Carrying capacity of an ecosystem
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustainably support without degrading the ecosystem.
Deaths and long term damage to an ecosystem occurs when a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its ecosystem.
Disease, competition, predator-prey interaction, resource use and the number of populations in an ecosystem all affect carrying capacity.
Change in carrying capacity for one species affects other populations in the area.
Importance of understanding carrying capacity of an ecosystem
For economic planning
For population control
For biodiversity conservation
For agriculture management
For urban planning
For food security
Himalayan states
The 13 Himalayan states and UTs include Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal.
Why it is in news?
The Centre has proposed forming a 13-member technical committee to evaluate the “carrying capacity” of 13 Himalayan States.
Frequent landslides leading to deaths and destruction had led the Supreme Court to moot a re-evaluation of the load-carrying capacity of hill towns and cities.
The government said the States could constitute committees headed by their respective Chief Secretaries to collect information on the load-carrying capacity of their hill stations, cities, and eco-sensitive zones.
The Centre said experts could be drawn from multiple disciplines, including hydrology, remote sensing, Himalayan geology, forestry, wildlife, architecture disaster management, pollution and groundwater protection.
Challenges faced by the carrying capacity of Himalayan ecosystem
Flawed Development
Unregulated Tourism
Rising Temperatures
Climate Change and Glacial Melting
Accumulation of Black Carbon
Prone to tectonic activities
Soil Erosion and Landslides
Deforestation
Construction activities
Improper land use practices
Growth of Invasive Species
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