Tracing the green footprints: a bibliometric analysis of biodiversity conservation in the Himalayas

ABSTRACT

Mountains cover 24% of the land surface area and are home to 12% of the population of the world. The mountains within the Indian Himalayan region account for 16.2% (500, 000 km²) of India’s total land area and while there is an age-old tradition of biodiversity conservation in this region, the area is under stress due to human population growth and climate change. Therefore, this region requires conservation management activities, however, our study has shown a substantial decrease in publications in this area between 2004 and 2019. In this study, we completed a bibliometric analysis to explore biodiversity protection in the Himalayas. The analysis revealed valuable information regarding current research trends as well as research gaps. This study uses bibliometric analysis to examine the changing landscape of biodiversity protection in the Himalayas. The study analysed 425 journal papers published from 2004 to 2023. This article contributes to understanding studies on Himalayan management challenges, including endangered species conservation, environmental protection, ecosystem dynamics, and conservation management. We hope this paper inspires scientists to complete research in the areas lacking data such that a baseline can be established and policies can be developed to support biodiversity conservation in the Indian Himalayas.

KEYWORDS:

• Biodiversity conservation
• bibliometric analysis
• biological diversity
• Himalayas
• conservation efforts
• ecosystem preservation
• environmental studies
• collaborative networks

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Deepti Semwal

Deepti Semwal is presently working as a research scholar in the Department of Geography, School of Earth Sciences. H.N.B. Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Uttarakhand. She is also working on various aspects in the field of biogeography, biodiversity conservation, biological resources and global environment change. She completed an MA in geography from H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, in 2016. She is also working as a volunteer in the NGO Dalyo ka Dagdiya in Srinagar Garhwal. She has published a book chapter on biological resources. She has presented her research work at various conferences, national and international, held by UCOST Dehradun, etc. at different university levels in India.

P. D. Singh

P. D. Singh is presently working as an assistant professor in the Department of Economics, Graphic Era Hill University Haldwani Uttarakhand. He earned a PhD from H.N.B. Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal, in 2017 and completed a PG programme in data science and business analytics from the University of Texas, USA in 2022. He has published 27 research papers and book chapters in national and international journals, and has presented papers at various national and international seminars and conferences. He was awarded a Discipline Star by IIT Madras and NPTEL. He has over eight years’ teaching and research experience, working with various government and private universities. He also worked on a project sponsored by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

Mohan Singh Panwar

Mohan Singh Panwar is presently designated as Sr. Professor of the Department of Geography in the School of Earth Sciences, H.N.B. Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand. He is a Gold Medallist of H.N.B. Garhwal University, which he joined as a lecturer in 1991. He was awarded the national Indira Priyadarshini Vrikcha Mitra Puraskar by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India, in 1987 and the Young Geographer Award by the International Geographical Union (IGU) in Hauge, Netherlands. He has served as Registrar of Sri Dev Suman State University, Uttarakhand, 2021–2022. He has presented papers at many national and international conferences and participated in more than 50 conferences and seminars. He has authored/co-authored six books and published 75 research papers/chapters in various national/international journals and books. He has supervised 27 research scholars, and at present four research scholars are registered under his supervision. He is the Programme Director of an internationally recognized NGO, viz. Daaliyon ka Dagadiya (Friends of Trees), which was established during the revolution of the Chipko Movement led by the Late Gaura Devi. He has made various international visits to the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Canada, Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc.