Effect of Storage Conditions and Storage Periods on Seed Germination in Eleven Populations of Swertia chirayita: A Critically Endangered Medicinal Herb in Himalaya

Effect of different storage conditions (room temperature, 4°C, and −15°C) and different storage periods over 24 months on seed germination in Swertia chirayita collected from different altitudes in Sikkim Himalaya was determined. Multivariate ANOVA revealed significant (P < 0.0001) effect of storage condition and storage period on seed germination and mean germination time. Seed germination percentage significantly (P < 0.01) varied between 87.78% (Sc5) and 100% (Sc2) during initial testing. Comparatively, high seed germination, low mean germination time, and low rate of fall in seed germination percentage in seeds stored at 4°C over different storage period were recorded. In addition, above 50% seed germination in majority of the populations even after 24 months of storage suggests 4°C as the most appropriate storage condition for long-term storage of seeds of S. chirayita

Ethnomedicinal plant use by Lepcha tribe of Dzongu valley, bordering Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, in North Sikkim, India

Lepcha is the oldest and the first tribe reported from Sikkim, India; majority of its population inhabiting in Dzongu valley, an officially demarcated reserve for Lepcha community, bordering Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, in north district. Lepchas of Dzongu are known for their retention of rich cultural heritage. In view of the on-going cultural and economic changes brought in by the process of globalization, the immediate need was felt to document in details the under-explored ethnomedicinal practices of Lepchas of Dzongu valley. This paper reports 118 species, belonging to 71 families and 108 genera, under ethnomedicinal utility by the Lepchas for curing approximately 66 ailments, which could be grouped under 14 broad categories. Zingiberaceae appeared as the most used family (8 species and 5 genera). As per use pattern, maximum of 30.50% species are to cure stomach related disorders/ailments, followed by 19.49% for curing cut, wounds, inflammation, sprains and joint pains. Administration of medicine orally is recorded in 75% cases. Root and rhizome harvesting targeted 30 species. The changing scenario over time both at socio-cultural front and passing traditional knowledge interests from older to younger generation and rich ethnomicinal wealth of the oldest tribe of Sikkim are discussed in the light of conservation strategies and techniques to adopt

Plants used in healthcare practices by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Limboo</i> tribe in South –West of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim, India

355-369The study aimed in exploring indigenous knowledge of Limboo tribe on plant use practices for local healthcare in Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim. Use of 124 ethnomedicinal plants to cure 77 ailments, grouped into 13 broad categories, was recorded. Maximum number of species (31) was used to cure stomach related problems. Oral administration (71.77%) was the common practice. Artemesia vulgaris and Swertia chirayita (1.00 each) recorded the highest use value. Cut and wound problems recorded the highest Informant Consensus Factor (0.91). Paper also discussed the conservation aspects

Biomass and carbon stock estimation across the timberline of Khangchendzonga National Park, Eastern Himalaya, India

Globally it is recognized that the productive capacity, energy potential and capability to sequester carbon of forests can be conveniently indicated by the forest biomass and its carbon stocks. For the first time, present study explored the timberlines of Khangchendzonga National Park, Eastern Himalaya, India, with an aim to assess the status of biomass and carbon stock. Along 3800 m asl to 4000 m asl, in Dzongri landscape, we assessed nine major timberline sites for the estimation of total basal area, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, total carbon and stem density. The total basal area varied between 99.55±1.90 and 4.50±2.41m2 ha-1. The total above ground biomass differed between 279.25±3.04 and 15.35±7.38Mg ha-1, while the total below ground biomass ranged between 144.76±8.10 and 9.85±4.82Mg ha-1. The total carbon content estimated between 195.03±2.32 and 11.59±5.61 Mg ha-1. Among the studied environmental factors, elevation and humus were observed the determining factors for the tree growth and forest composition in the study area. The present investigation in the timberlines offers a potential platform for long term monitoring of climate change induced changes

Timberline structure and woody taxa regeneration towards treeline along latitudinal gradients in Khangchendzonga National Park, Eastern Himalaya.

