STUDY OF RESEARCH TRENDS IN LAND AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN G.B. PANT INSTTITUTE OF HIMALAYAN ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

It has been found that in many research institutes, the research findings are not always published in journals. However, the details about such research projects are recorded in the annual reports of the institutions. Annual reports reflect the scientific contribution of an institute in various areas. It provides latest information about research and development of an organization. Studies on research contributions based on articles published in journals are common (Tapaswi and Maheswarappa, 1999; Dizon and Sadorra, 1995). However, studies on research contributions based on annual reports are not common. Recently, Bhatia et al., (2006) studied the research trends in the National Institute of Occupational Health based on annual reports for a period of 25 years from 1975 to 1999.

In this paper an attempt has been made to assess the research trends in the field of ‘Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) core programme of the G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) on the basis of the information published in the annual reports of the Institute for a period of 17 years i.e. from 1989 – 90 to 2005 – 06. The research and development programmes of the GBPIHED have been based on a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach with particular emphasis on interlinking of natural and social sciences in order to achieve the sustainable development of the Indian Himalayas. The R&D activities of the Institute are centered around the following seven core programmes:

§         Land and Water Resource Management.

§         Sustainable Development of Rural Ecosystems

§         Conservation of Biological Diversity

§         Ecological Economics and Environmental Impact Analysis

§         Environmental Physiology and Biotechnology

§         Institutional Networking and Human Investment

§         Indigenous Knowledge Systems

For the present study, annual reports of the Institute for a period of 17 years from 1989-90 to 2005-06 financial years were considered. Data collected on ‘Land and Water Resource Management’ and analysed distributing them on various criterion such as, year of initiation of projects, span of completion, comparing new projects with old, sponsorship, geographical and subject. Data on thirty-nine projects have been utilized for the study.

The yearly distribution of projects, pertaining to LWRM core programme reveals that 5 (12.82%) projects/activities were initiated in the financial year 1997-98 and 2004-05, which is highest score, followed by 4 (10.26%) projects/activities each in the year 1989-90 and 1994-95; 3 (7.68%) projects/activities each during the years 1999-00; 2 (5.13%) projects/activities each in the years 1991-92, 1993-94, 1998-99, 2000-01, 2001-02 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2005-06; and 1(2.56%) project/activities each in the years 1990-91, 1992-93. No project was initiated in the years 1995-96 and 1996-97, which may be due to large number of on going projects.

Table 1 shows the distribution of projects/activities by span of completion. It reveals that 6 (15.38%) projects/activities were completed in a year i.e. taken minimal time while one project took 9 years time, being a major project. 4 (10.26%) projects/activities took 2 years period followed by 10 (25.65%) projects/activities took 3 years, which is the maximum in number, 7 (17.95%) projects/activities took 4 years, 1 (2.56%) project/activities took 5 years and 2 (5.13%) projects/activities took 5 and 6 years each. Figures of years with plus (+) sign indicates that projects were continuing in the financial year 2005-06.

The distribution of projects/activities by sponsorship reveals that 24 (61.54%) projects were funded by the GBPIHED i.e. in-house projects alone, followed by 11 (28.21%) projects those were sponsored by the Indian funding agencies, which include DST, CSIR, Dept. of Land Resources, Swajal, Space Application Centre, whereas 4 (10.25%) projects were sponsored by the international funding agencies, which include ICIMOD, APN and Institute of Norwegian Centre for International Agricultural Development.

Geographical distribution of projects among Eastern Himalayan Region, Central Himalayan Region and other Indian Himalayan Region revealed that maximum projects i.e. 30 (76.92%) have been on the Central Himalayan Region, 07 (17.95%) projects on the Eastern Himalayan Region, and 2 (5.13%) projects on the other Indian Himalayan regions.

Distribution of projects according to contents of the concerned projects revealed that out of  39 projects, 17 (43.59%) each were pertaining to land resources and management. 12 (30.77%) projects were pertaining to water resource and management. 7 (17.95%) projects were pertaining to land hazard and 3 (7.69%) projects were pertaining to glaciology.

It can be concluded that trends of R&D activities across the 17 years period under Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) core  would be helpful in deciding the thrust areas to be undertaken in future plan of the institute (GBPIHED).

Annual Reports: (1989-90 to 2005-06). G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environmental & Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora.

Bhatia, Ketki, N. Mohan Rao and H.N. Saiyed. 2006. Research trends in a premier institute based on annual reports. Annuals of Library and Information Studies 53: 61-64

Dizon, L.B. and Sadorra, M.S.M. 1995. Pattern of Publication of staff of an International Fisheries Research Center. Scientometrics 32 (1): 67-75.

Tapaswi, M.P and Maheswarappa, B.S. 1999. Some trend in Oceanographic Research Publications (1963-1992). Library Science with Slant to Documentation and Information Science 36 (3): 173-192.