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.

1. 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

2. 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.

3. Map of NDBR

4. Area under core zone and buffer zone in 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. VF and adjoining
1786.78 sq.km 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.

5. Number of buffer zone villages in NDBR
District Catchment Before After Total
2000 2000
Chamoli Alaknanda - 9 9
Dhauli Ganga 10 15 15
Pithoragarh Gori Ganga 4 6 25
Bageshwar 3 - 3
Total 17 30 47

6. 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
60
50
40
Area (ha)
30
20
10
0
1970-75 1980-85 1990-95

7. 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).

8. 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).

9. Homegardens are richer in SOC (+) compared to forests
0-10 cm 10-20 cm 20-50 cm 50-100 cm Mean 0-10 cm 10-20 cm 20-50 cm 50-100 cm Mean
0.35
Soil organic carbon (%)
Total Kjaldhal N (%)
2.8 0.3
2.4 0.25
2
0.2
1.6
1.2 0.15
0.8 0.1
0.4 0.05
0 0
RA HG PF OF RA HG PF OF
0-10 cm 10-20 cm 20-50 cm 50-100 cm Mean
0.0012
0.001
Available P (%)
0.0008
0.0006
0.0004
0.0002
0
RA HG PF OF

10.  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

11. 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).
14000
S he e p
12000
G oa t
No. of Livestock
10000
C a ttle
8000
Horse /m ule
6000
4000
2000
0
1970-75 1980-85 1990-95 2005-07
Time Period
Changes in livestock population between the 1970-75 to 2005-07 period as
reported by the people of Niti valley (10 villages).

12.  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.

13. Sheep, goat grazing in alpine
meadows
Horse, mule grazing in alpine
meadows

14. (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.

15. a b
Natural forest stand Betula utilis Single tree of Betula utilis
c
d
Bark of Betula utilis Disease caused on the bark of Betula

16. 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.

17. Rate of retreat of some important glaciers in the Nanda Devi
Biosphere Reserves (NDBR), India
S. No Name of the Glaciers Rate of retreat (m/yr)
1. Milam Glacier 16.7
2. Pindari Glacier 23.5
3. Poting Glacier 5.0
4. Shankalpa Glacier 23.0
5. Satopanth Glaceir (Bhagirathi glacier complex) 12.0
6. Dunagiari Glacier 5.1
7. Burphu 3.0
8. Bhrigupanth Glacier 11.0
9. Trisul Glacier 10.0
10. Betharti 8.0
11. East Kamet Glacier 5.0
Source : Nainwal et. al. (2008), Mukhophadayay (2006).

18. E. Tourism
 Climate change could generate both some serious
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.

19. Number of pilgrims expanded their stay as a tourists.
Year Total number of Number of pilgrims Percentage shift
pilgrims/tourists visited expanded their stay
2005 245476 12300 -
2006 274489 16800 36.5%
2007 390156 23670 40.8%
2008 485464 29230 23.4%
2009 555585 34900 19.3%
Gandhi Sarover (completely dried) Vasuki Tal (water volume decreased)

20. F. Climate change impact on medicinal plants based
traditional health care systems (THCS).
 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.
Medicinal Plant Species
1 Aconitum heterophyllum (A) 6 Picrorhiza kurrooa (A)
2 Angelica glauca (A) 7 Podophyllum hexandrum (A)
3 Arnebia benthami (D) 8 Saussurea costus (D)
4 Dactylorhiza hatagirea (A) 9 Saussurea ovallata (A)
5 Nardostachyas grandiflora (A) 10 Swertia chirata (D)
Phenophases:- A- Advance, D- Delayed (Unpublished)

21. People’s perceptions on climate change in Nanda Devi BR
Yes No Neutral
AG1- Age group (20-50) AG2- Age group (50-80 and above)
100%
90%
80%
% of Respondents
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
AG1 AG2 AG1 AG2 AG1 AG2 AG1 AG2 AG1 AG2 AG1 AG2 AG1 AG2 AG1 AG2 AG1 AG2 AG1 AG2
A B C D E F G H I J
Indicators
A. Has the climate changed? B. Increase in temperature, C. Decrease in snowfall, D. Decrease in rainfall
/shift in rainfall, E. Shift in flowering/fruiting (phenophases), F. Low deposition/accumulation of snow, G.
Incidence of crop and livestock diseases, H. Increased frequency and intensity of landslides/cloud burst, I.
Reduced water availability in rangelands for livestock, J. Retreat of glaciers
*Total no. of respondents 350 (200 respondents of 50-80 years or above and 150 respondents of
20-50 years) belonging to Niti, and Mana Valley (Maikhuri et.al.2009,2010)

22. Mitigation & Adaptation strategy
A. Use of pack animals in reducing CO2 emission
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)

23. 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).

24. 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
Turmeric cultivation

25. People participation in land
rehabilitation–carrying seedlings
for plantation
Close view of Amaranth stalk
A view of Amaranth stalk used to protect saplings from snowfall
planted under rehabilitation programme in high altitude areas

26. Adoption
Total
covered
area 6 ha

27. Total covered area 2 ha

28. 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)
Medicinal plant cultivation and nursery Medicinal plant cultivation and nursery
development at Tolma (2800 m asl) development at Suraithota (2300 m asl)
Large scale cultivation of Large scale cultivation of
Arnebia benthamii Picrorrhiza kurrooa

29. 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.

30. E. Transhumance and Pastoralism
activities
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.

31. 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.

32. Various wild edible -
products

33. 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.

