Causes, consequences of forest degradation discussed

Causes and consequences of forest degradation, scientific basis for conservation and development of sustainable livelihoods were discussed at a workshop on Himalayan Ecology and Conservation here.
The two-day workshop, which concluded today, saw delegates focusing on eco-tourism, organic agriculture and alternative energy sources.
20 governmental, non-governmental and grassroots organisations took part in the deliberations at the event jointly organised by CEDAR, Yale University and the city-based Forest Research Institute.
During the first technical session, ecological processes underlying forest degradation and loss were discussed in detail including climate change, over-exploitation and changing land use and its consequences for society.
The uniqueness of the Himalayas in terms of their tremendous biodiversity, their attributes of vegetation and climate were emphasised at the meet, an FRI release said.

Processes of degradation of forests were explained in the context of their unique physiological attributes like mid-elevational oak forests which have unusually large capacity to capture water and cycle nutrients.
Change in mountain forests and hydrological balance due to climate also figured in the discussions with one of the speakers drawing attention to the adverse changes brought about by management of natural forests and creation of monocultural plantations which have caused landscape-level decline in biodiversity.