PROCEEDINGS International Conference RHODODENDRONS: CONSERVATION and SUSTAINABLE USE Saramsa, Gangtok-Sikkim, India (29Th April 2010)
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PROCEEDINGS International Conference RHODODENDRONS: CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE Saramsa, Gangtok-Sikkim, India (29th April 2010) Forest Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim June 2010 PROCEEDINGS International Conference RHODODENDRONS: CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE Editors Anil Mainra, Hemant K. Badola and Bharti Mohanty Editorial Advisory Board Shri S.T. Lachungpa, India; Prof. Wolfgang Spethmann, Germany; Shri K.C. Pradhan, India; Mr. M.S. Viraraghavan, India; Prof. Lau Trass, Netherlands; Dr A.R.K. Sastry, India Published by Forest Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim, Gangtok, Sikkim, India Citation: Mainra, A., Badola, H.K. and Mohanty, B. (eds) 2010. Proceeding, International Conference, Rhododendrons: Conservation and Sustainable Use, Forest Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim, Gangtok- Sikkim, India. Printed at CONCEPT, Siliguri, India. P. 100 (The contents, photographs and any published materials in all technical papers, abstracts and presentations are sole responsibility of the authors) Contents Page From the desk of the convener 5 Objectives of the International conference 6 Inaugural session 7 Inaugural Address by the Chief Guest, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim 11 Address: Shri Bhim Dhungel, Hon’ble Minister, Forest, Tourism, Mines and Geology and 16 Science & Technology Keynote address by Shri K C Pradhan, Former Chief Secretary, GoS 19 Address: Shri S T Lachungpa, PCCF-cum-Secretary, FEWMD, GoS 22 Welcome Address: Dr. Anil Mainra, Addl. PCCF & Convener, FEWMD, GoS 25 Programme 28 Technical Papers 30 Rhododendrons in Germany and the German Rhododendron gene bank - W. Spethmann, G. 31 Michaelis and H. Schepker Diversity, distribution and conservation of Indian Rhododendrons: Some aspects - A.R.K. Sastry 36 Finnish experience on Himalayan rhododendrons: climate responses - O. Jussila, K. Theqvist1 42 and A. Väinölä Phenology and climate responses in Himalayan rhododendrons - H.K. Badola 48 Rhododendron conservation and the protection of the habitat: Perspectives from a south Indian 60 tropical mountain eco-system - M.S. Viraraghavan Rhododendrons in the Netherlands and Belgium - L. Traas 64 Assessment of endangered status and conservation initiatives on the rhododendrons from the 67 Sikkim Himalaya - K.K. Singh and L.K. Rai Abstracts 82 Conservation of selected rhododendron species, and New Zealand hybrids in New Zealand – 83 2010: Aotearoa- Land of the long white cloud - K. Millar Growing Rhododendron species in Sweden - B. Aldén 85 About some rhododendron species, variants and hybrids in Sikkim - H. Eiberg 86 Selected Presentation 87 Wild rhododendrons of Bhutan - R. Pradhan 88 Action Plan and Strategies 93 PROCEEDINGS International Rhododendron Conference From the desk of the Convener… Rhododendrons are viewed as indicators of ecosystem health of forest areas as these plants offer niche for several faunal species. Interestingly buds of rhododendrons being highly sensitive to climate variations can be taken as easy to handle tools for monitoring global warming. Sikkim, having 38 species of rhododendrons out of 80 found in India, is organizing International Rhododendron Festival 2010 and as a part of this year’s long celebration, an international conference on “Rhododendrons: conservation and sustainable use” was organized at Saramsa Garden, Gangtok, Sikkim on 29th April 2010, where over 130 forest managers, experts and scientists shared a common platform to deliberate on strategies required for conservation and sustainable use of rhododendrons and prepared an action plan required in Indian scenario with emphasis on Sikkim rhododendrons. This document is an edited version of the conference proceedings, which includes technical papers and an action plan. I hope that this document would prove useful for the conservation and sustainable use of rhododendrons in Himalaya and elsewhere in the world. Dr. Anil Mainra ©dechen lachungpa Addl. PCCF 5 OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP Rhododendrons have fascinated people managers to sit together in a common for centuries and represent about 960 forum to interact and share their expert species growing worldwide. Majority of ideas on various issues, concerns the genetic variations of rhododendrons and policies on rhododendrons of the is confined to southeastern Asia, world, with particular reference to extending from northwest Himalayas Sikkim Himalaya. In the International (Nepal, Sikkim, eastern Tibet, Bhutan, Year of Biodiversity 2010 and Sikkim Arunachal Pradesh, north Myanmar Tourism Year 2010, the Government of and west and central China), and Sikkim has organized the International subsequently southward. Of