c
  

   


mmmm
m
The Indian subcontinent represents one of the richest diverse genetic resources. However, with the advent of cut and burn
agriculture, green revolution/commercialized agriculture, the area development projects and the related activities of these
diverse resources are on decline at a fast pace. The overgrazing, deforestation and over exploitation of native resources under
range situations have eroded the biodiversity from this unique ecosystem. However, in spite of these biotic pressures rich
biodiversity is still visible in the remote and tribal population dominated areas. The north-eastern, peninsular and the trans-
Himalayan areas still maintain a rich biodiversity.
The selective extinction of many animals from the forest/ grazing lands has disturbed the ecosystem to such an extent that
problems of rodents, reptiles and termites have assumed alarming position in some situations (Shankar et al 1995). These
factors have further added to the fragility of ecosystem and erosion of biodiversity.

›


 

Plant species provide a variety of products like food, medicines and raw materials. Some plant extracts are used in the
manufacture of glue, soaps, cosmetics, dyes, lubricants and polishes. The plants also provide an important source of renewable
energy.

 
One of the most fundamental values of plant biodiversity is in supplying the food for human, domesticated and wild animals and
different organisms. Of the estimated 250,000 species of flowering plants at global level, about 3000 are regarded as food
source and only 200 species out of these have been domesticated. In the traditional agro-ecosystems newly domesticated plant
types and primitive
Cultivars emerged from their wild ancestors. Occasional crosses continued to occur between the crops and their wild relatives
which increased genetic diversity for further selection and improvement. Many cultivated species may not have survived under
domestication without the interchange of genes between wild relatives and cultivated crops (Old fields 1984).

 


 

The genetically transmitted characters of the crops and wild relatives such as rapid growth and high yields, food quality, stress
(biotic and a biotic) tolerance vis-à-vis 38 environmental adaptations are of potential value for hybridization and breeding a
desired type of plant. Recent plant collections in the Himalayan foot hills of north-eastern India have provided a large number of
primitive rice cultivars having
Resistance to major pests and diseases. The variations shown by old land races are of great importance in our crop |
improvement programmes. Genetic erosion or the loss of genetic diversity is an issue of serious concern in relation to sustainable
global food security
D
 
àround 119 pure chemical substances extracted from some 90 species of higher| plants are used in medicines throughout the
world. Indian medicine system is largely; dependent on such drug plants. The local people particularly the tribal population rely
on indigenous and traditional medicines. The WHO has listed over 21,000 medicinal plants and most of these are temperate
species. The Indian subcontinent had been one of the rich emporia of 2500 plant species used in indigenous treatment.
àconitum,
Dioscorea and Ephedrine species are some of the many endangered plants. The collection of medicinal plants from the remote
and interior areas provides employment and fetches earnings

| 


The biological resources make indirect contributions to the welfare and stability of society. Environmental functions support
economic activity by recycling important elements like carbon, oxygen and nitrogen and by acting as buffer against excessive
variations in weather, climate and other natural events outside the control of human beings. às natural habitat declines, the
ecological processes slow down.
The rich Biodiversity helps in the sustainability/stability for existence, and risk aversion. Therefore ecologist and nature
conservationists are much aware of conservation of overall biodiversity for sustainability. Shankar et al 1995 quotes that
"biodiversity changes in rangelands under various kinds of utilization ranging from protection for hay harvest to in situ grazing
provides clues to reversing the process of degradation and bringing in the rehabilitation and stability of rangelands productive
systems".

 
 
 

Khoshoo (1993) summarizes different options available for conservation of biodiversity. Both in situ (on site) and ex situ (off site)
means of conservation are equally important and to be considered complementary to each other. In situ conservation of crop
genetic resources has sometimes not been given importance. às in situ conservation provides a natural reservoir of crop genetic
resources and this method is dynamic over ex situ since plants can continue to evolve in the natural habitat. In Himalayan region
a number of protected areas-biosphere reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are in existence and are proposed.
Rawat (1994) has proposed potential areas for plant conservation in various biogeography zones of Himalaya. In situ
conservation is also important for many wild species including the39 wild relatives of crops for which no adequate ex situ
methods are available. For ex situ conservation in Himalayan region, Khoshoo (1993) emphasized the need of seed, organ, tissue
or genebanks, although these can be established at minimal cost because of the proximity of glaciers in the region. On the other
hand a network of botanical gardens and arboreta is also urgent and important for Conservation of wild germplasm of various
crop, forest and medicinal species. In situ conservation through maintenance of traditional farming system the traditional
farming systems have a key role in in situ conservation of plant diversity. The traditional farming systems were developed by
farmers over years of experience to suit specific ecological conditions with a view to attaining stability and diversification in
production (Singh and Misri 1995). The objectives of adopting mixed cropping were to reduce the risk of total crop failure due to
uncertainty of monsoons and to have a variety of products, etc. às in Ladakh depending upon the local conditions, double or
mixed cropping system is practised (Dhar et al 1994). Seeds of local cultivars of pea are always grown as a mixed crop in Ladakh.
àmongst pseudocereals, buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.) is cultivated as a regular mixed crop and utilized as food, fodder, etc.
Khoshoo (1993) rightly emphasised that "agro-ecosystems have not received any attention from ecologists even though there
are permanent changes of the original ecosystems". Many traditional agro-ecosystems are located in centers of diversity of crop
plants and the treasure of wild and weedy relatives of crops is found there. In India primitive agriculture is practised in the
peninsular, north eastern and other tribal inhabited areas and represents a treasure house of genes for resistance to pests and

