Current Science

Ranbeer S. Rawal ¹, Rajesh Joshi ¹, Indra D. Bhatt ¹, Subrat Sharma ¹, Ranjan Joshi ¹, Vasudha Agnihotri ¹, K. C. Sekar ¹, P. P. Dhyani ¹

Affiliations
1 G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Saju Varghese ¹, A. Anil Kumar ¹, G. Nagendran ¹, V. Balachandrudu ¹, Nilofer Sheikh ¹, K. G. Mohan ¹, Kailash Singh ¹, B. Gopakumar ¹, Rajesh Joshi ¹, R. Rajasekhar ¹

Affiliations
1 Marine & Coastal Survey Division, Geological Survey of India, Kolkata, IN

Abstract

Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS), modern technology for very high resolution seafloor mapping, when towed at 70-120 m above the seafloor generates high-quality backscatter image of the same with constant resolution of 40 cm x 40 cm. Research Vessel (RV) Samudra Ratnakar of the Geological Survey of India is equipped with Synthetic Aperture Mapping Sonar, SAMS DT-6000 (make: IXblue, France), the only one of its kind equipment in the world for civilian research purpose.

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Bhaskar Ch. Joshi ¹, G. P. Pande ¹, G. C. S. Negi ¹, R. S. Rawal ¹, Rajesh Joshi ¹, Subrat Sharma ¹, D. S. Rawat ¹, Anushree Bhattachaijee ²

Affiliations
1 G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN
2 International Union for Conservation of Nature, New Delhi 110 049,, IN

Abstract

Land degradation is a global problem caused by a variety of factors or processes which include soil erosion by water/wind, deterioration in physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and loss of its productive potential. Worldwide about 2 billion hectare of degraded lands has opportunities of restoration1. Estimates of degraded land in India vary from 30 to 175 million hectare (m ha) (ref. 2). Among the Indian States, Uttarakhand, a predominantly mountainous State, ranks 20th in terms of area under wasteland, which has 23.91% area under degraded land3. The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 m ha of deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020 and 350 m ha by 2030, contributing to the international commitments on climate change, biodiversity conservation and land degradation4. India was one of the first countries in Asia to commit to the Bonn Challenge, pledging to bring under restoration 13 m ha land by 2020 and another 8 m ha land by 2030 at COP21 of UNFCCC in Paris.

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S. P. Singh ¹, A. Bhattacharyya ², Amit Mittal ³, Aseesh Pandey ⁴, Ashish Tewari ³, Avantika Latwal ⁵, Bency David ², Bhupendra S. Adhikari ⁶, Devendra Kumar ⁴, G. C. S. Negi ¹, Ishfaq Ahmad Mir ⁷, Krishna Kumar Tamta ³, Kumar Sambhav ⁵, Mayank Shekhar ², Mohit Phulara ⁵, Munisa Manzoor ⁷, Nandan Singh ³, Pankaj Tewari ¹, Parminder S. Ranhotra ², Pradeep Singh ⁵, Pratap Dhaila ¹, Priyanka Sah ⁵, Rahul Kumar ⁶, Rajesh Joshi ⁵, Ranbeer S. Rawal ⁵, Renu Rawal ⁵, Ripu Daman Singh ¹, Shruti Shah ³, Subrat Sharma ⁵, Subzar Ahmad Nanda ⁷, Surabhi Gumber ¹, Utsa Singh ¹, Zafar Reshi ⁷

Affiliations
1 Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, IN
2 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226 007, IN
3 Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, IN
4 G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Sikkim Regional Centre, Pangthang, Gangtok 737 101, IN
5 G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, IN
6 Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, IN
7 Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, IN

Abstract

This article enumerates the findings of a team research on the Indian Himalayan timberline ecotone, with focus on three sites (located in Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim). Timberline elevation increased from west to east, was higher in the warmer south aspect than the cooler north aspect, and was generally depressed. Betula, Abies, Rhododendron and Juniperus were important treeline genera. The Himalaya has not only the highest treelines (Juniperus tibetica, at 4900 m), but also the widest elevational range (>1700 m). Remotely sensed data revealed that the timberline is a long, twisting and turning ecotone, traversing a length of 8–10 km per km horizontal distance. Surface temperature lapse rate in the monsoonal regions was lower (–0.53°C/100 m elevation) than generally perceived and varied considerably with season, being the lowest in December. The Himalayan treeline species are not water-stressed at least in monsoonal regions, predawn tree water potential seldom getting below –1 MPa. The upward advance of Rhododendron campanulatum (a krummholz species) may deplete alpine meadows with climatic warming. Tree-ring chronology indicated that winter warming may be favouring Abies spectabilis. Early snowmelt increased growth period and species richness. Treelines generally are stable in spite of decades of warming. Dependence of people on timberline was still high; so economic interventions are required to reduce the same.

Keywords

Climate Change, Temperature Lapse Rate, Timberline Ecotone And Elevation, Tree Water Relation, Treeline Genera.

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Sarla Shashni ¹, Vasudha Agnihotri ², Rajesh Joshi ³, I. D. Bhatt ²

Affiliations
1 GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Himachal Regional Centre, Mohal-Kullu 175 126, IN
2 GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN
3 GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Sikkim Regional Centre, Pangthang 737 101, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

Keywords

No Keywords.

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