Indian Himalayan Region Research Articles

Efficient protocol for micropropagation of medicinal forest tree Shyonak (Oroxylum indicum) by silver nitrate promoted high frequency shoot proliferation

Oroxylum indicum, a significant medicinal plant in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), faces ecological and economic challenges due to high demand for its traditional herbal remedies, leading to overexploitation. To combat this, the authors have developed an in vitro propagation protocol aimed at achieving robust shoot proliferation. Using nodal segments from in vitro germinated seedlings, the best results were obtained with a medium containing only benzyladenine (BA) at 22.2 µM. Despite basal callus formation and reduced shoot numbers, the addition of silver nitrate improved shoot proliferation and overall plant health. For in vitro root induction and proliferation, a medium enriched with Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at 2.85 µM proved the most effective. Successful transplantation of acclimatized plantlets to field conditions was achieved. This protocol not only aids O. indicum conservation but also holds socio-economic potential for Himalayan communities, as its bark is valuable in commercial Ayurvedic preparations, including Dashamoolarishta.

Molecular marker-assisted genetic diversity analysis in soybean cultivars from Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India

‘Bhat’ is the soybean variety highly valued in the traditional food and therapeutic system of Uttarakhand state in the Indian Himalayan region. It is available in diverse colors, shapes, and sizes, often linked to their nutritional parameters. The present investigation was conducted to assess the diversity and genetic relatedness in ‘bhat’ genotype indigenous to the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. 25 polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers were used to determine the genetic diversity and varietal identification among the 45 genotypes collected from the different villages of Uttarakhand. Out of the different markers assessed only 13 primers showed amplification with the maximum of 2–4 alleles obtained with each primer with the molecular weight ranging between 80 and 400 kb. The highest band amplification was observed in Satt 257 and Satt 197. The allelic frequencies of amplified primers ranged from 0.5 to 0.833 with a mean value of 0.645 and the mean gene diversity and PIC value was found to be 0.43 and 0.33. Satt 183, Satt 288, and Satt 389 showed the highest polymorphism, while Satt257 and Satt245 exhibited the presence of unique alleles in some samples. The phylogenetic analysis grouped the genotypes into 4 major clusters having visually distinct phenotypes in each group, indicating the mixing of population and loss of authenticity also confirming that phenotypic attributes are not indicative of genetic relatedness among the genotype under study. The results indicate the need for the development of novel ‘bhat’ specific markers for more accurate genetic identification of the nutritionally rich indigenous soybean variety.

Spatially Explicit climate change vulnerability assessment of ecological systems along altitudinal gradients in the Indian Himalayan region

Spatial ecological vulnerability assessments are important for devising management plans for ecological systems to maintain the flow of ecosystem services, especially in the mountains. Himalayan mountains, being a fragile ecosystem, have considerable ecological value, however, information on ecological vulnerability is lacking. The present evaluation attempts to prioritize ecosensitive zones by assessing the altitudinal ecological vulnerability of Garhwal Himalaya, India by devising a framework using a mix of bio-physical parameters. Eight bio-physical parameters, viz., Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), slope, aspect, landscape fragmentation, temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)) were identified and considered to assess vulnerability. Spatial Principal Component Analysis (SPCA) results in five Principal Components (PCs), which were integrated and weighted for the calculation of the Ecological Vulnerability Index (EVI). The analysis results differential vulnerability across the altitudes with above 2000m altitude showed severe vulnerability and classified as potential vulnerability (36.25 %), slight vulnerability (35.25 %), medium vulnerability (20.25 %), high vulnerability (8.25 %) and severe vulnerability (0.25 %). The vulnerable regions were prioritized based on their ecological vulnerability as per the classes viz., region of strict protection (24.70 %), region of focal protection (60.41%) and region of composite development (14.89 %). The study suggetsed priority conservation and management actions for addressing the vulnerable areas for sustainable development of the region. The study provides valuable insights of vulnerability and associated protection measures leading to devising the most suitable management strategies for the sustainability of the ecological systems.

