Publications
Land Change in Tirthan Valley: The Case of Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
A significant increase in forest cover, rocky/barren land, agriculture/horticulture land, and settlement/built-up areas has been observed in the Tirthan Valley, part of the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA), over the past five decades. Conversely, there has been a notable decrease in pasture/open land, snow cover, and river/water bodies. This study, utilizing multi-temporal LANDSAT satellite images, reveals substantial land use and land cover changes post-protected area status, raising concerns about the sustainability of both natural and man-made ecosystems in the region.
Decreasing potential suitable habitat of bumble bees in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation area
A first-of-its-kind study projects that four bumble bee species—Bombus tunicatus, Bombus haemorrhoidalis, Bombus festivus, and Bombus asiaticus—will face heightened extinction risks in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area by 2050 due to shrinking suitable habitat. Researchers used a MaxEnt species distribution model with bioclimatic and biophysical data collected between May 2018 and October 2019, identifying nine bumble bee species in the region. The Jackknife test revealed key variables influencing these projections. This decline threatens vital pollinators for Himalayan agriculture and wild ecosystems.
Faunistic account on the Heterocera of Tirthan Valley, Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area: a preliminary checklist (Insecta: Lepidoptera)
A preliminary checklist identifies 165 species of moths (Heterocera) from the Tirthan Valley, Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, significantly expanding the known diversity of Lepidoptera in the region. The study, conducted between April 2018 and July 2019, highlights the dominance of Erebidae and Geometridae families, each contributing 45 species, followed by Crambidae with 30 species. This adds to the existing record of 385 moth species in the park, marking the first comprehensive documentation of Heterocera diversity in this valley. The research underscores the ecological richness of the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area and provides a foundational dataset for future biodiversity studies.
A preliminary assessment of odonate diversity along the river Tirthan, Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, India with reference to the impact of climate change
A recent study along the Tirthan River in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA) revealed 19 odonate species, including eight dragonflies and 11 damselflies, with 17 recorded for the first time. This significantly increases the known diversity of odonates in GHNPCA to 23 species across 18 genera and eight families. Notably, three species—Indothemis carnatica, Agriocnemis femina, and Argiocnemis rubescens—were documented for the first time in the western Himalayas. The study also observed a marked shift in odonate species composition over 18 years, suggesting that climate change-driven microhabitat alterations may be reshaping local biodiversity. This research highlights the vulnerability of high-altitude ecosystems to climatic shifts and underscores the need for long-term monitoring in protected areas.
An experimental study on bioturbation and dung removal activities of Catharsius molossus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in the Greater Himalaya
Research reveals that the dung beetle Catharsius molossus exhibits significant variation in bioturbation and dung removal activities across elevations in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, with both metrics showing a strong linear relationship to elevation. This suggests that higher-altitude habitats may experience reduced nutrient transfer from dung to soil due to diminished beetle activity, potentially impacting surrounding ecosystems. The study employed experimental methods at six distinct elevations to quantify these effects, providing new insights into the ecological role of this species in the Greater Himalaya.
Heritage as Weapon: Contested Geographies of Conservation and Culture in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, India
Local communities in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA), India, have successfully used cultural heritage as a tool to resist conservation policies that restrict access to sacred sites. By framing their region as the 'Valley of the Gods' and leveraging tourism imagery depicting local deities, these communities have challenged global conservation agendas while channeling opposition through democratic processes. The study highlights how democracy empowers local resistance against new environmental restrictions, illustrating a complex negotiation between global heritage values and local cultural practices. This research underscores the role of heritage in shaping contested geographies, particularly in mountainous regions under pressure from expanding protected areas.
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