NICHE MODELLING- AN APPROACH TO PREDICT …

1 , (3)2017:437-446 ISSN2229 6441437 NICHE MODELLING- AN APPROACH TO PREDICT HABITATS FORCONSERVATIONOFHIPPOPHAESPECIES IN TRANS AND NORTHWESTERN INDIAN HIMALAYAM anohar Lal&*Samant, Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development,Himachal Unit, Mohal-Kullu-175 126, Himachal Pradesh*Corresponding author email: great potential for greening thecold desert areaandchanging socio-economic status of the tribal communities. In spite of the high potential of these species, identification ofsuitable habitats and area forin-situconservation ofHippophaespecies have not been done.

2 Therefore, present attempt hasbeen made to PREDICT areas highly suitable for thein-situconservation in Himachal Pradesh. Total 191 primary distributionpoint data and various environmental and physiographic parameters have been utilized for the prediction of geographicaldistribution of these species. The distribution models were quite accurate withareaunder curve> forH. The most important factor, which determinedthe distribution of the potential habitatsof these species, was precipitation of coldest, warmest quarter and driest period.

3 The Maxentmodel depicted that potentialhabitat ofH. in the semi arid region, andH. salicifoliain the semi arid and temperateregionsof the Himachal Pradesh. The nichespecificityof species has been argued to be one of the reasons of its limiteddistribution. The habitat models also revealed restricted availability of potential habitats for the 531 km2issuitable for re-introductionofH. 915 km2forH. on the study, it isrecommended that the species should be re-introduced for conservation in the predicted suitable habitats.

4 Participation ofthe Tribal Communities and Forest Department may be ensured for the conservation of :Hippophae ,Hippophae salicifolia,Cold Desert, Habitat, Indian , habitat fragmentation, over-exploitation, and escalating human population are the mostimportant factors, responsible for approximately one fifthof the plant species of globe to the brink of extinction(Brummitt & Bachman,2010; Barnoskyet al.,2011;Obaid,2004). The loss of biological diversity in theworld s forests has experienced a colossal depletion in therecent past.

5 The International Union for Conservation ofNature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has estimated about10% of the vascular plants are varying degree of threatsand nearly 25% of the floral species in the world maybecome extinct within the next 50 years (Schemskeet al.,1994). In the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), overexploitation and habitat degradation are among the majorfactors leading to species vulnerability (Samantet al.,1998, 2007; Rana & Samant 2010;Vedet al.,2003).GenusHippophae(family Elaeagnaceae) represents 7species and 8 sub-species worldwide (Swenson &Bartish2002).

6 All these species are native to Eurasia andcommonly known as Seabuckthorn . In India, threespecies namely,Hippophae rhamnoidesL. ,H. salicifoliaD. Don andH. tibetanaSchlecht. are found in the Himalayan Region. All the threespecies ofHippophaeare mostly found in Lahaul and Spitidistrict of Himachal Pradesh. However,H. is recorded in Kinnaur, Chamba, Kangra, Shimla andKullu districts between 2,000 and 3,500 m amsl. It islocally called Chharma, Sutz, Tirkug, Chasterlulu andSarla in Himachal Pradesh; Tsemarang and Chasterlulu inLadakh; Tare andTarooboin north-east region and Amesand Chuk in Uttarakhand (Samant & Dhar,1997; Pangteyet al.)

7 ,1989; Samantet al.,1996, 2001; Satyaletal.,2002;Singhet al.,2006;Dhyaniet al.,2007). Species arediocious or occasionally monocious, spinaceous andarboresent shrub varying in height from 20 cm to8am. Itcan withstand wide range of temperatures from-43 to40 C. This unique feature enables the species to adapt verywell in harsh climatic conditions. Its ecological,agricultural, nutritional, medicinal, food, fuel, fodder andtimber values are well known and fruits are most valuablebeing a rich source of vitamins (Singhet al.

8 ,1991;Chauhanet al.,2001;Singhet al.,2003;Singhet al.,2006;Singhet al.,2008). In national and internationalmarkets, products prepared by processing the fruits arehighly demanded. China planted seabuckthorn over5,00,000 ha area to meet the demand ofit raw material(Singhet al.,2010). However, in India, most of the supplyof raw material is mainly done by harvesting the wildpopulations, which are sparse. Due to over-exploitation,habitat degradation and lack of plantation, these specieshave become threatened in some Indian Himalayan stateslike Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir (Vedetal.

9 ,2003). Besides their economic value, their wideecological adaptation, rapid growth and easy suckeringhabit have offered them as a promising species forConservationofHippophaespecies438comb ating desertification and rehabilitating degraded areas(Singhet al.,2012).Realizing the importance of seabuckthorn for ecological,social and economical development, a number of scientificstudies have been undertaken in India (Pangteyet al.,1989;Anonymous 1997;Samant & Dhar 1997; Singhetal.,1997;Chauhanet al.

10 ,2001; Royet al.,2001; Singhetal.,2003; Singhet al.,2006;Dhyani,et al.,2007; Singh2007;Butola & Badola 2008;Singhet al.,2008;Dhyanietal.,2010;Singhet al.,2010; Stobdanet al.,2008; Samantet al.,2007, 2010) and abroad (Rousi,1971; Ma,1989;Rong-Sen,1990, 1992; Li 1999;Zeb,2004).For restoration of the depleted species populations anddegraded habitats and ecosystems, species re-introductionis oneof the successful ecological engineering techniques(Leaperet al.,1999; Kuzovkina & Volk 2009; Renet ; Zaiet al.,2009; Rodriguez-Salinaset al.