Dancing on the Roof of the World: Ecological Transformation of the Himalayan Landscape

Pandit, Maharaj K.; Kumar, Manoj; Koh, Lian Pin

doi:10.1093/biosci/biu152

Cited by 111 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…For instance, conversion of 39 % of alpine meadows into shrublands in the Tibetan plateau in \20-year period (1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)) has been reported (Brandt et al 2013). These distributional changes concomitant with shuffling of species composition have been observed to result in localized or widespread extinction of endemic species in the Himalaya (Pandit et al 2014a). Clearly, the elevated temperature profile of the Himalaya has induced a higher degree of floral flux than would be expected under an unaltered climate regime.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Despite growing interest in studying impacts of climate change in global biodiversity hot spots, there is inadequate scientific information available for the Himalaya (but see Shrestha et al 2012;Telwala et al 2013). As such more studies on biological responses of climate change are needed in the Himalaya than elsewhere because of its unique evolutionary history and vast diversity of its ecosystems (Pandit et al 2014a). Also, being located in tropical latitudes, the Himalaya are exposed to relatively higher temperatures compared to other mountain systems of the world.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling the impacts of future climate change on plant communities in the Himalaya: a case study from Eastern Himalaya, India

Kumar

Telwala

Nautiyal

et al. 2016

Model. Earth Syst. Environ.

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That the Himalaya are warming at much higher rates than the global average is known. Here, we assess the future potential distribution of major plant communities in Sikkim Himalaya due to climate change using field observations and maximum entropy modelling approach. We collected data on presence and elevational distribution ranges of 584 endemic angiosperm species during field surveys at 121 sampling locations using 625 study plots and along an elevational gradient of 300-5,300 m. This field data was supplemented by already published records. Endemic species were classified into different growth forms, viz. trees, climbers, shrubs, and herbs. A total of 37,376 different species distribution models (SDMs) were built using climate projections available from 8 different general circulation models and 4 representative concentration pathways. SDMs were built for current climate (average climate for respectively. Weak and insignificant values of phylogenetic signal among the growth forms indicated that climate-induced impacts were spread across the phylogenies. We report significant increase in the habitable areas of shrubs and their northward expansion, gradually replacing the herbaceous communities. This change can alter the structure and function of the Himalayan highland ecosystems besides depleting bioresource base and endangering the local livelihoods.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the impacts of future climate change on plant communities in the Himalaya: a case study from Eastern Himalaya, India

Kumar

Telwala

Nautiyal

et al. 2016

Model. Earth Syst. Environ.

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“…Since the 1980s, demand for timber and fuelwood increased, resulting in forest loss and degradation (Pandit et al. ). Even though forest protection is a primary conservation target across Himalayan countries, forest loss has continued (Brandt et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of ecotourism on forest loss in the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot based on counterfactual analyses

Brandt

Radeloff

Allendorf

et al. 2019

Conservation Biology

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Ecotourism is developing rapidly in biodiversity hotspots worldwide, but there is limited and mixed empirical evidence that ecotourism achieves positive biodiversity outcomes. We assessed whether ecotourism influenced forest loss rates and trajectories from 2000 to 2017 in Himalayan temperate forests. We compared forest loss in 15 ecotourism hubs with nonecotourism areas in 4 Himalayan countries. We used matching statistics to control for local‐level determinants of forest loss, for example, population density, market access, and topography. None of the ecotourism hubs was free of forest loss, and we found limited evidence that forest‐loss trajectories in ecotourism hubs were different from those in nonecotourism areas. In Nepal and Bhutan, differences in forest loss rates between ecotourism hubs and matched nonecotourism areas did not differ significantly, and the magnitude of the estimated effect was small. In India, where overall forest loss rates were the lowest of any country in our analysis, forest loss rates were higher in ecotourism hubs than in matched nonecotourism areas. In contrast, in China, where overall forest loss rates were highest, forest loss rates were lower in ecotourism hubs than where there was no ecotourism. Our results suggest that the success of ecotourism as a forest conservation strategy, as it is currently practiced in the Himalaya, is context dependent. In a region with high deforestation pressures, ecotourism may be a relatively environmentally friendly form of economic development relative to other development strategies. However, ecotourism may stimulate forest loss in regions where deforestation rates are low.

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“…Four of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots and numerous ecoregions with signifi cant conservation value are located in the Greater Himalayan region Pandit et al 2014 ). Sandwiched between the two mega-diverse countries India and China, the eastern Himalaya alone harbours more than 7000 plant species, 175 mammal species and more than 500 bird species, many of them endemic species with restricted distribution (Chettri et al 2008 ).…”

Section: Climate Change and Vegetation Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sandwiched between the two mega-diverse countries India and China, the eastern Himalaya alone harbours more than 7000 plant species, 175 mammal species and more than 500 bird species, many of them endemic species with restricted distribution (Chettri et al 2008 ). The total number of vascular plants in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is estimated to range between 8000 and 10,600, with a proportion of endemic plants increasing from 30 % in the W Himalaya to 40 % in the E Himalaya (Pandit and Kumar 2013 ;Pandit et al 2014 ). Species with spatially restricted populations will be affected in particular by large magnitudes of climate change, fragmenting populations and reduced vigour and viability of species.…”

Section: Climate Change and Vegetation Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change and Dynamics of Glaciers and Vegetation in the Himalaya: An Overview

Schickhoff

Singh

Mal

2016

Climate Change, Glacier Response, and Vegetation Dynamics in the Himalaya

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Mountains are globally signifi cant as 'water towers' of the Earth, as core areas of biodiversity and as source regions for important natural resources and ecosystem services. The ecological integrity of mountain environments is increasingly threatened by global environmental changes including climate change to which physical and ecological systems in mountains are highly vulnerable. Global warming rates have been higher in mountain regions compared to the global mean and have strongly affected the cryosphere, mountain biota and ecosystem processes.Temperature trends in most Himalayan regions substantially exceed the global mean trend of 0.85 °C between 1880 and 2012, with winter season temperature trends being generally higher than those of other seasons. Precipitation patterns are spatio-temporally differentiated, but show rather decreasing than increasing trends, in particular during summer. On average, glacier mass budgets have been negative for the past fi ve decades, with glaciers in the Himalaya and in the Hindu Kush showing distinct mass losses, while those in the Karakoram are close to balance. Shrinking rates are regionally variable, but often accelerating, corresponding approximately to a W-E gradient of increasing glacier retreat. Biotic responses to current climate change include elevational range shifts of species, intense recruitment of tree species in treeline ecotones and shifts in phenology, resulting in modifi ed structure, composition and functioning of Himalayan ecosystems.

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Dancing on the Roof of the World: Ecological Transformation of the Himalayan Landscape

Cited by 111 publications

References 54 publications

Modelling the impacts of future climate change on plant communities in the Himalaya: a case study from Eastern Himalaya, India

Modelling the impacts of future climate change on plant communities in the Himalaya: a case study from Eastern Himalaya, India

Effects of ecotourism on forest loss in the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot based on counterfactual analyses

Climate Change and Dynamics of Glaciers and Vegetation in the Himalaya: An Overview

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