This book identifies and analyzes livelihood impacts of recent environmental and socio-economic changes in urban and rural settings of the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh, north western Himalaya, India. The findings of the research deal with the broader objectives of the changing patterns of agricultural production with special reference to diversification, as well as forest-based livelihood outcomes, Clean Development Mechanism forest project activities, the roles of different ethnic groups and non-governmental organizations and the benefits and shortcomings of tourism as a livelihood source. These tasks are studied by using an exploratory approach, with participant observation, interviews through random and cluster sampling among villagers, local land users and officials, as well as with land cover interpretation and secondary statistical data. This book is relevant for educational use together with policy input on the issues exploring livelihood security in a rapidly growing developing country.

This book identifies and provides reasoning for computed methods of local climate dynamics and the livelihood vulnerability indices assessment in the mountainous region of Himachal Pradesh, India. The outcomes of this study agree with the focused objectives on simulating climate change and its impact on livelihood security. It deals with several crucial methodologies to analyze livelihood security with and without climate change. The explorative deductive approach was used to observe climatic changes since the 1970s and simulated the climate until 2080. Additionally, the composite livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) without climate change and the climate change livelihood vulnerability index (CCLVI) with climate change impact were prepared. The book is beneficial for policymakers who are involved in framing and implementing policies chiefly in the Himalaya. It is also valuable for all stakeholders in society: students, researchers and academicians. It proposes discussions and debate on a new, integrated, inclusive and open approach to climate change and validates the significance of geographic knowledge in addressing climate change issues at various levels, suggesting policy measures to cope with them.

This book provides information essential for anyone interested in climate and environmental change of the Himalayan region, including land and resource managers, environmental planners, conservationists, environmentalists, geographers, climatologists, ecologists, and students. The book is unique in its coverage of the current understanding of the science of climate change in the Himalayan mountain system and of the major impacts on physical systems and ecosystems. The book gives an overview of the physical science basis of climate change and explains drivers and processes of glacier and vegetation dynamics. The book covers relevant aspects of accelerated climate change observed in the Himalayan mountain system, and highlights the regional differentiation of climatic changes and associated environmental modifications. The focus is on climate variability and change, and how physical systems and ecosystems respond to climate change impacts. Consequences include impacts on physical systems such as glacier shrinkage, glacial lake outburst floods, altered hydrological characteristics, permafrost warming and thawing, and mass movements on slopes. Climate change is also a powerful stressor on ecosystems and induces range shifts of plant and animal species and alterations in terms of phenology, biomass, plant cover, plant group dominance and species composition. Thus, ecosystem structure and functioning will be strongly affected. The book has an introductory chapter followed by a section on climate change, a section on impacts on glaciers and hydrology, and a section on vegetation dynamics. Each section has several chapters presenting key concepts, major drivers and key processes of environmental change in the Himalayan region from different perspectives. Climate change impacts in the Himalaya have not been studied in much detail, and respective findings were not presented so far in a comprehensive overview. This book summarizes the current knowledge of interactions between climate change and the dynamics of glaciers, hydrology, and vegetation.

Sustainable development and sustainability—the two interchangeable used words—are significantly attracting the world academia to analyze emerging patterns of development. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), followed by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have been framed by the United Nations, suggesting the world to formulate the relevant developmental policies to achieve a sustainable future. Constraints in Achieving Sustainability of India gives an in-depth discussion on major issues and challenges India is facing towards realization of the sustainable development. Purpose of the book is to develop, contribute, and disseminate scientific knowledge pertaining to the issues related to sustainable development. The chapters are developed so that the contents can facilitate comprehension of the major constraints in achieving sustainability including but not limited to environmental, social, economic, and governance-related issues from local, regional, to national level. Resource management, climate change, agriculture, population, education, women, poverty, infrastructure, crime, corruption, governance, are the other relevant topics that have been both identified and suitably discussed. Constraints in Achieving Sustainability of India can be utilized as a guiding tool for realizing sustainability in development, especially, in the Indian context. The book covers environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability in Indian context with ample case studies from local communities to highlight impact of various dimensions. Table of Contents: Preface Contributors 1. Introduction and Overview 2. Sustainable Development: concept, components and history 3. Environment, Culture, and Sustainable Development: a historical perspective 4. Management and Rural Livelihood Sustainability in High Mountain Villages of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand 5. Evaluating the Role of Agro-forestry in Combating and Adapting to Impacts of Climate Change in the West Sikkim District, Sikkim 6. Water Resource Issues and its Sustainable Management in Urban Villages of South Delhi 7. Population Dynamics and Sustainability Issues in the Indian Himalayan Region 8. Gendered Occupations or Occupational Genders: a study of Kolkata metropolis 9. Urban Rurality, In-betweenness of Place and Urban Planning Process of Khora Colony, Uttar Pradesh 10. Critical Role of Higher Education Institutions in Achieving Sustainable Development in India 11. Perspectives on Public Health Policy and Sustainable Development Goals in India 12. Sway of Indian Cinema in Diffusing Environmental Sentience 13. Poverty Lines and Poor in India: a trend analysis from 1983-84 to 2004-05 14. Sanitation Workers and Associated Problems for the Sustainability of Religious Events: a case study of Magh Mela, Prayagraj 15. Assessment of Basic Infrastructure Development and Associated Issues in India 16. Assessing Urban Basic Services, Crime and Well-being in Low-income Housing of Shiv Vihar, JJ Colony, Delhi and Way to Sustainability 17. Corruption in India and Sustainable Development Goals: mapping the role of law and good governance 18. Principles and Challenges of Good Governance in Achieving Sustainability of India Index About the Editors

This book deals with the constantly evolving, vast, and diverse field of nontraditional security. Nontraditional security goes beyond military security and focuses primarily on socioeconomic security. Its major concern is human beings rather than border or territory of the state. The book focuses on nontraditional securities such as human security, energy security, food security, environmental security, cybersecurity, health security, terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, biological, and chemical weapons. All the nontraditional security issues are highly relevant for academics and policy makers as well.

This book explores the geographical, geomorphological, ecological, touristic and socioeconomic aspects of natural heritage, argues for the dynamic conservation of that heritage and explains its key characteristics, promotion, conservation and management to achieve sustainable development goals. Emerging concepts such as geodiversity, geographical heritage sites, geomonuments, geoparks and geotourism are increasingly being used by conservationists. At present, the development of geoparks is a major global theme involving the application of geosciences to promote the inclusive growth of society and the protection and conservation of our unique geoheritage. Currently, there are 147 UNESCO global geoparks across 41 countries, in addition to a number of national-level geoparks. Pursuing a holistic approach towards such sites will sensitise the general public to the need for geoconservation of significant geosites and promote it through geotourism. It is a crucial issue, as various countries around the world are eager to develop their geoparks and are working for the conservation of geoheritage sites at the national level. This unique book gathers contributions from 15 countries in the form of case studies analysing the realities on of geographical heritage, geoparks and geotourism. The respective chapters address the role of geoparks as essential tools for education, recreation and nature conservation. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable guide for geoscientists, planners, policymakers, civil society and anyone concerned about the conservation of geoheritage sites and geoparks for a sustainable future Earth.

This book describes the importance of water resources for socio-economic and ecological development including geomorphic and ecological environments. Hence, conservation, management and development of water resources have become necessary for the all-around development of global populations and the environment. It is the outcome of valuable contributions made by eminent scientists and research scholars who have developed alternative strategies, solutions and models for sustainable water resources through research, monitoring and experiments varying from regional to global scale. This book is of immense use to the policymakers, environmentalists, ecologists, academician, research scholars and people in general concerned with water resources management.