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Natural resources assessment and their utilization: analyses from a Himalayan state
Sanjay Kr Uniyal1, Rakesh D Singh
1Biodiversity Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, CSIR, Post Box 6, Palampur, 176061 HP, India. suniyal@ihbt.res.in
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
|September 9, 2011
Summary
Himachal Pradesh
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Resource Management
Background:
- Himachal Pradesh (HP) possesses significant forest cover (25%) with rich biodiversity, supporting millions of people and livestock.
- Bioresources in HP are crucial for livelihoods and meet the forage needs of a large livestock population.
- The state's economy and population heavily rely on its natural resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and review natural resource utilization in Himachal Pradesh.
- To identify and analyze patterns of direct and indirect resource use in HP's forests.
- To assess the impact of resource extraction on forest degradation in the region.
Main Methods:
- Field surveys across various Himachal Pradesh localities.
- Analysis of published information on resource use.
- Quantification of annual requirements for timber, fuelwood, and fodder.
Main Results:
- Fodder extraction emerges as a primary driver of forest degradation in HP, exceeding timber and fuelwood impacts.
- Direct resource use includes significant annual extraction of timber (310,063 m³), fuelwood (3,646,348.8 tons), and fodder (10,294,116.5 tons).
- Indirect resource use, particularly from agriculture and tourism, exerts a more pronounced effect on forests than direct extraction.
Conclusions:
- Fodder extraction is a key factor in Himachal Pradesh's forest degradation.
- Indirect pressures from agriculture and tourism significantly impact forest ecosystems.
- Sustainable resource management strategies are essential for conserving HP's natural heritage.
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