Biodiversity

Our Heritage, Our Wealth, Our Responsibility Biodiversity

Biodiversity
Our Heritage, Our Wealth, Our Responsibility

Text of the Exhibition Panels

Minister of State (Independent Charge) Environment & Forests Government of India New Delhi

Jayanthi Natarajan Preface Land, Water, Air and life are intricately woven. The prosperity of a nation is dependent on maintaining a fine balance between development and the health of ecosystems. With growing global population, forests and associated ecosystems play an increasingly important role in meeting the demand for food, fodder, fuel and sustain the livelihoods of the millions through myriad ecosystem services. At the local level, the link between people and the ecosystem is vital, especially in times of stress. The Science Express - Biodiversity Special (SEBS) train is a special gift to the people of the country. It is through this train that the rich biodiversity heritage of the country can be shared widely, reaching school students, the youth and the general masses alike. It is estimated that the SEBS will reach out to over three million people as it travels to the far reaches of the country, halting at more than 100 stations over two years, starting from 5th June 2012. The SEBS is truly 'Biodiversity on Wheels'. I invite each of you to experience the rich natural heritage, and pledge to take affirmative action to cherish, nurture and protect our rich biodiversity heritage. It is with great pride and optimism; I dedicate this exhibition to the people, especially the children of India. 'Prakriti Rakshati Rakshita - Nature protects if she is protected. Jayanthi Natarajan

Contents
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Biodiversity Trans-Himalaya and Himalaya The Gangetic Plain North East India The Indian Desert and The Semi-arid Zone Western Ghats The Deccan Peninsula The Coasts and Islands Acknowledgments Note and Schedule on Science Express Biodiversity Special 1 21 39 52 71 91 117 139 156 166

Biodiversity ki rail gaadi

Rail gaadi Rail gaadi Let's take a trip on a very special train Experience a journey you may not take again. Travel across a magical land Of mountains and valleys, plateaus and sand. Biodiversity Biodiversity Its all about Life and Variety. In forests and fields deserts and seas Animals and crops, microbes and trees. Here on the wonderful Biodiversity Express Explore and discover and experience afresh. Colours and patterns, functions and form To survive and thrive, adapt and transform. Some gone forever, while some lost and found Enter a wonderful world where discoveries abound. Biodiversity Biodiversity Its all about Life and Variety. Snow leopard, yak and double-humped camels The Himalayan cold desert is home to these mammals. Shining blue lakes in the rugged landscape Welcome winged visitors many coloured and shaped. Wander with shepherds and their woolly flocks Up snowy mountains, down valleys, and over rocks. All this and more you experience and savour As the mighty Himalaya you explore and discover. Biodiversity Biodiversity Experience it, share it, enjoy it! Where the mighty Ganga flows River dolphins swim and gharials are found Proud tigers prowl and deer abound. The fertile plains with bounteous yields From forests and farmlands and fields. A plentitude of plants for food and health And multitude of people add to the wealth. Biodiversity Biodiversity See it, smell it, taste it, feel it! The North East is truly a garden of Eden Full of priceless treasures, many still hidden. Feathery ferns, bright orchids, bamboos tall Where rhinos roam and Hoolock Gibbons call. Vibrant mosaic of languages and faces Music, dance and feasts of many races. The Deccan has on offer all of the best Highlands and grasslands, plateau and forest. Trees, flowers, bamboo and grasses many more - Mamata Pandya CEE Biodiversity Biodiversity Appreciate it, exchange it, use it! Discover that deserts are dry but alive Their dwellers have special tricks to survive Store water, shed leaves or burrow in the sand. Why, even tigers and lions roar in this land To the lakes come birds, many more than you think Cranes, pelicans, geese and flamingos pink. Biodiversity Biodiversity Treasure it, enjoy it, study it! Walk through the Western Ghats, and do it all Climb hills, sail rivers, gasp at a thundering waterfall. Meet a Tahr, a Toda, and a Tiger too Jumbos in jungles, and a hornbill or two! Colourful frogs that croak and call Snakes and snails that slither and crawl. Biodiversity Biodiversity Learn from it, weave with it, heal with it. Buffaloes, cows, goats, and sheep galore. Celebrate the seeds and cereals upon which we feast With Gonds, Bhils and Warli, and their dancing feet. Biodiversity Biodiversity Plant it, grow it, cook it, eat it! Take a walk along a sandy shore Dive into the sea to further explore. Meet clown fish and anemone in a coral jungle Crabs, crocs and tigers in the mangrove tangle. Sail to the islands, in waters blue and green See a megapode, a monitor, a nicobar pigeon preen. Biodiversity Biodiversity Track it, live with it, delight in it!

