Avian Diversity in the Himalayas

The Indian Himalayan mountain region is globally renowned for biological diversity. The Himalayan mountain system contributes 10% of the world bird’s species and about 8% of the world’s bird species breed in this region. However, bird species are not evenly distributed from East to West Himalayan region; various factors are responsible for bird’s diversity gradient seen in this mountain chain. The present article is briefing on the bird’s species diversity patterns in the Indian Himalayan region and is largely based on the work carried out under Wildlife Institute of India and University of Chicago collaborative research work titled ‘Study of bird species numbers and densities in east and west Himalayas’ and has already been published in many research papers.

Development of NTFPs Sector for Income Generation and Environmental Conservation

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are amongst the key global commodities and an important component of international trade. They are important in livelihoods of rural people all over the Himalayan region for meeting food, medicine, construction materials, and income needs of subsistence communities. The sector needs focused developmental planning that can bring substantial economic and environmental benefit in the Uttarakhand state. Based on an extensive analysis of three important categories of NTFPs, viz. medicinal plants, edible wild plants, and bamboo this paper highlights potential of this sector for food security, income generation and environmental conservation by adopting a pro-people approach in Uttarakhand state. Suggestions have been provided for improving the existing framework and programmes that can maximize economic, social, cultural and ecological benefits.

Floristic Diversity of the Himalaya in Relation to Climate Change: Status, Values and Conservation

The Himalayan region is very well known for the unique ecosystems. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) forms the major part of the Himalayan region. The vegetation along an altitudinal gradient comprises of tropical, sub-tropical, temperate, sub-alpine and alpine types and supports a great variety of forests with unique species that vary from east to west and from low to high altitudes. The present study is based on the review of literature and surveys in some parts of the IHR. A total of 10,503 species (10,452 species of Angiosperms and 51 species of Gymnosperms) are reported from the Himalayan region. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) represents 18,940 species of plants representing Angiosperms, Gymnosperms, Pteridophytes, Bryophytes, Lichens, and Fungi. A total of 6745 species of Angiosperms (604 trees, 1049 shrubs & 5092 herbs) belonging to 225 families, 1768 genera are recorded from the Trans, North-West and West Himalaya based on surveys and review of literature. Diversity of the orchids, medicinal plants, wild edibles, other economically important plants, factors affecting floristic diversity, impact of climate change and conservation initiatives have been discussed. Appropriate strategy is suggested for the conservation and management of floristic diversity.

Changing Outlook on Harnessing Biodiversity Values – A Special Focus on Indian Himalaya

The Himalaya, as provider of goods and range of ecosystem services, is vital for sustaining life of millions of people in uplands and billions in lowlands. Indian National Action Plan on Climate Change has recognized the region vital for ecological security of the country. However, growing demand for bio-resources, combined with inadequate appreciation for values of goods and services provided by Himalayan biodiversity, has led to the unsustainable use of these resources, leading to environmental degradation in the region. The paper also looks into the scenario as to how recent pandemic of COVID 19 has brought increased focus of people on bio-resources of the region. More importantly it has suggested conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity to ensure for sustaining the continuous flow of ecosystem services and goods. Biodiversity in the region provides several opportunities, however, under changing scenario, we need to think afresh and differently on possibilities of finding better and optimal livelihood options, and the issues of conservation in the region. In this context, larger focus on conservation education has been stressed as a way forward. This paper attempts to build a case for the biodiversity in Indian Himalayan Region through a SWOT assessment. Certain cases have been elaborated wherein the outlook has changed to harness the values.

Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

With 22% global land surface area, the mountains ecosystem is home to 13% of the total human populations. Evolved as a unique ecosystem, the mountain adds value with diverse ecosystems; tradition and culture as well as ecosystem services for socio-economic development in the mountain areas and beyond. As it caters half of the humanity with its diverse types of ecosystem services, the realization of its significance are still limited in national, regional and global discourses. In the conservation front, there has been a significant progress in the concept and practices from species focussed interventions to habitat and ecosystem/landscape conservation approaches. The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), known as the highest mountain ecosystems in the world is also the water tower for the region often referred as the third pole. This unique ecosystem is an important repository of biological and cultural diversities and source of varied ecosystems services to 240 million people living within and about a one third of global population living downstream. The region has been in spotlight for being part of the 36 ‘Global Biodiversity Hotspot’ as well as climate change hotspot. However, our understanding the dynamics of changing landscapes and climate and its linkage to people, mostly challenged by poverty are limited. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), an inter-governmental regional knowledge and enabling centre, has been instrumental in developing knowledge about the dynamics of these fragile ecosystems and support its regional member countries through science based integrated approaches. Since its inception, ICIMOD has been engaged in developing knowledge and supporting policies for mountain development focusing on socio-economic, ecological and environmental dimensions. In this paper, we present the retrospect of our understanding and learnings in the HKH through transboundary landscape management and regional cooperation mostly focused on conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services perspectives. The paper reflects on changing paradigm and complex process for strengthening regional cooperation in the HKH.