Local Socio-Economic Dynamics Shaping Forest Ecosystems …
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dependent on them (Dhyani and Dhyani 2016). Increased frequency of extreme climate events such as frequent floods, incidences of cloudbursts coupled with heavy
rainfall have enhanced soil erosion and slope instability in the region at large. Deforestation and reduced natural resources in vicinity of human habitations are resulting
into conflicts related to resource sharing, and reduced opportunities for good quality
of life has led to emigration (IPCC 2014). Increasingly, the conservation community
across the world is recognizing the importance of scaling up the efforts from local to
regional and later to national level to understand the actual reasons behind biodiversity loss leading to reduced ecosystem services at various levels. Socio-economic reasons of biodiversity loss are significant but actual frequencies of biodiversity loss due
to direct drivers (habitat destruction, climate change, nutrient and pollution load etc.)
are so strong that it is a challenge to identify and seek solutions for socio-economic
drivers. It is pertinent to understand how local, regional or national socio-economic
conditions can influence environmental degradation. Such approaches require deeper
understanding and knowledge of different socio-economic and socio-political scenarios as important drivers of biodiversity loss present in local, regional, national and
international levels. Impact of improving the socio-economic conditions by addressing livelihood options has the potential to halt, reduce and reverse degradation of
environment in resource rich areas. Unfortunately, policy makers, natural resource
managers, researchers and scientific organizations working in the rugged, undulating and fragile terrains of Himalayas have little information about how targeting
livelihood of locals and improving socio-economic conditions can help protecting
and conserving natural resources. By involving local communities in conservation
may not only help to respond to these emerging local, socio-economical, institutional
and other major global drivers of change but also help to harness long term conservation benefits (Place and Keijiro 2000). Present study has tried to understand the
impacts of local socio-economic conditions leading to biodiversity loss from Central
Himalayas. Author bring the perspective of local socio-economic drivers as vital reasons that are shaping the future forest development in the region along with global
drivers of change (climate change, invasion of species, ever increasing demand of
MAPs, increased power demands of the country etc.) However, when the local and
indirect drivers are intersecting with the global drivers of change, they are introducing new challenges for conservation communities that require innovative responses.
These responses are to be area specific or common for the areas that face similar
drivers facing similar scenarios. Study looks into aspects of socio-economic drivers
under following objectives:
i. How socio-economic drivers have affected biodiversity of the region and where
are the key examples existing
ii. What are effective solutions available in terms of policies and strategies to
respond to these challenges; and
iii. Why community collaborative efforts are important by acknowledging communities as important stakeholders of biodiversity conservation in Central
Himalayas.
33
dependent on them (Dhyani and Dhyani 2016). Increased frequency of extreme climate events such as frequent floods, incidences of cloudbursts coupled with heavy
rainfall have enhanced soil erosion and slope instability in the region at large. Deforestation and reduced natural resources in vicinity of human habitations are resulting
into conflicts related to resource sharing, and reduced opportunities for good quality
of life has led to emigration (IPCC 2014). Increasingly, the conservation community
across the world is recognizing the importance of scaling up the efforts from local to
regional and later to national level to understand the actual reasons behind biodiversity loss leading to reduced ecosystem services at various levels. Socio-economic reasons of biodiversity loss are significant but actual frequencies of biodiversity loss due
to direct drivers (habitat destruction, climate change, nutrient and pollution load etc.)
are so strong that it is a challenge to identify and seek solutions for socio-economic
drivers. It is pertinent to understand how local, regional or national socio-economic
conditions can influence environmental degradation. Such approaches require deeper
understanding and knowledge of different socio-economic and socio-political scenarios as important drivers of biodiversity loss present in local, regional, national and
international levels. Impact of improving the socio-economic conditions by addressing livelihood options has the potential to halt, reduce and reverse degradation of
environment in resource rich areas. Unfortunately, policy makers, natural resource
managers, researchers and scientific organizations working in the rugged, undulating and fragile terrains of Himalayas have little information about how targeting
livelihood of locals and improving socio-economic conditions can help protecting
and conserving natural resources. By involving local communities in conservation
may not only help to respond to these emerging local, socio-economical, institutional
and other major global drivers of change but also help to harness long term conservation benefits (Place and Keijiro 2000). Present study has tried to understand the
impacts of local socio-economic conditions leading to biodiversity loss from Central
Himalayas. Author bring the perspective of local socio-economic drivers as vital reasons that are shaping the future forest development in the region along with global
drivers of change (climate change, invasion of species, ever increasing demand of
MAPs, increased power demands of the country etc.) However, when the local and
indirect drivers are intersecting with the global drivers of change, they are introducing new challenges for conservation communities that require innovative responses.
These responses are to be area specific or common for the areas that face similar
drivers facing similar scenarios. Study looks into aspects of socio-economic drivers
under following objectives:
i. How socio-economic drivers have affected biodiversity of the region and where
are the key examples existing
ii. What are effective solutions available in terms of policies and strategies to
respond to these challenges; and
iii. Why community collaborative efforts are important by acknowledging communities as important stakeholders of biodiversity conservation in Central
Himalayas.