Vishal Kumar Prasad
Other projects
27 Sep 2021
Conservation of Amphibians in Human Dominated Mountain Landscape in Nainital, Uttarakhand, Indian Himalayas through Citizen Science and Education
This conservation project aims to conduct comprehensive research in the mountainous regions of the Western Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India. The primary objectives include obtaining baseline information on the occurrence and distribution of high-altitude amphibians across various elevation gradients, projecting suitable habitat contractions and shifts using climatic modelling, assessing amphibian diversity, identifying threats, and formulating a Conservation Action Plan (CAP) in collaboration with local stakeholders.
Vishal Kumar Prasad with a frog. © Vishal Kumar Prasad.
The urgency to address the plight of amphibians in the Himalayas is evident from the Global Amphibians Assessment 2022, which revealed that globally 41% of amphibians are threatened with extinction. The Himalayas, facing the emerging threat of climate change, habitat loss, and infectious diseases, experience a warming rate three times higher than the global average. Despite the ecological richness of Uttarakhand landscape, amphibians in this region remain largely unexplored and neglected in conservation plans. The lack of focused surveys has led to gaps in our understanding of species taxonomy, ecology, and behaviour, with many species lacking comprehensive information. High-altitude species are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and displacement due to climate change. Driven by our experience in the landscape, we designed this project to address these knowledge gaps and promote conservation efforts for amphibians in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Employing climatic modeling, bioacoustics, and DNA barcoding, we aim to assess the impact of climate change, map distribution ranges, and evaluate threats to endemic and threatened amphibians. Importantly, we aim to develop a comprehensive conservation strategy for the region to ensure the preservation of its unique biodiversity.
This project aims to contribute significantly to scientific knowledge and practical conservation efforts. Through systematic research and community engagement, we intend to generate comprehensive data on amphibian occurrence and distribution, project habitat shifts, assess threats, and develop a tailored CAP for threatened species. By engaging local communities and raising awareness, we aim to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility toward amphibian conservation. Through outreach activities, we aim to disseminate our findings widely and inspire collective action for amphibian conservation in the Himalayas.
Through this multifaceted approach, our project aspires to not only advance scientific understanding but also actively contribute to the preservation of threatened amphibians in the Western Himalayas while fostering collaboration and shared responsibility within local communities and the broader conservation community.
Header: ©Vishal Kumar Prasad.