34. H. Adoption of off-season vegetable cultivation under
protected condition (Maikhuri et.al.2009,2010)

35. 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.
Medicinal plants Plants used as substitute+Other Disease treated
ingredients
Aconitum heterophyllum Cuminum cyminum+Kala namak Stomachache
Angelica glauca Allium sativum+Hajma churan Gastric
Arnebia benthami Lyonia ovalifolia+ mustard oil Baldness
Dactylorhiza hatagirea Ageratum conyzoides+Ghee Cuts and Wounds
Nardostachyas Datura stramonium+ mustard oil Rheumatism
grandiflora
Picrorhiza kurrooa Raphanus sativus+Sugar Jaundice
Podophyllum Hippophae salicifolia+Sainda Cancer
hexandrum namak
Saussurea costus Lyonia ovalifolia+Cow urine Itching
Saussurea ovallata Rhododendron arboreum + Meesri Cardiac disorder
Swertia chirata Berberis lycium +Honey Diabetes

36. J. Demonstration and Participatory Action Research
Centre
Established demonstration and
participatory action research and training
centre at three different locations to
develop capacities of the various
stakeholders in the field of climate and
eco-friendly technologies, conservation
education and climate change impact
related issues. Since last 8 years a total
of 3225 participants were trained. TAPOVAN
MALETHA TRIYUGINARAYAN

37. K. Capacity building in the field of climate and eco- friendly
technology i.e. vermi-composting /bio-composting and vermiwash

38. L. Eco-tourism an option for biodiversity conservation and
socio-economic development.
۩Promoting eco-tourism in the buffer zone villages as a

potential option for income generation and environment
management
Improving income through marketing of eco-
tourism products
Income generation through home stay
accommodation
M. Institutional cooperation, coordination, collaboration and capacity
building to address climate change in various sectors
۩ Research and Development institutions with significant
infrastructure and scientific/ technical capacity.
 So far not much focused on climate change research.
 Inadequate capacity and skill.

39. Assumed and projected scenarios
for the state of natural resources
and socio-economic conditions of
NDBR for the period till 2029 is
presented in detail in the
assessment report sponsored by
UNESCO-base line for global
change in mountain regions
(GLOCHAMORE) research strategy

40. FUTURE RESEARCH
 Monitor biodiversity and productivity of alpine meadows and shift of sub-
alpine meadow-forest boundary as signal of climate change.
 Monitor spread of invasive species in BRs and adjoining areas and develop
early detection mechanism (management strategies on the landscape level)
 Documentation of TEK as well as people knowledge ad experiences about
the pattern of climate change and its impact on forest, agriculture, livestock
and humans through participatory approaches so as to provide possible
indicator of change.
 Effect of climate on seasonal variability and reliability and climate extremes
affecting agriculture production, forestry and water resources.
 Interface with policy issues, administration, local communities and research
and academic institutions regarding the broad aspects of adaptation options and
livelihood.
 Establish permanent sample plots in different forest types along an elevational
gradients for effective and comprehensive monitoring programme to track the
response of both at community and species levels to changing climate.
 Capacity building of the researchers/scientists in the field of climate change
and modeling studies.
 Develop appropriate weather and meteorological stations on important and
sensitive biomes and ecosystems type with regional projections of climate
parameters for developing regional climate models.

41. Some peer reviewed International research publications
support this presentation
Maikhuri, R.K., R.L. Semwal, K.G. Rao and K.G. Saxena (1997). Rehabilitation of degraded community
lands for sustainable development in Himalaya: A case study in Garhwal Himalaya. International
Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 4: 192-203.
Maikhuri, R.K., R.L. Semwal, K.S. Rao, K. Singh and K.G. Saxena (2000). Growth and ecological impacts of
traditional agroforestry tree species in Central Himalaya, India. Agroforestry Systems 48: 257-272.
Maikhuri, R.K., S. Nautiyal, K.S. Rao, K. Chandrasehar, K.G. Saxena and R. Gavali (2000). Analysis and
resolution of protected area-people conflicts in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, India. Environment
Conservation 27: 43-53.
Maikhuri, R.K., U. Rana, K.S. Rao, S. Nautiyal and K.G. Saxena (2001). Promoting eco-tourism in the buffer
zone areas of Nanda Devi biosphere reserve: An option to resolve people-policy conflict. International
Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology 7: 333-343.
Maikhuri, R.K., K.S. Rao and R.L. Semwal (2001). Changing scenario of Himalayan agroecosystems: loss
of agrobiodiversity, an indicator of environ-mental change in Central Himalaya, India. The
Environmentalist 20: 23-39.
Maikhuri, R.K., S. Nautiyal, K.S. Rao and K.G. Saxena (2001). Conservation policy-people conflicts: a case
study from Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (a world heritage site), India. Forest Policy and Economics 2:
335-365.
Nautiyal, S., R.K. Maikhuri, K.S. Rao and K.G. Saxena (2001). Medicinal plant resources in Nanda Devi
Biosphere Reserve in the Central Himalaya, India. Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants 8(4): 47-64.
Maikhuri, R.K., K.S. Rao and K.G. Saxena (2004). Bioprospecting of wild edible for rural development in
Central Himalayan mountains of India. Mountain Research and Development, 24(2): 110-113.
Farooquee, Nehal, A., Tarun K. Budal, R.K. Maikhuri and S.P. Singh (2008). Contribution of pack animals in
reducing CO2 emission in Central Himalaya, India. Current Science, 95(1): 59-63.

42. Acknowledgement
G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan
Environment and Development & I
myself (Dr. R.K. Maikhuri, scientist)
is very thankful to UNESCO for
providing full financial support for
participation in this conference.