Manpower

Scientific Staff 

 Research Staff

 Supporting Staff 

R&D Projects 

Completed 

A. In-house funded projects 

        0.  The Jhum system (shifting cultivation) of the Ao tribe

1. Slopping agricultural land technologies

2. Rapid assessment on the potential for biodiversity conservation and integrated village development

3. Jhum and sustainable development of a village cluster in Nagaland.

4. Integrated development of a village cluster in Nagaland, through participatory approach, involving villagers and traditional village-level Institutions

5. A Study of the landholding and land tenure system in an Ao village, having jhum and settled agriculture

6. Conservation and propagation of rare and endangered species of north east India

7. Community based rapid assessment of biodiversity conservation prospects in North East India

8. Inventorisation of floristic diversity of North east India and development of biodiversity indices

9. Technology development/demonstration models

B. Externally funded projects

1. Appropriate Technologies for soil conserving farming systems (ICIMOD)

2. Biodiversity characterization at landscape level using remote sensing and geographic information system in Arunachal Pradesh (IIRS / NRSA)

3. Inventory of   tree diversity and collection and propagation of high value taxa in Namdapha proposed biosphere reserve, Arunachal Pradesh (MoEF)

4. Augmenting food and economic security of tribal communities, particularly women in Arunachal Pradesh through simple low-cost technological interventions (DBT)

5. People-centred land-use development in biodiversity rich areas of West  Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh (UNESCO-Mac-Arthur)

6. Impact of contour hedgerow farming system technology and land capability restoration in upland agriculture system and capacity building for technology   dissemination in north east India (NATP)

7. Impact of multipurpose contour hedgerows intercropping on productivity and soil fertility in shifting agricultural (jhum) fields in the North East India (DST-OYS)

8. Nutrient use optimization by improving soil biological processes using available resources in a marginal upland jhum farming system of the north east India (CSIR)

Ongoing

A.  In-house funded projects

1. Indigenous Knowledge of soil and water conservation practices among farmers in the north east India

2. Fallow management practices among the Tangkhuls of Ukhrul district, Manipur in their two years plus shifting cultivation systems

3. Documentation of the traditional ecological knowledge with reference to biodiversity and natural resource management in a selected ethnic community of Arunachal Pradesh

4. Documentation of  policies and laws  including land tenure systems for comprehensive study of shifting agriculture in the NE States of India and Suggest measures to make it ecologically, economically and socially viable

B. Externally funded projects

1. Traditional Pest management among the indigenous tribes shifting cultivation in north east India Documentation & validation (DST-YS Project, Govt. of India)

2. Institutionalizing technology backstopping & capacity enhancement for sustainable agricultural development and encouraging entrepreneurship development based on simple rural technologies within the tribal areas of North East India (DST)

3. Cultural landscape: the basis for linking biodiversityconservation with sustainable development of Arunachal Pradesh, India (UNESCO-McArthur) (in pipeline)

   4.   UNDP-GOI CCF-II - Biodiversity Conservation through Community Based Natural Resource Management (UNDP).

New projects approved by Science Advisory Committee (SAC)

1. Shifting agriculture: issues and options with focus on adaptive interventions to make it ecologically, economically and socially viable

2. Response assessment and processing of knowledge base to serve long term management and use of biodiversity in the Himalaya – focus on representative protected sites

Thesis (M.Tech./M.E./Ph.D)

Awarded

                1. Dr. Bipin Kumar Sharma

     Subject: Life Science (Plant bio-chemistry)

Area of Specialization: Molecular Microbial Ecology

Thesis title: Ecobiological studies of Seabuckthorn-frankia symbiosis

University: Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh

Supervisors: Dr. A.K. Sukla, NERSIT, Nirjuli, Arunachal Prades

    2.    Dr. Panna Deb

          Subject: Life Science (Ecology)

          Area of Specialization: Ecology

          Thesis title: Tree structure, regeneration, stand biomass and community dependence in the buffer zone area

                           of Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh

          University: Kumaun University, Nainital

          Supervisors:   Prof. S.P. Singh,  Dr. R.C. Sundriyal, GBPIHED, Almora

Submitted

1.   Dr. Bikramjit Sinha, Young Scientist (DST, Govt. of India)

Subject: Zoology

          Area of Specialization: Animal Ecology, Traditional Pest Management, Freshwater Biology, Plankton Taxonomy

          Thesis title: Evaluation of Indigenous Insect Pest management among certain ethnic upland communities of

                           North East India

          University: Guwahati University

Supervisors:   Prof. J. Kalita, Guwahati University, Guwahati & Dr. S. Dey, SEM Division, NEHU, Shillong

Registered 

1.   Mr. Mihin Dollo, Senior Research Fellow

Subject: Botany

          Area of Specialization: Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Agricultural ecology, Indigenous knowledge system and

