Integrated approaches for adaptive resilience-based management of forests for supporting agro-systems in the Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalayas
Resilience-based management in Eastern Himalayas
Geographical coverage
| Geographical scale of the assessment | Sub-national |
|---|---|
| Country or countries covered | India |
| Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name |
The research sites include the Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas in Northeast India. Both these sites are part of the global biodiversity hotspot Eastern Himalayas. |
Geographical scale of the assessment
Sub-national
Country or countries covered
India
Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name
The research sites include the Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas in Northeast India. Both these sites are part of the global biodiversity hotspot Eastern Himalayas.
Conceptual framework, methodology and scope
Assessment objectives
The overall objective of this research/assessment is develop management and governance systems that would generate a sustained supply of ecosystem services and support associated livelihoods without impairing key ecosystem properties and functions (e.g. biodiversity, recharge to ground-water, soil fertility) that are necessary for maintaining resilience in the face of climate variability and change.
Specifically: * Determine the supply-demand linkages between the forest and dependent communities. * Determine the key drivers of change in these systems (e.g., climate, markets, fire, invasive species) * Determine the appropriate scale of intervention for each of the ecosystem goods and services individually. * Determine the drivers of disservices from wildlife, which includes conflicts and crop raids (e.g, cropping pattern, characteristic of the agriculture matrix ) *Determine the economic value of key ecosystem products, functions, and services. *Suggest monitoring protocols so that local communities can manage resource (biomass, NTFPs, water and biodiversity) conditions and yields. *Determine if there is higher production/provisioning of ecosystem services in areas with long term security of tenure, and that could thereby influence policy. *Determine the influence of traditional knowledge on resource-use (agriculture/ biomass/ NTFPs/Water) patterns and augment traditional knowledge with knowledge emerging from the study and ultimately to be documented in a village register.
Mandate for the assessment
Conceptual framework and/or methodology used for the assessment
Unknown
URL or copy of conceptual framework developed or adapted
NA
System(s) assessed
- Forest and woodland
- Cultivated/Agricultural land
- Mountain
Species groups assessed
Ungulates, primates and avian species that cause crop damage. Carnivores that lift livestock and act as disservices and cause conflict.
Ecosystem services/functions assessed
Provisioning
- Food
- Water
- Timber/fibres
- Medicinal resources
- Energy/fuel
Regulating
- Pollination
Supporting Services/Functions
Cultural Services
Scope of assessment includes
Drivers of change in systems and services
Yes
Impacts of change in services on human well-being
Yes
Options for responding/interventions to the trends observed
Yes
Explicit consideration of the role of biodiversity in the systems and services covered by the assessment
Yes
Timing of the assessment
Year assessment started
2012
Year assessment finished
If ongoing, year assessment is anticipated to finish
2015
Periodicity of assessment
One off
Assessment outputs
Website(s)
Aspects of the work will be uploaded in the ATREE website-www.atree.org
Report(s)
Communication materials (e.g. brochure, presentations, posters, audio-visual media)
Journal publications
Training materials
Other documents/outputs
Tools and processes
Tools and approaches used in the assessment
- Indicators
- Social (non-monetary) valuation
Process used for stakeholder engagement in the assessment process and which component
To be designed
Key stakeholder groups engaged
To be identified
The number of people directly involved in the assessment process
Incorporation of scientific and other types of knowledge
- Scientific information only
- Resource experts (e.g. foresters etc)
- Traditional/local knowledge
- Citizen science
Supporting documentation for specific approaches, methodology or criteria developed and/or used to integrate knowledge systems into the assessment
TBC
Assessment reports peer reviewed
No
Data
Accessibility of data used in assessment
TBC
Policy impact
Impacts the assessment has had on policy and/or decision making, as evidenced through policy references and actions
Not available now
Independent or other review on policy impact of the assessment
No
Lessons learnt for future assessments from these reviews
Not known yet
Capacity building
Capacity building needs identified during the assessment
Not known yet
Actions taken by the assessment to build capacity
Network and sharing experiences, Sharing of data/repatriation of data, Workshops, Communication and awareness raising
How have gaps in capacity been communicated to the different stakeholders
Not done yet
Knowledge generation
Gaps in knowledge identified from the assessment
Not done yet
How gaps in knowledge have been communicated to the different stakeholders
Not done yet
Additional relevant information
NA
