Forest Provisioning Services Use Pattern: A Case Study from Renuka Forest Division, Western Himalaya
2022
Yadav, Vinod Kumar | Yadav, Shilpa | Adhikari, B. S. | Rawat, Laxmi
The present study was carried out at two altitudinal zones in the Renuka forest Division in Himachal Pradesh (Western Himalaya, India) and explored provisioning services use patterns to understand mountain people’s dependency on the adjacent forest. A total of 29 villages were surveyed for the study of forest ecosystem services in relation to their socioeconomic status. Average fuelwood and fodder consumption were found to be 2.3 kg⁻¹ capita⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 46.02 kg household⁻¹ day⁻¹ in the higher altitudinal zone and 1.70 kg capita⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 46.0 kg household⁻¹ day⁻¹, in the lower altitudinal zone which were greater consumption rates than earlier reported values from western Himalaya. Due to the remote area and poor socio-economic status of the locals, they are largely dependent on nearby forests for provisioning services. Planting of trees for fuelwood and fodder on less used, barren land, increased availability of alternative sources of fuelwood and establishment of fodder banks could be alternatives to bridge the gap between demand and supply. Also, the active participation of local people is imperative for the effective conservation of these forests.
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