Socio-Environmental Survey of an Ecotourism Hamlet Situated in the Eastern Himalayas in India with Special Focus on Climate Change Perspectives

The climatic, hydrological and biodiversity features of the Indian Subcontinent are significantly influenced by the Himalayas. Numerous small villages are situated in the Eastern part of the Himalayas in India and some of them are in close proximity to the Himalayan forests. Chota Mungwa (27.053 N, 88.399 E) is one of the villages of the Eastern Himalayas where ecotourism has flourished recently. The village is situated at an altitude of 1800 m ASL, with rich biodiversity and magnificent views of the mountain ranges. Socio-environmental perspectives of the village were studied in detail by visiting Chota Mungwa village in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. The survey work focuses on critical understanding of the bio-cultural landscapes and human–environment dynamics, and analyze the possible impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors in the village. Primary data were collected using a mixed-methods approach, by collecting background baseline information, by scheduling interviews with local villagers and by field observations. Descriptive questions are designed and used in most of the interviews, and one-on-one interviews were conducted for data collection. The length of each interview was approximately 40–50 min, using both structured and semi-structured questionnaires, and was supplemented by field notes. Biodiversity in the village and adjoining forest area was documented. Survey data was collected based on the attributes like agriculture, livestock management, demography, water management, waste management, disaster management, climate change (local people’s perceptions), biodiversity, ecosystem services, conservation measures, developmental and ecotourism activities in the village. Photographic documentation accompanied every phase of the study. Policy proposals for sustainable development of the village were analyzed and discussed with the objectives of conserving biodiversity and socio-ecological characters of the village. Detailed studies are required in other ecoregions of the Eastern Himalayas to explore the socio-ecological dynamics in the context of climate change. Bringing local populations into protected area management will be beneficial in sustainable conservation of the Eastern Himalayan landscapes.