Abstract ID: 3.13012 | Accepted as Talk | Talk | TBA | TBA

The Himalayas are vital ecosystems that support millions of people, providing a plethora of essential services. Resource extraction, land-use changes, and climate change are putting increasing pressure on these landscapes. The spatial variability of ecosystem functions across altitudinal gradients is often overlooked in conservation efforts, historically focused on biophysical assessments and broad-scale governance approaches. Given region’s ecological and climatic transitions, a static, one-size-fits-all conservation strategy is inadequate, there is an urgent need to develop altitude-sensitive conservation models that integrate ecological processes with localized governance structures. The uneven distribution and availability of different ecosystem services across different altitudes leads to differing dependencies and differing vulnerabilities among communities. To ensure that governance models represent needs of Himalayan ecosystems and communities, this paper suggests an altitude-sensitive conservation strategy that combines scientific research and local knowledge. It is motivated by the work of scholars like Ostrom and ideas of polycentric governance and explores how decentralized, flexible conservation frameworks can enhance ecological resilience, community participation and how conservation strategies can be better tailored to local realities. It recognizes Himalayas as diverse social-ecological systems and based on that promotes a multi-scale governance approach. The lack of integration between governance models and ecological assessments is a major research gap. While scientific studies focus on ecosystem changes, and policies emphasize conservation targets, there is often a disconnect between the two. Recognizing the role of local communities as stewards of these landscapes, this paper advocates for a governance model that blends scientific data and traditional ecological knowledge. Collaborative decision-making, where policymakers, scientists, and communities jointly define conservation priorities, can create more adaptive, site-specific strategies, this approach shifts the focus from rigid efforts to resilience-building, ensuring that conservation efforts are not only ecologically effective but also socially sustainable. By moving beyond static conservation models and embracing an altitudinal and socio-ecological perspective, this paper provides a foundation for designing policies that sustain both ecosystems and livelihoods in the Himalayas.