                                         watershed

          Thesis title: A Comparative Study of Jhum and Settled Agricultural Practices in Selected Tribal Communities of

                           Western Arunachal Pradesh (Final stage of submission)

University: Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh

Supervisors:    Dr. S.P. Shukla, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh

                    Dr. R.C. Sundriyal, GBPIHED, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora         

2.   Prabal Sen, Project Coordinator (DST)

Subject: Ecology

          Area of Specialization: Plant Ecology, Upland Agriculture, Low Cost Rural Technologies, Capacity Building

          Thesis title: Impact of Nitrogen Fixing Contour Hedgerow-Intercropping Species On Soil Properties And Crop

                           Yields (To be Submitted)

University: Assam University, Silcher, Assam

Supervisors:    Prof. B.K. Dutta, Assam University, Silcher, Assam

                    Dr. R.C. Sundriyal, GBPIHED, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora         

3.   L. Jitendro Singh, Senior Research Fellow

Subject: Ecology

          Area of Specialization: Upland Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Low Cost Rural Technologies

          Thesis title: A Case Study of Shifting Cultivation Practices among the Tangkhuls of Ukhrul District, Manipur

University: Assam University, Silcher, Assam

Supervisors:    Prof. B.K. Dutta, Assam University, Silcher, Assam

                    Dr. A.K. Das, Assam University, Silcher, Assam

                    Dr. D.  Choudhury, ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal       

4.   Shivaji Chaudhry, Junior Research Fellow

Subject: Ecology

          Area of Specialization: Rangeland management, Ichthyology, Forest Ecology, Ethno biology, Wildlife.

          Thesis title: Livestock dependence and grassland resource management in mid and high elevations of Western

                           Arunachal Pradesh, India

University: Assam University

Supervisors:    Dr. S.C. Garkoti, Deptt. Of Ecology Assam University Silchar, Assam

                    Dr. R.C. Sundriyal, GBPIHED, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora         

5.   Rajiv Mili, Junior research fellow

Subject: Life Sciences

          Area of Specialization: Plant Ecology, IKS, Upland Agriculture, Natural Resource Management

          Thesis title: Crop Diversity and biomass productivity in Upland Agro-ecosystem, with reference to the Adi

                           community of Arunachal Pradesh, India (yet to be registered)

University: Rajiv Gandhi University

Supervisors:    Prof. A.K.Das, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh

                    Dr. R.C. Sundriyal, GBPIHED, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttrakhand

Achievements

• Strengthening the practice of shifting cultivation with appropriate scientific and technological interventions within the traditional framework of Jhum in Nagaland

• Introduction of priority tree species along with cash crops in traditional farming systems in Nagaland

• Introduction of cost effective water harvesting tanks using high density polythene in farmers land in Nagaland

• Introduction of four SALT models in demonstration plots using N₂ fixing species in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh

• Assessment of potential for biodiversity conservation and integrated village development in Nagaland

• Establishment of nurseries using saplings of locally and ecologically important species at village level in Nagaland

• Organization of a national workshop on “Perspectives for planning and development in North-East India

• Establishment of demonstration models on appropriate technologies for soil conservation and farming systems in Arunachal Pradesh

• Documentation of indigenous knowledge systems of different tribal communities

• People centered land use development in the shifting agriculture affected areas in Arunachal Pradesh

• Impact of CHFST on the land capability restoration in upland agriculture

• Augmentation of  food and economic security of tribal communities

• Inventory of tree diversity and collection of high value taxa in Namdapha Proposed Biosphere Reserve

• Impact of multipurpose contour hedgerow on crop productivity and soil fertility in shifting agricultural lands

• Conduct a national workshop on “ Environmental Planning and Sustainable Development of Arunachal Pradesh :Opportunities and challenges”

• Conduct of a interactive workshop on Shifting Agriculture : Issues and Options

• Designing, developing and testing sustainable natural resource management through appropriate technologies for soil conservation farming system technology

• An assessment of agricultural production and strategy for sustainable development of bioresources by identifying issues and options for improving livelihood of marginalized farmers in shifting cultivation areas in North-East India

• Biodiversity characterization of landscape level through Remote Sensing and other GIS in Arunachal Pradesh

• Preparation of location map of proposed Tsangyang Gyatso – World Peace Park/ Biosphere Reserve

• Three new records of fresh water fishes in Arunachal Pradesh (Balitora brucei (Gray), Glyptothorax telchitta (Hamilton) and Pseudolaguvia shawi (Hora)

• Identification of 47 species of fishes belonging to 31 genera and 16 families in Senkhi Stream, Itanagar

• Inventorization of the NTFPs for seven states of NE India was carried out. The review of forest records from 1993-2003 on NTFPs revealed that, 55 items of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) are being marketed from different states

