Contents Perspectives of Change in GHNP

Wildlife Week 2010 27 Wildlife Week 2010

Payson R. Stevens . . . Article Author Page No.

Biodiversity of Man-Made Wetland, the Larji B.S. Rana 1-2 n May 1999, the Great near the boundary of the Park at Panchi Galu (4636 m). Reservoir Himalayan National Park led to an invitation to visit the Where Did Wetlands go? Sangeeta Chandel 3-4 I(GHNP) opened as a gift to Park's interior. I returned in GHNP is part of a boundary India and the people of the October 2000, with my close between four important Beautiful Butterflies of Dalhousie Sanjay Sondhi 5-7 world. The Park, covering 754 friend, Arny Lippin of New ecological zones ranging from Some High Altitude Wetlands of Pankaj Chandan and 8-11 sq km in the Kullu Valley York City. With Sanjeeva as our lowland Indian plains to the Himachal Pradesh as a Source of River Sanjeev Sharma region of Himachal Pradesh guide, we did a month of high Tibetan plateau. The (HP), became the first region of Chenab and as Wildlife Habitats trekking in the Sainj and complex Park geography has the Western Himalayas to be Tirthan River Valleys deep large variations in altitude that Biodiversity of Lahaul Spiti Santosh Thakur 12-16 protected as a unique, natural within the Park. Sanjeeva encompass an enormous range A Trek Through The Miyar Valley Sarah Hine 17-18 habitat. In March 2000, I had accompanied us on some of the of species in a relatively small the good fortune to meet routes and later he and I area. The Park is the home to High Altitude Sacred Waters of Himachal Suveena Thakur 19-20 Sanjeeva Pandey, the first trekked up the Jiwanal River rare and endangered bird (e.g., Pradesh director of GHNP. A short trek Valley up through the high pass Western Tragopan, Chir Caring for Wetlands- Right time for Dr. Sushil Kapta 21-22 Introspection and Action Khorli Poi-Tirith Biodiversity Gaps – Precepts and Malpractice Vinay Tandon 23-26 Perspectives of Change in GHNP Payson R. Stevens 27-31 Great Himalayan National Park Ashwanii Gulaati 32-33 Short listed for UNESCO`s World Heritage Site Thoughts on a lone mountain tree Tony Gaston 34-35 Small Wildlife Populations face high Extinction Sat Pal Dhiman 36-38 Risks Mother Nature`s Exquisite Wild Flowers O.P. Sharma 39-40 Identifying Critical Wildlife Habitats Ashwanii Gulaati 41-42 Conservation In The North West Himalayas: Vaneet Jishtu & 43-47 Creating A Temperate Arboretum Mohinder Pal Biosphere Reserves Ashwanii Gulaati 48-49

Sanjeeva Pandey is Chief Conservator Forest (Faunal Diversity & Protected Areas), Himachal Pradesh. He loves trekking & going to nature. Editor : Sanjeeva Pandey © PaysonPayson R.R. StevensStevens Wildlife Week 2010 27 Wildlife Week 2010

Perspectives of Change in GHNP

Payson R. Stevens . . . Article Author Page No.

