Broad Thematic Area 3: Biodiversity Conservation and Management

Broad Thematic Area 3: Biodiversity Conservation and Management


The Himalayas is recognized for its ecosystem services to the Asian region as well as to the world at large for maintaining slope stability, regulating hydrological integrity, sustaining high levels of biodiversity and human wellbeing. Mountains, due to their exclusive and inimitable biodiversity, are recently receiving priority for biodiversity conservation in global agendas. In Himalaya, the Indian Himalayan Region is a dynamic landscape with a rich and remarkable biodiversity. The IHR covers nearly 7.5 lakh square kilometres area (spanning over 3000 km in length, and 250-300 km in width, and rising from <300 to > 8000 masl). The region, with its varied landscapes and soil formation, and variety of vegetation types and climatic conditions, is well known for its unique flora and fauna, and has a high level of endemism. The region comprises 10000 plant species (endemics in bracket: 31.6 %), 300 mammals (4.0%), 979 birds (1.5%), 176 reptiles (27.3%), 105 (40%) amphibians, and 269 fresh water fishes (12.3%). The region also hosts a diversity of ethnic groups, inhabiting the remote and difficult terrains. These communities have been traditionally dependent on bio-resources to basis substances needs. Among the other bio resources of direct economic potential, the region is well recognised for various medicinal plants, wild edible and other non-timber forest products. The region supports over 1748 (23.4% of India) medicinal plant species and over 675 of wild edible species. Despite the proven values, the diversity of IHR region is continuously declining in their natural habitats. The major causes include habitat destruction, climate change, road construction, fire, urbanization, drainage, and other anthropogenic pressures.). Realizing the importance of IHR, a number of initiatives are taken place globally for its conservation and sustainable utilization.
National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) has sanctioned 63 demand-driven action research projects in identified four major targets:
  1. Mountain Biodiversity Database.
  2. Assessment of ecosystem health and harnessing potential.
  3. Promoting recovery of sensitive species (rare, endemic, threatened and economically important ones.
  4. Up-scaling outreach through conservation education..
The main identified Thematic Area of Work (TAW) of this BTA are
  1. conservation of genetic resources of rare, endemic, threatened and globally significant flora and fauna including agro-biodiversity .
  2. Invasive Alien Species.
  3. Multipurpose trees and other flora, their biology and uses, ecotone studies, especially the timberline ecotone, and pilots for Payment of Ecosystem Services (PES)/ reflecting ES in development agenda and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), medicinal and aromatic plants, and other high value niche products from the agenda..
Overall Objectives
  1. Establishment of long-term floral diversity monitoring plots across the Himalayan region.
  2. Create a geospatial and genetic database on the flora of Himalaya and the climate change-induced impact and anthropogenic impact on floral and faunal diversity
  3. Long term environmental and ecological monitoring of coal mining areas and shifting cultivation areas in North-Eastern India, and technology development for treatment of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD).
  4. Population and habitat assessment, ecological niche modelling and conservation of threatened/high value medicinal Plant
  5. Assess the distribution and abundance of commercially important MAPs, RET (rare, endangered and threatened) and NTFPs from alpine regions IHR.
  6. Identifying & mapping invasion load of Vascular Invasive Alien plants
  7. Assessment of Ecological & Environmental Impact of Invasive Alien Species
  8. Develop risk assessment tools and processes for identifying negative Human Wildlife Interaction (HWI) in the IHR through investigations on HWI and predict potential hotspots of conflict for regular monitoring and development of site specific mitigation efforts.
  9. Assessment and monitor the threatened vertebrate fauna in the Indian Himalayan Region
  10. Survey, collection and purification of germplasm / land races of native crops (millets, pulses and vegetables) of Uttarakhand.
  11. Development of model mechanism for in-situ conservation linked with seed production (millets and pulses) and seedling production (vegetables) of identified unique germplasm for income generation.
  12. Assess the structure, composition and patterns of vegetation in different communities along tree line-rangeland interfaces .
  13. Germplasm collection and maintains of DNA bank of selected species.
  14. Develop biotechnology methodologies to culture and micro-propagate the commercially value orchid species that are under the threat of extinction .
  15. Assess the distribution and abundance of commercially important Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RETs), and NTFPs from alpine regions of Uttarakhand.
  16. Development of the site (Alpine Research Station, Tungnath) as educational tourism spot and for ex-site conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants.
  17. Generate a spatial distribution and abundance database and ecological characteristics of MAPs for alpine region and to develop a web-based Uttarakhand Alpine Information System (UK-AIS).
