Habitat loss and degradation Sample Clauses

Habitat loss and degradation. One cause of habitat loss and degradation is conversion of forests and grasslands due to agricultural expansion and encroachment. Abject poverty in the mountain communities has elevated problems related to land-use change and unchecked agricultural expansion. Much of the important critical ecosystem spaces in mountain areas fall outside protected areas. These areas, which are rich in biodiversity and connect corridors among the scattered conservation areas, face the highest degree of agricultural encroachment. Consequently, land degradation in the region is seriously affecting the predominant agro-pastoralist practices, such as slash and burn or shifting cultivation, resulting in large-scale deforestation, soil and nutrient loss and invasion by alien species. Another threat is unregulated and unsustainable grazing practices. Pastures are an important component of mountain ecosystems. Besides supporting globally endangered biodiversity such as snow leopards and their prey base, they provide forage for a large number of livestock, especially those of the transhumant herders in the SHL. However, the increasing number of livestock in the region is degrading the quality of available pastures through overgrazing. As a consequence, invasion of unpalatable species, soil erosion and desertification are intensifying the problems in an already climate-vulnerable ecosystem. This not only affects the productivity of livestock but also has potential to displace the wild ungulates such as blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, etc. – principal prey species of snow leopards from their preferred habitats. The pattern of unequal access to resources and inequity in benefit sharing is the major cause of resource-based conflict in the region. Women and poor, indigenous and marginalized communities are mostly excluded from decision making processes related to resource management and benefit sharing. A lack of good governance practices like participation, transparency and accountability cuts across all non-government and government institutions. As a result of diminished access to resources and decision making processes, the indigenous and marginalized communities have very low ownership in conservation of biodiversity.