Pheasant) and animals (e.g., meat, pasture for livestock, environmental goals. Though AApproachpproach ttoo TTirath-Tirithirath-Tirith Snow Leopard, Himalayan etc.) and income (medicinal accurate and on-going records Musk Deer, Himalayan Black herbs, wild gucchii/morel are limited, the earlier levels of Bear, Himalayan Thar, Blue mushrooms, lichens, Monal poaching and illegal resource Sheep and Serow) species. feathers, etc.) all were keenly exploitation appear to have GHNP also has over 250 felt by villagers. The primary diminished, though it persists. ethnobotanically important goal to protect the Park's In 2008, US Fulbright Scholar plant species, of which 60 are unique biodiversity could not Jennie Miller did a two month of medicinal value and 25 are be accomplished without local field survey on the Western endangered IUCN Red data support. The process of GHNP Tragopan*, an extremely rare species. This remarkable conservation and preservation pheasant (listed as an IUCN biodiversity spans the had to address these issues. A Vulnerable species). Called subtropical, the south-east newly created local NGO set up Jujurana by locals, the King of Asian forest, and the Siberian microcredit financing through the Birds numbers have and Asian steppes. The wide Women's Saving and Credit doubled in the past decade. variety of ecological habitats Groups and Self Help Groups, Other important GHNP from lower valleys to high as women were the poorest of endangered birds such as the peaks, the transition zones, and the poor. The HP Forest Koklass and Himalayan Monal the lack of developed visitor Department (FD) began work also showed significant trekking routes, all presented a trainings and job creation population increases from rich and complex environment schemes such as forest earlier surveys. to experience. As an avid plantation, herb cultivation, trekker, I was immediately compost/vermicompost product Another important aspect of impressed by the opportunity to development, etc. The NGO GHNP biodiversity is the © Payson R. Stevens hike on rough paths through helped women develop local geographical relationship extensive areas never touched products for the market between the Park and other by developed tourism. I fell in including apricot seed oil, fruit protected areas. The Park Wildlife Sanctuary (61 sq km). these thatches showed severe Deer and Ghoral. Indian and love with the Park and offered jams, and organic rajmas/red boundaries are adjacent to the The Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary soil erosion and displacement foreign research projects have my assistance and skills to beans. Pin Valley National Park (675 (61 sq km) and the Sainj of alpine flora (especially been continuing over the years, GHNP. Sanjeeva and sq km) in the Trans-Himalaya, Wildlife Sanctuary (90 sq km ) annual and perennial though they have been limited . subsequent GHNP directors, Over the last decade many of the Rupi-Bhawa Wildlife are also contiguous with wildflowers) resulting from The need for more systematic Harsh Mitter and Ajay these efforts have shown a Sanctuary (503 sq km) in Sutlej GHNP. The 2010 sanctioning goat, sheep, and cow grazing. and on-going scientific animal Srivastav accepted. Thus, positive impact on the Park's watershed, and the Kanawar of the Khirganga National Park The introduction of alien plant surveys is essential for an creating my on-going and (710 sq km) adds yet another species through grazing animal accurate assessment of their decade-long relationship with neighboring geographic droppings was another negative population numbers and to the Park and the surrounding Dhel Thatch protected area, thus totaling impact. Thatches, like Dhel, compare to earlier research. Ecozone. more than 2900 sq km. These Khorli Poi, and Parkachi, are There are dozens of Masters combined and different habitats now in the slow process of and PhD theses just waiting for One outcome of the Park's support a full range of Western natural restoration and enterprising students to write: creation was the conflict with Himalayan biodiversity, from recovery, yet another identifying the numerous flora some of the villagers in the tropical to alpine to Tibetan. encouraging example ensuring and fauna, studying the still Ecozone—an area of 265 sq km They connect islands of GHNPs biodiversity. unknown behavior and natural surrounding the Park with biodiversity and help ensure history of the endangered 14,000 inhabitants. Many secure migration routes, Over the years Sanjeeva and I animals and birds in the Park, villagers were unhappy at being essential for the survival of have trekked 1200 km to the monitoring long term forever excluded from the rich many animals. different high altitude sources ecological changes (such as natural resources of the Park, of the Park's four rivers: the glacial recession), or which was necessary to begin The Park creation had closed Tirthan, Sainj, Parbarti, and developing base line studies to the process of restoration and off higher alpine meadows, or Jiwanal. Informal wildlife understand the coming impacts conservation. The loss of these thatches, used by locals for observations have shown a of global warming. These are resources for both daily living livestock and this is also having steady increase of large just a few of the opportunities needs (firewood, wild animal © PPaysonayson RR.. SStevenstevens positive results. During my mammals, such as Blue Sheep, for important research that early treks in GHNP (2000-05) Black and Brown Bear, Musk GHNP offers. Wildlife Week 2010 28 29 Wildlife Week 2010