diseases, adaptations to stress situations and several other promising agronomic attributes. Many of the wild relatives are
growing in association with these traditional agricultural systems managed by farmers with crops for specific uses. In traditional
agroforestry system multipurpose tree species are used by the natives for food, fodder, medicine, fuel, construction material, etc.
Grewia optiva is widely planted along theagricultural field bunds, boundaries by the inhabitants in Siwalik Himalaya for fodder
and a variety of uses. In north-eastern India among the dwellings and margins of courtyards fruit trees like Elaeocarpus
floribunda, Myrica esculanta, Garcinia spp., Morus spp., Docynia sp. are planted. Tree bean (Parkia roxburghii) is also commonly
planted in N-E region and three types of plants are well recognised by the natives. àltieri et al (1977) refer that certain weeds are
managed with crops by farmers, resulting in increased biological-pest control. In some cases weeds are left out in the field by the
farmers for fodder, food and other purposes. à number of plants are used by the tribal societies as live hedge along the field,
house boundaries which have multiple uses and also act as pest control. Thus, first there is an urgent need to study the different
traditional agroecosystems/ farming systems in the Himalayan region and after that we can incorporate the indigenous crops
and other native forage germplasm in the design of self-sustained agroecosystems, with a view to maintaining and conserving
the local genetic diversity available in the area. The farmers practising primitive agriculture should be provided incentives and
advantage for growing traditional varieties.

‘

  


Grazing in the grasslands has played a key role in changing the botanical composition, which, however, varies with the type of
grass cover, its palatability etc. Overgrazing and conversion to croplands represent the most obvious impact on the native
biodiversity of grasslands. às overgrazing causes retrogression, moderate grazing decelerates the rate of succession whereas
light grazing and complete protection accelerates the successional process. Overgrazing stimulates growth of weeds and loss of
diversity. The weeds such as Lantana camera, Parthenium hysterophorus, etc., are replacing the undergrowth in many places. In
àssam overgrazing reduces the tall grass cover to tufted grass type to Chrysopogon aciculatus
and Imperata cyclindrica (Shankarnarayan 1977).
.
On the other hand species diversity is increased and manipulated by light to moderate grazing intensities, especially in the
more humid grasslands such as the tall grass prairie in the United States. Spread of herbs such as Polygonum polystachyon,
Osmunda claytoniana, Impatiens spp. was also observed in valley of flowers in Himalaya after the ban of livestock grazing since
the declaration of the valley as
National Park (Naithani et al 1992). Light to moderate grazing is an appropriate tool to increase and conserve the diversity



 
   
 
 

Collection and conservation of diverse germplasm especially of forages has an important and yet unrealized role in rehabilitating
the degraded rangelands. Ecosystem degradation can be reversed by selecting replacement of species adapted to specific
situations. The overgrazed grassland/rangelands may be improved by reintroducing the indigenous species in the system.
Intensive field surveys and germplasm collection of multipurpose native species are urgently needed for rehabilitation of
degraded lands by the introduction of these species. This can also lead to the conservation of range plant gene pool.
?   
  

Since times immemorial conservation of natural resources has been an integral part of the human culture in different ways. The
traditional beliefs in certain plants/animals have descended from generation to generation in primitive human societies. às the
best example of this, we find the concept of sacred groves in different parts of India especially in Khasi hills, Maharashtra, Goa
and also in the Himalayan region. às a result of these sacred groves, we still possess a great heritage of diverse gene pool of
many forest species. Some plant species are considered sacred having socio-religious attachment. The plants of Celtis australis
are found on graveyards in Kashmir. The holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) is commonly planted in houses in northern India and
considered sacred herb and is also used for medicinal purposes. There might be, however, some unknown scientific or
psychological basis in these beliefs.