  18. Obtain robust measures of species diversity, distributions, and community structure for primary forest that occurs in the study areas.
  19. Analyze the change in microbial biodiversity and soil properties (binding capacity and erosion ability) in the Pine forest after fire outbreak as compared to the nearby-unaffected area.
  20. Derive detailed land cover map for our study area using high-resolution (~5.6 m) satellite imagery (IRS-LISS IV) and the extensive set of ground control measurements.
  21. Map land ownership patterns in areas classified as primary forest and secondary vegetation and document and analyze the institutional structure and socioeconomic background that governs land use in this region .
  22. Improving adaptive capability of community and local governance by enhancing resilience of community as well ecosystems through biodiversity conservation, watershed restoration and livelihood improvements.
  23. Investigating variation in temperature and precipitation across the Himalayan altitudes.
  24. Effect of altered climatic regimes on biodiversity and ecological processes in the coming decades.
  25. Participatory action research on innovative interventions to improve livelihoods.
  26. Obtain robust measures of species diversity, distributions, and community structure for primary forest that occurs in the study areas.
  27. Spectral library of the economically important plant species to use with the hyperspectral satellite and airborne data.
  28. Develop the species specific protocols for recovery/reintroduction of highly threatened species.
  29. Develop the market linkages for selling of cultivated produce.
  30. To sensitize diverse stakeholders group towards promoting conservation of threatened medicinal plants.
NMHS Funded Projects: 80
FY 2025-26
  1. Mainstreaming invasive fish species management and biosecurity in aquatic ecosystem-dependent sectors of the North Eastern region of India.
  2. Assessing ecosystems for the conservation and management of Himalayan wild pollinators- Action for Long-Term Monitoring assessments of Himalayan Bumblebees towards biodiversity conservation..
  3. Assessment of Taxonomic Diversity, Habitat Mapping, Conservation and Livelihood Linkages of the Aroid Flora in the Eastern Himalaya and Northeast India under Changing Climatic Conditions.
  4. Project Jeevan Beej: National Seed Bank for the Conservation of India’s Endemic and Threatened Flora of Himalayan Region.
  5. Restoration of Degraded Alpine Grasslands using Nature-based Solutions for Sustaining Ecosystem Services and Ecological Resilience across Western Himalaya.
  6. Assessment of Floristic Diversity and monitoring climate change impact in the Alpine High Altitude Wetland Complexes of Sikkim.
FY 2024-25
  1. Oxford Nanopore Sequencing based Faunal Diversity Mapping in the Indian Himalayan Regions.
  2. Assessment and Management of Neo-invasive Species for Native Plant Restoration in the Vicinity of DevelopmentalProjects in Himachal Pradesh.
  3. Study on the Potential Ornamental Hill Stream Loach (Schistura spp.) from the Darjeeling Hill Region concerning its Habitat, Genetic Diversity, and Captive Rearing for a Sustainable Alternative Economy.
  4. Structure and Functioning of Himalayan Monsoon Shadow Forest Ecosystems.
  5. From Forests to Farms: Utilizing sustainable agroforestry to enhance resilience to climate change impacts and promote biodiversity conservation in the Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalaya.
  6. Assessing the Potential Health of Indian Himalayan Peatland through Long-Term Monitoring of the Eukaryotic Microbial Community and its Interaction with the Carbon Dynamics.
  7. Conservation of Pteridophytes, Distribution and Diversity Patterns in Eastern Himalaya.
  8. Protecting Himalayan Health: Landscape-based Disease Surveillance in Wildlife and Exploring Zoonotic Hotspots through One Health Approach.
  9. Developing Probiotic Consortium for Enhancing Sustainable Agricultural Production at Himalayan Region of Sikkim State.
  10. Design and Development of Biodiversity Mainstreaming Facilitation and Information System in Forestry.
  11. Sustainable Utilization of Invasive Plant Biomass for Bioactive Component Recovery and Biochar Generation: A Unique Solution for Improving Rural Livelihoods in Uttarakhand
  12. Mainstreaming Agrobiodiversity Conservation for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods in Manipur and Nagaland: Harnessing the Symbiotic Benefits of Kitchen Gardening, Floriculture, and Beekeeping
  13. Roots Renewed: Empowering Uttarkashi Towards Advancing Sustainable Frameworks.
F Y 2023-24
  1. Conservation of Threatened Mammalian Fauna of the Indian Himalayan Region through Scaling Up Long-Term Monitoring, Securing Corridors, and Capacity Building.
  2. Creation of an Integrated Database of the Himalayan Biodiversity for Mainstreaming in Policy to meet National Commitments.
