TAWANG, Oct 9: The need to protect fragile Himalayan ecosystems and preserve their capacity to store carbon was highlighted at a workshop on Indian Himalayan peatlands organised by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Tawang on Friday.
The workshop, titled “Indian Himalayan Peatlands: Conserving Nature’s Carbon Stores for a Safer Planet”, was organised in collaboration with the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the IIM Shillong Satellite Centre in Tawang.
The programme brought together officials and experts to discuss the ecological importance of peatlands, their role in climate change mitigation and the need for scientific interventions to ensure their long-term conservation.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Rinchin Leta attended the workshop as the chief guest. Tawang Divisional Forest Officer Piyush Gaikwad and ITBP Deputy Commandant Biswajit Mandal were present as guests of honour.
Dr Jasmine P, Scientist-E and principal investigator of the project at ZSI headquarters, delivered the welcome address, outlining the objectives of the workshop. A pamphlet on Indian Himalayan peatland conservation was also released during the inaugural session.
Technical sessions explored peatland biodiversity, ecological functions, microbial communities and bryophytes, besides measures for protecting and managing these ecosystems. Resource persons highlighted the importance of understanding peatland ecology through research and monitoring to address environmental threats.
Peatlands store substantial amounts of carbon and provide habitats for specialised plant and microbial communities. Their protection is therefore important for climate regulation, biodiversity conservation and ecological stability, particularly in the environmentally sensitive Himalayan region. The workshop also featured interactive discussions and participant feedback, followed by a summary of the proceedings and distribution of certificates.
The programme emphasised the importance of collaborative research, institutional coordination and community participation in safeguarding Himalayan peatlands against degradation and preserving their ecological value for future generations.