Browsing by Author "Dhyani, Shalini"

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    Cultural value and vegetation structure of Buxus wallichiana Bail. in Rajouri-Poonch region of Indian Himalayan region (VSI: Mountainous regions)
    (Elsevier B.V., 2022) Wani, Zishan Ahmad; Islam, Tajamul; Satish, K.V.; Ahmad, Khurshid; Dhyani, Shalini; Pant, Shreekar
    Buxus wallichiana is an economically valuable tree species of Indian Himalayan Region. Considering its economic importance and income generation potential in the Rajouri-Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir, present study was carried out to assess its economic value and cultural contribution through quantitative ethnobotanical approaches. Further, the study aims to examine the existing population status and regeneration patterns of B. wallichiana in natural forests of the region. Based on the socio-ecological surveys in the region, it was observed that a variety of handicraft articles like combs, pen stands, hangers, toys, and decorative items are made from the wood of B. wallichiana and are being sold in the local markets. It sustains whole cottage industry in Rajouri-Poonch region and the livelihood of the locals depends on this valuable tree species. It generates a good annual income for the people indulged in handicraft or wood carving industry. Based on its phytosociology, it was found that in natural forest areas of the region, B. wallichiana was mostly found associated with 8 other tree species viz. Pinus roxburghii, Toona ciliata, Quercus leucotrichophora, Acer oblongum, Acer cappadocicum, Pyrus pashia, Syzygium cumini and Aesculus indica. Average importance value and average basal area of B. wallichiana was found highest in Syzygium cumini - Pyrus pashia � Quercus leucotrichophora community. Density of B. wallichiana ranges from 200 to 500 Ind/ha which was lesser than the density of its seedlings and saplings. Density of B. wallichiana trees, saplings and seedlings was much lower than the density of its associated species. Present study reveals that B. wallichiana is threatened with clear evidence of reduced regeneration due to huge anthropogenic pressure on its wild populations stressing on the need of immediate conservation measures to be taken not only in Jammu and Kashmir but throughout the Indian Himalayan Region. � 2021
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    Endorsing city biodiversity index (CBI): Assessing ecosystem health in urban sprawls and eco-DRR-inclusive urban planning
    (Springer Nature, 2022) Das, Chandan; Shukla, Jayshree; Dhyani, Shalini
    In order to understand the complexities and trends that influence a city's biodiversity health and ecosystem services, a holistic assessment is an essential tool to capture its growth trajectory towards sustainability. The City Biodiversity Index (CBI) is one such tool that allows the evaluation of city-specific sustainable governance, local biodiversity management and their socio-ecological characteristics through an indicator-based monitoring system. In this chapter, we discuss the application of the CBI in order to address the population surge and booming industrialization within the smart city of Faridabad. Rapid decline in urban blue and green spaces was observed during the study which calls for immediate action and proper management plan by the local bodies. CBI can also act as a tool for impact assessment of various policies and ventures by the stakeholders along with providing a common ground for strategical exchange amongst cities with similar social and ecological characteristics and urban concerns. Further, suggestions and recommendations are made such as implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) techniques for new policies to be formulated by policymakers and stakeholders and to address the limitations of the CBI as observed during study for better biodiversity conservation in the city. � The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022.
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    Habitat suitability modelling of Buxus wallichiana Bail.: an endemic tree species of Himalaya
    (Springer, 2023) Wani, Zishan Ahmad; Satish, K.V.; Islam, Tajamul; Dhyani, Shalini; Pant, Shreekar
    Buxus wallichiana, an economically important endemic tree species of Himalaya is facing a serious survival threat from overexploitation and anthropogenic habitat destruction. Habitat suitability was mapped in order to predict the most potential areas for habitat conservation and species reintroduction in Northwestern and western Himalaya using Maximum Entropy Modeling. Habitat suitability modeling predicted Rajouri-Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir and temperate forests of Uttarakhand as the most suitable habitats for B. wallichiana. Only 0.4% (2765 km2) of the total area of Northwest and Western Himalaya was predicted to be highly suitable for B. wallichiana. The findings of the present study recommend an urgent need to develop a long term conservation and management plan for B. wallichiana, a neglected endemic plant species of Himalaya. � 2022, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Plant Research.