Elevation gradients alter vegetation attributes in mountain ecosystems of eastern Himalaya, India

The present study describes how vegetation (the tree layer) is shaped along the elevation gradients in the eastern part of the Indian Himalayan Region. Various vegetation attributes, distribution, population structure, and regeneration patterns of 75 tree species belonging to 31 families were studied. Tree species richness shows a low plateau (peaked between 1,300–1,500 m) with a linearly decreasing pattern above 1,500 m asl. Ericaceae was found as the dominant family, followed by Lauraceae and Rosaceae. The distributional pattern of species-to-genera ratio (S/G) did not follow any particular trends, while β-diversity increased along the elevation gradient. The Margalef index of species richness, the Menheink index of species richness, and the Fisher alpha were found to be highest at lower altitudes (1,000–1,500 m), while the Simpson index was highest at middle altitudes (2,600–3,000 m). Random distribution was shown by maximum tree species (47.3%), followed by a contagious distribution (42.9%), and regular distribution (10.8%). The regeneration of tree species was found to be good with a healthier number of seedlings (10.2%), fair (43.5%), poor (30.3%), while 16% were observed not regenerating. Acer laevigatum (1,500 m), Prunus nepalensis (3,300 m), Viburnum sympodiale (3,400 m) were among the new regenerating species at the respective altitudes. The population structure of tree species in terms of proportion of individuals in seedlings, saplings, and the adult class varied in all the elevation transects. Species with better regeneration on upper distribution limits have been recognized as probable for upward movement.

Digital marketing impact on rural Homestay booking and role of destination image

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of various internet marketing methods like Online Travel Agents (OTA), Online Reviews (ORV), social media (SM), and Web GIS (WG) and examine the mediating role of Destination Image (DI) on tourist Homestay Booking (HB) located in the Himalayan region of India. Primary data was collected by using a structured questionnaire from 340 tourist respondents. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the data using SPSS and AMOS 21. The study validates the considerable role of OTA, ORV, SM, and WG on Homestay booking. The result emphasizes OTA roles, the importance of utilizing positive reviews, leveraging the power of social media, the significance of superior destination image, and implementing Web GIS in Homestay marketing.

Investigating the dynamic nature of landslide susceptibility in the Indian Himalayan region.

Landslide susceptibility zonation (LSZ) mapping is used to delineate areas prone to landslides and is critical for effective landslide hazard management. The existing methodologies for generating such maps tend to neglect the influence of dynamic environmental variables on landslide occurrences, which may lead to obsolete and erroneous estimates of landslide susceptibility (LS) for a concerned area. Although recent studies have started to report the effects of Land Use/ Land Cover (LULC) variation on LSZ mapping, variations in other dynamic variables like rainfall, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration apart from LULC may also influence slope stability in mountainous regions. The present study investigates the impact of variations in these four variables on the LS distribution, of a selected Indian Himalayan region between 2017 and 2021. Random Forest (RF) susceptibility models are utilized for evaluating the LS for the selected years and geospatial technologies are employed for LS change detection. The results indicate up to 19% variations in the spatial extent for some of the zones of the generated LSZ maps. The research findings of this study are crucial since they reveal the impact of dynamic behavior on LS, which has not been previously documented in the literature.

Identification of sources of coarse mode aerosol particles (PM10) using ATR-FTIR and SEM-EDX spectroscopy over the Himalayan Region of India.

