ICFRE - Himalayan Forest Research Institute

Silviculture and Forest Management Division

Mandate           

Productivity enhancement of conifers of Western Himalayas and its associates.

Thrust area

• To study various factors affecting the regeneration of conifers and their broadleaved associates and its establishment.
• To identify natural sources of superior seeds/planting material having desirable traits for raising quality planting stock.
• To standardize methods of seed collection, handling, storage and testing for important species of the region.
• To identify provenances of important species and undertake provenance/ progeny trials for improvement of the species to increase productivity.
• To improve and standardize nursery and out planting techniques of important tree and shrub species of the region.
• To undertake trials for possible introduction of economically important species.

Completed Plan Projects:

1. Standardization of nursery techniques for mass propagation of selected medicinal plant species. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (April, 2000 to March, 2007).
2. Standardization of nursery techniques for raising containerized seedlings of conifers and their broadleaved associates. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (April, 2000 to March, 2007).
3. Developing efficient methods of preparation of compost from different locally available raw materials in different eco-climatic zones. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (April, 2002 to March, 2005).
4. Standardization of methodologies for collection of seed, its handling, storage, testing and certification of seeds of important tree species of HP. PI: Sh. K.S. Thakur (April, 2002 to March, 2005).
5. Planting Stock Improvement Programme in Cedrus deodara. PI: Sh. K.S. Thakur (April, 2003 to March, 2010).
6. Introduction and performance trial of Paulownia species for agroforestry in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh. PI: Sh. Jagdish Singh (April 2003 to March 2008).
7. Diagnostic Survey & appraisal of existing agroforestry systems in mid and high hills of Himachal Pradesh. PI: Sh. Jagdish Singh (April 2005 to March 2008).
8. Diagnostic Study of Indigenous and Institutionalized Participatory Forest Management in Himachal Pradesh. PI: Sh. K.D. Sharma and Sh. Jagdish Singh (April 2005 to March 2008).
9. Standardization of methodology for seed collection, seed handling, storage and breaking seed dormancy in Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch and Fraxinus xanthoxyloides (Wall. Ex G. Don) DC. PI: Sh. P.S. Negi (April, 2006 to March, 2011).
10. Evaluation of soil fertility status and nutrient return from the important indigenous Agroforestry tree species in Himachal Pradesh with special reference to Hamirpur district. PI: Dr. V.P. Panwar (April 2006 to March 2011).
11. Introduction and performance trials of Gmelina arborea for Agroforestry in Lower Hills of Himachal Pradesh    and Jammu & Kashmir. PI: Dr. V.P. Panwar (April 2007 to March 2012).
12. Determination of morphological and physiological quality parameters of nursery stock of Deodar (Cedrus deodara) and Ban oak (Quercus leucotrichophora). PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (April, 2007 to March, 2013).
13. Development of techniques for raising Deodar (Cedrus deodara) plantations through Tall Plants. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (April, 2008 to March, 2013).
14. Assessment of nutritional status of most preferred wild edible plants of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. A. Rajasekaran (April, 2008 - March, 2012).
15. Assessment of optimum harvest limits of Picrorhiza kurroa and Valeriana jatamansi in Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. A. Rajasekaran (March, 2009 - March, 2014).
16. Identification of superior chemotypes and ex-situ conservation of Podophyllum hexandrum Royle from Himachal   Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir (Ladakh Valley). PI: Sh. Jagdish Singh (April, 2009 - March, 2014).
17. Studies on seed germination and longevity of Abies spectabilis (D.Don) Spach. PI: Sh. P.S. Negi (April, 2011 to March, 2016).
18. Determination of nursery requirements and initial planting performance of Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam and Myrica esculenta Buch. Ham. under mid-hill conditions of Himachal Himalayas. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (April, 2012 - March, 2017).
19. Standardization of Agro-Techniques and Evaluation of Growth Parameters of Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch   under Nursery and Field Conditions PI: Sh. P.S. Negi (April, 2016 -March, 2021). 
20. Survey and evaluation of Silvi-Pastoral Systems in Himachal Pradesh and its Role in Sustaining Community Livelihood. PI: Dr. Swaran Lata (April 2016 to March 2021).
21. Community Dependency on Oak Forests for Fodder and Comparative Analysis of Different Oak Species of Himachal Himalayas for Nutritive Value and Leaf Biomass Production as Influenced by Lopping, Aspect, Altitude and Crown Architecture. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma and Sh. P.S. Negi (February, 2017 - March, 2020).

