International workshop on integrating Forest Ecosystem Services in the management of Himalayan landscapes

15 Nov, 2017

Location: Himachal Pradesh, India

Venue: Shimla, Hotel East Bourne

Date: 15.-16. November 2017

Participants: Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim and Uttarakhand. Representatives from Nepal, Bhutan, US Forest Services, ICIMOD and private companies engaged in eco tourism.

Background of the Workshop

The Himalayan Mountains enjoy a very significant level of biodiversity. They play a key role in the regulation of the regional climate and provide essential ecosystem services for its inhabitants and the 1.5 billion people living in downstream areas. They dispense raw material, support the horticulture and agriculture of the entire region, provide hydropower to many of the neighbouring areas and importantly they are a key annual tourist destination.

The Government of Himachal Pradesh has recently revised its eco-tourism policy aiming at the protection and conservation of these natural resources which suggests involve local communities. This policy can reduce the negative impacts on our forest ecosystems.

Aim of the workshop

The proposed workshop will review existing good practices, identify existing gaps and attempt to formulate a way forward for the management of forest ecosystem services in the Himalayan region.

Key questions are

-What are the lessons from managing FES in the Himalayan region?

-How can we identify the best portfolio of FES for a given landscape?

-Which management systems on stand and landscape level ensure the realisation of the best portfolio of FES for the Himalayan forests (Tourism, Water and Soil, NTFP, Carbon Sequestration).