around 80 Rhododendron Festival in April 2010, species of rhododendrons in India, 38 of which International Conference on species are reported from Sikkim. ‘Rhododendrons: Conservation and Rhododendrons have a great role in Sustainable Use’ was a major event. ecological stability of ecosystems, Objectives as indicators of forest health, and for their phenological sensitivity to Owing to individual habitat niches, the climatic change. However over past dynamics of ecological behaviour of few decades, natural populations have different species of rhododendrons offer declined worldwide due to natural major challenges for their conservation, and anthropogenic pressures. Any management, scientific study, and sustainable use, including aesthetic strengthening potential gene resource value of rhododendrons for tourism base for posterity, both in-situ and ex- would be possible by scientific situ. The conference intended to seek conservation and management of inputs and share views on the following natural populations. Sikkim is one of broad areas, specifically restricted to the perfect examples of practicing rhododendron conservation: biodiversity conservation programmes with over 31% geographical area coverage under protected area network • Diversity and distribution including one Biosphere Reserve and • Habitat diversity and ecological eight wildlife sanctuaries, of which adaptation two are exclusively designated for the • Phenological behaviour and climatic conservation of rhododendrons, viz. relationships Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary (43 • Sustainable use and future potential sq. km) and Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (104 sq. km) • Field oriented ex-situ conservation • Eco-tourism potential Realizing the enormous conservation potential of rhododendrons, need • Education, awareness and peoples’ has emerged for experts, scientists, participation practitioners, policy makers and forest • Role of policies and acts 6 PROCEEDINGS International Rhododendron Conference Inaugural session 7 8 PROCEEDINGS International Rhododendron Conference 9 10 PROCEEDINGS International Rhododendron Conference INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY THE CHIEF GUEST Honourable Chief Minister of Sikkim Shri Pawan Chamling steemed delegates from to determine the richness of the different countries attending this rhododendron species in Sikkim Erare conference, experts and Himalayas and also reinforce its resources persons working in the area aesthetic values that blend into the of biodiversity conservation, Hon’ble overall living experience of the beautiful speaker, Deputy Speaker and the people of Sikkim. other members of Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Officials, distinguished I am very glad to see experts, scientists, guests, esteemed member of media policy maker and forest managers from fraternity and friends different part of the country and the world sitting together in a common It gives me immense pleasure to forum with a common theme to interact attend the inaugural functions of and share their expert findings on the International Rhododendron various issues, concerns and policies Conference, one of the rare occasions on rhododendron of the world with 11 particular reference to North Eastern resource the rhododendrons. The Himalayas and Sikkim. It is only in Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, conference of kind that new ideas are which is soon expected to be the part of created, discussed and the distilled ‘Man and Biosphere Reserve’ network wisdom is recorded in the form of action of UNESCO, supports immensely rich plan which form the foundation stones depositories of rhododendrons. for deciding the future course of action with a view to conserve this important In fact, the, level of environmental natural resources. awareness among our people is very high because of their proximity to Over past few decades, anthropogenic nature and their age old belief in nature and natural calamity has threatened the as their local deity. The people of Sikkim natural population of rhododendrons revere the third highest mountain peak widely. The Himalayan State is not Khangchendzonga as their local deity exception to this. Here I am happy to and worship the various natural features share that the State of Sikkim has been like natural lake, tree and mountain able to conserve the rhododendron peaks, rivers and hot springs. This has species. The government’s role and intimately linked our way of life with approaches used for conservation of the existing nature making significant biological diversity in Sikkim have been impact upon our lifestyle and also our eco-friendly and has proved immensely livelihood pattern. beneficial over many decades. I fully agree with the idea that sustainable use And in the midst of scientific community of biodiversity including rhododendrons and nature lovers, I would like to inform is possible by scientific