Abstract：
The Himalayan forests are facing a range of threats, which are making conservation efforts challenging. Using a mixed-method approach, this study investigated the threats to biodiversity conservation in Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR), a fragile ecosystem in the Eastern Himalayan foothills. The study found that between 1990 and 2021, BTR experienced rising summer temperatures and decreasing annual precipitation, contributing to forest dryness, water scarcity, and forest fires. Natural disasters such as floods, flash floods, earthquakes, and landslides also caused significant damage to wildlife habitats. Changes in land use and land cover, including encroachment, infrastructure development, fuelwood collection, and grazing practices, were also identified as significant drivers of ecosystem alteration. Besides, hunting and poaching also emerged as threats to wildlife populations in the reserve. By employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the study determined that land use change, infrastructure development, climate change, livestock grazing, and fuelwood collection pose significant threats to flora conservation outcomes in BTR, while infrastructure development, climate change, livestock grazing, and forest fires are the primary threats to wildlife conservation outcomes in the reserve. The study recommends the regulation of land use practices, promotion of sustainable livelihoods for local communities, effective conservation strategies, and public awareness and education programs to promote the value of biodiversity conservation.
摘要：
喜马拉雅森林正面临一系列威胁，这使得保护工作具有挑战性。使用混合方法方法，这项研究调查了BuxaTigerReserve（BTR）对生物多样性保护的威胁，喜马拉雅东部山麓脆弱的生态系统。研究发现，在1990年至2021年之间，BTR经历了夏季气温上升和年降水量减少，导致森林干燥，缺水,森林火灾。洪水等自然灾害,山洪暴发,地震,山体滑坡也对野生动物栖息地造成了严重破坏。土地利用和土地覆盖的变化，包括侵占,基础设施建设,薪材收藏,和放牧实践，也被确定为生态系统改变的重要驱动因素。此外,狩猎和偷猎也成为保护区野生动物种群的威胁。通过采用层次分析法(AHP)，这项研究确定了土地利用的变化，基础设施建设,气候变化,放牧的牲畜,和薪材收集对BTR中的植物保护结果构成重大威胁，在基础设施建设的同时，气候变化,放牧的牲畜,森林火灾是保护区野生动物保护成果的主要威胁。研究建议对土地使用做法进行规管,促进当地社区的可持续生计，有效的保护策略，以及公众意识和教育计划，以促进生物多样性保护的价值。
