Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRATEGIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSER- VATION IN RURAL GARHWAL HIMALAYA

C.M. Sharma, N.P. Baduni and D.P. Nautiyal

Abstract

The prosperity of any region is mainly evaluated by usability to manage, conserve and utilize its resources. The management of natural. physical and biological resources of any area leads to successful economic development and stability of the systems within the carrying capacity of the land. Intact: the proper combination of the two primary natural resources i.e.. land and water, in space and time set the upper limit or carrying capacity of earth. when accomplished by scientific investigations on a limit of land. The policies, planning and execution of the ecodevelopment projects have not so far been explicitly worked out for hilly areas in relation to sustained development, but tried at an experimental stage only, so far. The shrinkage of the existing resources needs proper developmental planning and execution on a sustained basis, so that unwarranted migration of inhabitants can be checked. The loss of traditional trade trends; ignored watershed planning; encroachment of grazing lands by obnoxious weeds; lack of awareness about social forestry schemes; improper planning and use of barren lands and importance of Run-off collection storage and recycling etc., are some of the neglected aspects which are to be considered by the planners and policy makers for the sustainable development of hilly areas.