Abstract ID: 3.9859 | Rejected | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Indigenous agriculture techniques have a significant impact on pollinator ecology, especially in biodiverse and environmentally sensitive area such as the Mandakini catchment in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. Mandakini catchment in the Garhwal Himalaya is located near the western most point of the Central Himalaya. The Mandakini catchment in the Garhwal Himalaya is situated close to the Central Himalaya’s westernmost tip. Located close to the Kedarnath temple, the Mandakini is a sacred river in Uttarakhand with worldwide religious importance. The effects of forest fires on pollinator populations, pollinator diversity, and traditional farming techniques are all examined in this study. We evaluate the species richness of pollinators in both typical farmlands and wooded landscapes using a multidisciplinary approach. We use DNA barcoding to precisely identify species, monitor genetic alterations and establishing their phylogenetic relationships. In contrast to contemporary monoculture farming, our results show that indigenous agricultural practices which prioritize crop diversification, low pesticide usage, and organic methods produce a greater number and diversity of pollinators. DNA barcoding is used to identify a variety of native bee species, butterflies, and other significant pollinators, some of which are not well documented in the region. The study also examines the impact of regular forest fires, which are a growing environmental problem in Uttarakhand, Himalaya, on pollinator populations. The findings indicate that while generalist pollinators exhibit resilience and the capacity to recolonize over time, pollinator diversity significantly decreases in post-fire settings, especially among specialist species. Furthermore, our study emphasizes the importance of forest patches close to agricultural areas in supporting pollinator communities, highlighting the necessity of conservation plans that combine conventional ecological knowledge with contemporary methods for assessing biodiversity. Developing sustainable land management plans in the Himalayas requires an understanding of how pollinators respond ecologically to environmental disturbances such as forest fires and agricultural activities. Finally, the study provides important information for creating climate-resilient farming systems that put pollinator conservation first, guaranteeing the long-term viability of regional agriculture as well as the larger ecological networks in the Himalayan region.