Climate Change Impact and Mitigation/Adaptation Strategies in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR), Central Himalaya, India DR. R.K. MAIKHURI G B PANT INSTITUTE OF HIMALAYAN ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, GARHWAL UNIT, SRINAGAR GARHWAL, UTTARAKHAND-246174 ,India
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Climate change impact and mitigation-adaptation strategies [Rakesh Kumar Maikhuri]
Climate change impact and mitigation-adaptation strategies. Presented by Rakesh Kumar Maikhuri at the "Perth II: Global Change and the World's Mountains" conference in Perth, Scotland in September 2010.
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Climate Change Impact and
Mitigation/Adaptation Strategies in
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
(NDBR), Central Himalaya, India
DR. R.K. MAIKHURI
G B PANT INSTITUTE OF HIMALAYAN ENVIRONMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT, GARHWAL UNIT, SRINAGAR GARHWAL,
UTTARAKHAND-246174 ,India
Biological, cultural and religious significance of NDBR
The NDBR is covered in Himalayan highlands biogeographic
province (2A) of India and represents a platform to promote
biodiversity conservation in diverse ecosystems and vegetation
types (temperate, sub alpine and alpine)
The area harbours very rare and endangered floral and faunal
elements.
The reserve covers a large number of glaciers feeding the
tributaries of the Holy river Ganges.
Rich in ethnic diversity (Indo-mongoloid i.e.Tolcha, Marchha,
Nitwal, Johari, Darmi and Indo-Aryan) and cultural heritage.
The entire landscape of NDBR referred to as very sacred (land
of Gods and Goddess)- Dev Bhumi.
Map of NDBR
1. Core zone 624.62 sq.km. Part of NDNP
87.50 sq.km. Whole of VFNP
Sub-total 712.10 sq.km
(C2)
2. Buffer zone 1612.12 sq.km. Old NDBR (total area)
1886.78 sq.km.
1786.78 sq.km
VF and adjoining
Kakbhushandi zone
1600.01 sq.km Malari-Laptal zone
149.66 sq.km. Sunderdhunga-Pindari zone
Sub total 5148.57 sq.km.
(BF)
Total 5860.69 sq.km.
Area under core zone and buffer zone in NDBR
District Catchment Before
2000
After
2000
Total
Chamoli Alaknanda - 9 9
Dhauli Ganga 10 15 15
Pithoragarh Gori Ganga 4 6 25
Bageshwar 3 - 3
Total 17 30 47
Number of buffer zone villages in NDBR
Climate Change Impact (A) Agriculture in Buffer Zone and
Adjoining Areas
( I ) Negative impact: Diseases, insects/pests etc. Decline in area under
cultivation of various traditional crops at three points of time.
Hordeum himalayense
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1970-75 1980-85 1990-95
Are
a (
ha)
Greater sensitivity of Hordeum himalayens to increasing
temperature causes reduction in cultivated area and
productivity
The effect of temperature on photosynthetic
characteristic of two species of Hordeum
(H. himalayense grown in high altitude between 2200-3000
masl) and H. vulgare grown at low altitude (300-1500
masl) were compared.
H . himalayense is more sensitive to photosynthesis then
the H. vulgare
At 300c, photosynthesis in H. himalayense was about 25%
less then that of H. vulgare (Joshi & Palni, 2005).
2-Amaranthus spp. vulnerable to climate change –
disease called Hymenia rickervalis (between 1000 –
1800 masl), high temperature and humidity during
1 – 2 week of September which provide favorable
conditions to insect whereas no occurrence of
disease between 2200 – 2800 masl (revealed by
farmers) (Maikhuri et.al.2009,2010).
Homegardens are richer in SOC (+) compared to forests
0
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
2
2.4
2.8
RA HG PF OF
So
il o
rgan
ic c
arb
on
(%
)
0-10 cm 10-20 cm 20-50 cm 50-100 cm Mean
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
RA HG PF OF
To
tal
Kja
ldh
al
N (
%)
0-10 cm 10-20 cm 20-50 cm 50-100 cm Mean
0
0.0002
0.0004
0.0006
0.0008
0.001
0.0012
RA HG PF OF
Av
ail
ab
le P
(%
)
0-10 cm 10-20 cm 20-50 cm 50-100 cm Mean
Cow pea and Vigna spp: Important summer mountain grain
legumes facing a problem of fruit setting – due to shift in peak
rainfall.