  3. Ectoparasite Infestation in Small Mammals and Other Risk Factors in the Context of Scrub Typhus: An emerging zoonotic threat in the Himalayan Region.
F Y 2020-21
  1. Ecosystem Functioning and Services of Himalaya Temperate Forest under Anthropogenic Change: A Plant Functional Trait based Evaluation.
  2. Database Development on Diversity and Indigenous Knowledge on Mushrooms towards their cultivation and conservation in Trans Himalayan district of Kargil.
  3. Response to Anthropocene and Climate Change: Movement Ecology of Selected Mammal Species across the Indian Himalayan Region.
  4. Documentation, conservation and utilization of indigenous mountain pollinators – with special reference to Himalayan bumblebees.
  5. Conservation and Wise use of Five Wetlands in three Himalayan States to secure habitats of Birds Migrating within the Central Asian Flyway.
F Y 2019-20
  1. Himalayan Alpine Biodiversity Characterization and Information System-Network.
  2. Characterization of Kidney Bean (Rajmah) Rhizosphere Microbiome from Higher Altitude of Indian Central Himalaya.
  3. Promoting Conservation Of Declining Life Support Forest Tree Species In Himachal Pradesh.
  4. High Resolution Spatial Mapping of Bird Phenology as an Indicator of Ecosystem Health in Relation to Climate Change in Himalaya.
  5. Revival of Kala zeera cultivation through germplasm conservation and local community based approaches under tribal area conditions of Gurez valley.
  6. Morphological and biochemical characterization, mitigating climate change impact and quality honey production in buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.) under organic condition: A community participation approach for doubling livelihood empowerment.
  7. Multimodal Bird Analytics
F Y 2018-19
  1. Development of Microbial Inoculants to Improve Growth and Productivity of Darjeeling and Assam Tea.
  2. Ex-situ conservation and development of gene bank of commercially important threatened medicinal plants in the high altitude areas, Himachal Pradesh.
  3. Biological Screening, Conservation and Establishment of Gene Bank of Grewia optiva Drummond (Beul).
  4. Returning Taxus to the Forests and the People: a study in Shimla and Kullu Districts of the Indian Himalayan Region.
  5. Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Floristic Diversity of Alpine Regions in West Himalaya.
  6. Geospatial Mapping of RET and Other Important NWFP Species and Capacity Building for Their Community-based Conservation in the Tribal Areas of Uttarakhand.
F Y 2017-18
  1. Invasive Alien Plants in Himalayas: Status, Ecological Impact and Management.
  2. Conservation of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Indian Himalayan Region through Long-Term Monitoring and Capacity Building.
  3. Conservation of Threatened Plants in Indian Himalayan Region: Recovery and Capacity Building.
  4. Key ecosystem services and biodiversity components in socioecological landscapes of Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalaya: Deriving management & policy inputs and developing mountain biodiversity information system.
  5. Systematic Inventorization, Use profiles and molecular cataloguing for the sustainable management of edible insect resources for enhancing the livelihood opportunities of local people of Himalayan range of Manipur, North East India.
  6. Hyperspectral Imaging for sharper definitions of Himalayan Ecosystems and its high value plant species under climate uncertainties.
  7. Promoting conservation of threatened plant species in west Himalayan region-A participatory approach.
  8. Inventory of Wild Musa of Nagaland, Nutritional Assessment and Production of Clonal Planting Materials of Few Commercially Viable Species.
  9. Assessment of Environmental Health and Ichthyo faunal Biodiversity of Tirap and Tissa rivers of Arunachal Pradesh and promotion of Fish centric supplementary livelihood options through a participatory approach.
  10. Monitoring and evaluation of species composition and richness in endemic plants, birds, mammals and reptiles along successional gradient after shifting cultivation and creating education and awareness for their conservation in Dampa Tiger Reserve Landscape, Mizoram.
  11. Mainstreaming landscape approach for biodiversity conservation,improved livelihoods and ecosystem health in Kailash Sacred Landscape part of India.
  12. Regional Mapping Carbon stock, Sequestration and Sink Potential of Reserve Forest Ecosystem of Assam for Improvement of Ecosystem Health and Services.
  13. Assessment of moths (Lepidoptera) as significant pollinators in the Himalayan Ecosystem of North-East India.
  14. Assessment and Conservation Practices of Pollinators through Community Participation in the Indian Trans Himalayan Region: Climate Change Perspective.
  15. Ecology, monitoring, recovery and bio-prospection of some threatened plant species of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in relation to regional socio-economic development.
