हिंदी

NIC Mail

NMHS

G.B. Pant 'National Institute of Himalayan Environment'(NIHE)

(An Autonomous Institute of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India)

NERC

Ladakh Regional Centre (NERC)

Publications
Activities

Collaborative Institutions

Institution

University of Ladakh, Leh

Council

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh

Government Department

Department of Wildlife Protection, Leh

Institution

Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG), Leh

HRC, GBPNIHE

Himachal Regional Centre, NIHE, Kullu (HP)

About the Centre

Ladakh Regional Centre in among the newest regional centre of G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment in the Indian Himalayan Region.The centre was established on December 2019 to ensure NIHE’s research and development outreach in Trans-Himalayan Landscape ofnewly created Union Territory of Ladakh. Ladakh region, most often, is also termed as clod desert and endowed with rich diversity of culture, unique biodiversity elements and significantly large wetlands/water bodies. Although, the communities inhabiting these areas have adapted for extremely harsh climate and resource poor living conditions, they face numerous challenges.

Especially under changing climate scenario, when impacts are expected to be more intense in higher altitudes. This calls for better understanding of its landscape and developing strategies and implementation of plans for addressing issues of environmental conservation, people's livelihoods, and sustainable development under changing scenario.

Focal areas of activities

- Towards bringing changes and achieving the targets, the center is focusing on two cardinal principles: (a) science for society, and (b) networks and collaborations.

- To achieve the targets, centres’ major activities include:

(i) Development of Knowledge Network of institutions/organizations working in the Ladakh &Knowledge Repository for policy inputs on issues of Trans-Himalayan Region.

(ii) Demonstration of successful and sustainable technologiesfor adoption and partnership of private sector.

(iii) Promoting energetic young professionals in providing solutions to address environmental challenges.

Vision

- To strengthen and establish approaches for addressing issues of water scarcity and environmental issues.

- To foster climate smart communities in the trans-Himalayan landscape.

Objectives

- To promote alternative livelihoods for climate change vulnerable cold-desert communities.

- To facilitate conservation of critical/important cold desert habitats and biodiversity.

Facilities

RS & GIS

Remote Sensing & Geographic Information System: Latest tools and softwares in RS & GIS are used to carry out research.

Research Laboratory

Research Laboratory: Developed with the aim of enhancing the research capabilities of researchers

Faculties

Scientist F

Dr. Subrat Sharma

Designation: Scientist F

Centre Head : Ladakh Regional Centre

Discipline: Agro-ecology ; Remote Sensing/GIS ;

Email Id: subrats@gbpihed.nic.in

Profile

Scientist B

Dr. Suresh Kumar Rana

Designation: Scientist B

Discipline: Biogeography ; Evolutionary Ecology ; Biocuration ;

Email Id: skrana.gbpihed@gmail.com

Profile

Technical Group IV (1)

Dr. Lalit Giri

Designation: Technical Group IV (1)

Discipline: Biodiversity Conservation ;

Email Id: lalitorchid@gmail.com

Profile

Researchers

Research Associate

Dr. Sonam Tamchos

Designation: Research Associate

Discipline: Wildlife Biology, Botany

Email Id: tamchos55@gmail.com

Research Associate

Dr. Ravinder Kumar

Designation: Research Associate

Discipline: Ecology, Environmental Sciences

Email Id: rkgandhi12env@gmail.com

Field Coordinator

Ms. Sonam Chorol

Designation: Field Coordinator

Discipline: Political Science

Email Id: sonamchorol12@gmail.com

Senior Project Fellow

Ms Priyanka Sah

Designation: Senior Project Fellow

Discipline: RS&GIS

Email Id: priyankasah07@gmail.com

Senior Project Fellow

Ms Avantika Latwal

Designation: Senior Project Fellow

Discipline: RS&GIS

Email Id: avantika.latwal@gmail.com

Intern

Ms Rigzin Wangmo

Designation: Project Intern

Discipline: Zoology

Email Id: rigzinwangmo8@gmail.com

Intern

Mr Ajaz Ali

Designation: Project Intern

Discipline: Zoology

Email Id: aizazali503@gmail.com

Services

Internship/ Dissertation

Internship/ Dissertation: Researchers are provided with Post Graduate Internship / PhD Dissertation

Consultancy

Consultancy Services: Consultancy services are provided on various Environmental/Developmental Issues

Major Achievements

Carbon Neutral Ladakh: A New Beginning (2 March 2020-5 March 2020)

A five-day summit was organised after immediately after establishment of new Centre in collaboration with UT Administration of Ladakh. Nearly 100 delegates including scientists, subject specialists, policy makers, and public representatives participated in the summit. Rigorous and deliberations were held to outline the path for sustainable development and Carbon Neutral Ladakh. Following Action Plans (Tourism, Disaster, Biodiversity, and Carbon Neutrality) were developed and submitted to UT Administration.

Local resource-based entrepreneurship through Green Skill Development

In collaboration with Councillors, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Leh), Local Bodies, and Women Self Help groups of various constituencies, Green skill development programmes were executed to develop local resource based entrepreneurship and to create off-farm livelihood employment opportunities by introducing use of local resources, new techniques, value addition to the products and branding,and establishing market linkagesin participatory mode and inviting different experts.

Sustainable and Low-Cost Rural Technologies to promote Organic and Off-season Cultivation

Cultivation in Ladakh is limited to small part of the year, and cultivated land is also limited, therefore, strategies have been developed to extend cultivation through low-cost rural technologies for adoption by the common man. Tested technologies for plant growing during harsh winters include (i) soilless cultivation through simplified and economical household level indoor hydroponics system for supply of leafy vegetables, (ii) introducing low-cost portable polyhouse for extended cultivation in cropfields, and (iii) seed production of commercial flower crops through vernalization in open cropfields during winters.

