Department of Natural Resources, TERI University, 10, Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110070, India.
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Mehrauli Road, Munirka, New Delhi, 110067, India.
Ambio. 2018 May;47(4):504-522. doi: 10.1007/s13280-017-0947-1. Epub 2017 Oct 5.
Our study explores the nexus between forests and local communities through participatory assessments and household surveys in the central Himalayan region. Forest dependency was compared among villages surrounded by oak-dominated forests (n = 8) and pine-dominated forests (n = 9). Both quantitative and qualitative analyses indicate variations in the degree of dependency based on proximity to nearest forest type. Households near oak-dominated forests were more dependent on forests (83.8%) compared to households near pine-dominated forests (69.1%). Forest dependency is mainly subsistence-oriented for meeting basic household requirements. Livestock population, cultivated land per household, and non-usage of alternative fuels are the major explanatory drivers of forest dependency. Our findings can help decision and policy makers to establish nested governance mechanisms encouraging prioritized site-specific conservation options among forest-adjacent households. Additionally, income diversification with respect to alternate livelihood sources, institutional reforms, and infrastructure facilities can reduce forest dependency, thereby, allowing sustainable forest management.
我们的研究通过参与式评估和家庭调查，探索了喜马拉雅中部地区森林与当地社区之间的关系。我们比较了被栎树主导的森林（n=8）和松树主导的森林（n=9）环绕的村庄之间的森林依赖程度。定量和定性分析都表明，依赖程度因与最近的森林类型的接近程度而有所不同。与靠近松树主导的森林的家庭（69.1%）相比，靠近栎树主导的森林的家庭对森林的依赖程度更高（83.8%）。森林依赖主要是为了满足基本家庭需求的生存导向。牲畜数量、每户耕地面积和不使用替代燃料是森林依赖的主要解释因素。我们的研究结果可以帮助决策者和政策制定者建立嵌套治理机制，鼓励森林周边家庭优先选择特定地点的保护方案。此外，通过收入多元化和替代生计来源、制度改革和基础设施建设，可以减少森林依赖，从而实现可持续的森林管理。
