Ecological and Ecosystem Services
The private forests of the Gadoli and Manda Khal Fee Simple Estate provide a wide range of ecological and ecosystem services. A valuable storehouse for temperate biodiversity in the region these private forests support rich plant and animal diversity.
The approximately 450 hectare forests are an important carbon sink in the region with the additional benefits of local climate regulation. These private forests are also home to micro-watersheds from which about eight perennial Himalayan springs originate provide clean, mountain spring water for drinking and agriculture to local villages on the periphery of these forests.
The Nayyar River, the lifeline of the Pauri Garhwal district and home to the endangered freshwater fish – the Golden Mahseer originates in the micro-catchment of the Manda Khal forests adding to the ecological and environmental services that these forests provide for nearby local communities.
The rich lichen diversity of the forests are further natural bioindicators that evidence the pure and unpolluted air generated by these forests.
Snowfall which has not been seen in the area for over a decade has been regularly recorded annually for the past 6 years since stopping the numerous illegal non-forest activities in these forests bearing witness to the role that these forests have as local climate regulators.