Gadgil and Berkes (1991) refer that various traditional ecosystem approaches require a belief system which includes a number
of prescriptions for restrained resource use. In Ladakh, to avoid the mortality in alfalfa plants, Lamas (religious priests)
introduced a practice that no farmer will harvest his fields unless they determine the auspious day for this purpose and the
harvest will be initiated by Lama only with a sickle made of Yak horn (Singh and Misri 1995). This practice, though a superstition,
judiciously utilizes the alfalfa crop and the crop stand remains stable. Thus extensive folklore surveys are necessary in remote
tribal areas to assess the potential of traditional conservation values, i.e., sacred groves, sacred plants, magic or religious beliefs
about certain plants, traditional restraints, etc. This background information will enormously help in biodiversity conservation
programmes.

|   
 
Maintenance of ex situ populations of plants is carried out by a number of institutions including botanical gardens, forestry
research institutes, and agricultural research centers. This involves three methods:

è



 It is an assemblage of diverse plant species and their range of genetic diversity in an area. The plant
materials are conserved and are available for breeding, reintroduction, research and other purposes. This method is useful for
long living perennials trees and shrubs. Botanical gardens often have collections which are effectively field gene banks. These
gardens also accommodate some endangered plants.

p

 
 Seed banks are the most efficient and effective methods of ex situ conservation for sexually reproducing
seeds under long term storage. It is an effective and compact method of storage but is dependent on secure power supply,
careful monitoring and testing of seed viability and regeneration in cases where the viability falls below a certain level. In India,
NBPGR, is one of the largest depositories of PGR. There are a number of seed banks in the world with specialisation in the nature
of the collections, geographical area, taxonomic groups, wild plants, forestry trees, etc.

‘ 

 It refers to the conservation of germplasm through meristem tissues in test tubes. These methods are
suited for the long term storage of propagules of species which otherwise can not be maintained in seed banks. However, this
method has limitations in applicability.

 


 
 
 
1. Fixing the centers with responsibility in the trans-himalayan region for undertaking the work related to biodiversity of plants.
2. Survey (folklore/contacts with local/religious leaders/ tribes on the spot visits and consultations of literature) of the PGR
available at present, endangered and extinct species. The use of NGO's and use of PRà technique may be useful.
3. Collection, identification and documentation of fodder/ pasture and other associated species in the ecosystem.
4. Study the impact of nomadic graziers/pastoral communities on vegetation; and also their traditional grazing management.
5. Study traditional farming/cropping system, traditional agro forestry, village gardening, etc.
6. Study utilization pattern of land races, primitive cultivars of\ cultivated/domesticated plants.
7. Study impact of myths, totems and taboos observed by rural people and tribals with respect to conservation.
8. Eco-geographical survey of gene pool of crops and related species.
9. Investigate techno-economic capabilities of inhabitants on biodiversity conservation.
10. Fund requirement and availability.
Ñ

    
 
 
People's participation is very important to integrate ecosystem conservation and rural development as it is necessary to know the
needs for they depend on a particular ecosystem (Khoshoo, 1993). The indigenous people are the integral part of the ecosystem.
They are not only familiar with several plant/animal species in their ecosystem but also| understand the ecological
interrelationship of the various Components of their resource! Base better than most modern foresters, biologists, agronomists
and ecologists. With constant association with the surrounding vegetation, they learnt to utilize many plan' species for their day
to day needs. Participatory Rural àppraisal (PRà) technique may play an important role in planning the biodiversity conservation
through people's participation. It may help to acquire past and present available resources in the region, their problems and
priorities. It will also help to collect and document traditional wisdom about surrounding vegetation, local flora, exotic flora,
fauna, etc. The PRà exercise will also assess the feasibility of conserving traditional varieties, primitive land races, wild relatives
of crop plant in situ along with the traditional farming system which sustains it.



  

 

The efficient and working linkages between the centers being established under th programme and the well established
institutions which are already engaged in th participating country are important for exchanging the informationNacilities they
have. India such organizations are Ministry of Environment & Forests, Botanical Survey India, Zoological Survey of India, National
Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Wildlife Institute of India, Forest Research Institute, G.B.Pant Institute of Himalayan
Environment and Development, C.S.I.R. Complex, Palampur, Defence Research and Development Laboratories at Leh, àlmora
and Jorhat, State àgricultural Universities- G.B.Pant University of àgriculture and Technology (campus Rani Chouri), Shere
Kashmir àgricultural University, Srinagar, Jammu University. Garhwal University, NEH University, H.P.K.V. Palampur, VPKàS,
àlmora and NEH Complex and their centers, etc. In addition, the nurseries of the State Forest Department could also be
interlinked. The contact with the NGO's, the local leaders and Institutions shall be of great use. Such linkages may be used for
collecting information on biodiversity including the extinct and endangered plants as well as sites for their conservation