concerns. For the last five years to changing climate and global conservation requires on-going Another serious and looming TirthanTirthan RiverRiver MH has focused on child health warming. sensitivity for all the issue for the Park (and for the care, education, and job stakeholders. As my 88 year old planet) is the onset of global creation projects. Each year GHNP is currently in the final mother-in-law, Laj Bedi Kapur, warming with all the issues related to global stages of the UNESCO World has said: We humans must concomitant impacts on warming have become Heritage Site nomination speak for the tongueless biodiversity. As temperatures increasingly apparent during process—a recognition of its animals and plants. rise, shifts will occur in habitat our health surveys in the higher unique natural value. Many ranges for many organisms. Upper Seraj/Kullu Valley. In individuals have worked The Great Himalayan National Large and small animals from May 2010, My Himachal diligently over the past decades Park is a testament to the lower elevations will be able to initiated a water pilot to study to help create and sustain the collective efforts and vision of move to higher ones that were how traditional and modern Park. The role of local villagers a broad spectrum of Indian once colder but whose techniques might help recharge helping to conserve and protect society to conserve a wondrous temperatures can now be small catchments in those GHNP, even with issues over environmental region for tolerated. Issues between new villages suffering from chronic resource exploitation, has been generations to come. This species migrating into the Park water shortages. Techniques an integral and essential part of dedication is reflected by the and long established ones will like water conservation of the Park's viability. It must not slogans of the Park: create competition with © Payson R. Stevens existing pipes, check dams and be forgotten that the potentially far-ranging not be easily predictable but worldwide). A July 16, 2010 tanks for holding water during environmental protection of ? Protect Nature consequences for the could seriously disturb existing article in the New York Times monsoon rains, and GHNP comes with a cost for ? Conserve Nature interconnected food webs. Low GHNP ecologies. The discusses some of these reforestation of forest land local villagers. They have given ? Preserve Nature lying insects, pests, and disease disruptive effects on the lives impacts: could all offer potential help. If up necessary survival resources ? Celebrate Nature vectors will have the ability to and livelihoods of villagers in An Indian glaciologist, Syed successful over the next few for the continued existence of disrupt existing ecological the Ecozone with more floods, Iqbal Hasnain, now at the years, the MH Water Recharge the Park. The dilemma of the Jai Ho Biodiversity! balances with potentially dire Stimson Center in Washington, Pilot may offer solutions for poor being excluded from a Jai Ho GHNP! storms, hail, etc. will create told me that most Himalayan results for flora, fauna, and other problems. As human- some of the water issues related region created for nature humans. Sessile/immobile glaciers are in retreat for three induced global warming is reasons. First is the overall plants do not have the ability to underway, with little will by warming tied to carbon migrate into tolerant zones (as political world leadership to emissions. Second, rain and snow patterns are changing, so that less * Miller, J. R. B. 2010. Survey of Western Tragopan, Koklass Pheasant, and Himalayan Monal populations in the Great animals do) so their adaptation stopping it, only by developing (or lack of) to warming new snow is added to replace Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, India. Indian Birds 6 (3): 60–65. mitigating responses can we what melts. Third, pollution from temperatures can result in prepare for the future. The trucks and smoke covers glaciers unprecedented shifts in impacts of global warming on with carbon soot so that their ecological communities, villagers will also exacerbate surfaces become darker and less reflective — causing them to melt Payson & Kamla especially if climax species die their effects on GHNP. The About the Author out or diminish in their more quickly. pressures of uncertainty over The retreat of the glaciers dominance. Critical ecological water, firewood, and food could threatens agriculture downstream. trigger points can occur shifting force locals into the Park A study published last month in the balance of existing Science magazine indicated that reigniting old resource issues. glacier melt is essential for the relationships with rapid, The resultant social, political unknown, and reverberating Indus and Brahmaputra rivers, and economic fallout could while less important a component consequences. create new problems and of the Ganges, Yellow and conflicts threatening Yangtze rivers. The potential Impacts on weather and disappearance of the glaciers, the conservation efforts in the Park. © Payson R. Stevens climate, along with changing report said, is “threatening the seasonal monsoon regularity, food security of an estimated 60 Global warming is already million people” in the Indus and are another large environmental having an impact on Himalayan Brahmaputra basins. unknown for GHNP and the glaciers as satellite Himalayas. The increased observations (and historical Out of the work with intensity and variability of photographs) are showing the GHNP, I helped found a US storms expected by global recession/melting of many NGO, My Himachal (MH) in warming (already starting) may Himalayan glaciers (and others 2006 to work on rural HP Wildlife Week 2010 30 31 Wildlife Week 2010

