Sanjay Kr. Uniyal

• Ph.D.
• Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology

Payment for ecosystem services (PES) has emerged as a promising tool to participatory natural resource management and sharing of benefits among the stakeholders. However, very few successful models of PES are available for replication. This study deals with an analysis of a PES model currently operational in the Dhauladhar Range, Western Himalaya,...

The high-altitude regions of Himalaya are among the best indicators of climate change yet noticeable for the lack of climate monitoring stations. However, they support ethnic communities whose livelihood activities are climate driven. Consequently, these communities are keen observers of the same and documenting their perception on changing climate...

The use of time-lapse camera setups for characterizing phenology is fast emerging because of their advantages in offering continuous unbiased data. We therefore installed a camera setup in the Western Himalaya to monitor temporal patterns of Betula utilis phenology and also to document snow cover patterns. Digital images (N = 653) of two growing se...

The present study was conducted among the Bhangalis, a resident community of Chhota Bhangal (Himachal Pradesh), to document their fuelwood use and knowledge variations with sociocultural factors. For this, recordings were carried out with the Bhangalis (n = 240, from 6 villages) who were selected in a stratified manner to be representative of gende...

Declining population of medicinal plants in the wild is a major conservation issue. Researchers across the globe have advocated assessments of their populations for effective management prioritization. We, therefore, assessed populations of 15 high valued medicinal plant species of the Himalaya and carried out their rapid vulnerability assessment (...

The article presents an overview of Indian hazelnut (Corylus jacquemontii)- a multipurpose threatened species of the Himalayan region of high traditional importance. The species is used as a medicine, fuelwood, fodder, and timber by the resident communities of Himalaya. The edible nuts of the species are nutrient-rich and have a high market value;...

Floral and seed traits, their relationships, and responses to abiotic constraints are considered the key determinants of the invasion success of non-native plant species. However, studies evaluating the pattern of floral and seed traits of non-native species in mountain ecosystems are lacking. In this study, we determined (a) whether the floral and...

Subalpine-alpine vegetation of Himalayan global biodiversity hotspot forms the highest and unique ecosystem of the world. These ecosystems inhabit diverse cold adapted plants, which are currently threatened by global warming. Deciphering vegetation forms and their ecological niches is pre-requisite for evolving conservation strategies. Emerging rem...

1. There is a common agreement that, to maximise our understanding of trait-based community assembly, traits related to different organs should be considered as they relate to different ecological niche axes. Floral traits, in particular, have been suggested to play an important role in the plant community assembly along with environmental gradient...

There is a common agreement that, to maximise our understanding of trait‐based community assembly, traits related to different organs should be considered as they relate to different ecological niche axes. Floral traits, in particular, have been suggested to play an important role in the plant community assembly along with environmental gradients a...

Documentation of the folk knowledge of indigenous communities forms an integral part of the subject “ethnobiology”. Pursuing leads obtained through ethnobiological documentation has played a key role in maintaining human health and wellbeing. The current pandemic that we are passing through is expected to strengthen the subject with many challenges...

The surface ozone, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO) were measured from 2015 to 2016 at a mountain site of the Indian western Himalayan region to study the temporal variability of ozone and the influence of precursor gases and meteorological parameters. Ozone showed anti-correlation with NOx and CO, indicating its photochemical ori...

Himachal Pradesh (HP) is one of the biodiversity rich states of Western Himalaya, however meagre information is available regarding lichen biota of this state. In the present study an attempt has been made to provide an updated list of lichens from HP. The list is based on recent collections and some previous available literature made by the author...

Trees with smooth bark such as Eucalyptus are considered poor phorophytes. We observed populations of Pyrrosia flocculosa on Eucalyptus globulus and therefore initiated the study to compare E. globulus trees that supported and lacked P. flocculosa. The study involved field surveys and collection of bark samples. A total of 200 trees were sampled an...

