Study and quanitification of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and other value chains from the region

• Details of commercial species under threat

• Conservation status and management strategies for value chains

• Framework for NTFPs management in IHR

• Collected secondary data pertaining to various aspects on Non-timber forest products from the various regions of Himachal Pradesh. So far, a total of 55 papers/reports have been reviewed.

• A thorough review of government policies and regulations pertaining to harvest and management of NTFPs in Himachal Pradesh was done.

• List of forest produces and permit fee thereon for 91 species along with their status according to IUCN Red list were collected.

• Application of numerical modeling of hydrological processes of central Himalayan watershed.

• Results of SWAT modeling exercise

• Modeling exercise and societal implications.

Level of use of database for conservation and management decisions/ increase in awareness across stakeholders groups.

• Conservation frameworks developed/strengthened/ implemented

• Models/approaches for on farm/in-situ conservation of agri-biodiversity developed and promoted

• Awareness on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use promoted.

• Detailed literature collection, analysis and synthesis on biodiversity and climate change in IHR are on progress.

Number of watersheds studied/plans prepared and executed

• Periodic studies on utilization of ground water and aquifers and their recharge to ensure sustainability.

• Development of a database on utilization and recharge of ground water and aquifers.

Number of spring-sheds investigated and treated/ rejuvenated

• Studies on watershed management to ensure increase in recharge of ground water and aquifers.

• Trace Gases were monitored in 2016 (January-December) at Mohal (1154 m) and Kothi (2500 m). Average concentration of NO2, SO2 and NH3 at Mohal was 2.55 ± 0.11, 0.91 ± 0.07 and 1.00 ± 0.06 µg m-3 were observed respectively. On the other hand at Kothi, NO2, SO2 and NH3 were 2.06 ± 0.15, 1.27± 0.08 and 1.44 ± 0.10 µg m-3 respectively during January to December 2016 .

• Particulate pollutants like TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 at Mohal were 86.99 ± 5.14, 57.23 ± 3.92 and 37.59 ± 2.02 µg m-3. While at Kothi, these were observed 52.16 ± 4.64, 26.20 ± 1.39 and 19.38 ± 1.80 µg m-3 respectively.

• Local meteorological parameters were also observed at Mohal and Kothi. Mostly the wind dat Mohal comes from the south-west and south. At contrary, at Kothi it was from the east and southwest. At Mohal, the windiest month was March and at Kothi it was April. The total rainfall from January to December in 2016 was 760.1 mm at Mohal and 1050.4 mm at Kothi. Mohal received minimum rainfall this is because it falls under rain shadow zone.

• During 2016, if daily maximum temperature taken into account, it was 29.33 0C at Mohal on 11th September and 19.6 0C on June 29, 2016 at Kothi. On the other hand, daily lowest temperature was 5.10 0C on 18th December 2016 at Mohal while 1.0 0C on February 11, 2016 at Kothi. Average annual temperature and relative humidity were recorded as 18.03 0C and 59.70 % at Mohal and , 11.3 0C and 52.6 % at Kothi respectively.

Effectiveness of approaches developed for conservation of endemic/ threatened/ globally significant species/ habitats/ areas

• Conservation frameworks developed/ strengthened/ implemented

• Compilation of best practices for the region

• Documented medicinal plants (MPs) of Sikkim.

• Conducted household survey understanding ethnomedicinal practices in Sikkim.

• collected herbarium specimens of MPs species of Sikkim Himalaya (under progress).

• Gathering the geo-cordinates of the species distribution (under progress).

• Population assessment of the MPs (under progress) • Compilation of data for grid maps (under progress).

Extent of green technologies demonstrated

Impact of the green technologies

• Regulatory frameworks for promoting strategic environment assessment of development projects developed/implemented.

• Technological intervention supported and new technology developed.

• Multiple tables generated in relevance to renewable energy generation, regulations and promotions.

• Summarization of energy related parameters of the State Action Plan on Climate Change and analysis of the same.

