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Dinesh R. BHUJU Chief, Faculty of Science Nepal Academy of Science & Technology

Dinesh R. BHUJU Chief, Faculty of Science Nepal Academy of Science & Technology. SPECIES RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN HIGH ALTITUDES initiative of a national organization in the Himalayan discourse. _____________________________________________________. Nepal Academy of

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Dinesh R. BHUJU Chief, Faculty of Science Nepal Academy of Science & Technology

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  1. Dinesh R. BHUJU Chief, Faculty of Science Nepal Academy of Science & Technology SPECIES RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN HIGH ALTITUDES initiative of a national organization in the Himalayan discourse _____________________________________________________

  2. Nepal Academy of Science & Technology Advancing science and technology for all-round national development • Establishment 1982 • Autonomous & Statutory • Role envisaged: • Think Tank • Innovator • Catalyst • Facilitator

  3. MOU between NAST & EvK2CNR in 1988 • Pyramid Lab. built in 1990 • Features: Glass & Aluminium, 3-storied, Ht 8.4m, Alt. 5,050m asl The Initiation PYRAMID LABORATORY

  4. Research Areas: i. Environment, ii. Biodiversity, iii. Earth Sc, iv. Medicine & Human Physiology, and v. Clean Technology • Missions conducted >500 involving143 scientific institutions from several nations. The Activities PYRAMID LABORATORY

  5. Anthropogenic Activities • Biodiversity Knowledge • Climate Change Impact NAST’s Initiatives RESEARCH IN HIGH ALTITUDES

  6. Climate Change Studies MAJOR AREAS • Baseline Inventories • 1) Agrobiodiversity • 2) Mushroom diversity • 3) Herbaceous vegetation • Dendro-climatological Studies • 1) Reconstruction of env. history • 2) Relationship between temp. & vegetation shift

  7. Baseline Inventories AGRO-BIODIVERSITY • Study Area • Namche, Khumjung, Phortse, Dole, Luza, Fanga, Machermo, Gokyo, Tengboche, Debuche, Pangboche, Dingboche, Pheriche, Jorsalle, Monju and Phakdin (16 settlements) • Methodology • Questionnaire survey, sample collection & analysis

  8. Baseline Inventories AGRO-BIODIVERSITY • Major Findings • Upper Limits (m asl) • Staple crops: Barley 4,350; Buckwheat 3,930 • Vegetables: Coriander 4,480, Radish/Turnip/Onion/Peas 4,359 • Cauliflower, Carrot 3,930 • Potatoes 4,700 (Tarnak) • Ref. D Bhuju, A Giri, P Rana 2007

  9. Baseline InventoriesMUSHROOM BIODIVERSITY • Study Area: SNP • Methodology Field visit, Collection & analysis • Major Findings • Richness 150 spp. • Used locally 29 spp. • Highest 3,500-4,000m asl • Ref. A Giri, P Rana 2006

  10. Baseline InventoriesHERBACEOUS DIVERSITY • Study Area • Imja Valley 3,400-4,650m asl • Methodology • Sampling, Collection, Analysis • Major Findings • Richness 180 spp, Location recorded, 32 spp in higher range than previously reported • Ref. E Paudel, D Bhuju, K Shrestha 2007

  11. Climatic Impact DENDRO-CLIMATOLOGICAL STUDY • Objective • Understand the impact of climate change on the distribution of forest vegetation in the Himalaya • Methodology • 1. Set-up permanent plots • 2. Tree inventory • 3. Tree core collection & analysis • Site • Tree-line

  12. Climatic Impact DENDROCHRONOLOGY • Trees are nature’s ultimate environmental monitoring stations, make annual rings • Dendrochronology, Method of scientific dating based on the analysis of tree-ring growth patterns • Tree rings are called proxy-climate indicators