Phaseolus spp.: soil borne insect (Coleoptera) damage the
crop in early stage of seed germination – increase in
moisture/humidity/milder winters (between 500 – 1500 masl) is
favorable climatic conditions for the life cycle of the insects.
Apple cultivation: Like Kullu valey in H.P., the yield of apple has
declined in the villages due to change in snowfall, the chilling hours
for apple trees are reduced, affecting the time of its bud-break.
(II) Positive impact:
1. Opportunities for cash crops like tomato,
cabbage, chilly, peas, beans and horticultural
crops like prunus, apricot etc.
2. Medicinal and aromatic plants cultivation
B. Transhumance Pastoralism
Decline of livestock population due to various reasons (i.e. conservation
policies, socio-economic changes, decline in carrying capacity and water
resources in the alpine pastures).
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
1970-75 1980-85 1990-95 2005-07
Time Period
No
. of
Liv
esto
ck
S heep
G oa t
C a ttle
Horse/mule
Changes in livestock population between the 1970-75 to 2005-07 period as
reported by the people of Niti valley (10 villages).
Pastoralism also involves important relationship
with low altitude (Tarai–Bhabar tract) forests.
Currently, the lowland experience dry conditions
from Dec. – May (with the exception of winter
storms) and low rainfall adversely affect the growth
and productivity of herbaceous vegetation.
Climate change at high altitude would affect the
production of forage quantity and quality, increase
disease and disease spreading pests, reduce water
availability etc. and would make these communities
to face difficult situations.
Sheep, goat grazing in alpine
meadows
Horse, mule grazing in alpine
meadows
(C) Forest and Timberline Vegetation
Pinus wallichiana and Cedrus deodara (keystone species) used
by buffer zone villages for timber, fuel wood, medicine etc. Decrease in
snowfall and rainfall probably negatively affecting the
regeneration of deodar.
Pinus wallichiana is regenerating and spreading faster than
other species (noticed by us as well as by villagers).
The stem and leaves of Betula utilis growing in association with Abies,
Rhododendron, Taxus (3300 – 3600 masl) damaged severely by
defoliators (moth/insect) since last 10 -12 years and this probably
due to less snowfall and gradual increase in temperature.
Advancement of phenophases (flowering, leafing & fruiting time).
Rhododendron arboretum, Allium stracheyi, A. humile,
Meconopsis aculeate and Saussurea obvallata & some prominent
wild edibles i.e Rubus ellepticus, Rosa webbiana and R sericea.
Natural forest stand Betula utilis
Disease caused on the bark of Betula
a
d c
b
Single tree of Betula utilis
Bark of Betula utilis
D. Alpine Meadows
The alpine landscape in Niti and Mana valleys is eroded
due to glacier melting, avalanches and landslides,
which favour the spread/expansion of Polygonum
spp. fast growing weeds.
The other successful invaders found in these
habitats includes species such as Lonicera and
Ephedra.
The transformation of an alpine meadows has far
reaching impacts on the livelihood of the traditional
transhumant communities. The alpine meadows of NDBR
could also be impacted by rising temperature that would
promote the upward migration of woody plants from sub-
alpine and temperate forests.
Rate of retreat of some important glaciers in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserves (NDBR), India
problems but also opportunities for the tourism sector.
A wider appreciation of the impact of a leisure culture
increasing numbers of people are remaining in buffer zone of
the reserve for much longer duration (i.e. in Badrinath, Mana,
Hemkund Saheb, Valley of Flowers, Niti, Tapovan etc.).
Tourism in the reserve may provide better income
generation opportunities as other primary and secondary
production sectors (i.e. agriculture, livestock, NTFPs
collections) decline.
Culture of the traditional communities is itself open to
pressure which have uncertain outcomes.
Gandhi Sarover (completely dried) Vasuki Tal (water volume decreased)
Year Total number of
pilgrims/tourists visited
Number of pilgrims
expanded their stay
Percentage shift
2005 245476 12300 -
2006 274489 16800 36.5%
2007 390156 23670 40.8%
2008 485464 29230 23.4%
2009 555585 34900 19.3%
Number of pilgrims expanded their stay as a tourists.
