Proceedings of the 1st Himalayan Researchers Consortium Volume I Broad Thematic Area Biodiversity Conservation & Management Editors Puneet Sirari, Ravindra Kumar Verma & Kireet Kumar G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development An Autonomous Institute of Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, Uttarakhand, INDIA Web: gbpihed.gov.in; nmhs.org.in | Phone: +91-5962-241015 Foreword Taking into consideration the significance of the Himalaya necessary for ensuring “Ecological Security of the Nation”, rejuvenating the “Water Tower for much of Asia” and reinstating the one among unique "Global Biodiversity Hotspots", the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) is an opportune initiative, launched by the Government of India in the year 2015–16, which envisages to reinstate the sustained development of its environment, natural resources and dependent communities across the nation. But due to its environmental fragility and geographic inaccessibility, the region is less explored and hence faces a critical gap in terms of authentic database and worth studies necessary to assist in its sustainable protection, conservation, development and prolonged management. To bridge this crucial gap, the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) recognizes the reputed Universities/Institutions/Organizations and provides a catalytic support with the Himalayan Research Projects and Fellowships Grants to start initiatives across all IHR States. Thus, these distinct NMHS Grants fill this critical gap by creating a cadre of trained Himalayan environmental researchers, ecologists, managers, etc. and thus help generating information on physical, biological, managerial and social aspects of the Himalayan environment and development. Subsequently, the research findings under these NMHS Grants will assist in not only addressing the applied and developmental issues across different ecological and geographic zones but also proactive decision- and policy-making at several levels. In year 2018, the 1st Himalayan Researchers Consortium was organized with proactive participation of young researchers and institutions working in the Indian Himalaya, particularly on Biodiversity Conservation & Management theme. The key outcomes of the 1st Himalayan Researchers Consortium-2018 are documented in form of research articles submitted by these young Himalayan Researchers and Fellows after a brief review by NMHS Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Panel Members and eminent subject experts. I am sure that all research findings and insights covered in the "Proceedings of the 1st Himalayan Researchers Consortium" will set this publication as valuable reference and ready-reckoner for future researchers working in the Indian Himalaya. Place: MoEF&CC, New Delhi (A.K. Jain) Dated: January 2019 G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development An Autonomous Institute of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, Uttarakhand, INDIA Web: gbpihed.gov.in; nmhs.org.in | Phone: +91-5962-241015 Preface Taking ahead the journey of “learnings for and from the Himalaya as a Great Teacher to the Mankind” under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), the Himalayan Research Fellowship is part of a well-foresighted support system that brings “Young Researchers”, “Institutional infrastructure”, and “eminent experts/ mentors/ resource persons” together for achieving the vision envisaged for the Himalaya and its natural resources as well as dependent communities across the nation. Observing the stark variations and vast range of the Himalayan ecosystems and its emanating services in unique biological systems under distinct climatic conditions, the Himalayan Studies demand genuine queries, inquisitive minds and innovative ways to attend, address and resolve the sustainable issues in the Indian Himalaya. Under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), the Himalayan Research Fellowships have started emerging over the years as a bridge to fill the crucial gaps of datasets, information and thereupon decisions for the welfare of the communities dependent on the Himalaya and its natural resources. Presented during the 1st Himalayan Researchers Consortium-2018, the research attempts and efforts of young Himalayan researchers are documented in form of the research articles after due review by the eminent experts, mentors and resource persons. I am sure that the publication "Proceedings of the 1st Himalayan Researchers Consortium" will be another useful contribution towards facilitating prompt action research, innovative conservation strategies and demonstrative sustainable development with the committed participation of young Himalayan researchers under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies. Wishing all contributors the best in their every endeavour to reinstate the resplendent Himalaya. Place: GBPNIHESD, Almora, Uttarakhand Ranbeer S. Rawal Dated: January 2019 About the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) bserving the significance of the Himalaya important for ensuring “Ecological Security of the Nation” and O reinstating the “Water Tower of Asia”, the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) is a timely initiative, launched by the Government of India in year 2015–16 as a Central Sector (CS) Grant-in-Aid Scheme, which envisages to accomplish sustained development of both, i.e. the directly dependent upstream Himalayan population at the regional level and other indirectly dependent downstream population at the national level. The NMHS targets to provide much needed focus, through holistic understanding of systems components and their linkages, in addressing the key issues relating to conservation, sustainable management and development of natural resources in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). The mission is to launch and support innovative studies and related knowledge interventions to find scientifically sound solutinos and best practices. The Mission strategy is to focus on enhancing livelihoods of local communities, in line with the National Environment Policy, 2006 of the Government of India. Of global and national significance are the Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspots (HBH), crucial Protected Areas, life- sustaining Rivers, vital Watersheds, vast Forests cover, endemic Biodiversity and invaluable natural resources as boons of the Himalaya bestowed upon the whole nation, which also entail a responsibility entrusted upon the Communities as Custodians of the Himalayan Resources and Environment, directly and indirectly dependent on the Himalaya. Therefore, scientific, traditional and indigenous knowledge-based roles and responsibilities of communities, resource persons, young generation, and other stakeholders cannot be neglected towards ensuring the sustenance of the Indian Himalaya. However, the constraints and challenges in terms of remoteness, difficult terrains, lack of resources and infrastructure have hampered and in fact deteriorated the extent and quality of research adversely for the IHR. Consequently, a continuous decline in the number of motivated and sincere researchers/ resource persons is observed as one among the grave concerns foreseen for the IHR. The National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) bidges this gap by provisioning the HImalayan Research Fellowships across 12 States of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). About the NMHS Himalayan Research Fellowships nder the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), the Himalayan U Fellowship Grant is aimed at facilitating knowledge building in IHR Institutions by way of (i) creating various fellowships and academic (national) exchange programmes; (ii) upgrading infrastructure of key academic and research institutions; and (iii) organizing regional, national and international conferences, workshops, events, etc. Initiated in year 2015, this is to attract the best talents from all across the nation to work on the specific research problems faced in Indina Himalayan Region (IHR) and find the scientifically sound solutions or best practices towards ensuring the sustainable development in the IHR. To bridge this crucial gap, the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) recognizes the reputed Universities/ Institutions/Organizations and grants the Himalayan Research Projects and Fellowships across all 12 IHR States. On one hand, these NMHS Grants seek to fill this critical gap, create a cadre of trained Himalayan environmental managers, ecologists and socio-economists and thus help generating information on physical, biological, managerial and social aspects of Himalayan environment and development in tandem. On the other hand, the research findings under these NMHS Grants will assist in not only addressing the applied and developmental issues across different ecological and geographic regions of the IHR States but also proactive decision-making at the local and regional levels. Pre-Consortium Lectures by the Eminent Experts Prof. V.K. Gaur interacted with the participants on 25th April 2018 and provided information on recent demand on biodiversity research on Himalaya. He appreciated the work of some of the Himalayan Fellows working in remote terrains in the Himalaya and advised following suggestions during an interactive session: • Uniform methodologies needs to be followed for analyzing biodiversity elements across the Indian Himalayan Region. • More focus on field studies are essential to understand