This study attempts to examine the morphological, elemental and physical characteristics of PM10 over the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) using FTIR and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis. The study aimed at source identification of PM10 by exploring the inorganic ions, organic functional groups, morphology and elemental characteristics. The pollution load of PM10 was estimated as 63 ± 22 μg m-3; 53 ± 16 μg m-3; 67 ± 26 μg m-3 and 55 ± 11 μg m-3 over Mohal-Kullu, Almora, Nainital and Darjeeling, respectively. ATR-FTIR spectrum analysis revealed the existence of inorganic ions (SiO44-, TiO2, SO42-, SO3-, NO3-, NO2-, CO32-, HCO3-, NH4+) and organic functional groups (C-C, C-H, C=C, C≡C, C=O, N-H, C≡N, C=N, O-H, cyclic rings, aromatic compounds and some heterogeneous groups) in PM10 which may arise from geogenic, biogenic and anthropogenic sources. The morphological and elemental characterization was performed by SEM-EDX, inferring for geogenic origin (Al, Na, K, Ca, Mg and Fe) due to the presence of different morphologies (irregular, spherical, cluster, sheet-like solid deposition and columnar). In contrast, particles having biogenic and anthropogenic origins (K, S and Ba) have primarily spherical with few irregular particles at all the study sites. Also, the statistical analysis ANOVA depicts that among all the detected elements, Na, Al, Si, S and K are site-specific in nature as their mean of aw% significantly varied for all the sites. The trajectory analysis revealed that the Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, the Thar Desert, Himachal Pradesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sikkim, the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) and the Bay of Bengal (BoB) contribute to the increased loading of atmospheric pollutants in various locations within the IHR.

Long term (1901−2021) trends and prediction of climatic variability in selected agro‐ecological zones of Himachal Pradesh using coupled statistical and machine learning approaches

This study analyses the trends of changing climatic elements in the hydrological regime of the Indian Himalayan Region with specific focus on Agro‐ecological zone II & III of Himachal Pradesh for the period of 1901−2021. The upper, middle, and lower catchment areas of Sutlej River Basin were studied to reveal regional trends in climatic parameters. The Mann‐Kendall test and Sen Slope analysis were used to estimate annual and seasonal trends and their magnitude. The results showed a significant decreasing trend in the lower catchment area, with a break point year estimated to be 1953 for the entire basin. Two blocks of analysis, 1901−1953 and 1954−2021, showed significant variations. Annual rainfall data revealed a statistically significant decreasing trend at different stations. The lower catchment area received a significant increase in rainfall compared to higher altitude stations. In terms of seasonal variation, the pre‐monsoon season showed a significant decrease, while the entire basin recorded a significant increase in average monthly temperature. The study concludes by generating future time series predictions using an ANN model for the period of 2022−2050. Overall, the study's findings indicate a significant change in climatic variables with signs of increasing monthly temperatures and decreasing annual rainfall.

Data synthesis for biodiversity science: a database on plant diversity of the Indian Himalayan Region

Data synthesis for biodiversity science: a database on plant diversity of the Indian Himalayan Region

Isolation and characterization of lactic acid bacteria producing a potent anti-listerial bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) from chhurpi, a fermented milk product.

Nowadays, the bacteriocin industries have seen significant growth, supplanting chemical preservatives in its ability to improve the shelf-life and safety of food. The increasing customer desire to use natural preservatives has fueled advancing bacteriocin research. The objective of this study was to identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that produce bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) and have strong anti-listerial activity. We have identified and analyzed a LAB obtained from chhurpi samples, a popular milk-derived product in the Himalayan regions of India and Nepal. The strain was studied and identified based on its morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics. Furthermore, the molecular 16s-rDNA analysis suggests that the strain was Lactococcus sp. RGUAM1 (98.2% similar to Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae NBRC 100931T). The isolated strain can produce a potent BLIS, which has shown efficacy against three gram-positive bacteria responsible for food spoilage, such as Listeria monocytogenes (MTCC 657), Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus (MTCC 87), Lactobacillus plantarum (MTCC 1407), Lactobacillus paraplantarum (MTCC 12904). The scanning electron microscope (SEM) image illustrates that the crude cell-free supernatant (CFS) disrupts the cell envelope, leading to the release of cellular contents and the clustering of cells. In addition, this BLIS can easily withstand a wide range of pH (2-12), temperature (up to 100°C for 15min), bile salt (0.3% W/V), salinity (4% W/V), and enzyme activity of 1600AU/ml against Listeria monocytogenes. Our research offers a robust framework and valuable insights into bio-preservation and its potential applications in diverse food products.