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    India's renewable energy research and policies to phase down coal: Success after Paris agreement and possibilities post-Glasgow Climate Pact
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Singh, Kripal; Meena, Ram Swaroop; Kumar, Sandeep; Dhyani, Shalini; Sheoran, Seema; Singh, Har Mohan; Pathak, Vinayak V.; Khalid, Zaira; Singh, Anita; Chopra, Kapil; Bajar, Somvir; Ansari, Faiz Ahmad; Gupta, Sanjay Kumar; Varjani, Sunita; Kothari, Richa; Tyagi, Vineet Veer; Singh, Bhaskar; Byun, Chaeho
    In Paris Climate Agreement (COP 21) in December 2015, India committed to cut its carbon (C) emissions by 30�35% of its GDP (gross domestic product) and attain 40% of installed energy from renewables by 2030. In the Glasgow Climate Pact (COP 26), an agreement developed at COP26 of UNFCCC in November 2021, India committed to enhancing its renewable energy (RE) capacity to 500 GW and installing 50% of its power from renewable resources by 2030. It is projected that this will help India to reduce its C emissions by 1Bt, reduce emission intensity to the economy by 45% by 2030, and meet the goal of C neutral economy by 2070. Realization of these highly ambitious commitments made at COP26 can be determined by the nation's growth in REs after COP21. Therefore, this article reviews the overall development of renewable energies � solar, wind, biomass, hydrogen, and hydro � in India after COP21 by the end of December 2021. This review provides detailed information on various policies and roadmaps for each energy sector commitments. It identifies major technical and social challenges associated with the sustainability of these sectors. This review offers insights into how realistically ambitious plans India has for �phasing down� the use of coal by 2050 and being a carbon-neutral economy by 2070. India achieved massive success through solar energy after COP21 and 80% of future investments are for solar energy. Comparatively, there has been the least investment in other REs such as bioenergy, water, and wind. � 2023 Elsevier Ltd
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    Microalgae from wastewaters to wastelands: Leveraging microalgal research conducive to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Singh, Kripal; Ansari, Faiz Ahmad; Ingle, Kapilkumar Nivrutti; Gupta, Sanjay Kumar; Ahirwal, Jitendra; Dhyani, Shalini; Singh, Shraddha; Abhilash, P.C.; Rawat, Ismael; Byun, Chaeho; Bux, Faizal
    The scientific evidence on applications of microalgae in bioremediation of wastewaters, increasing agricultural productivity, and biomass production strengthens their potential in supporting global socio-economic and environmental sustainability. Microalgae can consume organic compounds and pollutants present in domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastewater. This leads to biomass production in wastewater and water being relatively safe to be disposed of into water bodies and safeguard life in water. The extensive diversity of microalgae, encompassing a distinct array of physiological, reproductive, and functional traits, along with their remarkable efficiency in wastewater treatment, positions this group of organisms as exceptionally superior to other organisms. Molecular and biotechnological approaches have provided promising tools for improving the biomass production of microalgae from wastewater. Recent technological innovations have facilitated harvesting algal biomass from wastewater treatment plants for developing a range of bioproducts like bioenergy, biofertilizer and other various high value biochemicals. Microalgal communities and their biomass produced from wastewater are investigated for the restoration of degraded lands. The potential use of diverse microalgal species and their biomass from wastewater for restoration of degraded lands such as salt-affected lands, drought ridden arid areas, fly ash contaminated lands, and metal-polluted mine spoils is discussed. Moreover, this review elaborates on how use of microalgae from wastewater to wastelands can contribute to various sustainable development goals (SDGs). It is found that extending microalgae research and use from wastewater to wastelands can support achieving all SDGs by directly contributing to 10 goals. � 2023