Tag Archives: Vaneet Jishtu

Dr. Vaneet Jishtu – Special feature

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We are proud of Old Cottonian Dr. Vaneet Jishtu [Ibbetson 1972-81, Associate School Captain 1981], one of our great achievers in a highly specialised field where he’s made a mark and had set the bar really high. 

Vaneet is a Senior Scientist at the Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI) in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, with a M. Sc. and Ph.D. in Botany with specialisation in Taxonomy and Cold Deserts. Presently is Head, Extension Division; ICFRE- Himalayan Forest Research Institute Shimla

Specialising also in high-altitude Himalayan flora, Dr. Jishtu has led initiatives like the Western Himalayan Temperate Arboretum at Potter’s Hill, focusing on ex situ conservation of native tree species . His research includes studies on the distribution and ecological status of medicinal plants like the Ashtavarga group in Shimla District . Dr. Jishtu has also conducted biodiversity awareness programs in Ladakh, emphasizing the preservation of local medicinal plants.

Jerry Godhino  interviewed his Batchmate and asked Vaneet: WALK ME THROUGH IF THERE ARE ANY UNIQUE OR UNUSUAL PLANTS IN THIS REGION?

Vaneet:
Flora of Shimla had numerous unique plants around a century ago, when Henry Collet published Flora Simlensis (1902). 

Lilium polyphyllum (important ingredient of Ashtavarga) was reported as common under cedars, but sadly now not a single individual has been sighted over the past few decades. 

A large number of terrestrial orchids are found around Shimla during monsoon months. The heart shaped lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium cordigerum) is very rare among these orchids, restricted to few individuals in some moist pockets. Another unique orchid once found on the BCS spur was lady Suzane’s orchid – Pecteilis gigantea. Today, its habitat has been disturbed with concrete buildings packed on that particular spur.

[Read the entire interview here]

A brief Resumé: Dr. Vaneet Jishtu

Age: 59 years

Profession: Scientist with the Himalayan Forest Research Institute(HFRI), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh; under the Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE) of MoEF&CC, GoI.

Schooling from Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, graduated from Punjab University, Chandigarh and post-graduation from HP University, Shimla. Besides; additionally, Bachelors Course in Journalism & Mass Communication.

Has handled more than 30 projects/consultancies as Principal Investigator/Co-PI; important ones include the ecological survey in the Hemis High Altitude National Park, Ladakh; surveys to map the Ashtavarga group of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants; Long Term Monitoring Global Warming Project in the High-Altitude Transition Zones across Himachal; Mapping of Forest Genetic Resources (FGR). Significant contribution pertains to the establishment of the Western Himalayan Temperate Arboretumnear Shimla, a novel native tree species conservation programme in the NW Himalayas.

Has been a FAO Fellow to study Cold Desert Afforestation Programme with the USDA. Besides, a Peer Review Member of the Cumulative Environment Impact Assessment (CEIA) committee of the GoHP for river valley projects in the state. Handled a number of consultancies & Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) studies, notable being the EIA for the Doklam border road in East Sikkim.

Besides, being consultant/resource person to HP Forest Department, Department of Energy GoHP, WWF, IDRC, GIZ, GHNPCA (UNESCO Heritage), USAID, SKAUST, HIMCOSTE, Academic Staff College, FRLHT-Bangalore, HIPA, IGNFA-Dehradun, National Academy of Audit & Accounts (NAAA)-Shimla, State Medicinal Plant Board-Government of Sikkim, Allahabad University, St. Bedes College Shimla, HP University, Kurukshetra University, etc. Has delivered numerous invited lectures or as key note speaker for the above organisations/institutes.

As Supervisor, successfully guided 3 Doctorate degrees, 3 students presently working under my guidance, besides Co-Guide for 3 other students.

Was part of the team to present the unique flora of the GHNP, Kullu for successfully obtaining the UNESCO Heritage status, presently member of the Working Group on Integrated Management of GHNPLandscape through an initiative of The Nature Conservancy – India (TNC). Besides, represented ICFRE during the COP14 with presentation on Desertification in context to the Cold Desert Ecosystem, and also during the Carbon Neutral Ladakh Summit-2020 to present the roadmap of ICFRE. Represented India among the 38 Juniper growing countries at the International Conference on Junipers at Kyrgyzstan.

