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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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Ranjan Joshi ¹, Subrat Sharma ¹, R. C. Sundriyal ¹, P. P. Dhyani ¹, Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal ²

Affiliations
1 G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN
2 Himachal Unit, G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Mohal-Kullu 175 126, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Kalloli Dutta ¹, C. Sudhakar Reddy ¹, Subrat Sharma ², C. S. Jha ¹

Affiliations
1 Forestry and Ecology Group, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Balanagar, Hyderabad 500 037, IN
2 G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN

Abstract

Protected areas need to be monitored regularly to realize the effectiveness of conservation measures. In this study, Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve of Western Ghats has been monitored for deforestation in a historic time frame. The study attempted to identify the changes that occurred within the Biosphere Reserve from the early 1920s to the recent by mapping the land use/land cover and quantifying the forest cover changes that have occurred in the Biosphere Reserve individually for each conservation zone and protected area. Multi-temporal satellite datasets and topographical maps were used for mapping the forest cover of the study area. Visual interpretation technique involving on screen digitization was used for mapping and post-classification comparison method was used for carrying out change detection process. In addition, grid wise spatial tracking was carried out for the periods of 1920-1973 and 1973-2012 to prioritize change areas. Results showed that 747.1 km² of forests have been lost during the period of 1920-2012. The present study demonstrates the importance of long-term land use/land cover information to examine conservation effectiveness by utilizing remote sensing and GIS techniques to carry out best management practices.

Keywords

Conservation, Deforestation, Land Use/Land Cover, Long-Term Study, Protected Area.

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Subrat Sharma ¹, Harshit Pant ¹

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

Abstract

Wildfires have been considered as part of the natural cycle, but the globe is witnessing them more often outside the natural cycle. In recent years, incidences of wild fire/forest fire are increasing globally, and also in India. The Himalayan region is not an exception, where wide inter-annual fluctuations occur in fire events, and a few of them lead to disasters resulting in immediate and cascading social and economic impacts and thus to vulnerability and exposure of Himalayan forests to current climate variability. Mountainous topography and insufficient state resources are a bottleneck to respond to fire disasters. This study analyses the role of climate as a precursor to large-scale forest fires, and the perception of village forest councils on the impact of forest fire and climate change. A framework has been proposed for integration of ground-based observation network and prevailing modern technologies as a mechanism to develop a fire potential index to reduce disturbances and for resource optimization in case of disastrous fires.

Keywords

Climate Change, Community Forest, Fire Potential Index, Forest Fire, Himalaya.

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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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Saakshi Chauhan ¹, Rajnish Pande ², Subrat Sharma ³

Affiliations
1 G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora 263 643, India; Department of Economics, DSB Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, IN
2 Department of Economics, DSB Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, IN
3 G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora 263 643, IN

Abstract

Rural and remote regions of developing economies face a serious scarcity of reliable energy supply. Focus on providing electricity through renewable and off grid energy resources is becoming increasingly popular. Off the grid or decentralized renewable energy typically considers either solar or small hydro power to fill the supply deficit and increase in demand with time is generally ignored. This paper proposes a hybrid technology mix of various renewable energy options for two remote villages located in Darma valley of Uttarakhand state in the Indian Himalayan Region. Since the villages are at an average height of 3500 m amsl, they are inaccessible during winters due to heavy snowfall. Therefore, decentralized energy could be the most cost effective solution to provide electricity. This paper estimates the energy demand of these villages and identifies the most optimum off the grid solutions, and compares it with grid connected electricity supply using hybrid optimization model for electric renewables. Micro hydro energy generation was found to be the most cost effective and techno-economically viable solution. This paper also evaluates the barriers faced by remote Himalayan villages so as to achieve reliable application of the results of this study

Keywords

Darna valley, HOMER, hybrid energy system, Indian Himalayan region, renewable energy.

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