The present paper reports Persicaria microcephala (D. Don) H. Gross (Polygonaceae) as a new distributional record for Himachal Pradesh. A detailed description along with field photographs and dissected floral parts of the species is provided for easy identification.

Community managed forest is one of the striking features of Himalayan forest ecosystems that not only help in their conservation but also in nurturing the well-being of adjoining communities. However, during the past few decades, human impacts have affected the sustainability of such ecosystems. Recognizing this, the present study was conducted to...

Transhumance that involves seasonal migration of humans along with their livestock is a means of livelihood and resource management for the Gaddi community of the Himalaya. They have been following it for centuries but now the practice is fast declining. We, therefore, documented the current movement patterns of Gaddis’ and the associated emerging...

The four-year continuous measurements of CO, NOx, NH3, SO2, and O3 were carried at a high altitude site (32.12°N, 76.56°E at 1347 m AMSL) of the Indian Western Himalayan area to study the mixing ratios of these gases for understanding the changing trends of these trace gases over the region. Each of these trace gases showed significant daily and mo...

Studying phenology is undeniably one of the most effective ways to monitor and perceive how a particular plant species interact and respond to varying environmental conditions. In this study, the shifts in flowering phenological events of 24 herbaceous species with the changing elevation and temperature were observed in Dhauladhar Mountain range of...

The present paper highlights the importance vis-à-vis plight of a traditional script Tankri of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. Through surveys in 70 villages that involved interviews with 550 residents, only one respondent was found to be versed in it. He uses an ancient manuscript named Jantri, scripted in Tankri, for prescribing medicines. Interactions...

The present paper reports Hedychium flavescens as a new record to the flora of Himachal Pradesh. The detailed description, photo-illustration and field notes are provided to facilitate easy identification of the species.

Plants play an important role in the medicinal and healthcare regime of the people living in the remote areas of the Himalayan region, which can be attributed to their greater faith in the efficacy of herbal remedies and also the unavailability of modern healthcare facilities. The current study aimed to report the indigenous medicinal knowledge of...

Background: Plant-derived utility products (PDPs) play an important role in sustaining humans, especially tribal communities. Despite this, knowledge on PDPs is declining. Methods: The present study was therefore carried to document the PDPs used by Bhangalis, a tribal community of western Himalaya, through door-to-door surveys (n=420) and detai...

The study aimed at analyzing the level of metal(loid)s in rice grown in croplands around industrial sectors of northern India with an emphasis on human health risk due to their consumption. Ninety samples of rice grains were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscope, and methodology of the US Environmental Protection Agency was u...

Abstract Biological invasion is the second biggest cause of biodiversity loss after habitat destruction. There is a long history of introducing new species into areas beyond their native range. Due to the course of time many species have escaped into wild areas and became invasive in the region. Invasive species, today, constitute a serious threat...

The study investigated spatial distribution of heavy metals in soils of urban, peri-urban and rural habitation land-uses, and the ecological risks associated with them in the Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. Soils of undisturbed forest were taken as control. A total of 72 soil samples were collected and assayed by atomic absorption spect...

The bioresource or biological resource includes all components of biological diversity with actual or potential value for humanity and the sustainability of the living systems. It is generally understood as the biotic component of ecosystems that includes organisms, parts thereof, populations, genetic resources and any other element that are of tan...

The spread of alien plant species in bio-rich mountains calls for documenting their distribution across altitudes. The present study, therefore, analysed altitudinal distribution of alien species richness in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh and tested the null hypothesis that-alien species richness in Himalaya is independent of altitude. For...

Loss of green cover, and increasing pollution is a prime global concern. The problem calls for screening of pollution-tolerant tree species that can be integrated into plantation drives. Recognizing this, the study analyzed bio-indicator responses and performance of commonly occurring plant species along a pollution gradient in western Himalaya. Ba...

The study focused on analyzing concentrations of metal(loid)s, their geospatial distribution in groundwater around an industrial hub of northern India. Human health risk posed due to the intake of contaminated groundwater was also evaluated. For this, 240 samples were assayed using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrophotometer. For risk ass...

