Over two decades in exploring nature and human interface, mountain lovers, research focus on payment for ecosystem services, ecosystem based adaptation, human-nature interface
This policy brief presents results on use values for cultural and water provisioning services of ... more This policy brief presents results on use values for cultural and water provisioning services of forest ecosystems in Kailash Sacred Landscapes (Nepal and India); and willingness to pay for managing a watershed that supplies drinking water to a small township (Nepal).
In this report, we present three thematically linked, but separate studies in the KSL addressing ... more In this report, we present three thematically linked, but separate studies in the KSL addressing issues of ecosystem services as assessed using the valuation approach. We follow these studies with a set of policy recommendations to address ecosystem service issues in a holistic approach that attempt to account for all the potential values of ecosystem services. With this approach, we can use these “values” to create more equitable and sustainable systems of supply and distribution.
Hindu Kush Himalaya is home to many cultural and religious sites. The literature on the valuation... more Hindu Kush Himalaya is home to many cultural and religious sites. The literature on the valuation of cultural sites in the mountain terrains is thin. Hence, their development and sustainability are often ignored. Using primary survey data from three different sites in the Kailash Sacred Landscape of India and Nepal, the cultural value of religious sites to the visitors and households living in the surrounding areas was estimated using a modified travel cost method. As visitors travel by foot and offer donations at the religious sites, the estimations account for these aspects in travel cost calculations. For the sample sites, the per year average use value of cultural services was estimated to be USD 2.9 million. Excluding the use value to the outside visitors, the annual estimated use value of cultural services to the approximately 200,000 households of the entire KSL area, which covers 31,252 km2, is over USD 22.6 million, which is over 7% and 15% of the per capita income of India...
International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand local perceptions on climate change and its im... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand local perceptions on climate change and its impacts on biodiversity, rangeland, agriculture and human health. Design/methodology/approach A household survey with 300 interviewees and focus group discussions with key stakeholders were conducted and validated at two steps, using the climate data from the nearest weather stations and reviewing literatures, to correlate the local perceptions on climate change and its impacts. Findings Majority of the respondents reported an increase in temperature and change in the precipitation pattern with increased hazardous incidences such as floods, avalanches and landslides. Climate change directly impacted plant distribution, species composition, disease and pest infestation, forage availability, agricultural productivity and human health risks related to infectious vector-borne diseases. Research limitations/implications Because of the remoteness and difficult terrain, there are insufficient loc...
This study assesses the effectiveness of climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) practices in terms of... more This study assesses the effectiveness of climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) practices in terms of cost–benefits, and prioritizes the activities involved. It was carried out in the Udayapur district of Nepal, where the application of CRA practices into vegetable farming has introduced jholmol (a bio-pesticide and nutrient supplement); water conservation technologies; support for formation of farmers’ groups; regular technical follow-up; and flow of regular market information through short message services (SMS: that is, text messaging). This study is based on the discussions of five focus groups held with local farmers, and on 300 interviews with participating households in the study area. The results indicate that CRA generates multiple benefits compared to conventional agricultural practices. For instance, the benefit–cost ratio (BCR) of CRA practice is 1.81 as compared to 1.02 for conventional farming. In addition, practicing CRA has changed the food habits of farmers, since the proportion of vegetables consumed in their regular meals has increased substantially. Farmers are also engaging in vegetable farming in their leisure time, instead of drifting around their villages. However, CRA practice demands capital NPR. 537,695/ ha/year (USD 5220/ha/year) as compared to conventional agricultural practice NPR. 140,171/ha/year (USD 1361/ha/year). Formation of the farmers’ group probably promoted dissemination of knowledge on CRA practices, as it facilitated interaction and the exchange of ideas. CRA is, therefore, an integrated approach rather than the simple provision of technology.
