National Mission on Himalayan Studies-Thematic Sub-Committee-02
The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), a globally significant ecological and cultural landscape, faces complex environmental challenges arising from climate change, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable development pressures. In response to these critical issues, the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS)—a flagship program under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India—has launched and supported a multitude of research and conservation initiatives.
This analytical synthesis presents a consolidated overview of key projects funded by NMHS under the TSC-02 theme. These projects span across diverse thematic areas such as conservation biology, agro-biodiversity, climate resilience, alpine ecology, pollination networks, forest ecosystem recovery, and sustainable livelihoods. Covering nearly every ecological subzone from the Trans-Himalayan cold deserts of Ladakh to the biodiversity-rich Eastern Himalayas, these efforts represent a transdisciplinary and community-integrated approach to ecological monitoring and sustainable development.
The datasets, innovations, and field interventions emerging from these projects not only provide critical baselines for scientific inquiry and policy formulation but also empower marginalized communities, tribal populations, and smallholder farmers who are most dependent on fragile mountain ecosystems. This compilation also visualizes the breadth of the NMHS effort—highlighting regional coverage, ecosystem types, technologies employed, and socio-ecological impact—through intuitive graphs and charts that aid in evidence-based decision-making.
Figure1. Early flowering trend of 11 high-value alpine and sub-alpine medicinal plant species from IHR
Outcomes
- A total of 7 states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya) and 2 UTs (J&K, Ladakh) were covered under the NMHS-funded projects
- A total of 72 demonstration models were developed along the different IHR region under the NMHS funded projects.
- A total of 10851 (SC- 1286; ST- 9565) marginalized communities are covered and sensitized under BCM projects funded by the NMHS.
- 9 patents and 4 other new technologies reported.
- Over 46 lakh medicinal plant seedlings produced and distributed; large-scale cultivation promoted in over 65 villages.
- 437 biodiversity monitoring plots established; 1,881 plant taxa documented with 131 new distribution records.
- Beekeeping and pollinator studies revealed 146 pollinator species; moths found to be significant pollen carriers.
- Developed and installed SWAYAMBHU-WRM-2021: First-of-its-kind two-step catalytic pyrolysis for graphene production from plastic waste (12-15% yield).
- Developed Low-Cost Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Treatment – Eco-friendly remediation for coal mines.
- A total of 3,916 individuals participated, of whom 2,609 belonged to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 6 belonged to the Scheduled Castes (SC). Under the Handling of Waste Management Projects.
