Research

This is the oldest activity in GHNP. The Park has been organising annual animal census for large ungulates as an outcome of the Conservation of Biodiversity Project at GHNP in 1994-1999. Here, different methods such as line transect sampling and silent drive counting were employed by a multidisciplinary team of scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India and the Park management. This exercise was part of collection of base line data for a Long Time Ecological Monitoring (LTEM)

The Long Term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM) strategy prepared with the Wildlife Institute of India is very important aspect of Park biodiversity conservation. LTEM provides a basis to track fluctuations in population numbers and status of certain species and, thereby, evaluate the utility of the regimes adopted for conserving biodiversity. PA managers while appreciating the dynamic nature of ecosystems are expected to know: “How healthy are the ecosystems that the Park is charged with protecting?”

The ban on collection of Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFPs), livestock grazing and human impacts has greatly improved the general ecology of the area. Various studies and monitoring data collected has proved that abundance of many rare and Threatened species like Western Tragopan, Himalayan Monal and Himalayan Musk Deer is increasing significantly.

LTEM has identified 57 taxa have been selected for monitoring in 35 sites in three sub-watersheds viz., Tirthan, Sainj and Jiwa have been included for monitoring various taxa. Thirty-three plant species (10 trees, 10 shrubs and 13 herbs) are identified for monitoring on the basis of their economic importance, conservation significance and threats to survival of particular species. Out of the five reported species of pheasants, three pheasants – Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus), Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) and Koklass (Pucrasia macrolopha) – have been selected for monitoring the pheasants based on their encounter rates, and call counts. Thirty-one mammalian species are included in the monitoring programme. Their monitoring is being done by direct and indirect sightings, encounter rate, scanning, silent drive count, and line transect sampling. Methods for monitoring annelids and insects are also being devised.