Human environment and socio - economic development in the Himalayas: an institutional study of natural and Human Resource Management in the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas

The present work deals with some of the institutional aspects of human and na tional resource management in the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas. Envi ronmental sustainability and ecologically sound management of the land resources are vital issues in the developmental policy, which are now matters of public debates and discussions.
The author has focussed on the very crucial but less explored issues of natural and human resource management in the Uttar Pradesh Himalayas.
The present work is an exercise in apply Ing the holistic approach to the pattern of the resource management in the Himalayas as it is necessary to formulate a typology which is based on history, geography and ecology of the region for an effective and sustainable management of the natural resources.
The author has undertaken the difficult task of exploring the institutional frame work of land management since 1790 AD and putting the data into an integrated system.
The present study has adopted the insti tutional approach with people and their existential activities as the Central focal point of discussion on the human envi ronment in the Uttar Pradesh Himalayas.

The author has rightly pointed out that women are the real backbone of the rural economy in the Himalayas and without their active participation no effective en vironmental planning and of the partici patory pattern of resource management could be undertaken.
This work dealing with less explored as pects of natural and human environment from an institutional angle will be found useful by all those who are concerned with the environmental questions relating to the Himalayas from a development perspective.