Projects

Ongoing

Timberline and Altitudinal Gradient Ecology of Himalayas, and Human Use Sustenance in a Warming Climate.

Characterizing Patterns and Processes of Alpine Ecosystem in Indian Himalaya.

"Himalaya Calling: Bridging science, policy and practice to foster sustainable development in the Indian Himalayan region (IHR)- Ladakh Chapter"

"Demonstration of Plastic Free Ladakh – Rajbhawan Complex"

Completed

None

Ongoing Projects in LRC

Timberline and Altitudinal Gradient Ecology of Himalayas, and Human Use Sustenance in a Warming Climate.

Principal Invigilator Dr Subrat Sharma

Duration 2016-2021

Funding Agency National Mission for Himalayan Studies, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt of India, New Delhi

Objectives

Result/ Outcomes

Characterizing Patterns and Processes of Alpine Ecosystem in Indian Himalaya

Principal Invigilator Dr Subrat Sharma

Duration 2019-2022

Funding Agency Space Application Centre, Department of Space, Govt of India, Ahmedabad

Objectives

Result/ Outcomes

"Himalaya Calling: Bridging science, policy and practice to foster sustainable development in the Indian Himalayan region (IHR)- Ladakh Chapter"

Principal Invigilator Dr Subrat Sharma

Duration 2020-2022

Funding Agency National Mission for Himalayan Studies, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt of India, New Delhi

Objectives

Result/ Outcomes

"Demonstration of Plastic Free Ladakh – Rajbhawan Complex"

Principal Invigilator Dr Subrat Sharma

Duration 2020-2021

Funding Agency : UT Administration of Ladakh, Leh, Ladakh UT

Objectives

Result/ Outcomes

Policy Briefs

Disasters and Ladakh: Action Points for Management and Mitigation-2020

Sharma, RS Rawal, RK Pande, C Phunsog, P Raina, MS Sultan

Sustainability of Tourism in Ladakh: Review, Recommendation and Action agenda-2020

Subrat Sharma, RS Rawal, P Raina, MS Sultan, R Kotru, SP Singh, S Norboo, D Angmo, RW Lachic

Research Articles

In vitro propagation and antioxidant potential of Berberis asiatica from western Himalaya.

Authors Bisht A, Lalit Giri, Belwal T, Pandey A, Bahukhundi A, Bhatt ID, Rawal RS

Plant Biosystems, 2021

Two hundred years of research on Himalayan biodiversity: Trends, gaps, and policy implications.

Authors Suresh K Rana, Ranbeer S Rawal, Bhawana Dangwal, Indra D Bhatt and Trevor D Price

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2021

Anthocyanins, multi-functional natural products of industrial relevance: Recent biotechnological advances.

Authors Belwal T, Singh G, Jeandet P, Pandey A, Lalit Giri, Ramola S, Bhatt ID, Venskutonis PR, Georgiev MI, Clément C, Luo Z.

Biotechnology Advances, 2020

India’s contribution to mitigating the impacts of climate change through vegetation management.

Authors Dash, J., M. D. Behera, C. Jeganathan, C. S. Jha, Subrat Sharma, R. Lucas, A. A. Khuroo, A. Harris, P. M. Atkinson, D. S. Boyd, C. P. Singh, M. P. Kale, P. Kumar, Soumit K. Behera, V. S. Chitale, S. Jayakumar, L. K. Sharma, A. C. Pandey, K. Avishek, P. C. Pandey, S. N. Mohapatra & S. K. Varshney

Tropical Ecology, 2020

Predicting Habitat Suitability of Snow Leopards in the Western Himalayan Mountains, India

Authors Singh, R. P. R. Krausmanc, P. Pandeya, A. Maheshwarid, R. S. Rawal, Subrat Sharma, R. Shekhar

Theoretical and Applied Economics, 2020

Cucurbita Plants: From farm to industry.

Authors Salehi B, Sharifi-Rad J, Capanoglu E, Adrar N, Catalkaya G, Shaheen S, Jaffer M, Lalit Giri, Suyal R, Jugran AK, Calina D.

Applied Sciences, 2019

• Fate of important medicinal plants in the Eastern Himalaya in changing climate scenarios: A case of Panax pseudoginseng Wall.

Authors Kumar, D., M. Singh, S. Sharma.

Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 2019/20

Monogrpahs

Activities

Hands on training

Introducing products from Seabuckthorn (23-24-10-2020) to Tsar-tar (23 Oct 2020-24 OCt 2020)

Introducing products from Seabuckthorn to Tsar-tar (WSHG of Matho Village) (Collaborator: Mr. StanzinChospel, CouncillorMartsaling Constituency, LAHDC-Leh).

Hands on training

Value addition on Seabuckthorn and Apricot Products (19 Oct 2020-20 OCt 2020)

Value addition on Seabuckthorn and Apricot Products to Chamshen: ZAMO-40 (WSHG) of Nubra Valley (Collaborator: Mr. Rigzin Lundup, Councillor, Tyger Constituency, LAHDC-Leh; and Mr. JigmetSingay, JIMPO Enterprise, Leh)

Hands on training

Making of Back Baskets/Dustbins/Small Containers from local plant resources (25 Sep 2020-4 OCt 2020)

Making of Back Baskets/Dustbins/Small Containers from local plant resources to WSHG (Basket Group) of Matho Village. Products linked with UT administration and LEDeG. (Collaborator: Mr. StanzinChospel, CouncillorMartsaling Constituency, LAHDC-Leh; and Mrs. TseringDolma,and Mrs. Kunzes Dolma from Village Youlkham, Nubra Valley)

Popular Lecture