Due to changes in phenophases (advance/delayed flowering/ leafing/ fruiting) as well as decline in population/ abundance of many medicinal plants has negative impacts on THCS as revealed by local healers. The time/collection period of MAPs are strongly linked with spiritual values which enhance the efficacy of the drugs as per the local healers.
F. Climate change impact on medicinal plants based
AG1- Age group (20-50) AG2- Age group (50-80 and above)
In six valleys the co2 savings
has been estimated as 1445 ton
co2 and in terms of cost of fuel
saving to be US $ 522,800. Hence,
pack animals can play an
important role in reducing the
emission of greenhouse gases
such as co2. Although construction of roads is a
top priority for people from such
remote and far-flung regions,
incentives should be there to
encourage the use of pack animals
for transportation.
Source: ( Nehal & Maikhuri, 2008)
Mitigation & Adaptation strategy
A. Use of pack animals in reducing CO2 emission
B. Conservation of wild biodiversity:
strengthening of the protected area
network
We have a long history of planned
conservation(13.4% of its geographical area is under
PAs network), our knowledge of people, biodiversity,
vulnerability, and their linkages is very limited.
Therefore, participatory research/ management
could turn people's callous/ negative attitudes to
positive attitudes towards protected areas as well as
improving scientific knowledge related to potential
uses of biodiversity for coping and mitigation
(Maikhuri et al. 2000).
Turmeric cultivation
C. Rehabilitation of degraded forests and abandoned lands through agro-forestry &restoration ecology approaches ( Maikhuri et.al.2001,2003)
The co2 content in the atmosphere could be decreased by
bringing back carbon into biomass and soil through
rehabilitations of degraded lands
People participation in land
rehabilitation–carrying seedlings
for plantation
A view of Amaranth stalk used to protect saplings from snowfall
planted under rehabilitation programme in high altitude areas
Close view of Amaranth stalk
Total
covered
area 6 ha
Adoption
Total covered area 2 ha
D. Cultivation/conservation and collection of medicinal and
aromatic plants. A total of 14 training programme were organized and 548
participants were trained (Maikhuri et.al.2005, 2007)
Large scale cultivation of
Picrorrhiza kurrooa Large scale cultivation of
Arnebia benthamii
Medicinal plant cultivation and nursery
development at Tolma (2800 m asl) Medicinal plant cultivation and nursery
development at Suraithota (2300 m asl)
Value addition to the medicinal plants (Allium spp., Angelica
glauca, Pleurospermum spp) locally through semi-processing
facilities as a spice and condiments as eco-tourism products.
The transhumance activities
gradually changing into permanent
settlement in the low altitude areas.
Pastoral activities has declined
and people particularly young
generations migrating to plains for
job/employment.
E. Transhumance and Pastoralism
activities
F. Bioprospecting and Value addition of NTFPs
Interest in wild bioresources has grown
significantly with the increasing awareness in
linking forest conservation with rural development.
More than twenty five (25) wild edible plant
species/ NTFPs were screened for making a variety
of edible and other products (i.e. Jam, Jelly, Sauce,
Squash, Pickles etc.) as a source of income
(Maikhuri et.al.2007,2009,2010).
Sustainable harvesting of some potential wild
edibles has been worked out. A total of 405
participants were trained.
Various wild edible -
products
G. Promotion of traditional crop cultivation and
organic farming
People inhabited between 2200-2800 masl in buffer
zone villages, their agricultural practices being
transformed into agro-pastoral and agro-
horticultural activities.
Pragmatic multidisciplinary research efforts are
needed to develop farming systems and select
appropriate crops in view of future climate change
so that adequate supplies of food and economic
security, conservation of traditional crop wealth,
sustainability of production systems, and
environmental conservation are assured.
H. Adoption of off-season vegetable cultivation under
protected condition (Maikhuri et.al.2009,2010)
I. Medicinal plant based traditional health care systems
Some plants has been identified and used by the local healers as a substitute to cure various ailments in place of many well known MAPs used over generations.