BACKGROUNDER The G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED), established in 1988 as an autonomous Institute of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Govt. of India, is mandated to: (i) Undertake in-depth research and development studies on environmental problems of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR); (ii) Identify and strengthen the local knowledge of the environment and contribute towards strengthening research of regional relevance in the scientific institutions, universities/ NGOs and voluntary agencies working in the Himalayan region, through interactive networking; and (iii) Evolve and demonstrate suitable technological packages and delivery systems for sustainable development of the region in harmony with local perceptions.
The Institute attempts to maintain a balance of intricate linkages between socio-cultural, ecological, economic and physical systems that could lead to sustainability in the IHR. To achieve this, the Institute follows a multidisciplinary and holistic approach in all its Research and Development (R&D) programmes with emphasis on interlinking natural and social sciences. In this effort special attention is placed on the preservation of fragile mountain ecosystems, indigenous knowledge systems and sustainable use of natural resources. A conscious effort is made to ensure participation of local inhabitants for long-term acceptance and success of various programmes. Therefore, training, education and awareness of a variety of stakeholders are the essential components of all the R&D programmes.
The R&D activities of the Institute, identified through stakeholders’ consultations, revolve around six thematic areas namely - Watershed Processes & Management; Biodiversity Conservation; Environmental Assessment & Management; Socio-economic Development; Biotechnological Applications; and Knowledge Products & Capacity Building. These activities are executed in a decentralized manner through its headquarters (Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand), and four regional units [i.e. Northeast Unit (Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh), Sikkim Unit (Pangthang, Sikkim), Garhwal Unit (Srinagar- Garhwal, Uttarakhand), and Himachal Unit (Mohal-Kullu, H.P.)] spread across the IHR.
Over the years, the Institute has taken significant strides in identifying problems, developing region specific approaches, demonstrating their efficacy in the field and disseminating the information to various stakeholders. Among others, the diverse problems thus addressed pertain to: watershed management, biodiversity conservation, environmental assessment, livelihood options, land restoration, and awareness and outreach on different issues of Himalayan environment and development. Towards making these problem solving approaches more acceptable, the Institute has also established demonstrations of best practices. All this has helped the Institute to generate, analyze and synthesize a large quantum of data-sets and their subsequent publication in national and international peer reviewed scientific journals of repute. Likewise the demonstration in representative sites all across IHR provides the required impetus to diverse range of stakeholders for replications and further up scaling.
The Institute’s R&D achievements have made an impact on the ground including various Government programmes and policies over the years.