Biodiversity Biodiversity It's all about Life and Variety. Biodiversity Biodiversity Celebrate it, protect it, conserve it!

BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity
Our Heritage, Our Wealth, Our Responsibility

It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.

Article 51 A The Constitution of India

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BIODIVERSITY
BIO = LIFE DIVERSITY = VARIETY

India is home to over 7% of the world's Animal Diversity More than 91, 200 animal species

What Exactly is Biodiversity?

l the variety among life forms l describes not only the number but also types and variety of l i v i n g

things

Biodiversity is usually described at 3 levels: genetic, species, communities and ecosystems. 1. genetic (the variety of genetic information within a species), e.g. all humans are one species but no two humans are genetically identical. 2. species (the variety of species), e.g. horses, tigers, rice, mango, are all different species. 3. communities and ecosystems (complexes of species and their physical environments); a small area may hold more diversity than a large one. Think ! Without Variety There Would Be No Life India: One of the richest countries in the world! Why? The country
l harbours 8% of the world's biodiversity on just 2% of the Earth's

surface.
l includes wettest to driest regions of earth, cold to hot extremes. l has 16 major forest types. The total forest cover of the country is

over 23% of its geographical area.

l is one of the 17 mega-diversity countries in the world. l has two global biodiversity hotspots (Eastern Himalaya, Western

Ghats).
l is one of the eight centres of origin and diversity of crop plants. l represents two realms, five biomes, ten biogeographic zones.
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India harbours 11% of the world's plant diversity.

India has over 45,500 plant species. These include:
l Angiosperms 17,527 species l Gymnosperms 67 species l Pteridophytes 1200 species l Bryophytes 2500 species l Algae 7175 species

Spiny-tailed Lizard Malabar Whistling Thrush They are all Endemic to India!

Nilgiri Laughing Thrush Konkan Pinda

Asiatic Lion

Endemic species are species occurring in only specific areas or regions and found nowhere else in the world. Look at the amazing endemism in India 9% of India's fish species, 61% of amphibians, 47% of reptiles, 14% of birds, and 9% of mammals are endemic.

11, 058 species of plants are endemic to India. In addition, there are 14500 species of fungi and 2233 species of lichens. Rice: 50,000 varieties Mango: 1,000 varieties Sorghum: 5,000 varieties There is a great variety among domesticated animals, too!
l All the world's buffalo breeds are found in India. l All poultry breeds of India have descended from one wild l India is one of the 8 centres of origin of cultivated

Pepper: 500 varieties!!

Mango

plants in the

ancestorRed Junglefowl.
Cow: 30 breeds

world. Over 166 species of crops originated here.

l Home to 320 species of wild relatives of cultivated crops. l 8000 species of medicinal plants find use in 50,000 herbal

l All cow breeds of India have descended from one Indian

ancestorZebu. The Zebu motif is found on seals of the Indus Valley civilization. What Do these have in Common? Laws Balsam Wild Ass Andaman Day Gecko Gharial Blackbuck Balloon Frog

formulations a major source of livelihood for millions.

l Special Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas (MPCAs) have been

established in several states.

Camel: 8 breeds 4

Black Paper 5

In Which Biogeographic Zones are these found?

India has ten biogeographic zones. Some species are found in only one of these, and that too in a specific location. Others are more widely spread. Do you know where these are found? Press the button to find out!

As you go through this book you will learn more about these zones.

