Lichens are symbiotic organisms consisting of a fungus and algal partner(s). In lichen the fungal partner predominates with 90% of the thallus (body) volume and provides shape, structure and colour to the lichen with partial contribution from algae. Hence the lichens are placed in the Kingdom - 'Mycota'. Approximately 20,000 species of lichens have been reported globally. The Indian subcontinent has 2,450 species of lichens, of which India alone has about 2040 species. The mountainous region of Uttarakhand is one of the main areas for lichen collection in India. Lichens are of immense commercial value as important sources of many medicines, condiments, dyes, perfumes and animal feed, and as test organisms for atmospheric pollution. However, in trade and research, precise identification of lichens is a challenge because of similar, indistinguishable morphotypes of many lichens. It is observed that traditional, phenotype-based approaches for species identification commonly fail to accurately characterize species-level diversity in lichen-forming fungi, leading to collection of adulterated biomass that ultimately results in impure downstream product(s). As the lichens partially get pulverized after drying during transportation, even if the mass is pure, lichen-collectors do not have resources/reach to prove the purity of their product. This significantly reduces the cost of collected lichens in the market ultimately harming the profits of people associated lichen-collection. Chemotaxonomy upto some extent has been used in differentiation of certain lichens with similar morphotypes but it is not applicable universally across all species. DNA barcoding in recent years have shown great potential in identifying various organisms including fungi, and therefore, is now seen as a potent tool for identification of lichenized fungi as well. In this proposal we aim to establish a DNA-barcoding and chemotaxonomy empowered herbarium of lichen-species of Uttarakhand Himalaya. We'd use morphological analysis, chemotaxonomy and DNA-barcoding as complementary tools for identification of lichen samples collected from mountainous regions of Uttarakhand. For DNA-barcoding and chemotaxonomy, priority would be given to lichens important for economical and conservation point of view and to those with mutually similar morphotypes. We also aim to set-up a resource group with and for local community to facilitate accurate identification of lichen forming fungal species. People associated with lichen collection would be provided training on lichen identification through workshops as well as molecular identification services at no-profit-no-loss basis. Sarthak Prayas Seva Samiti (NGO partner) along with us would play role in sensitization of people involved in lichen-collection regarding lichen identification program. Training programs would be organized for people in trade for better morphological identification of lichens. Furthermore, college students with background in life sciences; biodiversity management committees (BMCs) set-up by State biodiversity board; and staff of forest department would also be trained in lichen-identification and mobilized to help people in the trade. Community participation would also be utilized for reporting of new lichen habitat(s) or species. The program is envisaged to help documentation and conservation of lichen biodiversity in Uttarakhand-Himalaya and to assist community in the trade with accurate identification of lichens. Furthermore, enforcement agencies could also utilize the facility for identification of confiscated (and deformed) lichen samples through DNA-barcoding and chemotaxonomy.