| Sanction Date: | 12.12.2025 | |||
| Project Category | Category I | |||
| Year | 2025-2026 | |||
| Project Duration | 3 Years | |||
| BTA : | BCM | |||
| Project Site/ State/ Districts/ Villages Covered: |
Indian Eastern Himalaya - Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim Himalaya, Northeast India |
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| Organization/ Implementation Agency: | Department of Botany, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh-791112, Arunachal Pradesh | |||
| Project Partners: | S.No. | Name | ||
| 1. | G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, North-East Regional Centre, Chandranagar, Itanagar 791113, Arunachal Pradesh | |||
| 2. | Agharkar Research Institute an Autonomous Body under Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India, G.G. Agharkar Road, Pune-411004, Maharashtra | |||
| Lead Proponent: | Prof. Hui Tag |
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| Project Brief Description: | Aroids (family Araceae), a highly diverse yet underexplored plant group in the Eastern Himalaya, hold immense ecological and economic significance. Globally, 156 genera and ~4600 species are recognized, with Asia harboring ~1500 species and many more suspected. Northeast India, part of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, with its unique topography, high rainfall, and tribal cultural diversity, is a likely center of hidden aroid diversity. However, traditional taxonomy has limitations in identifying cryptic species and evolutionary relationships, and no comprehensive molecular studies exist for this region. Molecular approaches—DNA barcoding, phylogenetics, and population genetics—are essential to document genetic variation, clarify species boundaries, and understand biogeographic patterns. The proposed study will integrate morphological and molecular taxonomy, GIS-based habitat mapping, and ethnobotanical surveys. Further, it will establish an Aroid Conservatory, Virtual Lab, and Aroid Walks at RGU Botanic as pilot sites for conservation, education, and eco-tourism, while promoting livelihood opportunities through skill-based training and value-added products (e.g., ornamental nurseries, aroid chips, wine). This integrated approach will strengthen biodiversity conservation, community livelihoods, and sustainable use of Araceae in one of the world’s most ecologically sensitive regions. | |||
| Beneficiaries/ Stakeholders: | • This project will primarily benefits communities living in the Eastern Himalayan states and North East Indian states, such as the tribes and communities living in different elevation range of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim (core study sites) while taxonomic survey and livelihood training will also to be conducted in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Megalaya, Mizoram and other northeastern states to benefits the communities. These communities would be sensitized through training on conservation and cultivation of climate resilient aroid species which has the potential to be used as food, medicinal and fodder and ornamental crops. Taxonomic, molecular phylogeny and ecological data expected to be generated would benefits academia, researchers and forest department for setting conservation priorities and for predicting future climate change by using some species of aroid as climate change indicators. |
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| Activity Chart (For 3 years) | ||||
| Total Grants (in Rs.) | Rs.3,00,00,000/- (Rupees Three Crore Only) | |||
| Project Objectives | Quantifiable Deliverables | Monitoring Indicators |
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• Taxonomic inventory of Aroid Flora of the Indian Eastern Himalaya and North East India using both morphological and molecular tools and methods. • To investigate the genetic diversity, evolutionary relationships, and potential cryptic speciation within Araceae species of Eastern Himalaya and Northeast India using molecular approaches, to enhance taxonomic clarity and support aroid conservation. • To monitor the changes in phenological responses and modelling the distribution range of the aroid species under changing climatic conditions. • Assessment of ethnobotanical knowledge, training needs and conservation, economic and livelihood linkages of the aroid flora. • Evaluation of nutritional and anti-oxidant potential of selected wild edible and cultivated aroids of the Eastern Himalaya. • To establish Aroid Conservatory and Aroid Museum, conduct of skill-based training on identification, conservation and cultivation of nutritionally valuable and edible, as well as climate resilient aroids, sharing cross- cultural knowledge with the communities on value added product development and commercialization. |
• Comprehensive taxonomic inventory of aroid flora • Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis report identifying evolutionary relationships and potential cryptic species. • Phenology monitoring dataset and climate-driven distribution models • Ethnobotanical documentation, livelihood linkage assessment, and community need report. •Nutritional and antioxidant profiling of selected wild and cultivated aroids. • Established Aroid Conservatory and Aroid Museum with curated collections. • Skill-based training programs on identification, conservation, cultivation, and value-added product development. • Knowledge products including field guides, SOPs, training manuals, and a policy brief. |
• Monitoring in comparison to the baseline information/ data to be provided by the proponent: • No. of aroid species inventoried, documented, and barcoded. • Genetic diversity parameters and phylogenetic clusters resolved. • No. of Climate-impact scenarios generated and species distribution maps • Establishment and species richness of the Aroid Conservatory and Museum. • No. of Households and communities surveyed • No. of participants trained and skill modules delivered. • No. of Capacity-building programs and training modules • No. of research papers, technical reports, and policy documents published. |
| S.No. | No. of Sanctioned Post | Salary (Sanctioned) |
| 1. | 02 SRF | @ Rs.42,000/- + 10% & 27% HRA from the 3rd year |
| 2. | 03 JRF | @Rs.37,000/- month +10% & 27% HRA for first two years |
| 3. | 02 SPF | @Rs.28,000/- month+10% HRA |
| 4. | 02 JPF | @Rs.24,000/- month+10% HRA |
| 5. | 02 Field Assistant | @Rs.20,000/- month +10% HRA |
| S.No. | Name of Equipment (Sanctioned) | Use of Equipment/ Details | Cost (in INR) |
| 1. | 1 Large Digital Herbarium Scanner @Rs2,00,000/-, 3 Handhelds GPS @Rs.80,000/- each, 1 DSRL Camera with extra lenses and accessories items @Rs.3,00,000/-, 2 Large Digital Writing and display board for Virtual Museum @Rs.2,50,000/- each, 3 Computer Workstations with accessories items @Rs.2,00,000/- each, 1 UV Vis Spectrometer @Rs.5,00,000/-, 1 Laptop @Rs1,00,000/-, 1 Gradient PCR @Rs.4,50,000/-, 1 Printer LaserJet B/W @Rs.20,000/-, 1 Tablet @Rs.1,00,000/-, 1 Digital Camera with accessories @Rs.1,20,000/-, 6 PhenoCam @Rs.40,000/- each, 1 Stereo Zoom Microscope with Camera and PC @Rs.9,50,000/-. | 43,20,000 |
