Ecosystem Services and its Mainstreaming in Development Planning Process

The Indian Himalayan region (IHR) supports rich biological and cultural diversity with plenty of natural resources, and considered as a mega hot spot of biodiversity. Despite of that the Himalayan populations are among the most subsistence communities in terms of incomes that heavily rely on natural resources (e.g. water, agriculture, forest, NTFPs, hydropower, and tourism) and ecosystem services (e.g. provisioning services food, fodder, firewood, fibre, etc; regulating services climate regulation, pollination, fresh air, soil formation; cultural services spiritual and religious, recreation, ecotourism, education; and supporting services soil formation, nutrient cycling, primary production) for their survival. There is a possibility of using natural capital to redefine sustainable mountain development of mountain ecosystems by balancing conservation with development, and by devising appropriate means for payment for ecosystem services. Valuing natural capital and showing the ways & means through which natural resources can contribute to societal wellbeing in a sustainable way has huge potential for the natural resource rich regions of IHR. The book brings out a broad understanding on ecosystem services and gross environmental products, review on researches on the topic by evaluating role of forest, agro biodiversity, NTFPs and medicinal plants sectors, along with a synthesis on the subject. It is expected that the book will enhance common knowledge and skills on using the information on and application of economic valuation of ecosystem services so as to plan innovative policies and tools to maintain these services. It can also be helpful to develop appropriate partnership for moving towards new models of a green economy. The book is beneficial to all, Himalayan states in general and Uttarakhand state in particular.