Why are we cutting the branch we are sitting on?

Need, greed and ignorance

Trans-Himalaya

l Degradation and loss of habitats due to some development

compulsions.
l Over-exploitation, over-consumption, unregulated trade, poaching. l Introduction of exotic and invasive species like Lantana, Parthenium,

Himalaya Deserts Gangetic Plains

Prosopis.
North-East Semi-Arid

l Pollution. l Effects of climate change.

Deccan Peninsula
A3

l Some unsound agricultural and forestry practices like excessive use

Western Ghats

of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, hybrid crops and monoculture.

l Implementation difficulties with regard to
Islands

legal provisions and

Islands

conservation programmes.
l Systems and policies dictated by need for rapid economic

Coasts

development.
l Unsustainable use of natural resources. l Lack of awareness and loss of traditional knowledge.

Why Are We Losing Biodiversity?

Disappearing Species One species becomes extinct from this planet every 20 minutes. The rate of extinction before the arrival of humans was no more than approximately one species per year. 51 per cent of known reptiles, 52 per cent of known insects, and 73 per cent of known flowering plants are in danger along with many mammals, birds and amphibians. It is likely that some species will become extinct before they are even discovered, before any medicinal use or other important features can be assessed. World Conservation Union

Crises!!
l Pollinator decline due to pesticides and habitat loss has been

affecting crop production worldwide!

l Poisoning by the veterinary drug Diclofenac has caused a 92%

decline in vulture populations across India!

l Interbreeding of wild varieties of crops or native cattle breeds with

hybrids leads to genetic loss

Why is Biodiversity Important?

l Ecosystem and ecological values: Biodiversity

provides us food security, water recharge, climate regulation, and many other services for human survival. the

l Economic and scientific values: food, medicine, fibre, energy,

etc. For example, over 25% of all drugs come from p l a n t s ; Indian Systems of Medicine use nearly 8000 wild species. Species Under Threat Going GoingGone.!! Vulnerable: a species which is likely to become Endangered in the near future, unless the circumstances threatening its survival improve. Endangered: a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. Critically Endangered: means that a species has declined or will decline, by 80% in numbers within three generations. This is the highest risk category assigned for a wild species.

l Scientific: huge potential for scientific study. A very small fraction

of diversity mapped or studied, or even known. A number of species are being lost even before they are known to science.
l Cultural and aesthetic values: deeply ingrained in our culture,

rituals, festivals, music and arts. Communities across the country have traditional practices linked to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and reflecting respect for nature.
l Basis for recreation, education: We enjoy being out in nature;

Lion-tailed Macaque (Endangered) 8

humans have learned a lot from other species and natural phenomena, and biodiversity is still providing us with answers to many of our unsolved questions.
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Protected Areas (for In-situ conservation) A Protected Area is a clearly defined geographic space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. Several categories of Protected Areas exist in India. National Park (NP): A tract of land declared the nation's property by the Central Government, with a view to preservation of natural and cultural heritage, and where human pressures (hunting, fishing, extraction, residences, commercial activities) are not allowed. Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS): An area designated usually by a State Government, where like in a National Park, it is illegal to interfere in anyway with the natural life there. Hunting and fishing are prohibited; some activities allowed with special permits. Community Reserves: These areas are being protected through the joint efforts of local communities and State Governments. Protected Area Network
Categories Number Area (sq. km) % coverage

India has some more specially designated conservation areas: Tiger Reserves: 41 sanctuaries and national parks are specially protected under National Tiger Conservation Authority (previously Project Tiger). Elephant Reserves: 25 Elephant Reserves under Project Elephant. Ramsar Sites: Under the Ramsar Convention (an international treaty for protecting wetland habitats) 25 areas have been identified. Important Bird Areas: There are 465 sites of importance as crucial bird habitats, identified in collaboration with Bird Life International. UNESCO-Designated Sites: UNESCO Natural Heritage Site: these are clearly defined natural sites of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation (of threatened species) or natural beauty. India has 5 such sites: Kaziranga NP, Keoladeo NP, Manas WLS, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers NP, and Sundarbans NP. Biosphere Reserves: Special sites for natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of land or water/sea ecosystems, or a combination of these. India currently has 17 BRs.

