ArticlePDF Available

Community perceptions associated with ecosystem services in the socio-ecological landscapes of Sikkim Himalaya

July 2021

Authors:

Aditya Pradhan

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

Yougesh Tamang

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

Sarala Khaling

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

Vikram Pradhan

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

Content uploaded by Aditya Pradhan

Content may be subject to copyright.

ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.

ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.

Article

Community priorities, values, and perceptions associated with ecosystem services provided by the soc...

January 2023

Community priorities, values, and perceptions associated with ecosystem services provided by the soc...

February 2023 · Regional Environmental Change

The process of incorporating the priorities of local communities in developing countries is important in the formulation of effective policies for environmental and natural resource conservation. With this outlook, this study was conducted to assess community priorities and socio-cultural values associated with ecosystem services provided by the socio-ecological landscapes. The study was carried ... [Show full abstract] out in 31 villages across four major agriculture-based land-use systems of Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya, covering an elevation gradient of 700-2300 m. Data on perception of ecosystem services were collected by focus group discussions (n = 37) using participatory rural appraisal tools, like listing, ranking, and trend analysis. Twenty-eight ecosystem services belonging to provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services were identified as important by the local communities, majority of which were associated with well-being and socioeconomic values of the community. Differences in perception across different localities were observed, which relates to diversified livelihood strategies. Provisioning and cultural services were readily recognized by the local communities; yet, regulating services were valued over them. Provision and regulation of freshwater were found to be the most highly prioritized ecosystem services across the landscape, suggesting the perceived role and importance of freshwater in rural well-being. Local communities perceived declining trends in the availability of many ecosystem services (mostly provisioning), particularly freshwater. This calls for an urgent need for formulation of better policies and management interventions to restore the declining yet highly prioritized services in the rural areas of the landscape, through stakeholder consultations that involve the local communities.

View full-text

Article

Full-text available

Butterfly diversity in an organic tea estate of Darjeeling Hills, eastern Himalaya, India

August 2020 · Journal of Threatened Taxa

The study was undertaken from March–May 2019 to explore the butterflies in the human-modified tea dominated landscape of Darjeeling Hills and understanding the diversity, community structure, habitat specialization, and conservation status of butterflies in an organic tea estate. Sampling was done in the two representative ecosystems of tea plantation and secondary forest within the study area. ... [Show full abstract] Altogether 71 species and sub-species across 43 genera belonging to five families were recorded during this study, of which seven are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.

View full-text

Article

Correction: Structure, composition, and regeneration status of trees in non-protected forests of Eas...

May 2024 · Tropical Ecology