ANNOUNCEMENTS
In India’s Central Himalayan region, particularly in districts like Almora in Uttarakhand, forests, springs, and agro-ecosystems are vital to the sustenance of rural communities. They provide crucial ecosystem services (ES) such as fuelwood, fodder, water regulation, biodiversity, soil fertility, and cultural values. Yet, these services remain undervalued, largely unpriced, and increasingly under threat due to deforestation, pine encroachment, drying water sources, and socio-economic pressures like outmigration and land degradation.
This thesis attempts to bridge that gap by conducting a valuation of key ecosystem services and assessing the feasibility of introducing a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism in the Almora district. The study is grounded in ecological economics and participatory environmental governance, with a focus on ensuring that conservation efforts are both socially just and ecologically effective. The research site is Takula Block, a mid-altitude zone characterized by mixed oak-pine forests, terraced agriculture, and a mix of traditional water harvesting systems like naulas and guls.
The findings of this research highlight both the urgency and potential of developing a PES model tailored to Almora’s ecological and socio-economic realities. Given the high dependency on natural resources and the visible decline in ecosystem health, PES can act as a bridge between conservation objectives and livelihood enhancement. However, its success depends on inclusive institutional design, transparent fund management, and active community participation. Local governance structures such as Van Panchayats, women’s self-help groups, and Gram Sabhas must be empowered to act as intermediaries and custodians of PES funds and activities.
This thesis contributes to ecological economics literature by presenting empirical evidence from a data-scarce Himalayan region and demonstrates how behavioral, ecological, and institutional factors can be aligned to create equitable conservation incentives. It also offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, including the integration of PES within state-level climate adaptation and forest management programs.
Ultimately, PES in Almora is not just a conservation tool—it is a pathway toward ecological justice, rural resilience, and sustainable mountain development. The study provides a replicable framework that can inform PES models across the Indian Himalayan Region and other vulnerable mountain ecosystems globally.