concerns. For the last five years to changing climate and global conservation requires on-going Another serious and looming TirthanTirthan RiverRiver MH has focused on child health warming. sensitivity for all the issue for the Park (and for the care, education, and job stakeholders. As my 88 year old planet) is the onset of global creation projects. Each year GHNP is currently in the final mother-in-law, Laj Bedi Kapur, warming with all the issues related to global stages of the UNESCO World has said: We humans must concomitant impacts on warming have become Heritage Site nomination speak for the tongueless biodiversity. As temperatures increasingly apparent during process—a recognition of its animals and plants. rise, shifts will occur in habitat our health surveys in the higher unique natural value. Many ranges for many organisms. Upper Seraj/Kullu Valley. In individuals have worked The Great Himalayan National Large and small animals from May 2010, My Himachal diligently over the past decades Park is a testament to the lower elevations will be able to initiated a water pilot to study to help create and sustain the collective efforts and vision of move to higher ones that were how traditional and modern Park. The role of local villagers a broad spectrum of Indian once colder but whose techniques might help recharge helping to conserve and protect society to conserve a wondrous temperatures can now be small catchments in those GHNP, even with issues over environmental region for tolerated. Issues between new villages suffering from chronic resource exploitation, has been generations to come. This species migrating into the Park water shortages. Techniques an integral and essential part of dedication is reflected by the and long established ones will like water conservation of the Park's viability. It must not slogans of the Park: create competition with © Payson R. Stevens existing pipes, check dams and be forgotten that the potentially far-ranging not be easily predictable but worldwide). A July 16, 2010 tanks for holding water during environmental protection of ? Protect Nature consequences for the could seriously disturb existing article in the New York Times monsoon rains, and GHNP comes with a cost for ? Conserve Nature interconnected food webs. Low GHNP ecologies. The discusses some of these reforestation of forest land local villagers. They have given ? Preserve Nature lying insects, pests, and disease disruptive effects on the lives impacts: could all offer potential help. If up necessary survival resources ? Celebrate Nature vectors will have the ability to and livelihoods of villagers in An Indian glaciologist, Syed successful over the next few for the continued existence of disrupt existing ecological the Ecozone with more floods, Iqbal Hasnain, now at the years, the MH Water Recharge the Park. The dilemma of the Jai Ho Biodiversity! balances with potentially dire Stimson Center in Washington, Pilot may offer solutions for poor being excluded from a Jai Ho GHNP! storms, hail, etc. will create told me that most Himalayan results for flora, fauna, and other problems. As human- some of the water issues related region created for nature humans. Sessile/immobile glaciers are in retreat for three induced global warming is reasons. First is the overall plants do not have the ability to underway, with little will by warming tied to carbon migrate into tolerant zones (as political world leadership to emissions. Second, rain and snow patterns are changing, so that less * Miller, J. R. B. 2010. Survey of Western Tragopan, Koklass Pheasant, and Himalayan Monal populations in the Great animals do) so their adaptation stopping it, only by developing (or lack of) to warming new snow is added to replace Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, India. Indian Birds 6 (3): 60–65. mitigating responses can we what melts. Third, pollution from temperatures can result in prepare for the future. The trucks and smoke covers glaciers unprecedented shifts in impacts of global warming on with carbon soot so that their ecological communities, villagers will also exacerbate surfaces become darker and less reflective — causing them to melt Payson & Kamla especially if climax species die their effects on GHNP. The About the Author out or diminish in their more quickly. pressures of uncertainty over The retreat of the glaciers dominance. Critical ecological water, firewood, and food could threatens agriculture downstream. Payson R. Stevens is an American trained in the earth sciences and trigger points can occur shifting force locals into the Park A study published last month in art. For over 25 years he worked with NASA, NOAA, and the USGS the balance of existing Science magazine indicated that on global change issues. He lives half the year with his wife, the writer reigniting old resource issues. glacier melt is essential for the Kamla K. Kapur (www.kamlakkapur.com), in a remote area of the relationships with rapid, The resultant social, political unknown, and reverberating Indus and Brahmaputra rivers, Kullu Valley where he paints, writes, and does seva. He is a founding and economic fallout could while less important a component and advisory board member of My Himachal consequences. create new problems and of the Ganges, Yellow and (www.myhimachal.com), a US and Indian NGO working on rural conflicts threatening Yangtze rivers. The potential poverty issues and nature conservation. His artwork can be seen at Impacts on weather and disappearance of the glaciers, the www.energylandscapes.com conservation efforts in the Park. © Payson R. Stevens climate, along with changing report said, is “threatening the seasonal monsoon regularity, food security of an estimated 60 Global warming is already million people” in the Indus and are another large environmental having an impact on Himalayan Brahmaputra basins. unknown for GHNP and the glaciers as satellite Himalayas. The increased observations (and historical Out of the work with intensity and variability of photographs) are showing the GHNP, I helped found a US storms expected by global recession/melting of many NGO, My Himachal (MH) in warming (already starting) may Himalayan glaciers (and others 2006 to work on rural HP