Introduction

The overall objective of the envisaged project is “Forest ecosystems in HP are managed in a way, that the risks of climate change and its negative impacts are minimized and/or mitigated, resulting in an increase in biodiversity of the treated Himalayan ecosystems and sustained income in rural areas from sustainable management of natural resources”. The project is expected to lead to reduced forest degradation, increased biodiversity, enhanced income for forest-dependent communities in vulnerable landscapes, increased availability of spring water in treated spring catchment areas and sustainable management of forests in the project area.

The mission of HPFECPP – to increase the resilience of forests to climate change - can be formulated for forest management as following:

1. 1.  Reduction of grazing pressure on forests by forest closures to promote and protect natural regeneration in suitable stands; in return the fodder base for livestock close to settlements will be improved. An additional saving book approach for protection against grazing, fire and encroachment supports the waiving of grazing in closed forests.
2. 2.  Prevention and suppression of forest fires by social activities, i.e. the saving book approach to protect forest from fire.
3. 3.  Plantation of climate change adapted multi-purpose trees in degraded forests and in water protection forests above springs; gap plantations should be preferred to be more effective on larger areas.
4. 4.  Natural regeneration in open degraded stands by silvicultural thinning and - if needed - weed (lantana) removal and protection against grazing, wherever needed, plantation will be additionally done.
5. 5.  Removing of lantana in degraded stands of higher public interests and in young plantations (conifers: 6 – 8 m tall, broad leave plantation>5 years since establishment) to reduce fire risks or maintain planted seedlings competing with lantana.
6. 6.  Thinning in dense young mixed stands to maintain the species mix in dense thinning stands.
7. 7.  In return for forest closures: Improvement of the fodder base close to settlements by plantation of fodder trees and high yield grasses.
8. 8.  Erosion control to maintain the species mix in dense thinning stands.