike Müller-Böker: Tharus and Pahariyas in Chitawan – Observations on the Multi-Ethnic Constellation in Southern Nepal Monika Krengel: Migration and the Danger of Loss – Some Aspects of Cultural Identity in Kumaon/Indian Himalaya Thierry Dodin: Transregional Buddhist Organizations in Indian Himalaya Andreas Rieck: From Mountain Refuge to "Model Area" – Transformation of Shi`i Communities in Northern Pakistan Environmental Resources – Utilization and Present Exploitation Jürgen Clemens / Marcus Nüsser: Resource Management in Rupal Valley, Northern Pakistan – The Utilization of Forests and Pastures in the Nanga Parbat Area Thomas Cramer: Climatic Gradients in the Karakorum and their Effects on the Natural Vegetation Udo Schickhoff: Ecological Change as a Consequence of Recent Road Building – The Case of the High Altitude Forests of the Karakorum Dietrich Schmidt-Vogt: Stand Structure as an Indicator of Forest Change Due to Human Impact – A Methodological Contribution with Examples from Nepal and Northern Thailand Environment under Pressure – Strategies in the Context of Change Klaus Seeland: Sociological Observations on "Community Forestry" in Nepal Antje Linkenbach: Social Struggle and Conflict of Interests in the Garhwal Forest Susanne von der Heide: Cultural Identity and Nature Conservation in Nepal. The Annapurna Conservation-Area Project – An Initiative Worth Imitating Roland Hansen: Remembering Hazards as "Coping Strategy" – Local Perception of the Disastrous Snowfalls and Rainfalls of September 1992 in Astor Valley, Northwestern Himalaya Joanna Pfaff-Czarnecka: Complex Communities in Nepal-Himalaya, or: "Solidarity" – A Global Category and a Way of Life The Transformation of Himalayan "Life Worlds" Sabine Lentz: British Officers, Kashmiri Officials, Adultery and "Customary Law" Hiltrud Herbers: The Changing Position of Women in Northern Pakistan – From Agricultural Producers to Off-Farm Employees Muhammad Azam Chaudhary: Maruts – Gold-Washers of the Indus Jürgen W. Frembgen: English Loan Words in Burushaski as a Barometer of Cultural Change Claus Peter Zoller: Heroic Ballads and the Biography of a Woman – On Coping with Conflicts in the Western Garhwal Himalaya