National Parks Wildlife Sanctuaries Conservation Reserves Community Reserves Total Protected Areas

102 515 47 4 665

39888.11 119930.50 1160 20.69 160999.3

1.21 3.65 0.04 < 0.01 4.9

Species Conservation Initiatives of Government of India Project Tiger Project Tiger Scheme has been under implementation since 1973. The main objective of Project Tiger is to ensure a viable population of tiger in India. 41 Tiger Reserves are specially protected under the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

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Project Snow Leopard Project Snow Leopard is designed for all biologically important habitats within the snow leopard's range. The project is operational in five Himalayan States viz. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Project Elephant Project Elephant was launched in 1992. The objectives are to protect elephants, their habitat and corridors, to address issues of mananimal conflict, and welfare of domesticated elephants. There are 25 Elephant Reserves under Project Elephant. There are also several other programmes for the conservation of different species. These include: One Horned Rhinoceros Conservation programme, Ganges River Dolphin Conservation Plan, Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme, Gharial Recovery Action Plan, Action Plan for Vulture Conservation. In addition, the zoos and botanical gardens play an important role in ex-situ species conservation.

Animals
l Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to secure better management of zoos l National facility Laboratory for Conservation

of Endangered Species LaCONES for conservation of e n d a n g e r e d a n i m a l species like tiger, lion, blackbuck, vulture, etc.

l Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres l Conservation of traditional farming practices,

wisdom,

rites,

rituals.

Policy and Legal Framework

The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Article 48 A The Constitution of India Some National Laws and Regulations:
l Indian Forest Act 1927 l Wild Life Protection Act 1972 l Forest Conservation Act 1980
Orchidarium

ex-situ Conservation
Includes maintaining genetic germplasm in seed banks, zoos, captive breeding sites, gene banks, primarily outside the natural habitats of a species. Plants
l Green channel projects in Botanic Garden

of

Indian

Republic

l Maritime Zones Acts l Environmental Protection Act 1986 l Fisheries Act 1897 & 1984 l Biodiversity Act 2002
Red Panda conservation

(BGIR) for endangered plant species

l Lead Garden project for ex-situ conservation of endemic plants in

each phyto-geographic zone

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International Conventions and Treaties A number of countries reach multi-party agreements to work together, to implement rules, to address common issues. They all stand to benefit from such cooperation, as quite often answers to local problems may lie in resources elsewhere, often trans-boundary. India is party to several Conventions and Treaties.
l Ramsar Convention (on Wetlands of International Importance)

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) The CBD is an international treaty to sustain the rich diversity of life on Earth. There is a growing recognition that biodiversity is a global asset of tremendous value to present and future generations, and essential for economic and social development. At the same time, the threat to species and ecosystems has never been so great as it is today. Species extinction caused by human activities continues at an alarming rate. The Convention was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio "Earth Summit"). It entered into force on 29 December 1993, and has 193 Parties including 168 signatory countries. The CBD was inspired by the world community's growing commitment to sustainable development. It represents a step forward in the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, and support to innovation by local people. A number of Protocols, Goals and Targets have been adopted and named after the cities where the different meetings were held. The Cartagena Protocol aims at reducing the potential adverse effects of biotechnology on biodiversity. The Nagoya Protocol provides a framework for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its following Aichi Targets represent the world's commitment to reduce biodiversity loss: A. Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society by
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signed 1971
l World Heritage Convention since 1972: Biodiversity needs to be

seen as global heritage-India ratified it in 1977

l Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

of Wild Flora & Fauna India ratified it in 1976

l Bonn Convention on Conservation of

Migratory Species (CMS)-

India ratified it in 1979

l Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - signed during 1992 Rio

UNCED
l UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) l UN Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD)

Other international agreements include: - UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) - International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGR) - UN Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS)

