Factors Promoting and Impeding Diversification of Forestry Resource-based Livelihoods in the Leh Himalaya of Ladakh Union Territory, India

Abstract

Livelihood diversification through strengthening forestry resource-based interventions is an effective strategy for poverty alleviation and socioeconomic upliftment for downtrodden people. The study investigated the promoting and impeding factors that are crucial for the diversification of forestry resource-based livelihoods in Leh Himalaya of Ladakh Union Territory. The study is based on personal interviews with the selected 185 respondents through a structured interview schedule and non-participant observations carried out in the 9 sample villages of 5 blocks using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, average, and simple ranking technique, were used to analyze the data. The findings based on their weighted mean score (WMS) and percentage score (PS) revealed that among the factors promoting the diversification of forestry resource-based livelihoods, forest resource self-sufficiency (WMS-1.98, PS-12.28%) was perceived as the most effective, while utilization of free time (WMS-0.73, PS-4.53%) was considered the least effective. Conversely, the most effective impeding factor for the diversification of forestry resource-based livelihoods considered among the people was labor-intensive and less remunerative livelihoods (WMS-1.96, PS-11.80%), while lack of cold storage facilities (WMS-0.74, PS-4.46%) was opined as the least effective. The insights into the promoting and impeding factors for diversification of forestry-based livelihoods highlighted in the study will be the basis for the planning and implementation of forestry programmes for forestry resource production and livelihood diversification in the Leh district of Ladakh. To make forestry-based livelihoods sustainable and reduce vulnerability, the prominent promoting and impeding factors must be exploited efficiently.