SUMMARY This study assesses the causes of forest resource depletion in the Poba reserve forest, A... more SUMMARY This study assesses the causes of forest resource depletion in the Poba reserve forest, Assam, India. Although many activities, such as hunting and grazing, are banned, the Poba reserve forest is being degraded. The results of a household survey show local communities have experienced a decrease in forest resources in 2012 compared to 2002. Lack of community-based institutions and proper forest management plan has opened access to the forest, resulting in illegal logging and over extraction of forest products. These activities have limited the ability of Poba reserve forest to deliver ecosystem goods and services, and prevented forest restoration. Change is forest cover and availability of forest products has adversely affected the livelihoods of more than two-thirds of local households. The study suggests that participatory involvement of local communities in forest management can reverse trends in deforestation and forest degradation and restore the ecosystem. The forest cannot stand alone; it needs active support of the local community. La forêt peut-elle survivre seule? Obstacles à la restauration de la dernière forêt vierge en existence à Assam, en Inde S. RANABHAT, L.D. BHATTA, R.K. RAI, B. PANT, N. TIMALSINA, P.J. DAS et N. BISHT Cette étude évalue les causes de l'amoindrissement des ressources forestières dans la réserve forestière de Poba dans l'Assam, en Inde. Bien que de nombreuses activités soient proscrites, telles que la chasse et la création de pâturages, la réserve forestière de Poba est en voie de dégradation. Les résultats d'une étude auprès des foyers montre que les communautés locales ont été témoin d'une baisse des ressources forestières en 2012, les rendant inférieures à celles disponibles en 2002. Le manque d'institutions à base communautaire et de plan de gestion à proprement parler a laissé un accès ouvert à la forêt, qui a résulté en coupes de bois illégales et une extraction outrée des produits forestiers. Ces activités ont limité la capabilité de la réserve forestière de Poba à fournir biens et services de l'écosystème. Elles ont également fait obstacle à la restauration forestière. Le changement du couvert forestier et de la disponibilité des produits forestiers ont impacté négativement les revenus de plus des deux tiers des populations locales. L'étude suggère qu'une implication participative des communautés locales dans la gestion forestière pourrait faire faire demi-tour aux courants de déforestation et de dégradation forestière et restaurer l'écosystème. La forêt ne peut survivre seule; elle a besoin du soutien de la communauté locale. ¿Puede el bosque mantenerse por sí solo? Barreras a la restauración de la última pluviselva de Assam en la India Este estudio evalúa las causas del agotamiento de los recursos forestales en la reserva forestal de Poba en Assam (India). A pesar de la prohibición de muchas actividades como la caza y el pastoreo, la reserva forestal de Poba sigue degradándose. Los resultados de una encuesta en hogares muestran que las comunidades locales experimentaron una disminución de los recursos forestales en 2012, en comparación con 2002. La falta de instituciones comunitarias y un Plan de Manejo Forestal adecuado han abierto el acceso al bosque, lo que ha resultado en talas ilegales y la sobreexplotación de los productos procedentes del bosque. Estas actividades han limitado la capacidad del bosque de la reserva forestal de Poba para proporcionar bienes y servicios ecosistémicos y han impedido la restauración del bosque. El cambio en la cober-tura forestal y la disponibilidad de productos del bosque han afectado negativamente a los medios de vida de más de dos tercios de los hogares locales. El estudio sugiere que la participación de las comunidades locales en el manejo forestal puede revertir las tendencias de deforestación y degradación forestal y restaurar el ecosistema. El bosque no puede mantenerse por sí solo: necesita el apoyo activo de la comunidad local.
This study was carried out to design an incentive payment for an ecosystem services (IPES) scheme... more This study was carried out to design an incentive payment for an ecosystem services (IPES) scheme in the Baitadi Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project of Nepal. The main intention behind the designing of the scheme was to develop strategy for equitable use of water resources and involve communities, watershed and water user, in the sustainable management of water resources. We administered household survey in both the watershed community and water users to elicit their preferences regarding water source management and drinking water supply. A discrete choice experiment was employed in the case of water users which showed that, for them, water quality and quantity are the most important attributes. The estimated annual willingness-to-pay of water users for doubling water availability is NPR 482,076 (USD 4,505) and for doubling the water quantity and the supply of clean water that can be drunk directly from the tap is NPR 1.18 million (USD 10,988). The results of consultations with...
International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
Purpose Developed countries agreed at COP15 to pay US$100bn annually for adaptation and mitigatio... more Purpose Developed countries agreed at COP15 to pay US$100bn annually for adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. This paper aims to evaluate how prepared are donors and recipients to spend this money well by analyzing institutional and organizational capabilities for climate change adaptation in least developed country (LDC) administrations using the case of Nepal, a country which can be considered to be an archetypal LDC. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted over 100 in-depth structured qualitative interviews with government officials from across the organizational chain in the ministries concerned with climate change, ranging from the lowest-ranked employee to just under the ministerial ranks. This was supplemented with detailed surveys of three representative communities from different ecological zones in Nepal. Data were analyzed using Ostrom’s IAD framework. Findings Local administrations are more motivated and capable than are given credit for by donors...
Watershed management is critical for the sustainable supply of clean water to urban centers, part... more Watershed management is critical for the sustainable supply of clean water to urban centers, particularly in areas of developing countries where large-scale infrastructure projects are costly to implement. In this paper, we discuss the potential for financing improvements in watershed services in the foothills of the Himalayas through Payments for Ecosystem Services. Through the use of a choice experiment to disentangle household preferences, we show that downstream water users are interested in improvements in water quality through source water protection. Households in Dharan municipality are willing to finance watershed management to the extent of USD 118,000 per year. These payments can be used to incentivize upstream households to decrease domestic livestock grazing, change agricultural practices and reduce open defecation to improve the drinking water quality and quantity in downstream areas. The estimated cost of these activities is less than $50,000 per year. Through discuss...
