Local Socio-Economic Dynamics Shaping Forest Ecosystems …
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lack of ownership and insufficient economic sources is reversing the situation.
Role of socio-economic condition of locals in biodiversity loss has been discussed
but is unorganized. This scattered knowledge needs to be integrated to understand
the influence and cumulative impacts of local socio-economic conditions. Since
these forests are efficient sinks for carbon sequestration with immense REDD and
REDD+ potential, socio-economic drivers of loss should to be studied in the context of carbon storage and carbon credits that can be sold in voluntary markets and
help support locals as vital source of livelihood.
• Policy concerns
The approach to protect and conserve forest resources has always been conserving
the areas from living in close vicinity. The rights and human well being of these
people have also been ignored. Instead of involving them in conservation they
were never considered to be important stakeholders of conservation planning.
Implementation of conservation policies has largely overlooked the needs and
aspirations of traditional and indigenous communities living around these forests.
It has been observed that once a forest area is declared Protected people’s rights
of resource dependency shrink or are completely removed. It has been given to
many corporates (many hydropower projects in the study areas fall in protected
core zone boundaries of National Parks, Sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves)
and bigger players. This brings a lot of disbelief among locals about conservation
concerns, and efforts of government. In such situations, initiatives to protect forests
have resulted into hostile attitudes of local communities towards government,
and sometimes leading to significant conflict. This has been commonly observed
in locals dwelling in protected area boundaries. Community perspectives are of
great priority because no conservation issues can be resolved without community
collaboration efforts (Misra et al. 2009).
• Eco-tourism an alternative opportunity
Central Himalayas with high cultural values and rare scenic beauty has potential to
uplift economy by generating alternative livelihood opportunities. Many of such
locations, nature trails and road connections are either undeveloped or poorly
maintained. Opportunities brought by eco-tourism to reduce biodiversity loss and
assist communities to earn their livelihood are largely untapped in the study areas
(Misra et al. 2009; Maikhuri and Rao 2005).
4.6 Way Forward
Policies for protecting and managing natural resources need to reconsider the socioeconomic conditions of local communities dwelling in close vicinity of these forests
and providing them better livelihood opportunities. Framing such policies have not
been considered because of insufficient understanding or ignorance towards socioeconomic drivers and pressures they may exert (Haberl et al. 2007). Over time the
governments have considered the sensitivity and importance of forest diversity and
55
lack of ownership and insufficient economic sources is reversing the situation.
Role of socio-economic condition of locals in biodiversity loss has been discussed
but is unorganized. This scattered knowledge needs to be integrated to understand
the influence and cumulative impacts of local socio-economic conditions. Since
these forests are efficient sinks for carbon sequestration with immense REDD and
REDD+ potential, socio-economic drivers of loss should to be studied in the context of carbon storage and carbon credits that can be sold in voluntary markets and
help support locals as vital source of livelihood.
• Policy concerns
The approach to protect and conserve forest resources has always been conserving
the areas from living in close vicinity. The rights and human well being of these
people have also been ignored. Instead of involving them in conservation they
were never considered to be important stakeholders of conservation planning.
Implementation of conservation policies has largely overlooked the needs and
aspirations of traditional and indigenous communities living around these forests.
It has been observed that once a forest area is declared Protected people’s rights
of resource dependency shrink or are completely removed. It has been given to
many corporates (many hydropower projects in the study areas fall in protected
core zone boundaries of National Parks, Sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves)
and bigger players. This brings a lot of disbelief among locals about conservation
concerns, and efforts of government. In such situations, initiatives to protect forests
have resulted into hostile attitudes of local communities towards government,
and sometimes leading to significant conflict. This has been commonly observed
in locals dwelling in protected area boundaries. Community perspectives are of
great priority because no conservation issues can be resolved without community
collaboration efforts (Misra et al. 2009).
• Eco-tourism an alternative opportunity
Central Himalayas with high cultural values and rare scenic beauty has potential to
uplift economy by generating alternative livelihood opportunities. Many of such
locations, nature trails and road connections are either undeveloped or poorly
maintained. Opportunities brought by eco-tourism to reduce biodiversity loss and
assist communities to earn their livelihood are largely untapped in the study areas
(Misra et al. 2009; Maikhuri and Rao 2005).
4.6 Way Forward
Policies for protecting and managing natural resources need to reconsider the socioeconomic conditions of local communities dwelling in close vicinity of these forests
and providing them better livelihood opportunities. Framing such policies have not
been considered because of insufficient understanding or ignorance towards socioeconomic drivers and pressures they may exert (Haberl et al. 2007). Over time the
governments have considered the sensitivity and importance of forest diversity and