• Manipur has the highest (31) numbers of NTFPs, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (26 nos.), Assam (9 nos.),    Nagaland (5 nos.), Meghalaya (4 nos.), Tripura (3 nos.) & Mizoram (2 nos.) Of the 55 marketed species they can be the whole plant (12.73%) or plant parts such as stem (9.09%), bark (9.09%), leaves (30.91%), flowers (5.45%), seeds/ fruits (16.36%), roots (3.64 %), rhizome (1.82%), resin (3.64%) and others (7.27%)

• Inventorisation of floristic diversity of north east India and development of biodiversity indices were carried out. Digitization of the floristic elements of six states – Assam, AP, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram  and Tripura was carried out. Inventorisation of rare, endangered and threatened, and endemic elements of NE India has also been done.

• Traditionally utilized potential soil nutrient enhancement resources for different land use practices are been identified in a selected watershed of Arunachal Prdeash

• Broad categorization of traditional land use practices were made through local concept and general observation. Shifting cultivation is the dominant land use with an average holding of 0.019-0.027 ha/HH, though wet rice cultivation (valley rice) is gaining importance over the years

• Two traditional soil and water conservation (SWC) practices among the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh are documented. Those are Phai among the Nishyie tribe of Papumpare district and Panpeng or Pan-eng among Adi tribe of East Siang and West Siang districts of Arunchal Pradesh.

• Estimation of runoff and soil loss was done at selected villages in Senkhi watershed in Papumpare  district in Arunachal Pradesh. Interestingly soil loss (10.12 tha^-1) in the traditional soil and water conservation (SWC) practice (Phaik) is almost half of the control jhum (shifting cultivation without soil and water conservation practice). Surface runoff is also higher in jhum without SWC compared practice

• Fallow management practices among the Tangkhuls of Ukhrul District, Manipur in their Two year plus Shifting Cultivation Systems have been investigated. This investigation revealed that 34 species are completely retained/thinned/lopped, trunks of 61 species are retained, 9 species re-grow / re-germinate  and 5 new species are newly introduced in the shifting cultivation filed by the farmers

•  Soil and yield of shifting cultivation plots among the Tangkhuls in Manipur are being analyzed. Soil parameters analyzed are texture, pH, conductivity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, sodium and potassium.

• Up scaling of technology dissemination and backstopping has been carried in five states the NE region with the help of  seven PNGOs

• Major task force/commission study reports on shifting cultivation are reviewed and analyzed. Success stories and best practices/examples in shifting agriculture are also documented. Temporal status  and trends in  shifting cultivation area  and number of shifting cultivators in the NE region were   documented

• As many as  24 traditional pest management practices were documented through study of three tribes (Hmar in North Cachar Hills district of Assam, Tangkhul in Ukhrul district of Manipur and Jaintia (Pnar) in Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya) in NE India.

  Infrastructural facilities available

• Library

• Internet

• Laboratories

• Nurseries

• Demonstration site for low cost technologies

 Membership in Technical Committees

1.       Membership in Technical Support Group for Drafting the “Scheduled Tribes (Protection of Rights) Bill” constituted by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India on instruction from the Prime Minister’s Office (Dhrupad Choudhury)

2.       Member Board of Studies in Tribal Studies (Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal  Pradesh (Prasanna K. Samal)

3.       Member, Project Technical Advisory Committee of Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEFP) of ATREE (Prasanna K. Samal)

4.       Member, State level Taskforce under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act  (NREGA)   for Guiding Implementation of Training Activities under Arunachal Pradesh Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (APREGS), State Institute of Rural Development, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, 2007 (Prasanna K. Samal)

5.       Member, National Organizing Committee, Project Planning Meeting on Cultural Landscape: The Basis for Linking Biodiversity Conservation with Sustainable Development in Arunachal Pradesh, May 24-25, 2007 (UNESCO) (Prasanna K. Samal)

6.       Member, Empowered Project Steering Committee of UNDP-GOI-CCF II project on Biodiversity conservation through community based natural resource management (Gopi.G.V)

7.       Member, Expert Technical Committee for development of training framework on Participatory Integrated Watershed management, ICIMOD, Kathmandu (Gopi.G.V)

 Awards & Honours

1.       Resource Person, Training programme on Achieving Institutional Linkages for Sustainable Nutrition Security and  the Role of Women, March 21-23, 2007 at Guwahati,  Organiged by National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) (Prasanna K. Samal).

2.       Re-elected as member, Editorial Board of the International  Journal – The Anthropologist (Prasanna K. Samal)

3.       Re-elected as member, Editorial Board of the  Journal –  Studies of Tribes and Tribals (Prasanna K. Samal)

4.       External reviewer of Journal Ecology Letters (Blackwell publishers) since 09/0207 (Shivaji Chaudhry)

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