Preliminary assessment and conservation of insect pollinators through community participation in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India

Pollination contributes an enormous economic value to the reproduction of the flowering plants, in the wild and the managed ecosystems of the world. Biotic pollination, particularly from insects is vital to sexual reproduction and genetic diversity of cultivated and wild plants. Disorder in the pollination system and the decline of pollinators are identified as potential consequences of anthropogenic land use change. Land clearance, habitat fragmentation, changing agricultural practices, herbicides, pesticides and the introduction of non-native exotic plants and pollinator species have resulted in pollination crises. Considering the above facts, this study was conducted in the Indian Trans-Himalayan Region (THR). Major Insect pollinators taxa have been selected to identify the important contributors in the pollination services. Conservation awareness programmes, hands on training and knowledge publicity materials were used for sensitization of different stakeholders.