Completed External Aided Projects

1. Production of Quality Planting Material of Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth. & Valeriana jatamansi Jones and extension of their cultivation technology to local communities. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (April, 2004 to March, 2008).
2. Development of suitable model for intercropping of commercially important medicinal plants with horticultural plantations in the temperate region of Himachal Pradesh. PI: Sh. Jagdish Singh (April 2004 - March  2007).
3. Suitability of Jatropha curcas L. seed sources in lower and mid Himalayan regions of Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (February, 2005 - February, 2011).
4. Studies on natural regeneration of Pinus gerardiana Wall. in Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. A. Rajasekaran (April, 2005 – March, 2006).
5. Studies on population status and berberine content in different provenances of Berberis aristata DC. in Himachal Pradesh and standardization of its propagation techniques. PI: Dr. A. Rajasekaran (April, 2005- March, 2008).
6. Inventorization, documentation of plant diversity and to evolve site-specific management strategies for conservation of various sacred groves in Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh.  PI: Dr. A. Rajasekaran  (April, 2005 - March, 2008).
7. Production of Quality Planting Material of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle & Angelica glauca Edgew. and extension of their cultivation technology to local communities. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (April, 2006 to March, 2010).
8. Promotion of medicinal plants cultivation among rural communities for sustainable income generation. PI: Sh. K.D. Sharma (March, 2006 - 31 March, 2007).
9. Promotion of Medicinal Plants Cultivation among Rural Communities for Sustainable Income Generation. PI: Sh. K.D. Sharma, Sh. Jagdish Singh and Dr. V.P. Panwar  (March 2006  to  February 2007).
10. Survey, collection, processing and analysis of soil samples pertaining to the project titled, “Studies on Assessment of Soil Carbon Stocks, and Dynamics in Forest Soils of India” with special reference to Forest Types of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir’. PI: Dr. V.P. Panwar (April 2008 to March 2010).
11. Field Evaluation of superior accessions of Jatropha curcas L. under micro-mission programme in Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (September, 2008 to September, 2013).
12. Network project on population assessment and identification of superior genetic stock of Picrorrhiza  kurrooa Royle ex Benth and Valeriana jatamansi Jones by screening different populations from North- Western Himalayas (H.P. and Uttarakhand). PI's: Sh. Jagdish Singh, Dr. K.S. Kapoor, Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Dr. Bikram Singh, Dr. A.R. Nautiyal, Dr. R.S. Chauhan (April, 2008 - March,  2013).
13. Development of gene markers for high seed oil content and dissecting molecular basis of female flower development in Jatropha curcas towards its genetic improvement for high seed yield. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (February, 2013 - February, 2016).
14. Production of quality planting material of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle, Podophyllum hexandrum Royle & Angelica glauca  Edgew and extension of their cultivation technology to local Communities. PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (October, 2013 - September, 2017).
15. Centrally sponsored scheme of national mission on medicinal plants- Establishment of small nursery at Field Research Station (FRS) Brundhar, Jagatsukh Kullu (H.P.). PI: Sh. Jagdish Singh (April, 2014- March, 2015).
16. Ethno-botanical study on indigenous medicinal and aromatic plants used by local people of Chopal Forest Division, Shimla Forest Circle, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Sh. Jagdish Singh (July, 2015- September, 2017)
17. Awareness Training for conservation of Pinus gerardiana (Chilgoza) through Scientific Intervention in Moorang Forest Range of District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. Swaran Lata, (April 2016 to March 2018).
18. Studies on improving livelihood generation through scientific interventions in Pinus gerardiana Wall. and important wild mushrooms in Himachal Pradesh (Funding Agency: DST, New Delhi) PI: Sh. P.S. Negi (October, 2017 -September, 2020).

