ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY: Uttarakhand Experiences

Unprecedented loss and changes in biodiversity are taking place at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels, in both terrestrial and marine groups of organisms. One of the major concerns of biodiversity loss is the reduction in the capacity of natural and managed ecosystems to render quality ecological services, such as production of food and fibre, carbon storage, nutrient cycling and resistance to climate and other environmental changes. The extraction of biomass resources such as fuel wood, fodder, timber etc., which was once within the carrying capacity of forests, has now crossed this limit in most of the resource-rich areas. Presently, habitat conversion and destruction are eliminating species at such a rapid pace that extinction of contemporary species is leading to imbalance of ecosystem. The problem of biodiversity loss needs to be minimized in order to keep the ecosystem functional. Therefore, assessing the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss and environmental changes, and establishing the bases for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, are major scientific challenges of our time.

It is against this backdrop the present study was carried out with multidisciplinary approach to answer the following questions:

• What are the spatial patterns of environmental change and biodiversity loss and their driving forces across the world in general and the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in particular?

• What are the linkages between land use/cover change, landslides and biodiversity loss?

• To what extent community participation can help for conservation of biodiversity?

The book will contribute to India’s efforts in fulfilling the goals of the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE), Kyoto Protocol and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). It will be useful for geographers, environmentalists, life scientists, mountain experts and policy makers.