Bio-Diversity-A Vanishing Splendor of Himalayas
By –Jay Singh Rawat
The Himalayas represents the highest mountain system on Earth. Extending more than 2,400 km in length, the Himalayas span a tremendous variation in climatic conditions from subtropical to boreal Himalayan ecosystem sustainability is vital for the employment of approximately 1.3 billion people in Asia. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is special for its natural geological wealth, forest, flora, fauna and biodiversity, snow, ice, and water bodies, traditional knowledge, and mountain agriculture. The quality of life in the form of bio-productivity is governed by bio-diversity and its products in the form of food, shelter, clothing and medicines, ecological security, etc. That is why various types of important natural products and ecological insecurity have forced human beings to think and care for various types of life forms (Biodiversity) and conserve them in their natural habitat. The biodiversity convention of Earth Summit held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in the year 1992 and the Climate Change Summit in Kameto (Japan) felt the urgent need for the conservation of endangered plant species by taking advance action before such species become “the living dead”. The geographical profile of the Himalayas is very varied in different zones and therefore diverse geology, rocks, soil formation, and forests along with latitudinal climatic factors have created diversity in bio-ecological structure in the form of Biodiversity.
The Himalayan region (which extends to the countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, and Myanmar) represents one of the world’s richest ecosystems in terms of Biodiversity by harboring 25000 plant species (which accounts 10% of world flora) and 3500 endemic, while Indian Himalayas represents 500 of Indian endemics flora, i.e., 3165 out of total 6850 endemics in India. As a whole Indian bio-diversity richness is composed of 45000 plant and 81000 animal species in different climatological zones. The Himalayan Mountains are also rich in agricultural diversity as out of 666 domesticated plants in the world, the progenitors of 268 species are found in China (316) and India (132) only. Due to different bio-geographic realms India as a whole is endowed with a bewildering bio-diversity of 6% (1500 species) of world flowering plants with 5000 species (30%) as endemics. 14 percent (1228 species) of world birds and the leading population density of 2268 tigers (53 percent of world tiger census).
According to the survey report of the Forest Survey of India, the total forest cover is 7,08,273 sq. km, which is 21.54% of the total geographical area of the country. Forest and tree cover combined is 8,02,088 sq. km or 24.39% of the total geographical area.
As per the National Forest Policy of 1988, 33 percent forest cover for the plains and 67 percent forest cover for the hill areas are recommended. These facts speak clearly that situation is very critical at regional as well as national levels with respect to biodiversity conservation and environmental management. The ecologist proclaimed that if bio-environmental degradation continues at the present rate of about 20 % animal life will be vanished in the coming 25 years and many life forms (plants/animals) will be extinct before coming to human knowledge. The sharp decline in Bio diversity composition has forced the many plants of multiple uses to either become extinct or become endangered by leaving a sincere and alarming message that “Food will last as long as Bio-diversity lasts”.
Due to geographic and climatic diversity in different areas of Uttarakhand different forest types are found spanning from the Himalayas to the plains of the Terai. Due to biodiversity present in Uttarakhand, 12 percent of the total geographical area is protected areas which include 6 National Park, 7 Wildlife Sanctuary, 4 Conservation Reserve & 1 Biosphere Reserve. Uttarakhand is home to rare species of plants and animals, many of which are protected by sanctuaries and reserves. National parks in Uttarakhand include the Jim Corbett National Park (the first national park of India) at Ramnagar in Nainital District, Valley of Flowers National Park, and Nanda Devi National Park in Chamoli District, which together is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A number of plant species in the valley are internationally threatened, including several that have not been recorded from elsewhere in Uttarakhand. Rajaji National Park in Haridwar District and Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary and Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi District are some other protected areas in the state.
According to scientific studies in the state 102 mammals, 600 birds, 19 amphibians, 70 reptiles, and 124 species of fish are found. Among these above-mentioned species, there are globally endangered species which consist of tiger (Panthera tigers), Asian elephant (Elephus maximus), Guldar (Panthera pardus), Musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), snow leopard (Panthera uncial), Monal (Lophophorus impedance), etc.