Research Highlights
Biodiversity
The division is involved in survey, collection, morphological characterization, and creation of databases of economically important plant species of western Himalaya. "himFlora", "himVanSankat" and "him-Padap-Sanklan" are some of the important ones. Frequently ethnobotanical surveys are carried out in different areas of H.P to identify plants used by the natives for various purposes. Surveys are also conducted to study the Landscape element types of western Himalaya. At present, it is coordinating development of a database on more than 1800 medicinal plants of Indian Himalayan Region in a network mode with three R&D organizations in Himalayan region.
A digitized administrative map of Himachal Pradesh was integrated with plant genetic resource database in GIS environment so that the queries generated in the database could be presented in from of "Distribution maps". Also using the GIS facility the Institute has developed a land use / cover map of Kangra and Kinnaur districts, Solang Nala and Bhaba valley in Himachal. Besides it, mapping of bamboos in three districts of Himachal and apple orchards in Spiti area has been completed. Currently, in collaboration with Space Applications Centre of ISRO, Ahmedabad, work is ongoing to create spectral library of important tree and shrub species of Himalayan region.
Institute has a herbarium with collection of 12,500 specimens of more than 1200 plant species. Institute has added six new records to the Flora of Himachal Pradesh. IHBT herbarium houses voucher specimens mainly from the western Himalayan region. Two monospecific genera viz., Houttuynia (family-Saururaceae) and Hippuris (family-Hippuridaceae) were also included in the herbarium.
There are about 50 rare plants growing in the herbal garden of the Institute. Of these, cultural practices are being developed for 8 species, while package of crop-husbandry practices has been standardized for 7 species of therapeutic importance viz., Valeriana jatamansi, Hedychium spicatum, Curcuma aromatica, Dioscorea bulbifera, Crataegus oxyacantha, Silybum marianum, and Costus speciosus. Demonstrations on production of large cardamom in farmers' fields have also been established to promote its cultivation in Himachal.
Institute of
Himalayan Bioresource Technology,Post Box No. 6 Palampur (H.P.) 176061 INDIA Tel:
+91-1894-230742-43 Fax: +91-1894-230433
E-mail:director@ihbt.res.in