DefinePK

Abstract

Socio-cultural assessment is an extensively usedmethod to quantify ecosystem services (ES). Present studyinvestigated socio-economic importance of ES andmeasured carbon sequestration potential as regulatory ESin seven villages (Sheikhou, Jaglote, Glai, Adrkali,Shumari, Shabinal and Sobokot) of Tangir valley, districtDiamer, Gilgit Baltistan. Questionnaires and interviewbased social survey was conducted to explore provisioning,regulatory, supporting and cultural ES. Further, forestattributes data was collected from 29 inventory plots inpure stand of Quercus ilex. Results showed that theprovisioning services are comprised of fuel wood, fodder,grazing, food, leaf litter, fresh water and timber. In group discussion, community members gave top rank to the fodder(for their livestock) followed by fuel wood and litter collection.The highest correlation was shown between timber andmonthly income (R2= 0.42) whereas lowest was (R2 = 0.09) forNTFPs and fuel wood. Whereas negative correlation wasperceived for agriculture, leaf litter, grazing, fodder and rangeland with R2 (0.31, 0.18, 0.17, 0.15 and 0.11), respectively.Local communities were less aware about regulatory andsupporting services as these ES are taken as far-granted. Forestinventory showed that mean above ground biomass and carbonstocks were 72.46 and 34.06 t/ha, respectively. Similarly, totalbiomass and carbon stocks were 90.22 and 42.40 t/ha,respectively. Regarding cultural services, the area has greatpotential for eco-tourism due to outstanding landscape, scenicbeauty and biodiversity. Present study suggests further indepth evaluation of ecosystem services provided by Quercusforests on the regional scales. © 2020 Department ofAgricultural Sciences, AIOU