Aditya Pradhan, Sarala Khaling, Yougesh Tamang

Environment, Development and Sustainability |  July 9, 2025

This study aims to examine the socio-cultural and economic values attributed to various ecosystem services prioritized by the local community in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya. The study was conducted in 31 villages across agriculture-based and tea plantation landscapes of Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya, covering an elevation gradient of 700–2300 m. Qualitative data on ecosystem services were collected by focus group discussion (n = 7) and key informant interviews (n = 37), while quantitative data was collected by survey-based stated preference method (n = 681).