Indicator-based vulnerability assessment of forest ecosystem in the Indian Western Himalayas: An analytical hierarchy process integrated approach

Kumar, Manoj; Kalra, Naveen; Singh, Hukum; Sharma, Subrat; Rawat, P. S.; Singh, Ram Kumar; Gupta, Ajay Kumar; Kumar, Pavan; Ravindranath, N. H.

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107568

Cited by 47 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…In the field of forestry, Uncertainty Analysis and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis have been used for a range of applications. Kangas and Kangas (2004) provided a useful theoretical overview with practical examples, e.g., on the management of forests and forest ecosystems (Fürstenau et al 2007;Rauscher et al 2000), a topic that is also covered by Kumar et al (2021). While most studies aim to reflect the preferences of stakeholders, experts and decision-makers, they rarely include expert knowledge elicitation for missing data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agroforestry and reforestation with the Gold Standard-Decision Analysis of a voluntary carbon offset label

Netter

Luedeling

Whitney

2022

Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change

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Voluntary standards can help to ensure the quality of projects eligible for carbon offsetting, i.e., selling carbon certificates. However, in deciding on whether to adopt such standards, the managers of carbon offset projects are faced with uncertainty regarding the costs and risks involved. Decision Analysis provides a helpful set of tools that can support such decisions by forecasting outcomes under different scenarios. We applied Decision Analysis methods to generate models for the decisions to certify two projects in Costa Rica with the voluntary carbon offset label “The Gold Standard”. We evaluated certifying an additional site of a partially certified reforestation project, as well as the initial certification of an agroforestry project.We calibrated and interviewed decision-makers and stakeholders of the certification projects to identify important parameters and translate these into a decision model. We ran the final decision model as a Monte Carlo simulation to project plausible ranges of decision outcomes, expressed as Net Present Values and annual cash flows. We identified critical uncertainties and research priorities by using the Expected Value of Perfect Information. The results indicate that certification of the two projects would result in a positive Net Present Value. The partially low return on investment of the certification, however, shows the need for projects to undergo thorough evaluation and generate customized strategies before participating in a voluntary carbon offset scheme. The Decision Analysis approaches we describe can help to improve the process of decision making under uncertainty and should be widely adopted for evaluating the potential impacts of certification.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agroforestry and reforestation with the Gold Standard-Decision Analysis of a voluntary carbon offset label

Netter

Luedeling

Whitney

2022

Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change

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“…Feyissa et al [21] calculated landscape structure indices using a patch-corridor-matrix ecological model for patches on Mount Wechecha, Ethiopia, and found that they declined in all years. Kumar et al [22] selected six vulnerability indicators using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to assess the forest landscape vulnerability of the Western Himalayan region, India. Campagnaro et al [23] used transition matrices to analyze spatial and temporal changes in a pair of alpine watersheds in Italy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape Pattern Vulnerability of the Eastern Hengduan Mountains, China and Response to Elevation and Artificial Disturbance

Sun

Zhou

Zong

2022

Land

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The eastern Hengduan Mountains are located in the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin and are important for global biodiversity and water conservation in China. However, their landscape pattern vulnerability index (LVI) and its influencing factors have not been systematically studied. Therefore, the spatial distribution patterns, LVI, and the landscape artificial disturbance intensity (LHAI) of Ganzi Prefecture were analyzed using ArcGIS software based on landscape data and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) digital elevation data. Then, the LVI response to LHAI and elevation was discussed. The results showed that Ganzi Prefecture was dominated by low- and middle-LVI areas, together accounting for 56.45% of the total area. LVI values were highest in the northern regions, followed by the southern and eastern regions. Batang and Derong counties had the highest LVI values. Most areas in Ganzi Prefecture had very low- or low-LHAI values, accounting for 81.48% of the total area, whereas high-LHAI areas accounted for 2.32% of the total area. Both the LVI and LHAI of Ganzi Prefecture had clustered distributions. Spearman analysis indicated that when elevation exceeded 4500 m, it was the most important factor affecting LVI and LHAI. In the range of 4500–5400 m, the relationship between elevation and LVI shifted from a weak positive correlation to a negative correlation, whereas LHAI was positively correlated with elevation. In addition, LVI also responded significantly to LHAI. However, the relationship kept changing as elevation increased. Hence, the ecological vulnerability of high elevation areas above 4500 m deserves greater attention. In addition, pasture areas in the upstream reaches of the Yalong River in the northern region, the coastal area in the downstream reaches of the Jinsha River in the southern region, and the eastern mining area, should be prioritized for protection and restoration. This research provides a basis for appropriate environmental planning mechanisms and policy protections at the landscape level.

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“…The comprehensive index evaluation system contains selected indicators and the weights of each indicator. The studies predominantly use the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) [24,47,48] and expert scoring [48] to calculate the weight. However, these methods are not just non-objective but also controversial and may not apply to other areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Long-Term Ecological Vulnerability Analysis of the Tibetan Region of Natural Conditions and Ecological Protection Programs

et al. 2021

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The combined impacts of drastic natural environment change and increasing human interference are making the uncertainty of the Tibetan Plateau’s ecological vulnerability the world’s largest. In this study, an ecological vulnerability index (EVI) of Tibet in the core area of the Tibetan Plateau was assessed using a selected set of ecological, social, and economic indicators and using a spatial principal component analysis (SPCA) to calculate their weights. The data included Landsat images and socio-economic data from 1990 to 2015 in five-year intervals. The results showed that the total EVI remained at a high vulnerability level, with drastic fluctuation from 1990 to 2000 (a peak in 1995, when there was a sudden increase in light vulnerability, which moved to extreme vulnerability in the next period), and minor fluctuations after 2000, gradually increasing from southeast to northwest. In addition, the spatial analysis showed a distinct positive correlation between the EVI and grassland area (0.33), land use degree (0.15), NDVI (0.14), livestock husbandry output, and a negative correlation in terms of desertification area. The artificial afforestation program (AAP) had a positive significant correlation with NDVI (R2 = 0.88), preventing the environment from becoming more vulnerable. The results provide practical information and suggestions for planners to improve the land use degree in urban areas and the vegetation coverage in pastoral regions of the Tibetan Plateau based on the spatial–temporal heterogeneity patterns of the EVI of Tibet.

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Indicator-based vulnerability assessment of forest ecosystem in the Indian Western Himalayas: An analytical hierarchy process integrated approach

Cited by 47 publications

References 41 publications

Agroforestry and reforestation with the Gold Standard-Decision Analysis of a voluntary carbon offset label

Agroforestry and reforestation with the Gold Standard-Decision Analysis of a voluntary carbon offset label

Landscape Pattern Vulnerability of the Eastern Hengduan Mountains, China and Response to Elevation and Artificial Disturbance

A Long-Term Ecological Vulnerability Analysis of the Tibetan Region of Natural Conditions and Ecological Protection Programs

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