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N. Roy et al.
them to inject the research findings in reframing or reorientating the policies (if necessary) that are required as strategies for sustainable socio-ecological development,
natural resource management and biodiversity conservation.
Keywords Biodiversity and agro-diversity management · Livelihood issues ·
Conservation perspective · Human-wildlife conflict · Climate change adaptation ·
Sustainable natural resource utilization · Environmental protection
Use of natural resources largely determines the standard of living that human societies enjoy. Steady increase in worldwide use of biotic and abiotic resources (such
as water, air, soil, biodiversity, land as habitat etc.) for a range of societal purposes
(such as wind power, solar power, tidal flows etc.) are linked with rapid population
growth (TU 2014a). Fundamental life support is provided by natural resources in the
form of both consumptive and public-good services (Meinzen-Dick 2017). Current
as well as potential future flows of income are often associated with the economic
significance of natural resources (OECD 2011). Their sustainable use is not only a
question of sustainable economic development but also of protection of the environment. In the poorest regions of the world, such resources form the basis for wealth
generation and hence often form the basis of livelihoods. In poor rural communities,
a reduction in stocks of natural capital and flows of ecosystem services may disproportionately harm societal wellbeing (UNEP 2015). In fact, functioning ecosystems
provide a range of services from waste absorption, water and nutrient cycling, seed
dispersal and pollination, controlling agricultural pests and providing food to habitat
for species. These allow the ecosystem goods (called natural resources) to be produced and maintained. The provision of ecosystem services is necessitated by timber,
fish and wildlife, clean water and air, and agricultural production etc. (OECD 2011).
The chapters by Nautiyal et al. (Chapter “Medicinal Plant Biodiversity in India: Harnessing Opportunities for Promoting Livelihood and Food Security”) and Chauhan
et al. (Chapter “Biology, Uses and Conservation of Trillium govanianum”) sheds
light on how rural communities in India harness the diversity of medicinal plants
for their livelihood and food security and authors have proposed an overview of the
biology, uses and conservation approaches that can be followed for the conservation
and sustainable utilization of biodiversity in Indian Himalayas. In another chapter
(Chapter “Transitional Peri-urban Landscape and Use of Natural Resource for Livelihoods”), Goswami and Nautiyal focused on the use of natural resource for livelihoods
in transitional peri-urban landscape. In their chapter (Chapter “Livelihood Strategies
and Agricultural Practices in Khonoma Village of Nagaland: Observation from a
Field Visit”), Roy et al. analyzed the livelihood strategies of indigenous communities in terms of improved agricultural practices as an alternative to shifting cultivation
transforming towards terrace cultivation by using Aldar trees in Nagaland state of
north eastern India.
However, higher growth may not necessarily lead to sustainable development
unless it is accompanied by environmental protection. An efficient demand management policy by emphasizing conservation and prudent use of environment can
N. Roy et al.
them to inject the research findings in reframing or reorientating the policies (if necessary) that are required as strategies for sustainable socio-ecological development,
natural resource management and biodiversity conservation.
Keywords Biodiversity and agro-diversity management · Livelihood issues ·
Conservation perspective · Human-wildlife conflict · Climate change adaptation ·
Sustainable natural resource utilization · Environmental protection
Use of natural resources largely determines the standard of living that human societies enjoy. Steady increase in worldwide use of biotic and abiotic resources (such
as water, air, soil, biodiversity, land as habitat etc.) for a range of societal purposes
(such as wind power, solar power, tidal flows etc.) are linked with rapid population
growth (TU 2014a). Fundamental life support is provided by natural resources in the
form of both consumptive and public-good services (Meinzen-Dick 2017). Current
as well as potential future flows of income are often associated with the economic
significance of natural resources (OECD 2011). Their sustainable use is not only a
question of sustainable economic development but also of protection of the environment. In the poorest regions of the world, such resources form the basis for wealth
generation and hence often form the basis of livelihoods. In poor rural communities,
a reduction in stocks of natural capital and flows of ecosystem services may disproportionately harm societal wellbeing (UNEP 2015). In fact, functioning ecosystems
provide a range of services from waste absorption, water and nutrient cycling, seed
dispersal and pollination, controlling agricultural pests and providing food to habitat
for species. These allow the ecosystem goods (called natural resources) to be produced and maintained. The provision of ecosystem services is necessitated by timber,
fish and wildlife, clean water and air, and agricultural production etc. (OECD 2011).
The chapters by Nautiyal et al. (Chapter “Medicinal Plant Biodiversity in India: Harnessing Opportunities for Promoting Livelihood and Food Security”) and Chauhan
et al. (Chapter “Biology, Uses and Conservation of Trillium govanianum”) sheds
light on how rural communities in India harness the diversity of medicinal plants
for their livelihood and food security and authors have proposed an overview of the
biology, uses and conservation approaches that can be followed for the conservation
and sustainable utilization of biodiversity in Indian Himalayas. In another chapter
(Chapter “Transitional Peri-urban Landscape and Use of Natural Resource for Livelihoods”), Goswami and Nautiyal focused on the use of natural resource for livelihoods
in transitional peri-urban landscape. In their chapter (Chapter “Livelihood Strategies
and Agricultural Practices in Khonoma Village of Nagaland: Observation from a
Field Visit”), Roy et al. analyzed the livelihood strategies of indigenous communities in terms of improved agricultural practices as an alternative to shifting cultivation
transforming towards terrace cultivation by using Aldar trees in Nagaland state of
north eastern India.
However, higher growth may not necessarily lead to sustainable development
unless it is accompanied by environmental protection. An efficient demand management policy by emphasizing conservation and prudent use of environment can