  16. Understanding the impact of forest fire on faunal resources of North Eastern States for conservation and management.
  17. Characterization of Community Reserves and Assessment of their Conservation Values in Meghalaya.
  18. To Establish a DNA- Barcoding and Chemotaxonomy Empowered Herbarium of Lichen-Species of Uttarakhand- Himalayan and Development of a Resource Group for Conservation and Characterization of Lichen-Biodiversity.
  19. Understanding the Nature of Alpine Timberlines of Himalayan: Integrating Ecological and Scenario Studies for Assessing the Impact of Climate Change.
  20. Collection, Characterization, Conservation and Utilization of Important Genetic Resources of Hilly Regions of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
  21. Microbial Endophytes and Soil Enzymes as Indicators of Climate Resilience with Respect to Himalayan Birch: A Critically Endangered Timber Line Species.
  22. Bringing Back the Real Green: Eradicating Invasive Species and Restoring Ecosystem through Community Participation.
F Y 2016-17
  1. Community-Managed Conservation of Orchid Biodiversity and Tribal Livelihood Improvement in Manipur Hill Area.
  2. Ecological monitoring and status of fish fauna in hydropower affected Alaknanda- Bhagirathi- Ganga Rivers.
FY 2015-16
  1. Biodiversity Assessment through Long-term Monitoring Plots in Indian Himalayan Landscape.
  2. Timberline and Altitudinal Gradient Ecology of Himalayas, and Human Use Sustenance in a Warming Climate.
  3. Human-Wildlife Conflict Resolution Mechanism in Indian Himalayan Region: Risk Assessment, Prediction, and Management Through Research and Community Engagement.
  4. Collection, evaluation and conservation of native crops germplasm form Uttarakhand hills and pre-breeding through community participation.
  5. Establishment of Gene Pool, Propagation and Ex-Situ Conservation of selected sensitive high altitude Medicinal and Aromatic plant species and Nature Interpretation Site (NIS) for creating Awareness among the various stakeholders
  6. Sustainable use of Sikkim Himalayan Biodiversity for socioeconomic development of mountain villages with special reference to Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Hippophaesalicifolia, Docyniaindica and Rhuschinensis: Technology development, alternative livelihood and conservation.
  7. Multidisciplinary studies in Floristic assessment, ecological analysis, ecosystem services, conservation and sustainable management of selected National Parks in Western Himalaya.
  8. Development of psychrophilic earthworms for bio-waste conversion in Guraj and Tulail valleys of Jammu & Kashmir.
  9. Identification, assessment and enhancement of soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration potential of different ecosystems in the central Himalayan through a participatory approach.
  10. Conservation strategies for Taxus wallichiana and Ulmus wallichiana by DNA markers and geospatial technology.
  11. Fish Faunal Diversity, Habitat Ecology and their Conservation strategies of the Kameng River system in Arunachal Pradesh.
  12. Population dynamics and Biogeography of Himalayan Mouse-Hare Ochotona roylei in relation to their impact on the medicinal flora of Western Himalaya.
  13. Survey and Mapping of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPS) and other RET/NTFPs on alpine regions of Uttarakhnad and developing Uttarakhand-Alpine Information System (UK-AIS)
  14. Understanding the degradation and loss of primary forest in the Teesta valley of the Sikkim Himalaya: a framework for recovery and management of biodiversity and bioresources.
  15. Post-Fire Management in the Pine Forests of Indian Himalayan Region By studying, conserving and distributing cultivable microbial biota to increase ecological succession and to revive forest productivity.
  16. Vegetation heterogeneity and impacts of changing climatic and land use patterns on two contrasting timberline ecotones of Upper Chenab catchment, J & K and conservation strategies thereof
IHR States Covered- All 12 IHR States
Levels
Representation
Total Number
% of India
Eco-region Communities
21
-
Vegetation Types
10
-
Forest Types
11
26
Species
Angiosperm
8000
47
Gymnosperm
44
81
Pteridophytes
600
59
Bryophytes
1737
61
Lichens
1159
59
Fungi
6900
53
Mammals
300
69
Birds
979
79
Reptiles
176
38
Amphibians
105
34
Fishes
269
10
Specific Groups
Medicinal
1748
23
Wild edible
675
67
Tree
723
28
Source: Indian Himalayan Biodiversity: Richness, Representativeness, Uniqueness and Life Support Value. GBPIHED, Almora, Uttarakhand
Measurable Targets up to 2020
• Mountain Biodiversity Database & Information System (MBDIS)– focusing on all 12 IHR States.
• Assessment of ecosystem health and harnessing potential for overall development by involving State Biodiversity Board (SBB) and BRs
• Linking integrity profiles in conservation policy framework through SBBs and BR scheme in 12 states.
