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Status of Ecosystem Health in the Indian Himalayan Region

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Status of Ecosystem Health in the Indian Himalayan Region Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Health and Family Welfare MESSAGE The Indian Himalaya Region (IHR) stretches 2500 km across 12 States. It is home to 52 million people and source of food, water and energy for close to 1.5 billion people. The Himalayan ecosystem consists of natural and geological wealth like glaciers, snow, abundant forest cover and bio-diversity, micro flora and fauna and wild life. However the fragile and diverse Himalayan ecosystem is highly susceptible to natural hazards that arises concern about current and potential climate change impacts which include abnormal floods, droughts and landslides, loss of biodiversity and threats to food security. In recent times the receding glacier on account of climate change has aroused global concern as they are source of major rivers. A slight change in the Himalayan ecosystem can drastically alter millions of lives. In order to understand the complexity of the IHR and unravel the efforts needed to sustain the IHR, a National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) was launched as one of the 8 national missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). NMSHE is the only site specific mission that aims to take appropriate measures for sustaining and safeguarding the IHR. The Climate Change Programme (CCP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is coordinating and implementing NMSHE in collaboration with several central government institutions and the 12 Himalayan States. NMSHE has achieved considerable progress by launching Task Forces, establishing State Climate Change Cells, undertaking capacity building initiatives and building bi-lateral mechanism. I am delighted to learn that DST is bringing out a “Himalayan Health Status Report” which is basically a summary of the outcome from the six thematic Task Forces. I would like to compliment the efforts of Climate Change Programme of DST especially Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Head of SPLICE, and his team in compiling and bringing out a comprehensive report on State of the Himalayan Ecosystem. I am confident, the report will be of great interest and value to reserachers, academicians and policy makers working in the area of Himalayan ecosystem. (Dr Harsh Vardhan) Prof. Ashutosh Sharma Secretary, Department of Science and Technology FOREWORD Climate change is one of the most compelling global challenges. India being one of the vulnerable countries to climate change in the world a major concern is expressed towards the fragile and diverse Himalayan ecosystem because of potential impacts on the economy, ecology, and environment of the region and areas downstream. The receding Himalayan glaciers, water related hazard and degradation of mountain ecosystems have led to adversities in the livelihood and the environment of the region. It is imperative to understand and act towards minimizing the impacts of climate change on Himalayan ecosystems and the services they provide to people. On recognition of such dire need the National Action Plan on Climate Change launched eight National Missions out of which two Missions are being coordinated and implemented by the Department of Science and Technology. National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) is one of them. NMSHE is working to develop in a time bound manner a sustainable national capacity to continuously assess the health status of the Himalayan Ecosystem and enable policy bodies in their policy-formulation functions as also to assist States in the Indian Himalayan Region with implementation of actions selected for sustainable development. I am pleased to see that the first “State of Ecosystem Health in the Indian Himalayan Region” has been brought out by the SPLICE Division of DST. This report will serve as tool to gauge the status of the vital components of Himalayan ecosystem to understand the current situation and also to try and project what the future holds. I compliment the sincere efforts of my colleagues in the Climate Change Programme, SPLICE Division headed by Dr. Akhilesh Gupta. I am confident that the report will be beneficial to stakeholders, researchers, students and policy makers working in the field of climate change and Himalayan ecosystem. I am also sure that it will lay a strong base for monitoring of the health of Himalayan ecosystem in future. (Ashutosh Sharma) PREFACE The Himalayan ecosystem is vulnerable to climate change impacts as well as subjected to severe ecological deterioration due to anthropogenic pressures. This has led to significant disruption in ecosystems leading to shifts in range, migration patterns, seasonal activities and abundance of territorial and marine species, affecting the livelihood of resource- dependent communities. Such threats and uncertainties have undermined the socio- economic development of the Indian Himalayan Region. The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) being coordinated and implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is multi-pronged, cross cutting mission across various sectors aimed at enhancing the understanding of climate change, its likely impacts and adaptation actions required for the Himalayas, a region on which a significant proportion of India’s population depends on for sustenance and the entire nation draws inspiration from. NMSHE aims to understand the complex processes affecting the Himalayan ecosystem and evolve suitable management and policy measures for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan ecosystem. The Mission attempts to address important issues concerning (a) Himalayan Glaciers and associated hydrological consequences; (b) Biodiversity conservation and protection; (c) Wildlife conservation and protection; d) Traditional knowledge societies and their livelihood; and (e) Planning for sustaining of Himalayan ecosystem. For this purpose the Mission has launched 6 thematic Task Forces (TF) i.e. Natural and Geological Wealth; Water, Ice, Snow including Glaciers; Forest Resources and Plant Diversity; Micro Flora and Fauna and Wildlife and Animal Population; Traditional Knowledge System and Himalayan Agriculture. The Himalayan ecosystems are complex and exposed to a number of stressors which are poorly understood. In order to better understand and effectively manage these ecosystems, there is a need to evaluate their current state and ‘health’. In many ways, ecosystem health is analogous to human health that can be monitored using certain vital signs or indicators. A healthy ecosystem is capable of providing the ‘essential services’ that are extremely important for human well-being. Hence NMSHE has worked towards publishing the first ever report on “State of the Ecosystem Health in the Indian Himalayan Region”. The report comprises of a comprehensive and complete assessment of vital components of the Himalayan ecosystems i.e Geo-resources, Water Resources, Forest and Floral Diversity, Wildlife Habitats and Faunal Diversity, Traditional Knowledge System and Himalayan Agriculture prepared by the respective Task Forces. The objectives behind the report are many. Firstly it intends to collate the knowledge and expand the accessible knowledge base. Though extensive research has been conducted in the last few decades, but the knowledge gathered is scattered, reaches selective audience, is limited to sectors or single disciplines and mostly fails to reach the decision makers. The main objective of the report is to inform the decision makers and assist them in policy oriented task. It also aims to address the knowledge gap to promote more targeted assessments about specific areas of concern. Overall the report seeks to promote science- policy discussions at different levels of the government to improve cooperation between communities, states and countries in managing the health of Himalayan ecosystem. Dr. Akhliesh Gupta, Scientist G & Head Climate Change Programme Strategic Programmes Large Initiative and Coordinated Action Enabler-(SPLICE) Division Department of Science and Technology ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS On behalf of Climate Change Programme, SPLICE Division, I would like to acknowledge with thanks the valuable contribution and inputs received from all the Project Investigators of the six Task Forces under NMSHE for the preparation of the Himalayan Health Status Report. I am extremely grateful to Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary DST for supporting to the Climate Change Programme and graciously motivating our efforts. I would like to thank Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Head, SPLICE, DST for taking lead in successful implementation of various programmes under NMSHE and motivating his team to work on the prepration of the report. I wish to express heartfelt gratitude to the members of Steering Committee, Expert Committee and Reviewer’s Panel for their continuous support and invaluable insight provided for implementing the NMSHE. I would also like to thank the scientists of SPLICE/CCP Division in DST especially our colleagues Dr. Susheela Negi Scientist E and Dr. Rabindra Panigrahy, Scientist D for their valuable support. I also wish to acknolwdge support provided by Dr Mustafa Ali Khan and Dr Yangdup Lama of IHCAP, SDC for contributing imensely to the comiplation of inputs. Dr. Nisha Mendiratta Scientist-G & Associate Head Climate Change Programme Strategic Programmes Large Initiative and Coordinated Action Enabler-(SPLICE) Division Department of Science and Technology LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS Task Force, on Geo- resources and Impact Task Force on Water, Ice, and Snow Assessment
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