Himalayan Agroforestry Systems : Challenges and Opportunity to Sustainable Development

This new volume in the Advances in Agroforestry book series is dedicated to the agroforestry systems of the Indian Himalayan region. As traditional agroforestry systems face the pressures of climate change, this volume provides a critical analysis of integrated farming systems that optimize land use and enhance the socio-economic status of rural communities in diverse Himalayan landscapes.

Key concepts such as agrobiodiversity, multipurpose trees, and agri-horticulture systems are meticulously analyzed, offering insights into their roles in sustainable development. Central environmental and ecological aspects are also addressed, including tree biomass and carbon sequestration, soil carbon storage, fodder nutritive value, allelopathic interactions, and climate change perceptions and mitigation practices. The volume also covers socio-economic dimensions, exploring the integration of medicinal plants and wild edibles as pathways for livelihood improvement and income diversification. Additional chapters highlight bamboo‑based livelihood development and modern techniques in agroforestry practices across the Western and North‑western Himalaya.

Targeted at researchers, scholars, and practitioners in agroforestry, environmental science, and sustainable development, this book is ideal for those seeking to deepen their understanding of agroforestry systems in the Himalayan region. It is also suitable for students and academics across related disciplines, providing a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in sustainable agroforestry practices.

Bhupendra Singh
Bhupendra Singh is working as Assistant professor (Silviculture and Agroforestry) in the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Ranichauri, Uttarakhand, India and did his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Forestry from H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal. He has over 20 years of research experience in Forest in resource assessment, tree crops intractions, vegetative propagation and nutrient analysis of tree fodder in the Garhwal Himalaya. He has published more than 95 research papers in of different peer-reviewed scientific National and International Journals. He is serving as the Editorial Board Member of Discover Forests Journal.

Munesh Kumar
Dr Munesh Kumaris Professor in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. His area of research interest is Forest Ecology and Biodiversity, Agroforestry, Ethnobotany. He obtained his MSc and PhD degrees in Forestry from H.N.B. Garhwal University (A Central University), India. He has more than 20 years of teaching and research experiences. He has published more than 180 research papers in international and national journals. He has also published edited book as leadeditor from CRC press of titled “Diversity and dynamics in forest ecosystem”(ISBN: 9781771889797). Co-editor (Sustainable Management and conservation of Environmental Resources in India (ISBN:9781774915929), Co-editor (Elsevier, Climate change in the Himalayas ISBN; 9780443194153) and few book in the process of publication in the Springer and Elsevier. Dr Kumar also worked as Guest Editor in several Journal of MDPI, Frontiers, Journal of Land degradation and development, Tree, forest and people etc.

Deepa Rawat
Dr. Deepa Rawat is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Resource Management at the College of Forestry, Ranichauri, VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry, Bharsar, Uttarakhand, India. She holds a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Soil Science from GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand and has teaching and research experience of over 10 years. Her area of research focuses on soil-plant interactions, nutrient management, and sustainable land use systems in the Himalayan region. She has published 7 book chapters and 20+ research articles in peer reviewed national and international journals with impact factor. She has also served as the Principal Investigator for three externally funded research projects. Her research focuses on improving soil fertility, assessing soil health, and evaluating soil carbon sequestration potential to enhance productivity and resilience in mountain agroforestry and other land-use systems.

Vinod Prasad Khanduri
Prof. Vinod Prasad Khanduri is a Professor of Forestry (Silviculture) and Head of the Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry at the College of Forestry, VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Uttarakhand, India. He holds M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Forestry from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (a central University), Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand. He has expertise in silviculture, forest ecology, forest biology, tree improvement and agroforestry. He served as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry, Mizoram University, Aizawl, and subsequently joined the College of Forestry, Ranichauri, as Associate Professor. With more than 24 years of teaching and 28 years of research experience, he has supervised six doctoral scholars, more than 40master’s students and handled two major research projects. He has also held key academic and administrative positions, including Head, Department of Forestry (2012–2019); Dean, College of Forestry, Ranichauri (2019–2023), and Registrar (2016, 2017–2018) at Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Uttarakhand. At present, he serves as Head, Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, and also holds the additional charge of Chief Personnel Officer of the University. Prof. Khanduri has authored two books, eight book chapters, and over 124 research papers in reputed national and international journals. He also serves as a potential reviewer for the various Journals.