Quantification and Valuation of Provisioning Ecosystem Services in the Temperate Forests of Uttarakhand, Western Himalayan Region, India

Temperate forests of the Western Himalayas play a vital role in sustaining rural livelihoods by providing a wide range of provisioning ecosystem services. Despite their ecological and economic importance, limited research has been conducted on the monetary valuation of these services in this region. The present study was carried out in the Mandal-Chopta forest of Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, with the aim of assessing forest structure, phytodiversity and valuation of associated provisioning services. Vegetation parameters, including species richness, density, total basal cover, Shannon diversity index, Simpson index, and evenness, were assessed using standard ecological methods across five forest types. The market price method was applied to estimate the economic value of provisioning services. Results revealed tree density ranging from 620 trees ha⁻¹ in Alnus nepalensis forest to 1710 trees ha⁻¹ in mixed broad-leaved forest, with total basal area spanning 46.36–95.53 m² ha⁻¹. Shannon diversity values varied between 1.51 and 2.78, while dbh-class distribution exhibited an inverse “J” pattern, indicating healthy regeneration. The annual monetary value of provisioning services was estimated at ₹14,369,421, equivalent to ₹55,695 per household and ₹14,269 per person. Major contributions included fuelwood (₹4,697,440/year), fodder (₹3,015,820/year), and leaf litter (₹609,180/year). The findings highlight the intrinsic link between biodiversity and ecosystem services, where higher species diversity supports greater productivity, resilience, and livelihood benefits. By demonstrating the substantial economic and ecological value of provisioning services, this study underscores the importance of conserving phytodiversity and integrating ecosystem service valuation into sustainable forest management and policy frameworks in the Himalayan region.