Current Science

Ripu Daman Singh ¹, Surabhi Gumber ¹, Pankaj Tewari ², S. P. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, IN
2 Central Himalayan Environment Association, Nainital 263 001, IN

Abstract

Man-made forest fires in the traditionally populated zone (about 800-2000 m altitude) are common in much of the Central Himalaya, and are a major topic of environmental debate. This study based on an analysis of data of the State Forest Department at Uttarakhand on incidence of forest fires shows that these are high-frequency, low-severity surface fires of small size, largely determined by the moisture conditions of the pre-monsoon season (from March to mid-June), and the traditional practices of biomass collection by local people.

Keywords

Biomass Collection, Forest Fire, Pre-Monsoon Season, Moisture Conditions.

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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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