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S. Dhyani and D. Dhyani
and socio-economic surveys based on informal group discussions and focused personal interviews. Study focuses on the need of developing and supporting existing
local forest governance institutions for effective conservation of forests. Paper looks
into future prospects and research needs concerning the assessment and management
of forest ecosystem services by addressing socio-economics by targeting long-term
conservation initiatives to achieve long term and short term biodiversity conservation
targets.
Keywords Central Himalayas · Forests · Ecosystem services · Social-ecological
systems · Socio-economic drivers · Biodiversity loss · Policy issues
1 Introduction
Diversity of life on earth is histrionically affected by human alterations of ecosystems.
Many activities imperative for human subsistence requirements is leading to biodiversity loss. Ecosystems across Asia are threatened by array of drivers, each of which
increases the probability of loss of biodiversity from a variety of ecosystems (Hughes
2017). Environmental change has been a frequent and continuous phenomenon in
nature but the level, rate and extent of this change has been significant in last few
decades leading to complex, significant, strong and unforeseen affects on socioecological systems (Chapin et al. 2000, 2001). Central Himalayas have wide range
of forests supporting wealth of biological diversity and endemism among plants and
also animals of the country (Misra 2009). Forest ecosystems in Central Himalayas
are important for well being for a larger population of the country and for millennia
they have been supporting subsistence life style of local communities (Dhyani and
Dhyani 2016). Although, the area is one of the biodiversity hotspots yet it is biotically threatened because of various direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss.
Ecosystems in Himalayas are severely manipulated because of enhanced demands of
natural resources for the development of the country by continuous man made interferences in natural ecosystems than ever before. Various natural or human induced
factors affecting the area are many direct and indirect drivers of deforestation and
biodiversity loss that have severely affected natural ecosystems of the region. Indirect
drivers are important underlying causes of biodiversity loss and impaired ecosystem
services. Drivers have been observed to behave differently over different spatiotemporal scales and indirect drivers being important root causes of environmental
damage have seldom been acknowledged and considered for influencing important
global environmental issues and policy frameworks. It has been already proven that
drivers of biodiversity loss are embedded in socio-economic, socio-political, cultural,
technological advancements, environmental governance, policy and political framework of the society and nations (Haberl et al. 2007). As per IPCC impacts of climate
change are envisaged to significantly affect forests and forest dependent agriculture
thus, affecting food security. Climate led variabilities and vulnerabilities are already
threatening the fragile terrains and ecosystems as well as the livelihoods of people
S. Dhyani and D. Dhyani
and socio-economic surveys based on informal group discussions and focused personal interviews. Study focuses on the need of developing and supporting existing
local forest governance institutions for effective conservation of forests. Paper looks
into future prospects and research needs concerning the assessment and management
of forest ecosystem services by addressing socio-economics by targeting long-term
conservation initiatives to achieve long term and short term biodiversity conservation
targets.
Keywords Central Himalayas · Forests · Ecosystem services · Social-ecological
systems · Socio-economic drivers · Biodiversity loss · Policy issues
1 Introduction
Diversity of life on earth is histrionically affected by human alterations of ecosystems.
Many activities imperative for human subsistence requirements is leading to biodiversity loss. Ecosystems across Asia are threatened by array of drivers, each of which
increases the probability of loss of biodiversity from a variety of ecosystems (Hughes
2017). Environmental change has been a frequent and continuous phenomenon in
nature but the level, rate and extent of this change has been significant in last few
decades leading to complex, significant, strong and unforeseen affects on socioecological systems (Chapin et al. 2000, 2001). Central Himalayas have wide range
of forests supporting wealth of biological diversity and endemism among plants and
also animals of the country (Misra 2009). Forest ecosystems in Central Himalayas
are important for well being for a larger population of the country and for millennia
they have been supporting subsistence life style of local communities (Dhyani and
Dhyani 2016). Although, the area is one of the biodiversity hotspots yet it is biotically threatened because of various direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss.
Ecosystems in Himalayas are severely manipulated because of enhanced demands of
natural resources for the development of the country by continuous man made interferences in natural ecosystems than ever before. Various natural or human induced
factors affecting the area are many direct and indirect drivers of deforestation and
biodiversity loss that have severely affected natural ecosystems of the region. Indirect
drivers are important underlying causes of biodiversity loss and impaired ecosystem
services. Drivers have been observed to behave differently over different spatiotemporal scales and indirect drivers being important root causes of environmental
damage have seldom been acknowledged and considered for influencing important
global environmental issues and policy frameworks. It has been already proven that
drivers of biodiversity loss are embedded in socio-economic, socio-political, cultural,
technological advancements, environmental governance, policy and political framework of the society and nations (Haberl et al. 2007). As per IPCC impacts of climate
change are envisaged to significantly affect forests and forest dependent agriculture
thus, affecting food security. Climate led variabilities and vulnerabilities are already
threatening the fragile terrains and ecosystems as well as the livelihoods of people