ECOSYSTEM SERVICES APPRAISAL OF TROPICAL SAL FOREST IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA AND ITS ROLE IN LOCAL LIVELIHOOD.

Forest provides ecosystem services (ES) for community well being through local livelihoods. Tropical sal forest of West Bengal, India is not an exception, rather the tribal communities in forest fringe villages rely on it. The present study aims to quantify and estimate the values of provisioning and regulating ES and their contribution towards local livelihoods. The study revealed variation in provisional services quantity among the villages with highest percentage contribution by fodder and highest monetary value for fuelwood. Estimated monetary value of provisioning ES was INR 1859.00 person-1 year-1. Regulatory services that included carbon stock estimation (68.71 tC ha-1) have potential to sequester 252.17 tCO2 ha-1. Estimated monetary value of trees under regulatory services was INR 25,0221.00 ha-1. The stakeholder perception of such services showed positive responses, supporting the results of ES estimation and valuation. Income from forest products contributed 24% of total household income. Total economic value of ES in the study area was INR 13.052 billion year-1. Thus, studies are required for better understanding of the ES contribution to human well-being of a region to develop sustainable livelihood framework and proper forest management strategies for biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]