Biomass loss in village ecosystem due to human-wildlife interaction in Western Himalayan region: A case study

Conservation faces the challenge of reconciling human activities with the simultaneous presence of wildlife in cultivated landscapes. In attempt to estimate biomass and associated carbon loss due to the removal of agroforestry trees species the present study was carried out in two villages of Pauri Garhwal. The results revealed that due to human-animal interaction caused substantial biomass loss (7.4 and 2.46 t ha-1) and carbon loss (3.4 and 15.2 t ha-1) in the two studied villages Manjgaon and Mald Bada, respectively. The estimates of the present study demands protecting existing forests and planting trees through reforestation and afforestation as a measure to enhance carbon sequestration capacity. The success of these management practices will depend on the potential to minimise human-animal interactions especially in the fringes of the village community and agricultural landscapes.

Biomass loss in village ecosystem due to human-wildlife interaction in Western Himalayan region, India

Conservation faces the challenge of reconciling human activities with the simultaneous presence of wildlife in cultivated landscapes. In attempt to estimate biomass and associated carbon loss due to the removal of agroforestry trees species the present study was carried out in two villages of Pauri Garhwal. The results revealed that due to human-animal interaction caused substantial biomass loss (7.365 and 2.453 t ha-1) and carbon loss (3.386 and 15.133 t ha-1) in the two studied villages Manjgaon and Mald Bada, respectively. The estimates of the present study demands protecting existing forests and planting trees through reforestation and afforestation as a measure to enhance carbon sequestration capacity. The success of these management practices will depend on the potential to minimise human-animal interactions especially in the fringes of the village community and agricultural landscapes.