Climate-change-induced risk mapping of the Indian Himalayan districts using the latest IPCC framework

Mountain regions worldwide, notably the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) encompassing the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), face considerable vulnerability to various hazards resulting in human and livestock casualties, financial losses, and damage. The primary objective of this study is to construct a climate-change-induced risk index specifically for the districts within the IHR. The concept of risk herein refers to the composite of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure, aligned with the current framework of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Utilising the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), a multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) approach, the research integrates indicators to generate indices pertaining to hazard, vulnerability, and exposure across 109 districts in both the Western Indian Himalayan Region (WIHR) and the Eastern Indian Himalayan Region (EIHR). The study relies on secondary data sourced from various openly accessible government reports and websites. Key findings include: (1) The WIHR exhibits a higher overall risk compared to the EIHR. (2) The WIHR demonstrates elevated rankings in hazards and exposure indices. (3) The EIHR exhibits a relatively higher vulnerability index. This paper presents a pioneering contribution to the limited body of literature on risk assessment by offering one of the initial attempts to rank administrative districts pan-IHR based on the latest IPCC criteria. Moreover, the assessment carries significant implications for policymakers, as it is critical to identify the districts vulnerable to climate change and the extent of their vulnerability before addressing climate-induced risk.

Trend of viral load during the first, second, and third wave of COVID-19 in the Indian Himalayan region: an observational study of the Uttarakhand state.

India had faced three waves throughout the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which had already impacted economic lives and affected the healthcare setting and infrastructure. The widespread impacts have inspired researchers to look for clinical indicators of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection prognosis. Cyclic threshold values have been used to correlate the viral load in COVID-19 patients and for viral transmission. In light of this correlation, a retrospective study was conducted to assess the trend of viral load in clinical and demographic profiles across the three waves. Data of a total of 11,125 COVID-19-positive patients were obtained, which had a Ct value of <35. We stratified Ct values as follows: under 25 (high viral load), 25-30 (moderate viral load), and over 30 (low viral load). We found a significantly high proportion of patients with high viral load during the second wave. A significantly high viral load across the symptomatic and vaccinated populations was found in all three waves, whereas a significantly high viral load across age groups was found only in the first wave. With the widespread availability of real-time PCR and the limited use of genomic surveillance, the Ct value and viral load could be a suitable tool for population-level monitoring and forecasting.

Investigating the phenology and interactions of competitive plant species co-occurring with invasive Lantana camara in Indian Himalayan Region

Invasive plant species are considered one of the significant drivers of habitat loss, leading to biodiversity loss. They have also been observed to alter the local ecology, resulting in a decline of native flora. The management of invasive species is widely recognised as one of the most severe challenges to biodiversity conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers Lantana camara, as one of the ten worst weeds. Over time, native and indigenous species may evolve to co-exist or compete with invasive species, reducing invader fitness. It is observed that species competition fluctuates throughout environmental gradients, life phases, and abundances. Hence, competition outcome is very context-dependent. To address this challenge, we conducted a comprehensive study in three phases: we identified native species coexisting with Lantana in their natural habitats in the Doon Valley (Phase I) and documented the phenotypic traits of selected coexisting species using the Landmark BBCH (Biologische Bun-desantalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie) scale, revealing the phenological growth patterns of selected co-existing species (Phase II). This was followed by conducting pot (Phase IIIa) and field (Phase IIIb) experiments to study the interactions between them. Notably, Justicia adhatoda, Broussonetia papyrifera, Pongamia pinnata, Urtica dioica and Bauhinia variegata demonstrated promising results in both pot and field conditions. Furthermore, after the mechanical removal of Lantana and prior to the plantation in the field experiments, four native grass species were introduced using the seed ball method. Among these, Pennisetum pedicellatum and Sorghum halpense exhibited prompt regeneration and effectively colonised the field, densely covering the cleared area. The study provides a comprehensive management plan for the restoration of Lantana affected areas through competition using native species. This study utilizes phenological assessment for native plant selection using reclamation from native grasses and proposes a management plan for combating invasive Lantana.