Background: From time immemorial, wild plants have been used for edible purposes. They still continue to be a major source of nutrition for tribal people. However, unfortunately, their use is now declining. This has implications in food security, narrowing genetic base, and future leads. The present study was, therefore, carried out in Chhota Bhan...

Medicinal plant collection from the Himalayas is a key conservation issue that involves extraction of plants from the wild by collectors. While the word collectors is generalized, not all collectors are the same. In this paper, three types of collectors namely, professional, opportunist, and user have been identified. They have been compared with r...

The study documents plant species used by the residents of Kugti an interior Himalayan village, through observations and interviews. Forty four plant species belonging to 32 families were being used as edible, medicine, dye, magico-religious, socio-cultural, and starter purposes. Use of Plectranthus rugosus, Wikstroemia canescens, Vincetoxicum hiru...

Plant phenology is a key indicator of changing climatic conditions and, thus, automated documentation of phenology using cameras has recently been advocated. The present study, therefore, aimed at identifying phenological stages in Sapium sebiferum using digital images of a full calendar year. Red, Green and Blue channel information from these imag...

Biological Invasion is a worldwide phenomenon and currently no part of the world is untouched. Indian Northwestern Himalaya is comprised of three Himalayan states namely Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand with an area 3,33,392 sq Km. Based on recent publications, the number of alien invasive plant species present in Kashmir Himalay...

Recognizing the need of information-sharing and its implications, development of on-line plant databases has been advocated. The present article provides details on the development of web-enabled Bioresource Information Centre for Floral Resources of Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalaya. It is a MySql database that presently houses information on ~15...

Monitoring of environment is a key contemporary issue that has necessitated search for bio-indicators. The very fact that epiphytes do not have a direct contact with soil and absorb nutrients from the environment puts them among the best indicators of environmental conditions. We, therefore, selected Pyrrosia flocculosa (D. Don) Ching—an epiphytic...

Time of fruiting and their ripening plays an important role in attracting prospective dispersers in plant species. We have been monitoring a stand of Sapium sebiferum, an alien invasive species in order to document its phenology and seed dispersal patterns. Unlike majority of the plant species in the western Himalaya which fruit during monsoon, fru...

Flowers of Trifolium repens L. show recurving. We, therefore, studied whether this is an effective strategy employed by the species to augment reproduction. For this, fifty plants of the species were tagged and monitored. This included twenty control and twenty constrained to recurve. The remaining 10 plants were covered with a net to limit cross-p...

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Abstract Recognizing that high litter fall and its rapid decomposition are key traits of invasive species, litter fall and its decay in Sapium sebiferum Roxb. was studied in a site at Palampur. For this, litter traps of dimension 50× 50× 50 cm 3 were placed in under canopy and canopy gap of the species. Litter fall was monitored monthly and the...

The present work was conducted to assess the regeneration pattern of dominant tree species in the forested landscapes of Himachal Pradesh, India. The study was conducted in four agro-climatic zones viz., zone I, zone II, zone III and zone IV, of the state at 58 locations during 2002–2007. Stratified random quadrat sampling was employed to estimate...

Recognizing the role of plantations in bioresource conservation, four plantations namely Department of Non-renewable Energy Sources (DNES), Eucalyptus, Rose, and Tea were surveyed and sampled in a part of Western Himalaya. Total of 96 plant species belonging to 52 families were recorded from the plantations. Poaceae, Asteraceae and Rosaceae were th...

Phenological documentation and plant invasion are key contemporary issues in the biological sciences. Recognizing this, the present paper describes the phenological stages of an invasive species, Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb. A tree of the species was marked, and daily visits were made for recording its phenology. The Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bunde...

A spectral library of commonly occurring Himalayan plant species has been developed. The 512-channel ASD handheld Fieldspec®Pro, 2000 Spectroradiometer with 3 nm spectral resolution and spectral range of 325 to 1,075 nm has been used for recording the leaf, branch or canopy spectra of plant species. Simultaneous measurements of crop biochemical par...

