ICFRE - Himalayan Forest Research Institute

FOREST ECOLOGY & CLIMATE CHANGE DIVISION

Mandate

• To carry out ecological and plant diversity studies in different ecosystems of western Himalayas with special emphasis on the Cold-Deserts Regions.

Thrust Area

• To study the ecological aspects of different forest types in the Western Himalayan region.
• To undertake research for assessing floral bio-diversity status and floristic association in different forest eco-systems of the region including assessment of the endangered flora and to develop suitable strategies for their conservation.
• To study the ecological aspect of stress sites including cold deserts and work out models for their eco-rehabilitation.
• To provide consultancies and supportive research to the major developmental programmes viz., Hydroelectric projects and mining activities.
• To disseminate research findings to the user group and to provide research input to their ongoing programmes.

Projects Completed:

A. Plan projects:

1. Standardization of Nursery techniques of Five Prominent Indigenous species (Capparis spinosa, Colutea nepalensis, Caragana geraradiana, Ribes orientale, Cratagus songarica besides Elaegnus angustifolia, Hippophae rhamnoides and Rosa webbiana) of Cold desert. PI: Dr. K.S.Kapoor (April 2002- March 2009)
2. Studies on Plant Diversity in Cold Deserts of District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (April 2004- March, 2009)
3. Ecological Assessment of Floristic Diversity in Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary of District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (April 2008 to March 2012)
4. An Ecological Assessment of Floristic Diversity in Hemis High Altitude National Park, Ladakh, J&K. PI: Dr. Vaneet Jishtu (April 2006 to March, 2011)
5. Assessment of Carbon Stock in Forest Type of Shimla Forest Circle, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (April 2011- March 2016)
6. Ecological studies in Alpine pastures of District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (April 2016- March 2020)
7. Analyzing Impact of Control Burning On Plant  and Soil Properties in Chirpine Forests. P.I: Dr. Ranjeet Kumar (April 2016- March 2021)

B. External Aided projects:

1. Development of Ecologically Viable and Socio-economically Acceptable integrated Models for Arresting Willow (Salix spp.) Mortality in Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. K.S. Kapoor (April 2002- March 2006)
2. Studies on Plant Diversity of Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary of District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (April 2006 to March 2009)
3. Ecological Assessment of Forest Areas Falling under Kol Dam Hydroelectric Project in Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (April 2005 to March 2009)
4. Ecological Assessment, Collection, Multiplication and Establishment of Clonal Banks of the Superior Genotypes of Economically Important Hill Bamboos (Arundinaria spp.) in Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. K.S. Kapoor (April 2009 to March 2012)
5. Plant Diversity Studies in Shikari Devi Wild Life Sanctuary of Mandi District, Himachal Pradesh for Long Term Ecological Monitoring. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (April, 2014 - March, 2017)
6. Ecological Assessment and Prioritization of Floristic Diversity: Developing Conservation Strategies For Shimla Water Catchment Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. K.S. Kapoor (April, 2014 - March, 2017)
7. Technological Interventions and Networking in Himachal Himalayas. PI:  Dr. Vaneet Jishtu (April 2016- March 2019)
8. Assessment of Floristic Diversity in Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary of District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh for its long term ecological monitoring. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (December 2016- November 2019)
9. Assessment of vegetation in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, District Lahaul - Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. Ranjeet Kumar (September 2016- August 2019) 
10. Innovative  technologies for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation with alternate livelihood opportunities for mountain communities in North Western Himachal Himalayas. PI: Dr. Vaneet Jishtu (September 2017- August 2020)

Ongoing Projects:

A. Plan projects:

1. Carbon Sequestration potential of existing land Use System In Lahaul Valley, H.P. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (April 2016- March 2022)

1. Identification, Ecological Assessment for Selection & Screening of Superior and Insect-Pest Resistant Clones of Salix  for their Cultivation, Production Trends and Conservation in the Cold Desert of HP and J&K. PI: Dr. Ranjeet Kumar (March 2021-March 2024

B. External Aided projects:

1. High Altitude Transition Zones in Himachal Pradesh: Long-Term studies to assess the effects of Global Warming and trials to rehabilitate degraded sites in this zone. (Phase-II) PI: Dr. Vaneet Jishtu (September 2018-March 2025)
2. Conservation Status, Germplasm Collection and Resource Augmentation of Priority Medicinal Plants Species in the Cold Desert of Ladakh. PI: Dr. Vaneet Jishtu (September 2018-March 2023) 

C. All India Coordinated Research projects:

1. National Program For Conservation and Development of Forest Genetics Resources (Component-A) Documentation of FGRs PI: Dr. Ranjeet Kumar, Dr. Vaneet Jishtu (February 2020-March 2024)
2. Assessment and Monitoring of Invasive Alien Plant Species in India and Formulation of Strategies for Management of Key Invasive Alien plant Species in different Region of the Country, AICRP-7. PI: Dr. Ranjeet Kumar (February 2020-December 2024)
3. Valuation of Forests for GDP, Green GDP and Payment of Ecosystem Goods and Services, AICRP-13. PI: Dr. Ranjeet Kumar (April 2020- March 2023)
4. Forest Fire Research and Knowledge Management, AICRP-14. PI: Dr. Ranjeet Kumar (April 2020- March 2024)   
5. Bio-prospecting for Industrial Utilization of Lesser Known Forests Plants, AICRP-16. PI: Dr. Vaneet Jishtu (January 2020-December 2025)
6. Preparation of Forest Soil Health Cards under different Forest Vegetation in all the Forest Divisions of India, AICRP-22. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (March 2021- September 2023)
7. Combating Desertification by Enhancing Vegetation Cover and People Livelihoods in Degraded Dry lands and Deserts of India, AICRP-24. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (March 2021- September 2023)
8. Study of Climate driven effects on Indian Forests through Long term monitoring.  (Component-A) Ecology & Biodiversity, AICRP-31. PI: Dr. R.K. Verma (March 2021- September 2023)

 Major Equipments:

1. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) 
2. CHNS Elementar Analyzer
3. KEL - Plus Nitrogen Estimation System
4. UV Visible Spectrophotometer
5. Flame Photometer
6. pH meter
7. Electrical conductivity meter
8. Millipore

Man power

Forest Ecology and Climate Change division controlled all the research activities taken under Field Research Station, Tabo, District Lahaul-Spiti with the help of field staff Shri Sachin Chauhan, Forester; Shri Pardeep Kumar, Forester and Shri Vikas, Forest Guard. 

Seminars/ Workshops/ Training 

1. Interaction-cum training programme with Kargil Forest officials, Kargil, Ladakh, UT held on 12th July, 2021

2.Training programme for IFS officers on “Community Engagement for Co-Production of Ecosystem Services from Hill Forests” held on 20th September 2021 to 24^th September 2021.

Forest Ecology and Climate Change division maintained the herbarium of the Institute which has 8000⁺ plant specimen sheets belonging to NW Himalayan region. The herbarium is providing identification facilities to the students, research scholars and researchers of other research organizations.

For further information, please contact:
 Dr. Ranjeet Kumar, Scientist- E & Head of Division Forest Ecology and Climate Change                                  
 Email:        ranjeet@icfre.org
 Phone:       0177- 2816109, Mobile No.: 89883-78338