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Changing scenario of Himalayan agroecosystems: loss of agrobiodiversity, an indicator of environmental change in Central Himalaya, India

Author

Listed:
  • R. K. Maikhuri

    (G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment)

  • K. S. Rao

    (G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment)

  • R. L. Semwal

    (G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment)

Abstract

Environmental, biological, socio-cultural and economic variations in the Himalayas have led to the evolution of diverse and unique traditional agroecosystems, crop species, and livestock, which help the traditional mountain farming societies to sustain themselves. During the recent past, as a result of rapid changes in land use caused by socio-cultural and economic changes and various environmental perturbations, the agrobiodiversity of the Central Himalayan agroecosystems has changed steadily. A recent survey conducted in 150 different villages located along an elevated transect of the Alaknanda catchment of the Central Himalaya revealed that over a period of two decades (1970–74 and 1990–94) the cultivated area under many traditional crops had declined significantly. A micro-level study carried out in 30 villages revealed that a series of changes had occurred in land use practices over a period of 25–30 years. The loss of agrobiodiversity and the changing socio-cultural and economic dimensions and their impacts on the sustainability of Himalayan agroecosystems are emerging as major causes of concern at local/regional/national scale, and appropriate options to meet these challenges are discussed in this paper.

Suggested Citation

  • R. K. Maikhuri & K. S. Rao & R. L. Semwal, 2001. "Changing scenario of Himalayan agroecosystems: loss of agrobiodiversity, an indicator of environmental change in Central Himalaya, India," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 23-39, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:21:y:2001:i:1:d:10.1023_a:1010638104135
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1010638104135
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Partho Protim Mondal & Yili Zhang, 2018. "Research Progress on Changes in Land Use and Land Cover in the Western Himalayas (India) and Effects on Ecosystem Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Roopam Shukla & Ankit Agarwal & Kamna Sachdeva & Juergen Kurths & P. K. Joshi, 2019. "Climate change perception: an analysis of climate change and risk perceptions among farmer types of Indian Western Himalayas," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 103-119, January.
    3. Radhika Gupta & L. Jamila Haider & Henrik Österblom, 2020. "The theory of cross-scale interactions: an illustration from remote villages in Sikkim, India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 3777-3804, April.
    4. Kiros Hadgu & Walter Rossing & Lammert Kooistra & Ariena Bruggen, 2009. "Spatial variation in biodiversity, soil degradation and productivity in agricultural landscapes in the highlands of Tigray, northern Ethiopia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 1(1), pages 83-97, February.
    5. Sanjay Kr. Uniyal & Anjali Awasthi & Gopal S. Rawat, 2003. "Developmental Processes, Changing Lifestyle and Traditional Wisdom: Analyses from Western Himalaya," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 307-312, December.
    6. Anshuman Singh & Ranjay K. Singh & Neeraj Kumar & Suresh Kumar & Parvender Sheoran & Dheeraj Singh & Satyendra Kumar & P. C. Sharma, 2022. "Adapting to Social–Ecological Risks to the Conservation of a Muskmelon Landrace in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.
    7. Matthew E. Eja, 2006. "Socioeconomic indicators and the survival of the tropical rainforest of cross river state of Nigeria," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 83-92, June.
    8. Robert Zomer & Antonio Trabucco & Marc Metzger & Mingcheng Wang & Krishna Oli & Jianchu Xu, 2014. "Projected climate change impacts on spatial distribution of bioclimatic zones and ecoregions within the Kailash Sacred Landscape of China, India, Nepal," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 125(3), pages 445-460, August.
    9. Phondani, P.C. & Maikhuri, R.K. & Rawat, L.S. & Jugran, A. & Bhatt, A. & Bisht, N.S., 2017. "Policy implications of utilizing indigenous tree species as agroforestry systems in Himalayan states of India: Case study of Uttarakhand," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 202-209.

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