Landscape level ecological assessment and eco-restoration strategies for alpine and sub-alpine regions of the Central Himalaya

The United Nation decade on ecosystem restoration has been recognized in global and regional policy commitments that play a crucial role towards restoring degraded areas with the continued provision of ecosystem services. Climate-sensitive alpine meadows are vital in this regard as they are facing a continuous threat of degradation governed by both natural and anthropogenic drivers. The present work aims at the investigation of the ecological status and restoration strategies for alpine and sub-alpine areas of the Darma-Byans landscape in the Central Himalayan region of India. It is one of the important conservation landscapes identified under the SECURE Himalaya project of the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP). Under the present work, studies conducted regarding assessment strategies included: Land Use Land Cover (LULC) mapping, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis, grazing capacity estimation, and final validation with secondary data collection followed by the investigation of suitable eco-system based adaptation and mitigation strategies for the area. Results showed the natural regeneration of biodiversity in the alpine meadows of the landscape. Clear indications analyzed from the results depict that grazing pressure was below its capacity (20,897 cow units per year); there was a decreasing trend in human population (in 15 villages) and livestock population (from 1987 by ~50% of the total population), tourists' influx, and an increasing trend in NDVI in the area. However, the sub-alpine areas are still facing the threat of extreme land degradation due to harsh climatic conditions, especially extreme rainfall events. Therefore, sustainable site-specific eco-restoration strategies, viz., grazing, under-grazing capacity, eco-tourism practice, soil erosion control by check dams and geo-coir matting followed by plantation, sustainable resource utilization management practices, shepherd's night staying sites, integrated agricultural practices, etc. are also recommended for the region. • Restoration of sub-alpine and alpine high-altitude ecosystems supports different SDGs 13, 15, etc. • Grazing under carrying capacity, declining human-livestock population and increased NDVI found in the Darma-Byans landscape. • Site-specific restoration strategy suggested for grazing, sustainable resource utilization and eco-tourism practices. • Strategies for land hazard include eco-engineering techniques like geo-coir mat, plantation, integrated agriculture, etc. • Also, socio-economic development and eco-restoration strategies for degraded sub-alpine and alpine sites suggested.