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B. Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use C. Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity D. Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services E. Enhance implementation through participatory knowledge management and capacity building planning,

Fishery Survey of India (FSI) Forest Survey of India (FSI) Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

Protecting Biodiversity
Challenges l How to ensure sustainable use of biological resources (using biodiversity without leading to its long-term decline)?
l How to ensure equity in conservation and use, specially for the

National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) National Institute of Animal Welfare (NIAW) National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) National Zoological Park (NZP) Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) India is perhaps as rich in its initiatives to conserve biodiversity as its biodiversity itself. Local, state, national initiatives by Government, NGOs, and communities themselves are all working towards conserving this magnificent heritage. Only a few examples are mentioned for each of the biogeographic zones.

underprivileged? Meeting the Challenges Government of India is doing this through a number of strategies, both in situ (within the natural habitats) and ex situ (in special sites such as zoos, seed banks, even labs). The Ministry of Environment & Forests, and a number of organizations and bodies are engaged in biodiversity conservation, research, education and awareness. Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) Botanical Survey of India (BSI) Central Zoo Authority (CZA) Centres of Excellence (COEs)
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Microbes
Lactobacillus (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus) Do you know who makes yummy dahi and paneer, who keeps your gut healthy and drives away nasty bugs? It's me, it's me!! Longy Lacto, say all doctors .

Bacteriophage T4 (Captain Phago) We may be 100 times smaller than a bacterium but we give the power to the Ganga. We are the magicians with a wand that injects toxins into bad bugs and make them vanish to restore rivers to pristinity.

Rhizobium (Rhizobium leguminosarum) Although I live in a rented house root nodules of leguminous plants, I pay substantial rent by fixing nitrogen, the building blocks of proteins for the landlord and all the land. I'm Ready Rhizo.

Spirogyra (Spirogyra hyalina) I am the cheerful green hero who floats happily by in fresh water lakes and ponds. I love to hog sunlight, trap carbon and drive away climate change blues. I am the Sunny Spiro, the 21st century hero. Without me there'll be great harm since earth will become very very warm.

Blue mold (Penicillium notatum) They say I spoil food, I say I'm the great composter. I also manufacture antibiotic Penicillin which is used as an important medicine in many diseases. I'm the Bold Blue Mold.

E-coli (Escherichia coli K-12) I am the king of the gut. I grow so fast that I make all nasty bugs outcast. I am not 'all mass and no substance', I make a very important vitamin - K2 without which you feel weak and have no resistance. I'm the great King Coli.

Wild Yeast (Saccharomyces paradoxus) I get under the urad dal's skin and secretly make the idli batter rise. People think I am pungent but I give plenty of B vitamins. I am the Wily Wild Yeast.

Mucor (Rhizomucor pusillus) Although I look fluffy, I am not a 'delicate darling'. I can break down hard stuff like wood and cardboard. With waste mountains eclipsing our towns and cities you just can't do without me, what a pity! I am the Mighty Mucor, your source of the new fuel 'ethanol' in cars. You'll have a rough ride without me.

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TRANS-HIMALAYA AND HIMALAYA

Abode of Snow
Unique Vital Fragile The Trans-Himalaya and the Himalaya together occupy nearly 11 per cent of India's total land surface. The high altitude landscape comprises varied ecosystems and harbours rich biodiversity. This region is also one of the most important, fragile and threatened life-support systems on the earth. The areas set aside for protection and conservation in the Region include:
l 20 National Parks l 74 Wildlife Sanctuaries l 5 Biosphere Reserves l 36 Conservation Reserves l 5 Snow Leopard Conservation Landscapes
Trans-Himalaya Himalaya

Did You Know?

