Shifting cultivation is a predominant practice in the majority of tropical hilly tracts. Relatively few studies have examined forest recovery following shifting cultivation and we have reviewed these studies to identify and synthesize general recovery patterns. Most studies report that, although pioneer tree species recover relatively faster, woody biomass of mature forest trees recovers several decades after suspension of cultivation. Analysis of bird-species inventories in 10 studies revealed that up to 70% of mature forest birds may recover in successional sites and that species composition is about 55% similar to that in mature forests within 25 years. Results of mammal studies were likely to have been confounded by hunting effects and therefore the effect of time since suspension of cultivation and hunting impacts need to be investigated separately. As shown by a few studies, we conclude that community recovery can be expected to be accelerated when relatively large forest tracts adjoin a shifting cultivation landscape, in comparison with recovery in sites with shorter fallow cycles in the absence of contiguous forests, which act as sources for recolonization of fauna and vegetation.

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Agriculture in the Indian Central Himalaya as an integrated resource system, being mainly dependent on forests and livestock, is also absolutely dependent on the input of women. The article shows that women have greater access to the major primary productive resources in the region and shoulder the responsibility of rationally managing and conserving these resources. Food production, cattle care and other routine household activities demand that women often work more than 15 hours per day. This onerous shouldering of various responsibilities by women, to some extent an outcome of geo-cultural specificities that impact on gender division of labour, creates much drudgery.The article discusses the critical role of women in the use and conservation of forests, livestock and agriculture generally, identifying technologies and strategies to be adopted to conserve and improve these resources and their productivity, while simultaneously ameliorating the quality of life for women in this mountainous ecosystem.

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