Socio-economic and eco-biological dimensions in resource use and conservation: Epilogue

Abstract

Use of natural resources largely determines the standard of living that human societies enjoy. Steady increase in worldwide use of biotic and abiotic resources (such as water, air, soil, biodiversity, land as habitat etc.) for a range of societal purposes (such as wind power, solar power, tidal flows etc.) have been linked with rapid population growth. Current as well as potential future flows of income are often associated with the economic significance of natural resources. In the poorest regions of the world, such resources form the basis for the wealth generation and hence are also considered as the basis of livelihoods. In such poor rural communities, a reduction in stocks of natural capital and flows of ecosystem services may disproportionately harm their wellbeing. Although a number of reports are available at regional, national and global levels that deal with climate smart livelihoods and socio-ecological development, for a mega-diverse country like India the studies which mostly cover the national status are not going to propose the sound approaches for the people and landscape of its varied agro-climatic regions. The purpose of this volume is to provide findings of different and differing studies done in diverse agro-climatic zones to the stakeholders in a compiled and comprehensive manner to enable them to inject the research findings in reframing or reorientating the policies (if necessary) that are required as strategies for sustainable socio-ecological development, natural resource management and biodiversity conservation.