Analysing Tourism Research in the Indian Himalayan Region to Identify Gaps and Propose Sustainable Development Strategies

Analysing Tourism Research in the Indian Himalayan Region to Identify Gaps and Propose Sustainable Development Strategies

Embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater reuse strategies in Indian Himalayan region

Increasing water stress and high energy requirements in urban water systems (UWSs) makes it imperative to reduce water demand by adopting wastewater reuse. However, there is a gap in the existing literature about analysing the operation of hilly urban water systems (UWSs) and suggesting energy efficient and environmentally benign wastewater reuse strategies. The objective of this study is to investigate the water-energy-greenhouse gas (GHG) nexus for different wastewater reuse strategies in UWS located in the Indian Himalayan region. Potential scenarios for the direct potable and non-potable reuse in the region were analysed. The system boundary consisted of the construction and operation phase inputs. The functional unit of the study was 1 m3 of water supplied to the UWS. The data inventory was developed using process designs, site specific information, engineering calculations and commercial databases. The total embodied energy and total GHG emissions were estimated using the existing models based on mass balance approach. The hilly UWS uses 17.6 kWh/m3 of total embodied energy and emits 6.2 kgCO2eq/m3 GHG emissions in its present operation. Over 90% of energy and GHG emissions were associated with pumping, which is required to cover over 1000 m of elevation head. The combined reuse scenario comprising both non-potable and direct potable reuse had the lowest embodied energy use and GHG emissions with a magnitude of 12.9 kWh/m3 and 4.3 kgCO2eq/m3. By comparative assessment of potential reuse scenarios, the study provides rationale for adopting appropriate strategy based on water savings, energy use, and environmental interventions.

Forest Height and Aboveground Biomass Mapping by synergistic use of GEDI and Sentinel Data using Random Forest Algorithm in the Indian Himalayan Region

Forest Height and Aboveground Biomass Mapping by synergistic use of GEDI and Sentinel Data using Random Forest Algorithm in the Indian Himalayan Region

Epidemiology of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in the Himalayan Range and Sub-Himalayan region: A Retrospective Hospital Data-Based Study.

To compile epidemiological characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in the Northern Indian Himalayan regions and Sub-Himalayan planes. The present study is a retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive analysis based on hospital data conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Spine Unit of Trauma Centre in a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand, India. People hospitalized at the tertiary care center between August 2018 and November 2021 are included in the study sample. A prestructured proforma was employed for the evaluation, including demographic and epidemiological characteristics. TSCI was found in 167 out of 3,120 trauma patients. The mean age of people with TSCI was 33.5±13.3, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.4:1. Eighty-three participants (49.7%) were from the plains, while the hilly region accounts for 50.3%. People from the plains had a 2.9:1 rural-to-urban ratio, whereas the hilly region had a 6:1 ratio. The overall most prevalent cause was Falls (59.3%), followed by road traffic accidents (RTAs) (35.9%). RTAs (57.2%) were the most common cause of TSCI in the plains' urban regions, while Falls (58.1%) were more common in rural plains. In both urban (66.6%) and rural (65.3%) parts of the hilly region, falls were the most common cause. TSCI is more common in young males, especially in rural hilly areas. Falls rather than RTAs are the major cause.

Projected Impacts of Climate Change on the Range Expansion of the Invasive Straggler Daisy (Calyptocarpus vialis) in the Northwestern Indian Himalayan Region.