This policy brief presents results on use values for cultural and water provisioning services of ... more This policy brief presents results on use values for cultural and water provisioning services of forest ecosystems in Kailash Sacred Landscapes (Nepal and India); and willingness to pay for managing a watershed that supplies drinking water to a small township (Nepal).
In this report, we present three thematically linked, but separate studies in the KSL addressing ... more In this report, we present three thematically linked, but separate studies in the KSL addressing issues of ecosystem services as assessed using the valuation approach. We follow these studies with a set of policy recommendations to address ecosystem service issues in a holistic approach that attempt to account for all the potential values of ecosystem services. With this approach, we can use these “values” to create more equitable and sustainable systems of supply and distribution.
Hindu Kush Himalaya is home to many cultural and religious sites. The literature on the valuation... more Hindu Kush Himalaya is home to many cultural and religious sites. The literature on the valuation of cultural sites in the mountain terrains is thin. Hence, their development and sustainability are often ignored. Using primary survey data from three different sites in the Kailash Sacred Landscape of India and Nepal, the cultural value of religious sites to the visitors and households living in the surrounding areas was estimated using a modified travel cost method. As visitors travel by foot and offer donations at the religious sites, the estimations account for these aspects in travel cost calculations. For the sample sites, the per year average use value of cultural services was estimated to be USD 2.9 million. Excluding the use value to the outside visitors, the annual estimated use value of cultural services to the approximately 200,000 households of the entire KSL area, which covers 31,252 km2, is over USD 22.6 million, which is over 7% and 15% of the per capita income of India...
International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand local perceptions on climate change and its im... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand local perceptions on climate change and its impacts on biodiversity, rangeland, agriculture and human health. Design/methodology/approach A household survey with 300 interviewees and focus group discussions with key stakeholders were conducted and validated at two steps, using the climate data from the nearest weather stations and reviewing literatures, to correlate the local perceptions on climate change and its impacts. Findings Majority of the respondents reported an increase in temperature and change in the precipitation pattern with increased hazardous incidences such as floods, avalanches and landslides. Climate change directly impacted plant distribution, species composition, disease and pest infestation, forage availability, agricultural productivity and human health risks related to infectious vector-borne diseases. Research limitations/implications Because of the remoteness and difficult terrain, there are insufficient loc...
This study assesses the effectiveness of climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) practices in terms of... more This study assesses the effectiveness of climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) practices in terms of cost–benefits, and prioritizes the activities involved. It was carried out in the Udayapur district of Nepal, where the application of CRA practices into vegetable farming has introduced jholmol (a bio-pesticide and nutrient supplement); water conservation technologies; support for formation of farmers’ groups; regular technical follow-up; and flow of regular market information through short message services (SMS: that is, text messaging). This study is based on the discussions of five focus groups held with local farmers, and on 300 interviews with participating households in the study area. The results indicate that CRA generates multiple benefits compared to conventional agricultural practices. For instance, the benefit–cost ratio (BCR) of CRA practice is 1.81 as compared to 1.02 for conventional farming. In addition, practicing CRA has changed the food habits of farmers, since the proportion of vegetables consumed in their regular meals has increased substantially. Farmers are also engaging in vegetable farming in their leisure time, instead of drifting around their villages. However, CRA practice demands capital NPR. 537,695/ ha/year (USD 5220/ha/year) as compared to conventional agricultural practice NPR. 140,171/ha/year (USD 1361/ha/year). Formation of the farmers’ group probably promoted dissemination of knowledge on CRA practices, as it facilitated interaction and the exchange of ideas. CRA is, therefore, an integrated approach rather than the simple provision of technology.