High litter fall and its fast decomposition are key traits of invasive species, which strategically these species utilize in altering the nutrient status of soil thereby making the environment suitable for their growth and spread. We, therefore, investigated the litter production and decomposition of Sapium sebiferum in western Himalaya. Standard m...

Biodiversity information owes a lot to field surveys and floristic studies. This is the basis of monitoring and assessment exercises. The present paper provides temporal information on the history of floral surveys in Himachal Pradesh (HP) and the consequent statistics of species richness in HP. From 1984 (after the publication of Flora of HP—an an...

The use of species distribution models is gaining popularity in biological sciences. We used Maxent, a maximum entropy-based program, to predict distribution of Sapium sebiferum in western Himalaya. Sapium sebiferum is amongst the highly invasive species of the world and its spread in western Himalaya is a serious conservation issue. In order to mo...

Sapium sebiferum, a highly invasive species of the world, can be seen growing in the sub Himalayan tracts. Recognizing its fast spreading potential and reported ill-effects on native flora in many parts of the globe, the present study aimed at documenting the distribution and phytosociological characteristics of S. sebiferum in the Himalayan state...

Invasion by exotic species is a prime threat to biodiversity and information on their expanse is pivotal for effective management of bioresources, with this perception we worked out the extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb. in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh (HP), as is done for IUCN plant thr...

Recognizing the array of effects that invasive alien species have, documenting their status from biodiversity rich regions has been much emphasized. Lack of such studies is a major limitation that hampers proper management of alien species. The present paper, therefore, documents the alien flora of the Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh (HP...

The paper reports addition of Cryptogramma stelleri (Gmel.) Prantl. to the fern Flora of Himachal Pradesh.

Taxus wallichiana Zucc. (Himalayan yew) represents one of the most threatened medicinal tree species of the Himalayan region. Heavy exploitation of its bark and leaves for taxol® has resulted in decline in its population. Generating quantitative information on Himalayan yew has therefore been stressed. The present paper provides information on the...

The IPCC in its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) described the Himalayan Region as data-deficient in terms of climate monitoring. This is a serious impedi-ment to global research initiatives and thus necessi-tates long-term ecological monitoring (LTEM) across the Himalaya. Being governed by low temperature conditions, the high-altitude regions in Him...

Plant invasion studies are now of global concern and second only threat to habitat degradation. Limited studies on this aspect from Himalaya are major bottleneck in the conservation and management of bioresources. Sapium sebiferum, has caused severe ecological damages in many parts of the globe, to an extent that a tallow tree replacement programme...

Indiscriminate extraction of Picrorhiza kurrooa is a serious threat to the population of this Himalayan medicinal plant. Over 90% of the market demand for this species is met from the wild. We conducted a study on the patterns and processes of kutki extraction in a part of the Dhauladhar range, Western Himalaya, in the state of Himachal Pradesh (In...

The present paper quantifies and reviews the natural resource use in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh (HP). Twenty-five percent of the geographical area of HP is under forests and harbour ca. 3,400 plant species. The available bioresources not only support the livelihood of nearly 6 million people but also fulfill the forage requirement of 5...

The importance of folk knowledge in improving livelihood and biodiversity conservation is now well recognized (Alcorn 1993; Gadgil et al.2000). Of the various sectors that have benefited from folk knowledge, healthcare is the most important (Patwardhan 2007; Chadwick and Marsh 2007). Considering the growing acceptance of herbal medicine, almost 25%...

BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological...

62 species belonging to 17 families of pteridophytes are present in Great Himalayan National Park located in Kullu district of Himalchal Pradesh. 35 Species were new to the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, these includes Coniogramma indica, Cheilanthus rufa, Dryopteris kumurovii, Asplenium lacinatum, Polypodiodes microrhizoma, Athyrium distans,...

