Abstract

Globally, there is increasing realization of the dependence of humans on ecosystems and the role by forests in providing important ecosystem services. Forests are the chief source of livelihood in developing countries in general and mountains in particular. The five Indian Himalayan states constitute about 12.84% of the total geographical area of the country. The Indian Himalaya holds key to India’s ecological security and is the major provider of various forest products and hydro power. The Himalaya is the store house of glaciers which provides perennial river systems for mountain inhabitants as well as millions of people living downstream for settlements, agriculture and industries. Good forest cover in Himalayan states is central to maintain ecological balance and environmental stability as it prevents soil erosion and land degradation. India’s National Forest Policy (NFP) of 1988 aims at maintaining 66% of the geographical area in the hills under forests. The present forest cover of 31.05% of the total geographical area of the Indian Himalayan states is way behind the target set by NFP-1988. But to reach the target set by NFP, the area under forest change due to direct and indirect causes. Climate change too has its impact on Himalayan forests resulting in change in forest community structures. Only strategy is to ensure that forests of Himalayan states are not further degraded. Therefore, urgent need is to utilize the forests in a sustainable manner with focus on minimum depletion. Union government and the respective state governments must lay special emphasis to mitigate all the threats that result in depletion of forest resources through multi-pronged, long-term and integrated approaches, so that Himalayan forests continue to benefit mankind for the present as well as future generations.

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