  13. Dendro-climatological Study PERMANENT PLOTS Pangboche, 4,050m asl Deboche, Alt. 3,850m

  14. MEAN DBH BA (cm2/ha) MAX DBH DENSITY (n/ha) SPECIES SPECIES Panboche Debuche Panboche Panboche Debuche Debuche Panboche Debuche Abies spectabilis 79059.2 68228.8 120 359 Abies spectabilis 24.9 8.5 68 99 Betula utilis 27831.9 84990.3 204 149 Betula utilis 11.6 24.0 40 63 Sorbus microphylla 4785.0 15030.5 117 279 TOTAL 111862.1 186107.6 445 1034 Sorbus microphylla 5.7 7.4 39 36 TOTAL 13.6 10.4 68 99 Dendro-climatological Study RESULT: FOREST STRUCTURE ____________________________________________________

  15. Dendro-climatological Study TREE CORE COLLECTION • Core Collection • Abies spectabilis • Juniperus recurva • Betula utilis • Total About 300 from various sites • Preservation, Mounting & Sanding

  16. Dendro-climatological Study TREE CORE ANALYSIS • Bell shaped, poor regeneration in recent years • Inverse J, accelerating recruitments in recent years • Average age: • Panboche 64 yrs; Debuche 64 yrs • Max. age: • Panboche 147 yrs; Debuche 207 yrs

  17. Climatic Impact DENDRO-LAB • Lab Facility: • 1. Lin-Tab digital positioning table for tree-ring analysis2. Leica S4E stereo microscope • 3. LintabTm swing arm stand • 4. TSAP-Win Prof. software

  18. Climatic Impact DENDRO-TRAINING WORKSHOP Date: 15-22 Jan 2008 Total Participants: 18 Resource Persons: Univ. of Padova

  19. Climatic Impact DENDRO-CLIMATOLOGICAL STUDIES • Langtang National Park • NP Gaire, YB Dhakal, H Lekhak 2008; TU • Abies spectabilis; Core: 210 • Manaslu Conservation Area • M Suwal 2009 UIB-TU; Gaire & Bhuju 2010 • Abies spectabilis; Core: 148+ • Manang (trans-Himalaya) • KB Shrestha 2009; UIB, Norway • Pinus roxburghii; Core: 133 • Mustang (trans-Himalaya) • E Udas; UG; Germany • Abies spectabilis; Core: 109 • Kathmandu Valley • NP Gaire & DR Bhuju, NAST • Pinus roxburghii; Core 65

  20. Climatic Impact RESULTS: MANASLU There was new recruitments of seedlings and saplings in tree-line ecotone. The species limit has advanced from 3,673m asl in 1958 to 3,841m asl in 2007 with a total of 168 m upslope shift at the average rate of 34.29 m per decade. The seedlings below tree-line have comparatively faster growth. ______________________________ Ref. M. Suwal 2010

  21. Climatic Impact RESULTS: MANASLU Preliminary result: upward migration of Abiesspectabilis by >1m/yr Ref. Gaire & Bhuju 2010

  22. Climatic Impact RESULTS: LANGTANG • There was significant -ve correlation between the tree growth & mean monthly min. temp. of Mar & Apr of the current year, Oct of the previous year, and mean of Mar-May temp. of the current year. • Though statistically insignificant, there was +ve correlation between ring width and mean monthly precipitation of the most of the months of current year and -ve correlation with previous year’ precipitation. • ________________ • Ref. NP Gaire 2008

  23. Climatic Impact RESULTS: MUSTANG The positive response of temperature (previous Nov, current Feb-Mar-May) during the early and mid 20th century was either both discontinuous and showed no correlation with tree growth at later period (Feb-Mar) or it turned to be negatively associated with growth (previous Nov and current May). This recent change in sensitivity of tree growth and temperature variability was unclear. ____________________ Ref. E Udas 2010

  24. Climatic Impact WHAT NEXT • Extend the study area • Strengthen the Dendro-Lab • International collaboration

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