The significant outcomes of the project include

• This project supported development of 480 People’s Biodiversity Registers (Himachal Pradesh: 145; Sikkim: 196; Arunachal Pradesh: 139) to catalogue local flora, fauna, and traditional knowledge. Additionally, 396 Biodiversity Management Committees (Himachal Pradesh: 145, Sikkim: 196, Arunachal Pradesh: 60) were strengthened to ensure effective biodiversity management and protection. It ensures the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable resource use, and equitable benefit-sharing. Additionally, the formation of BMCs in the Indian Himalayan states will be strengthened to facilitate effective biodiversity management and protection.
• To develop the medicinal plants sector, a systematic review of 56 high-value species was conducted, collecting 321 research articles (1987–2023) on propagation techniques: tissue culture (182), seed germination (88), and vegetative propagation (51). The most studied species include Picrorhiza kurroa (23) and Saussurea costus (23). Propagation protocols were developed for 34 species using seed germination (20), tissue culture (11), and vegetative propagation (4). Over 705,315 seedlings were produced and introduced to natural and agricultural lands.
• For livelihood enhancement, 15 high-value medicinal plants were promoted for cultivation across the Indian Himalayan Region. In Himachal Pradesh, 55 farmers grew these plants on 7.2 hectares, while 120 farmers in Uttarakhand cultivated on 4.97 hectares. Notably, 9 farmers in Almora district harvested 2,250 kg of Hedychium spicatum (Van Haldi), and earned ₹135,000. In addition, for sustainable cultivation of high value medicinal plants synergy and buyback arrangements were facilitated with 6 Government schemes (MGNREGA, HRDI) and non government agencies like Human India Srinagar, Surkunda Jadi-Buti Samuh Bageshwar.
• The first comprehensive record of endemic plants in the IHR identified 1,076 taxa (1,061 angiosperms, 3 gymnosperms, 12 pteridophytes) across 432 genera and 100 families, with the highest richness in Arunachal Pradesh (294), Meghalaya (213), and Sikkim (212). Conservation priority was given to 20 endemic species, which were threatened by habitat destruction and unsustainable harvesting practices. Of the 1,258 grid cells analyzed, 20 endemic-rich areas were identified, though only 69% are within protected areas. The study emphasizes in-situ and ex-situ conservation, population assessments, and research on reproductive biology of endemic plant of IHR.
• Addressing the lack of geographic distribution data for threatened plants, the project mapped 456 taxa (87 families, 233 genera) across IUCN threat categories. The highest number of threatened species was found in Fabaceae (84), Cyperaceae (65), and Poaceae (36). Sikkim (203 species) had the greatest richness, followed by Himachal Pradesh (190) and Jammu & Kashmir (189). Field verification was conducted in various locations of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to guide conservation planning to the forest departments.
• Value chains of 7 medicinal plants through surveys and secondary research were analyzed. In Uttarakhand, 7,638 farmers registered for medicinal plant cultivation, with the highest trade in Berberis spp. (1,022.65 mt/year) and Sapindus mukorossi (203.74 mt/year). However, no farmers registered for Nardostachys jatamansi and Swertia chirayita, highlighting gaps in the value chain. Likewise, 76 farmers from Thirthan, Banjar, and Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh, were linked to cultivate Saussurea costus, Innula racemosa, Aconitum heterophyllum, Angelica glauca, and Picrorhiza kurroa.
• In the North-East Indian Himalayan region, 269 mammal species were documented belonging to 136 genera, 38 families, and 11 orders, including 48 threatened and 13 endemic species. Priority conservation areas for these species were identified (i.e., the Terai region of Assam, Brahmaputra Hills, and Indo-Burma border) using a novel Conservation Priority Index (CPI) and Area of Habitat (AOH) data, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced protection and focused research.
• To raise awareness of biodiversity conservation, 231 events sensitized 13,266 stakeholders through different trainings/workshop/awareness camps, etc. These events were linked with the national missions like Swachh Bharat, Green India, and the National Biodiversity Strategy. These events emphasized the importance of ecosystem preservation, the role of biodiversity in human well-being, and protection against threats such as habitat loss and climate change, fostering a collective responsibility toward environmental sustainability. This comprehensive approach integrates research, conservation, community involvement, and policy support to protect and sustainably use the rich biodiversity of the Indian Himalayan Region, contributing to national and global biodiversity goals.