Abstract
The Himalayan ecosystem is endowed with rich natural resources, biodiversity, and scenic beauty; therefore, the region is able to provide a range of ecosystem services. The services have been utilized by the local inhabitants and people living in the periphery of this region. The growing demand of these services has put immense pressure on the ecosystem, and under such a scenario, climate change is an additional stressor. The objective of this paper is to assess the magnitude of climate change and its impact on ecosystem services in Kullu valley. The results of the study show certain changes in the climate parameters of the Kullu Valley. The average temperature has shown a rise of 0.38 °C in the winter months over the last four decades, and the precipitation in monsoon season has decreased by 55 mm. Drought has increased in the region. The overall impact of climate change has led to degradation of ecosystem services and has negative implications on human wellbeing.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abakumova GM, Feigelson EM, Russak V, Stadnik VV (1996) Evaluation of long-term changes in radiation, cloudiness, and surface temperature on the territory of the former Soviet Union. J Climate 9:1319–1327
Asian Development Bank (2010) Climate change adaptation in Himachal Pradesh: sustainable strategies for water resources. ADB, Mandaluyong City
Beniston M (2005) Mountain climates and climate change: an overview of processes focusing on the European Alps. Pure Appl Geophys 162:1587–1606
Cork S, Shelton D, Binning C, Parry R (2001) A framework for applying the concept of ecosystem services to natural resource management in Australia. Third Australian Stream Management Conference August 27–29, 2001. In: Rutherford I, Sheldon F, Brierley G, Kenyon C (eds) Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, Brisbane, pp 157–162
Daily GC (1997) Nature’s services: societal dependence on natural ecosystems. Island Press, Washington, DC
De Groot RS (1992) Functions of nature: evaluation of nature in environmental planning, management and decision-making. Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen
Grêt-Regamey A, Brunne SH, Kienast F (2012) Mountain ecosystem services: who cares? Mt Res Dev 32(S1):23–34
Hassan R, Scholes R, Ash N (eds) (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: current state and trends. Vol 1: Findings of the condition and trends, Working group of the millennium ecosystem assessment, Island Press, Washington
Hingane LS et al (1985) Long-term trends of surface air temperature in India. Int J Climatol 5(5):521–528
Holdren JP, Ehrlich PR (1974) Human population and the global environment. Am Sci 62:282–292
IPCC (2001) The scientific basis, third assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC
Kaas E, Frich P (1995) Diurnal temperature range and cloud cover in the Nordic countries: observed trends and estimates for the future. Atmos Res 37:211–228
Körner C, Ohsawa M (2005) Mountain systems. In: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, current state and trends: findings of the condition and trends working group. Ecosystems and Human Well-being, vol 1. Island Press, Washington DC
Dosteus L et al (2012) Towards operational payments for water ecosystem services in Tanzania: a case study from the Uluguru Mountains. Oryx 46:34–44
MEA (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) (2005) Ecosystems and human wellbeing: current state and trends. Island Press, Washington, DC
Metzger MJ, Rounsevell MDA, Acosta-Michlikb L, Leemans R, Schröter D (2006) The vulnerability of ecosystem services to land use change. Agric Ecosys Environ 114:69–85
Negi GCS, Palni LMS (2010) Responding to the challenges of climate change: mountain specific issues. In: Jeerath N et al (eds) Climate change, biodiversity and ecological security in South Asian region. MacMillan, New Delhi
Pratap U (1999) Conservation of endangered Himalayan honeybee, Apis cerana for crop pollination. Asian Bee J 1:44–49
Ray M, Doshi N, Alag N, Sreedhar R (2011) Climate vulnerability in North Western Himalayas. A contribution to the ongoing nation-wide climate studies vulnerability in various eco-regions of India, 2011. Indian Network on Ethics and Climate Change (INECC), Environics Trust
Rupa Kumar P et al (2006) High-resolution climate change scenarios for India for the 21st century. Curr Sci 90(3):334–345
Sen Roy S, Singh RB (2002) Climate variability, extreme events and agriculture productivity in mountain regions. Oxford and IBH, New Delhi
Singh RB (1998) Land use/cover changes, extreme events and eco-hydrological responses in Himalaya. In: Singh RB (ed) Sustainable development of mountain environment in India and Canada. Oxford and IBH, New Delhi
Singh RB, Tingal D (1998) Biophysical and anthropogenic interface in Kullu district. In: Singh RB (ed) Sustainable development of mountain environment in India and Canada. Oxford and IBH, New Delhi
Srinivasan J, Chakraborty A, Nanjundiah RS (2006) A theory for the onset of indian summer monsoon from perturbed orography simulations in a GCM. Ann Geophys 24:2075–2089
The Economics of Ecology and Biodiversity (TEEB) (2010) Mainstreaming the economics of nature—a synthesis of the approach, conclusions, and recommendations. http://www.teebweb.org/Portals/25/TEEB%20Synthesis/TEEB_SynthReport_09_2010_online.pdf
Turner II et al (1997) Land use and land-cover change. Earth Sci Front 4:26–33
UNEP (2002) GEO-3: global environmental outlook report 3. United Nations Environment Programme. Earthscan Publications, London
Watson RT et al (2000) Land use, land use change and forestry. A special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Westman W (1977) How much are nature’s services worth. Science 197:960–964
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Japan
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Singh, R.B., Kumar, A., Kumar, R. (2014). Ecosystem Services in Changing Environment. In: Singh, R., Hietala, R. (eds) Livelihood Security in Northwestern Himalaya. Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54868-3_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54868-3_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo
Print ISBN: 978-4-431-54867-6
Online ISBN: 978-4-431-54868-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)