The himFlorIS is an information system for flora in Himachal Pradesh (HP). At present, it provides information on 1141 plant species distributed across 49 landscape elements (LSE) in the state. It is based on the floristic survey of HP during 2003-2009. It provides information regarding LSE, LSE types, physiographic factors, abundance of the specie...

Recognizing the importance of sacred groves in biodiversity conservation and management, and the recent threats to them, the present study was conducted in Shivbari sacred grove of Himachal Pradesh. The study aimed at documenting the floral wealth of Shivbari and promoting plantation of indigenous species in participation with local people. For thi...

Biological invasions are amongst the most dreaded impacts that humans have had on the earth’s ecosystem. Recognizing the ill effects of invasive species and highlighting the importance of studying invasive species, a Global Invasive Species Program (GISP) has been initiated. Similarly, European countries have launched a project “Delivering Alien In...

Population and biomass availability of Picrorhiza kurrooa was assessed in Gori, Ralam and Uhl valleys of Western Himalaya using stratified random sampling. For density estimation 1x1m2 quadrats were laid and for biomass quantification, harvest technique was followed. Highest density (11.3 individuals/m2), frequency (76.11%) and biomass (68.14 g/m2)...

Massive degradation of spruce Picea spp. forests, due to increased temperatures, has been reported from many parts of the world. We have detected large-scale yellowing of Picea smithiana Boiss. in the western Himalayas, where temperatures have increased by 0.6 degrees C in the last 3 decades. Large-scale degradation of P. smithiana has never been o...

The present communication reports Aeginetia indica L. (Orobanchaceae) as a new generic record to the flora of Himachal Pradesh. The plant was found growing in Malan locality of District Kangra on the roots of Dendrocalamus strictus.

Synedrella vialis (Less.) A. Gray (Asteraceae) is a new generic record to the flora of Himachal Pradesh. The plant has been collected from different localities of Kangra District, H.P. Morphological characters, habit and ecological notes of the plant are given to facilitate the identification.

The present paper deals with the vegetation structure and community patterns within and between various plant communities in the Tehri Dam Submergence Zone in Garhwal, in the western Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. The submergence zone is comprised of two valleys, the Bhagirathi submergence zone and the Bhilangna submergence zone. Four major plant co...

This study deals with the assessment of the status of forest density in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya. A classified forest map of the area with an accuracy of 88.17% was produced using the hybrid classification method in Erdas Imagine. An IRS 1D LISS III satellite image was used for mapping and classification. Forest den...

The importance of medicinal plants in traditional healthcare practices, providing clues to new areas of research and in biodiversity conservation is now well recognized. However, information on the uses for plants for medicine is lacking from many interior areas of Himalaya. Keeping this in view the present study was initiated in a tribal dominated...

Two biflavonoids, 3'-O-methyl loniflavone [5,5'',7,7''-tetrahydroxy 3'-methoxy 4',4'''-biflavonyl ether (1)] and loniflavone [5,5'',7,7'',3'-pentahydroxy 4',4'''-biflavonyl ether (2)] along with luteolin (3) and chrysin (4) were isolated from the leaves of Lonicera japonica. The structures were established on the basis of UV/vis, 1D, 2D NMR (HMQC a...

Information on eight highly traded and locally used medicinal plants was collected from the alpine zones of Chhota Bhangal. The study aimed to quantify the current status of these plants in terms of density, frequency and biomass, and also document the indigenous use of these plants for traditional healthcare. Quadrats of 1 x 1 m were used for quan...

Rangeland conditions can be assessed based on the biomass availability and nutrient quality of major forage plants. While conducting ecological studies on the rangelands of Changthang, eastern Ladakh, we assessed the above-ground biomass and nutrient quality of Eurotia ceratoides Mey (Chenopodiaceae), a common shrub in the area, following standard...

Traditional knowledge and practices are important in prudent resource use and biodiversity conservation. The implications of modernization and changing lifestyle are discussed in the context of agriculture and resource use, the two sectors in which maximum modernization has occurred. The information was gathered through observations and structured...