• Compilation of incentives provided by state governments for installation of renewable energy generation plants in every state of IHR

Supplementary livelihood options: Number of value chains established and green jobs created.

• Alternative livelihood means giving emphasis on green job creation explored.

• Value addition in local products and value chain established

 Meeting and discussion with PI, & Theme/Group Head regarding data collection strategies and finalization of questionnaire.

 Questionnaire has been finalized for collection of primary data from identified villages through village survey.

 Visited village- “Sakar” for primary data collection. Collected data of 60 households.

 Visited village- “Gwalakote” and collected data of 94 households.

 Village- “Darimkhola” was visited, collecting data of 66 households.

 Digitization of the collected data is in progress.

Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity: With particular reference to microbial diversity.

• Biotechnological applications for ensuring sustainable conservation of selected endemic species in regard to microbial diversity.

• Standardization of methodology for isolation of root endophytes and bioactive compounds from Taxus plant parts are in progress.

• A Village Information System (VIS) development for management and planning of rural areas for sustainable development.

• Questionnaire based livelihood survey was conducted in the village Gwalakote (44% household surveyed).

• Perception of farmers initiated regarding changes (covered 37 farmers).

• Data on village demography, agricultural practices and resource utilization was collected.

• Gathered information on major problems that affecting traditional practices of livelihoods in the surveyed village.

• Literature review on the impact of changing socio-economic scenario on local livelihood practices.

Ecosystem Services: Successful pilots of incentive based mechanisms.

• Studies on economic valuation (consumptive and non-consumptive) of the region’s biodiversity, habitats, landscapes and ecosystem services conducted.

Environmental assessment and management: Number of LTEM sites established/investigated/robust data-sets generated

Extent of scientific evidences generated across key sectors.

• Identification of sites for long-term environmental monitoring.

• Relevant institutions identified and engaged.

• Mainstreaming of long-term monitoring and building scientific evidence base across key sectors achieved.

• Meeting and regular discussion with PI for study components and study area watershed selection.

• One watershed - Mohal khad watershed was identified for the study area and WEAP modeling for the study has been initiated.

• Learning WEAP software.

• Preparation watershed map along with stream network map and land use/land cover map of the Mohal khad watershed using Arc GIS 10.2.2.

• Prepared WEAP schematic for Mohal khad watershed and carefully carried out the transmission, runoff and infiltration linking within the watershed from water sources to various water demand sites.

• Season-wise Crop data (including Vegetable and Orchard) collected during field survey and Crop Library in the WEAP standard format has been prepared using FAO guidelines for the Mohal khad watershed.

• Soil Library (soil properties) has been prepared using identified soil types of Mohal khad watershed for WEAP model.

• Land use/land cover map of Mohal khad watershed has been prepared for the year 2016 using Landsat 8 image and Arc GIS 10.2.2 and ERDAS 14 software.

• Meteorological datasets has been acquired from HERAC Bajura station from 2006-2015 for the Mohal khad watershed area.

• Climate file has been prepared for WEAP using primary and secondary data gathered from various departments and literature sources.

• WEAP model is customized for Mohal khad watershed (for year 2015 to 2030) using gathered initials datasets and behavior of the modeling scenarios were studied. Initial outputs such as water demand, unmet water demand, surface runoff available from the watershed has been studied and documented. This will be updated in using improved datasets and different climatic and socio-economic scenarios.

Environmental physiology: Biochemical mechanism of threatened and high value plants.

• Regulatory norms and support use of latest technology strengthened for conservation.

• Literature review and primary data collection of threatened and high value plants on market potential, present status and distribution in Arunachal Pradesh

• Experimental design developed

• Site selection

• One field survey conducted for better understanding on threatened and high value plants of the study area

• Data collection on threatened and high value plants and their utilization pattern by local communities of the study area

• Paris polyphylla and Illicium griffithii are among threatened and high value plants selected for experimental work