We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and support rendered by a large number of agencies and individuals in making it possible for us to conduct this study.

We express grateful thanks to the authorities of NHPC for providing relevant information about the Project and for also providing the logistic support during the course of field work. We appreciate the cooperation of Shri M.M Madan (Chief Engineer) and Shri M. Basu (Sr. Manager, Dam) in providing the technical insights into Project background. We also thank Shri B. K. Sharda (Asstt. Manager, Tunnel) and Shri. S. Sarkar (Asstt. Manager, Dam) who accompanied us during the reconnaissance of the project area.

We gratefully acknowledge the unfailing support of Sikkim Forest Department that was extended to the team during the course of the field work for this study. We specially benefited from the fruitful interactions with Shri T. R. Sharma, PCCF and Forest Secretary, Sikkim Forest Department and Shri C. Lachungpa (DFO) that enabled us to develop an ecological baseline of the project area. Shri S. B. S. Bhadauria (CF), Shri Manjit Singh (CF) and Shri Bhutia (CF) are also duly acknowledged for the help provided by them in the retrieval of valuable information relevant to our study.

We are thankful to Dr. Ekalabya Sharma, Officer-incharge, and Dr. L. K. Rai, G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Development and Ecology, Gangtok for sparing their valuable time for discussions that greatly benefited us. Thanks are due to Shri. Nakul Chettri and Ms. Iyatta Maharana, Project Scientists also of the same Institute who helped us by providing useful literature on the ecology of the area.

Back home, we are grateful to Shri. S. K. Mukherjee, Director, Wildlife Institute of India for providing valuable support, much needed advice and constant encouragement during the period of this study.

We are also grateful to Dr. G. S. Rawat. Scientist ‘SF’ for assisting us in plant identification. Shri. M. M. Babu, Herbarium Assistant, helped in the preparation of plant checklist.

We are thankful to Shri. Pannalal for assisting us in the preparation of Map outputs. Services of Shri. Narinder Singh Bist and Shri Mukesh Arora are thankfully acknowledged for Desk Top Publishing of the report. Services of Shri Virendra and Shri Vijay of the Reprographic Center of WII are sincerely acknowledged for the reproduction of the copies of the report. Shri Bhuvan Chand and Shri Mohan Singh are sincerely thanked for their support services that kept the work on this project going smoothly.