Human-induced climate change modifies plant species distribution, reorganizing ecologically suitable habitats for invasive species. In this study, we identified the environmental factors that are important for the spread of Calyptocarpus vialis, an emerging invasive weed in the northwestern Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), along with possible habitats of the weed under current climatic scenarios and potential range expansion under several representative concentration pathways (RCPs) using MaxEnt niche modeling. The prediction had a high AUC (area under the curve) value of 0.894 ± 0.010 and a remarkable correlation between the test and expected omission rates. BIO15 (precipitation seasonality; 38.8%) and BIO1 (annual mean temperature; 35.7%) had the greatest impact on the probable distribution of C. vialis, followed by elevation (11.7%) and landcover (6.3%). The findings show that, unlike the current situation, "high" and "very high" suitability areas would rise while less-suited habitats would disappear. All RCPs (2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5) indicate the expansion of C. vialis in "high" suitability areas, but RCP 4.5 predicts contraction, and RCPs 2.6, 6.0, and 8.5 predict expansion in "very high" probability areas. The current distribution of C. vialis is 21.59% of the total area of the state, with "medium" to "high" invasion suitability, but under the RCP 8.5 scenario, it might grow by 10% by 2070. The study also reveals that C. vialis may expand its niche at both lower and higher elevations. This study clarifies how bioclimatic and topographic factors affect the dispersion of invasive species in the biodiverse IHR. Policymakers and land-use managers can utilize the data to monitor C. vialis hotspots and develop scientifically sound management methods.

Bidecadal analysis of urbanization effects and ecosystem services at Haldwani, Western Himalayas, India

The study addresses the impact of urbanization on fragile ecosystems such as the Western Himalayas. One rapidly growing city in the Himalayan region is Haldwani, Uttarakhand, which has been subject to human encroachment and subsequent loss of ecosystem services. Several environmental parameters such as Nighttime light (NTL), Land Surface Temperatures (LSTs), Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), and forest cover are used in this study based on satellite imagery to allow a bidecadal comparison (between 2000 and 2020) of the status of these parameters for the city based on these parameters shows a decline in ecosystem services. Significant statistical differences for LSTs and AOD can be found in the bidecadal comparison. Furthermore, a strong negative effect was found between LST-NDVI (r = −0.69) and NTL-NDVI (r = −0.58) in earlier and last decade intervals. In addition, long-term multi-spectral satellite imagery also shows a decline in tree cover in the reserved forest. Therefore, focusing on ecosystem services related to tree cover in reserved forest areas, particularly in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) must be part of a broader action plan to address these issues to protect fragile Himalayan ecosystems further.

“Forest carbon sequestration mapping and economic quantification infusing MLPnn-Markov chain and InVEST carbon model in Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalaya”

Due to the expeditious rise in anthropogenic activities and rapid extractive pressure, protected areas in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) are experiencing significant losses in ecological diversity and a substantial decline in the potential for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. The quantification of carbon sequestration and the understanding of its corresponding economic gain/loss are crucial for raising strict preservative concerns in protected areas with rich ecological and economic values. Transitions in land use land cover (LULC) trajectories from historical to future scenarios impact the dynamics of carbon storage and sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems. The present study extends a comprehensive 40-year (1995–2035) assessment of carbon mapping (gain/loss) as well as an economic approximation of carbon sequestration in the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary (AWLS), Western Himalaya, using satellite data. This investigation presents a novel hybrid approach by infusing machine learning algorithms and a spatial-temporal technique-based MLPnn-Markov chain model for future LULC simulation with the InVEST model that incorporates carbon mapping and economic valuation. The results show that among all the land use classes, dense forest has the highest carbon density; however, it exhibits a decreasing trend from 1995 (5,695,878.41 Mg/ha) to 2035 (4,378,439.81 Mg/ha). The economic quantification of carbon sequestration was performed by applying sensitivity analysis combined with different carbon prices and discount rates from 2020 to 2035. The observed outcomes reveal significant economic losses due to rapid forest cover decline, as indicated by a negative net present value (NPV) ranging from a minimum of ∼US$ -8 million to a maximum of ∼US$ -53 million. This study develops a valuable database by providing evidence-based decision-making and guidance for the sustainable preservation of ecosystems in the Western Himalayas and similar regions worldwide, where forest carbon sequestration is of paramount importance. The findings of the study suggest sound provisions for the conservation of forested landscapes and the development of efficient voluntary and regulatory carbon trading markets to achieve stability in forest carbon stocks. In doing so, this interdisciplinary approach addresses the growing imperative of integrating ecological and economic aspects in the context of biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.