Guwahati: A collaboration between UNESCO and the Government of Sikkim to document traditional cane bridges—known as Ru-Soam—has gained renewed significance, with new research highlighting how these indigenous structures restored connectivity during recent climate disasters in the Himalayas.
Backed by Airbnb, the initiative will examine the engineering and environmental principles underpinning these bridges in the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, assessing their relevance for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
The effort aligns with findings from a recent study by Sonam R. Lepcha, which documents how Ru-Soam bridges became lifelines in North Sikkim following extreme weather events.
According to the study, published in Pleione, the South Lhonak Lake Glacial Lake Outburst Flood of 2023 and a cloudburst in 2024 destroyed several modern bridges, cutting off parts of the Dzongu Tribal Lepcha Reserve for weeks.
With conventional infrastructure failing and heavy machinery unable to access remote terrain, local communities relied on traditional knowledge to restore connectivity using cane and bamboo bridges.
Built collectively under the guidance of skilled artisans and ritual specialists, these structures enabled the movement of people, relief supplies, and emergency services.
In the Lepcha language, “Ru” means cane and “Soam” means bridge. Historically also known as Soam-pu or Jholungey pool, these structures represent more than mere utility—they embody cultural identity, ecological balance, and centuries-old engineering wisdom.
The tradition, described by Joseph Dalton Hooker as “works of art,” is considered among the oldest forms of suspension bridge engineering in the Eastern Himalaya.
Structurally, the bridges can span over 100 metres and remain flexible under stress, allowing them to sway and absorb the force of floods and landslides—an advantage over rigid modern infrastructure. This flexibility, researchers say, contributed to their survival during recent disasters.
Officials emphasised that the UNESCO-backed project will extend beyond documentation, combining field research, community consultations, and technical assessments to evaluate durability, sustainability, and design efficiency.
The study will culminate in a comprehensive report exploring how indigenous engineering can inform modern infrastructure in disaster-prone regions.
“This partnership underscores approaches to generate knowledge that is both locally grounded and globally relevant. This is especially critical for Sikkim, given its vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks, reinforcing the need to integrate indigenous knowledge with modern scientific solutions for a more resilient future,” said Dr Sandeep Tambe, Principal Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Sikkim.
Echoing this, Dr Benno Böer of UNESCO’s Regional Office for South Asia said, “The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve reminds us that human communities depend on and can live in harmony with nature. The Ru-Soam cane bridges are not relics of the past; they are living expressions of engineering ingenuity.”
He added that such community-rooted knowledge systems demonstrate how resilience emerges from “place, memory, and collective wisdom”.
Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s Country Head for India and Southeast Asia, said the initiative reflects the value of local innovation. “This is a step towards amplifying local voices while exploring how indigenous practices can inform sustainable, climate-resilient futures,” he noted.
At the global level, UNESCO’s LINKS programme continues to promote collaboration between indigenous knowledge holders and scientists, particularly in ecology, water management, and disaster mitigation. The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2018, serves as a key platform for such efforts under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.
As climate risks intensify across fragile mountain ecosystems, both policymakers and researchers suggest that the future of resilient infrastructure may lie in revisiting time-tested traditions—where solutions are not only engineered, but also deeply rooted in community knowledge and ecological harmony.
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