Community priorities, values, and perceptions associated with ecosystem services provided by the socio-ecological landscapes of Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya

The process of incorporating the priorities of local communities in developing countries is important in the formulation of effective policies for environmental and natural resource conservation. With this outlook, this study was conducted to assess community priorities and socio-cultural values associated with ecosystem services provided by the socio-ecological landscapes. The study was carried out in 31 villages across four major agriculture-based land-use systems of Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya, covering an elevation gradient of 700–2300 m. Data on perception of ecosystem services were collected by focus group discussions (n = 37) using participatory rural appraisal tools, like listing, ranking, and trend analysis. Twenty-eight ecosystem services belonging to provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services were identified as important by the local communities, majority of which were associated with well-being and socio-economic values of the community. Differences in perception across different localities were observed, which relates to diversified livelihood strategies. Provisioning and cultural services were readily recognized by the local communities; yet, regulating services were valued over them. Provision and regulation of freshwater were found to be the most highly prioritized ecosystem services across the landscape, suggesting the perceived role and importance of freshwater in rural well-being. Local communities perceived declining trends in the availability of many ecosystem services (mostly provisioning), particularly freshwater. This calls for an urgent need for formulation of better policies and management interventions to restore the declining yet highly prioritized services in the rural areas of the landscape, through stakeholder consultations that involve the local communities.