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Assessing “inherent vulnerability” of forests: a methodological approach and a case study from Western Ghats, India

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  • Jagmohan Sharma
  • Rajiv Chaturvedi
  • G. Bala
  • N. Ravindranath

Abstract

The objective of this study is to present a methodological approach to assess the inherent vulnerability of forests and apply it to a case study. Addressing inherent vulnerability, resulting from current stresses, is a necessary step for building resilience to long-term climate change. The proposed approach includes use of analytical framework that enables selection of vulnerability criteria and indicators systematically, application of pairwise comparison method (PCM) for assigning weights, and synthesis of a composite vulnerability index. This methodological approach has been applied at local scale to Aduvalli Protected Forest in Western Ghats in South India, where a vulnerability index value of 0.248 is estimated. Results of the case study indicate that ‘preponderance of invasive species’ and forest dependence of community are the major sources of vulnerability at present for Aduvalli Protected Forest. Adoption of this methodology can assist in development of forest management plans to enhance adaptability of Aduvalli PF to current as well as future stresses, including climate change. This methodological approach can be applied across forest-types after appropriate changes to criteria and indicators and their weights, to estimate the inherent vulnerability to enable development of adaptation strategy. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Jagmohan Sharma & Rajiv Chaturvedi & G. Bala & N. Ravindranath, 2015. "Assessing “inherent vulnerability” of forests: a methodological approach and a case study from Western Ghats, India," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 573-590, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:20:y:2015:i:4:p:573-590
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-013-9508-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mrosek, Thorsten & Balsillie, David & Schleifenbaum, Peter, 2006. "Field testing of a criteria and indicators system for sustainable forest management at the local level. Case study results concerning the sustainability of the private forest Haliburton Forest and Wil," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 8(6), pages 593-609, August.
    2. Rajiv Chaturvedi & Ranjith Gopalakrishnan & Mathangi Jayaraman & Govindasamy Bala & N. Joshi & Raman Sukumar & N. Ravindranath, 2011. "Impact of climate change on Indian forests: a dynamic vegetation modeling approach," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 119-142, February.
    3. Dagmar Schröter & Colin Polsky & Anthony Patt, 2005. "Assessing vulnerabilities to the effects of global change: an eight step approach," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 573-595, October.
    4. Wang, Naijiang & Bao, Yeqing, 2011. "Modeling forest quality at stand level: A case study of loess plateau in China," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(6), pages 488-495, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elia A Machado & Samuel Ratick, 2018. "Implications of indicator aggregation methods for global change vulnerability reduction efforts," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 1109-1141, October.
    2. Sneessens, Inès & Sauvée, Loïc & Randrianasolo-Rakotobe, Hanitra & Ingrand, Stéphane, 2019. "A framework to assess the economic vulnerability of farming systems: Application to mixed crop-livestock systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).

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