SUMMARY This study assesses the causes of forest resource depletion in the Poba reserve forest, A... more SUMMARY This study assesses the causes of forest resource depletion in the Poba reserve forest, Assam, India. Although many activities, such as hunting and grazing, are banned, the Poba reserve forest is being degraded. The results of a household survey show local communities have experienced a decrease in forest resources in 2012 compared to 2002. Lack of community-based institutions and proper forest management plan has opened access to the forest, resulting in illegal logging and over extraction of forest products. These activities have limited the ability of Poba reserve forest to deliver ecosystem goods and services, and prevented forest restoration. Change is forest cover and availability of forest products has adversely affected the livelihoods of more than two-thirds of local households. The study suggests that participatory involvement of local communities in forest management can reverse trends in deforestation and forest degradation and restore the ecosystem. The forest cannot stand alone; it needs active support of the local community. La forêt peut-elle survivre seule? Obstacles à la restauration de la dernière forêt vierge en existence à Assam, en Inde S. RANABHAT, L.D. BHATTA, R.K. RAI, B. PANT, N. TIMALSINA, P.J. DAS et N. BISHT Cette étude évalue les causes de l'amoindrissement des ressources forestières dans la réserve forestière de Poba dans l'Assam, en Inde. Bien que de nombreuses activités soient proscrites, telles que la chasse et la création de pâturages, la réserve forestière de Poba est en voie de dégradation. Les résultats d'une étude auprès des foyers montre que les communautés locales ont été témoin d'une baisse des ressources forestières en 2012, les rendant inférieures à celles disponibles en 2002. Le manque d'institutions à base communautaire et de plan de gestion à proprement parler a laissé un accès ouvert à la forêt, qui a résulté en coupes de bois illégales et une extraction outrée des produits forestiers. Ces activités ont limité la capabilité de la réserve forestière de Poba à fournir biens et services de l'écosystème. Elles ont également fait obstacle à la restauration forestière. Le changement du couvert forestier et de la disponibilité des produits forestiers ont impacté négativement les revenus de plus des deux tiers des populations locales. L'étude suggère qu'une implication participative des communautés locales dans la gestion forestière pourrait faire faire demi-tour aux courants de déforestation et de dégradation forestière et restaurer l'écosystème. La forêt ne peut survivre seule; elle a besoin du soutien de la communauté locale. ¿Puede el bosque mantenerse por sí solo? Barreras a la restauración de la última pluviselva de Assam en la India Este estudio evalúa las causas del agotamiento de los recursos forestales en la reserva forestal de Poba en Assam (India). A pesar de la prohibición de muchas actividades como la caza y el pastoreo, la reserva forestal de Poba sigue degradándose. Los resultados de una encuesta en hogares muestran que las comunidades locales experimentaron una disminución de los recursos forestales en 2012, en comparación con 2002. La falta de instituciones comunitarias y un Plan de Manejo Forestal adecuado han abierto el acceso al bosque, lo que ha resultado en talas ilegales y la sobreexplotación de los productos procedentes del bosque. Estas actividades han limitado la capacidad del bosque de la reserva forestal de Poba para proporcionar bienes y servicios ecosistémicos y han impedido la restauración del bosque. El cambio en la cober-tura forestal y la disponibilidad de productos del bosque han afectado negativamente a los medios de vida de más de dos tercios de los hogares locales. El estudio sugiere que la participación de las comunidades locales en el manejo forestal puede revertir las tendencias de deforestación y degradación forestal y restaurar el ecosistema. El bosque no puede mantenerse por sí solo: necesita el apoyo activo de la comunidad local.
This study was carried out to design an incentive payment for an ecosystem services (IPES) scheme... more This study was carried out to design an incentive payment for an ecosystem services (IPES) scheme in the Baitadi Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project of Nepal. The main intention behind the designing of the scheme was to develop strategy for equitable use of water resources and involve communities, watershed and water user, in the sustainable management of water resources. We administered household survey in both the watershed community and water users to elicit their preferences regarding water source management and drinking water supply. A discrete choice experiment was employed in the case of water users which showed that, for them, water quality and quantity are the most important attributes. The estimated annual willingness-to-pay of water users for doubling water availability is NPR 482,076 (USD 4,505) and for doubling the water quantity and the supply of clean water that can be drunk directly from the tap is NPR 1.18 million (USD 10,988). The results of consultations with...
International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
Purpose Developed countries agreed at COP15 to pay US$100bn annually for adaptation and mitigatio... more Purpose Developed countries agreed at COP15 to pay US$100bn annually for adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. This paper aims to evaluate how prepared are donors and recipients to spend this money well by analyzing institutional and organizational capabilities for climate change adaptation in least developed country (LDC) administrations using the case of Nepal, a country which can be considered to be an archetypal LDC. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted over 100 in-depth structured qualitative interviews with government officials from across the organizational chain in the ministries concerned with climate change, ranging from the lowest-ranked employee to just under the ministerial ranks. This was supplemented with detailed surveys of three representative communities from different ecological zones in Nepal. Data were analyzed using Ostrom’s IAD framework. Findings Local administrations are more motivated and capable than are given credit for by donors...
Watershed management is critical for the sustainable supply of clean water to urban centers, part... more Watershed management is critical for the sustainable supply of clean water to urban centers, particularly in areas of developing countries where large-scale infrastructure projects are costly to implement. In this paper, we discuss the potential for financing improvements in watershed services in the foothills of the Himalayas through Payments for Ecosystem Services. Through the use of a choice experiment to disentangle household preferences, we show that downstream water users are interested in improvements in water quality through source water protection. Households in Dharan municipality are willing to finance watershed management to the extent of USD 118,000 per year. These payments can be used to incentivize upstream households to decrease domestic livestock grazing, change agricultural practices and reduce open defecation to improve the drinking water quality and quantity in downstream areas. The estimated cost of these activities is less than $50,000 per year. Through discuss...
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Papers by Laxmi Bhatta