Ongoing Plan Projects

1. Assessment, Ecological Niche Modelling and Strengthening of Agroforestry Systems for Securing the Livelihoods of Inhabitants in Cold Desert Region of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. PI: Sh. P.S. Negi (2020-2025).
2. Population assessment, Ecological Niche Modeling and developing sustainable harvesting techniques of Pinus gerardiana for conservation in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Dr. Swaran Lata, (2020-2025).

Ongoing Externally Aided Projects

1. Survey, mapping, development of cultivation techniques, evaluation of selected germplasm and economics of Fritillaria roylei Hook.f., (Kakoli) an important plant of Ashtavarga Group of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.   PI: Dr. Swaran Lata, (November 2017 to October 2021).
2. Standardization of Nursery Techniques for Mass Multiplication of Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Wall) Royle (Mahameda) and its Extension among Local Communities. (Funding Agency: NMPB, Ministry of Ayush). PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma, (October, 2017 - March, 2023).
3. Study of Climate Driven effects on Indian Forests through Long Term Monitoring. (AICRP-31) (Component –B: Dendrochronology and Phenology). PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma, (2020-2023).
4. National program for conservation and development of Forest Genetic Resources (FGR-B: Seed and Germplasm storage) PI: Sh. P.S. Negi (2020-2025).
5. National program for conservation and development of Forest Genetic Resources PI:  Dr. Sandeep Sharma (FGR-D: FGR Conservation (2020-2025).
6. Developing seed testing & seed storage protocols of selected species from diverse forest types. (AICRP-10). PI: Sh. P.S. Negi  (2019-2025).
7. Conservation and Sustainable management of Wild Edible Fruiting species (AICRP-27). PI: Dr. Sandeep Sharma (2020-2025).
8. Promoting Conservation of declining life support forest tree species in Himachal Pradesh. PI:  Dr. Sandeep Sharma, (2021-2024).
9. Awarness training for Conservation of Pinus gerardiana (Chilgoza) through scientific intervention in Kalpa and Pooh forest Ranges of District Kinnaur Himachal Pradesh. PI: Dr. Swaran Lata, (2019-2022).
10. Consultancy : Preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registersat District and Block levels of Shimla and Solan. PI: Dr. Swaran Lata, (2020-2021).

Major Equipments

Manpower

Seminar, Workshop, Training

1. One day awareness training program on “चिलगोजा के सरंक्षण और स्थायी प्रबंधन की आवश्यकता” on dated 23.11.2021 at  Gram Panchayat Kalpa Kinnaur organized by HFRI funded by NABARD Shimla. 
2. One day awareness training program on “चिलगोजा के सरंक्षण और स्थायी प्रबंधन की आवश्यकता” on dated 24.11.2021 at Gram Panchayat Pangi Kinnaur organized by HFRI funded by NABARD Shimla.
3. One day awareness training program on “ चिलगोजा के सरंक्षण और स्थायी प्रबंधन की आवश्यकता” on dated 25.11.2021 at Gram Panchayat Shongthang Kinnaur organized by HFRI funded by NABARD Shimla.
4. One day awareness training program on “ चिलगोजा के सरंक्षण और स्थायी प्रबंधन की आवश्यकता” on dated 26.11.2021 at Gram Panchayat Urni Kinnaur organized by HFRI funded by NABARD Shimla.

Nurseries of the division

1.Model Nursery Baragaon, Shimla

2. Field Research Station  Shilly, Solan

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Scientist-G & Head of Division Silviculture and Forest Management Division 

Email:      sharmas@icfre.org
 Phone:       0177- 2816119, Mobile No.: 94181-29759