Work package 3.1 Lichen Workshop, Delhi
Members of Work Package 3.1 met at TERI University in Delhi last November to plan sampling of nitrogren threats to forest ecosystem services. The Himalayan forests of Bhutan, India and Nepal are greatly impacted by air pollution coming from the Ingo-Gangetic Plain. Lichens are being used as a target group for assessing the risk of air provisioning and cultural goods. Work Package 3.1 aims to explore how nitrogen air pollution affects both the lichens and the local communities that depend upon them as a harvestable non-timber forest product. The work package also has research activites planned for Sri Lanka.
The workshop in Delhi allowed further planning for co-ordinated sampling at siteds located across India, Nepal and Bhutan, as well as discussion on harmonising the taxonomic identification of lichens and agreeing field and laboratory protocols. The meeting included presentations from TERI PhD students on their research investigating the ecosystem services that the lichens prodvide. The workshop also visited India's National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) in Lucknow, and toured the NBRI's laboratory and herbarium facilities. Work Package 3.1 has been doing fantastic work in preparing for field work and is looking forward to finalising protocols at their next workshop from the 16th to the 24th of March 2020.