Besides, a keen photographer, well travelled extensively across the high NW Himalaya and the Trans-Himalayan cold desert. Has acquired an amazing storehouse of the rich Indigenous Traditional Knowledge of the region. 

Publications: More than 150 publications, which include Books, Book Chapters, Research Papers, Research Articles, Brochures, Pamphlets, etc. Besides, as resource person on radio and television.

As Coordinator, conducted various workshops/trainings; notable being the REDD PLUS (Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh UTs, HP); IFS Mid-Term and for the NDMA, GoI New Delhi.

Awards: Recipient of the Brandis Award in Indian Forester (2016)and has featured among the 50 people to know across the Himalaya(Condé Nast Traveller, USA) for working tirelessly and bringing changes in their respective fields. Awarded the Rotary Shreyas Award, 2022-23 for contribution towards native plants conservation in the NW and Western Himalaya. Listed in the Asian Admirable Achievers, 2025.

Life Member in Professional Societies: International Society for Environmental Botanists (ISEB) Lucknow; Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT), Rheedea and The Orchid Society of India.

Editorial Board: Journal of Traditional and Folk Practices.

Special QUOTE by Vaneet:
The world is self-centred – too busy with their daily lives, with little or no interest in conserving or protecting wild life – both flora and fauna. The forests in and around Shimla have been subjected to neglect and show visible signs of habitat degradation. 

Vaneet Jishtu: bringing Ashtavarga back to the hills

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Old Cottonian Dr. Vaneet Jishtu [Ibbetson 1972-81] is a Scientist at The Himalayan Forest Research Institute with a M. Sc. and Ph.D. in Botany with specialization in Taxonomy and Cold Deserts.

Here is the article recently published by Meena Menon in The Hindu:

Dr. Vaneet Jishtu is on a mission in Himachal, where invasive species are edging out native plants

As you drive up the Kufri-Chail Road from Shimla near Munda Ghat at a height of 1,700 metres, the untrained eye will only see the slopes dominated by blue pine.

But taxonomist Dr. Vaneet Jishtu is quick to spot the odd white oak among them. “Blue pine is an invasive exotic species which is edging out the local oak,” he points out.

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[Photo: Meena Menon]

It is not only indigenous species like the oak that are being edged out but also the rich treasure of medicinal plants, notably the eight plants or ‘Ashtavarga’ that is part of the Ayurvedic formulation Chyavanprash.

Dr. Jishtu says that in Himachal Pradesh, all the eight constituents of ‘Ashtavarga’— Jeevaka, Rishbhaka, Meda, Mahameda, Kakoli, Kshirakakoli, Riddhi and Vriddhi — were fairly common till the turn of the 19th century.

Henry Collect records in his Flora Simlensis, published in 1902, that ‘kshirakakoli’ or Lilium polyphyllum, one of the Ashtavarga constituents was a common undergrowth of the deodar forests. Similarly, the seven other species were commonly found in open grasslands, shrubberies and in the forest undergrowth. It is surprising that in a matter of just about 110 years, wild populations of Lilium polyphyllum have almost vanished from the State, he said.

“It was after investing in large-scale surveys that I was able to locate a few areas where these herbs occur. I am also trying to grow them in ex situ conservation plots near Shimla. Since, the population of these ashtavarga species has dwindled and very few people recognise them, the companies manufacturing Chyavanprash or other formulations must be using their substitutes,” he pointed out.

Revival project

Dr. Jishtu has an ‘Ashtavarga project’ which aims at reviving these eight herbs. A scientist at the Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Dr. Jishtu’s arboretum at Potter’s Hill grows local species like the Indian maple and medicinal plants. His aim is to have at least 150 species which reflect the rich biodiversity of the Himalayas, where he has been trekking for the last 20 years.

In Himachal Pradesh, 47 medicinal plant species are on the Red list and 11 species are critically endangered.

While blue pine or Pinus wallichiana is an invasive species, it is very much native to the region, Dr. Jishtu said. It tends to be invasive under favourable conditions, like openings in the forests, where it replaces the original forest species.

The pretty yellow and white flowers which have covered much of the hillsides and roadsides in Shimla are also an invasive plant from South America (Solanum chacoense, a species of wild potato).

Such non-native species highly reduce the plant diversity of the region and as a result, indigenous plants are in danger of being wiped out, he said.