• Promoting recovery of threatened species by involving state and institutional partners.
• Up-scaling outreach through conservation education
Monitoring Indicators
• Geospatial datasets generated (time series data with no of sites and species).
• No of plot established for long term monitoring.
• Publications of knowledge products (No.)
• Digital maps depicting changes in timberline (Nos. with time series).
• Climate smart conservation models developed (Nos.)
• Community groups trained (Nos).
• Awareness camps/ programs organized (Nos.)
• Datasets generated (data on taxonomic diversity quantified by species richness, as well as by richness, evenness, diversity, dominance, and rarity at generic and family levels No./ sites)
• Assessment reports of National Parks detecting changes in species population (Nos.)
• Models and knowledge products developed and published out of the projects (Nos.)
• Propagation techniques standardized (species No.)
• Value chain established (No of beneficiaries).
• Database on traditional crops/ races developed (No of species/ races).
• No of in-situ conservation plots/ models (Nos).
• Farmers/ Community groups trained (Nos).
• Income increased (Rs/ per capita/ %).
• Publications of knowledge products (No.)
Deliverables
• Development of baseline geospatial and genetic database of 6 sites on the representative taxa focusing on endemic/threatened /invasive-aliens
• Identification of the indicator taxa for prioritization of biodiversity conservation in selected sites
• The establishment of long-term monitoring plots across ecosystems and habitat gradient in the 6 sites of Himalaya
• Capacity building of local stake holders in 12 IHR states
• Creation of database and knowledge products on vegetation science and tree-soil water relations of timberline in 3 principal sites (J&K, Sikkim and Uttarakhand).
• Improved understanding depicted from thematic maps and database of timberline ecosystem as a special conservation entity and implication to sustainable management and livelihood enhancement.
• Improved understanding of future changes in timberline vis-a-vis climate change and human uses
• Awareness and Training material/ knowledge products for sustainable use of resources for improved livelihood.
• Development of database and knowledge products on traditional crops.
• Establishment of pilot scale model for in-situ conservation of germplasm on farmer´s field.
• 15 lakh seedlings developed and Propagation and multiplication (minimum 15 lakh seedlings/ propagules of selected medicinal plants species).
• Ecological Niche Modelling methods developed.
• Model management practices for conserving the flora of this region along with rare, threatened and medicinal plants species.
• Ex-situ conservation and cultivation models of many economically and horticulturally potential species.
• Documentation of flora, conservation of plant diversity, assessment and availability of these species in relation to the recent disaster and climate change.
• Document on ecosystem services emanating from the National Park.
• Sensitization/motivation of educational Institutions (in 12 states of IHR) linking with NILCs.
• Sensitization/motivation of educational Institutions (in 12 states of IHR) linking with NILCs.
Achievements till date ...
• Establishment of Long Term Monitoring (LTM) sites for Biodiversity Assessment (All IHR States): 595 plots (581 Floral and 14 Faunal) .
• Database on Himalayan Flora/Fauna (All IHR States): >47000 Species Collection; 30000 species documentation; >100 GIS MAPs; passport data catalogue for 745 accessions of 39 indigenous crops of Uttarakhand; genetic database of identified 58 species i.e. Orthopotera (11 spp. ) Hymenoptera (31 spp.), Arachnida (3 spp.) Amphibia (6 spp.) and Reptiles (7 spp.)
• Developed 12 Germplasm Repository Site (>6.0 Ha) for conservation and sustainable use of threatened high value MPs at High altitude (>2600 m asl)
• High altitude Medicinal Plant nursery (2.0 Ha) at 3200 m asl capacity more than 10.0 lakh seedling of MPs
• Developed four-tier (Top, middle, lower and underground) conservation models for improvement of shifting cultivation in the farmers’ field (05 states of North eastern states).
• Develop risk assessment tools and processes for identifying negative Human-Wildlife Interaction (HWC)-HP, UK, Sikkim and WB - Conflict intensity Maps; Density surface models for Leopard, Himalayan brown bear and Asiatic black bear & Predictive spatially-explicit species occurrence model
• Develop and implement adaptive management strategies in some of the identified vulnerable areas (UK, West Bengal) - using Fox lights- Himachal Pradesh
• Establishment of long-term fire monitoring plots- North Eastern States - 10 forest fire permanent monitoring plots- Mizoram.
• Developed Long Term Monitoring protocol for selected indicator taxa in the Indian Himalayan Region.
• Published a book on “Faunal Diversity of Indian Himalaya”
• Published 28 researcher paper in National and Inter National Journal.
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Last Update: 03.06.2026
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