With main purpose of developing a coherent baseline information of timberline forests of Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya, we investigated, (i) forest structure and composition, (ii) regeneration status of dominant timberline tree species between timberline and treeline, (iii) influence of environmental variables in species composition, and (iv) relationship between environmental variables and ecological attributes. The study was conducted along the timberline stretch of Dzongri landscape nested within the Khangchendzonga National Park (UNESCO's World Heritage Site, 2016), a core zone of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (in UNESCO WNBRs, 2018), Sikkim, India. We employed quadrat method to sample 9 contiguous sites to capture all possible variations in timberline composition. Transect method was used to study the regeneration of woody taxa between timberline to treeline. In total, 20 woody species belonging to 10 genera and 6 families were recorded. Among these, Abies densa, Rhododendron lanatum and Sorbus microphylla exhibited higher dominance, comprising of 50% of the total importance value index (IVI) weightage. Betula utilis the common treeline species in much of the western and central parts of Himalaya was absent here. Tree density in studied timberline was significantly higher than its western Himalayan counterparts of Indian Himalayan region. Environmental variables viz., elevation, slope, and humus were observed determinants of species composition across the study area. The species dominance correlated negatively (p<0.01; n = 9) with species diversity and richness. We observed an irregular spatial pattern of timberline across the 9 study sites, and the extent of timberline elements (seedling; sapling; live tree or dead tree) ranged between 5.3m to 187.7m higher than the current timberline at different sites. The present trends suggest that upslope advancement is unlikely to occur in near future, while treeline densification is anticipated. Further investigations are suggested to develop a holistic understating of these timberline patterns across the Indian Himalayan region

Integrating ethnobiological knowledge into biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas

Abstract Biocultural knowledge provides valuable insight into ecological processes, and can guide conservation practitioners in local contexts. In many regions, however, such knowledge is underutilized due to its often-fragmented record in disparate sources. In this article, we review and apply ethnobiological knowledge to biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas. Using Sikkim, India as a case study, we: (i) traced the history and trends of ethnobiological documentation; (ii) identified priority species and habitat types; and, (iii) analyzed within and among community differences pertaining to species use and management. Our results revealed that Sikkim is a biocultural hotspot, where six ethnic communities and 1128 species engage in biocultural relationships. Since the mid-1800s, the number of ethnobiological publications from Sikkim has exponentially increased; however, our results also indicate that much of this knowledge is both unwritten and partitioned within an aging, gendered, and caste or ethnic group-specific stratum of society. Reviewed species were primarily wild or wild cultivated, native to subtropical and temperate forests, and pend IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assessment. Our results demonstrate the value of engaging local knowledge holders as active participants in conservation, and suggest the need for further ethnobiological research in the Eastern Himalayas. Our interdisciplinary approach, which included rank indices and geospatial modelling, can help integrate diverse datasets into evidence-based policy

Effect of altitude and climate in shaping the forest compositions of Singalila National Park in Khangchendzonga Landscape, Eastern Himalaya, India

Himalayas provide high altitudinal gradients and extreme slopes which may rapid changes in climatic zones over a small distance which reflects noticeable changes in the forest community structures. We identified and analyzed various aspects of forest community composition with the effect of climatic variables and altitudes in the Singalila National Park (SNP), Khangchendzonga Landscape in Eastern Himalayas (India). We encountered 2075 woody individuals of 70 species within a transect (2000 m-3636 m asl). The entire forest regime reflected a dominance of young trees and the species richness showed a negative correlation with the altitude. Climatic variables (actual evapotranspiration, potential evapotranspiration and moisture index) are the measures of available environmental energies which drive the final shape of forest community structure. Our study revealed that these forces showed a significant relationship with species richness and altitude of the forest which provides the present shape of forest community composition structure of the SNP