Where the Himalaya stands today was once the Tethys Sea 70 million years ago. The collision of the IndoAustralian and Eurasian tectonic plates led to a rise of land mass, converting the sea into high mountains. The tectonic plates are still moving, making this region vulnerable to natural hazards

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Trans-Himalaya
Trans-Himalaya is the northern-most area of India. It falls in the rain shadow regions immediately north of the Himalaya. This includes the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir and LahaulSpiti region of Himachal Pradesh, some parts of Garhwal, Uttarakhand, and a small part of Sikkim.
Double-humped Camel

l These regions are marked by severe, arid climatic conditions. l The annual precipitation is between 500 and 1000 mm, mainly in

winter. The main source of water is snow melt.

l Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir is the largest cold desert in India

covering 80 per cent of the trans-Himalayan tract.

l Other cold deserts include Lahaul Spiti, parts of Kinnaur and Pangi

It is the only region in the world where both desert and arctic conditions are found, marked by scanty rainfall, high radiation and intense cold. The temperature drops to as low as 50 degree C in some places. Snow-clad peaks, seasonal marshlands and high-altitude lakes are characteristic features. The seemingly inhospitable terrain has given rise to a variety of flora.The plant growth season is only two to three months. Marmots, Wooly hare, Tibetan antelope, Tibetan sheep, Bharal, Wild yak, Wild ass, Wolf, Snow leopard, Black-necked crane and Barheaded goose are some characteristic animals of this region, which are highly adapted to the harsh conditions.

area in Himachal Pradesh, very small pockets of Niti, Malari, Mana and the Nelang regions in Garhwal, Uttarakhand and the Tso Lhamu Gurudogmar plateau of Sikkim.
l Seasonal migration by Bakarwal, Gujjar and Gaddi herdsmen and

nomadism followed by the Changpa tribe are important practices in cold deserts.
l The Snow Leopard is the top predator found in cold deserts.

Bare but not Barren

Cold deserts have remarkable ecological and biological diversity.
l There are a variety of habitat types across various altitude levels,

Sea Buckthorn

This region forms the catchment of three major rivers--Indus with its major tributaries, Zanskar and Shayok; Chenab, and Sutluj each with its tributaries. There are two National Parks, three Wildlife Sanctuaries and one Biosphere Reserve in this region.

and hence a diversity of ecosystems.

l The predominantly herbaceous and grassy vegetation is highly

diverse and supports many rare and endemic species, indigenous varieties and breeds.
l Animals of economic importance include pashmina (changra)

Frozen Desert
Where high Himalayan mountains block rain clouds lie the cold deserts.
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goats, changthangi sheep, yaks, chumurti horses, donkeys, and double-humped camels.
l Animals have adapted to the extreme and difficult climatic

conditions.
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Major biodiversity conservation areas in the Trans-Himalaya are:

l Hemis High Altitude National Park, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) l Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, J&K l Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, J&K
Barheaded Geese

Welcome to Winged Visitors

The Indian Himalaya is a popular destination for migratory birds.
l Birds migrate for various reasons such as availability of food and

l Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh (HP) l Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, HP l Sechu Tuan Nala, HP

water, safe nesting and breeding locations, climatic conditions and protection.
l The migratory birds face several threats: habitat loss; destruction

Yellowbilled Magpie

When It Thaws, Sparkle The HAW s

High Altitude Wetlands (HAWs) are unique water bodies found at altitudes of over 3000 m.
l They comprise lakes, marshes, peat lands, wet grasslands,

of breeding and nesting sites; unsustainable tourism; hunting; air and water pollution, as well as weak trans-boundary conservation efforts. Saving Wetlands Sky-High!
This is a regional initiative of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to mobilise governments, communities and local stakeholders towards conservation of the Himalayan High Altitude Wetlands which are beyond national and political boundaries. The initiative includes India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and China.
Pintail Duck

streams and rivers. Often fed by glaciers or snow from the surrounding mountains, the water bodies remain largely frozen during the winter months.
l There are over 500 HAWs in central and western Himalaya alone.

They are home to several endemic species of birds, animals and medicinal plants.
l Pasturelands around the wetlands provide grazing grounds for
Himalayan Griffon

Tufted Duck

Himalaya
The Indian Himalayan Region occupies a special place in the mountain ecosystems of the world. The Himalaya stretches in an arc over 2,500 km from Nanga Parbat in the West to Namche Barwa in the East. This expanse has a great variation in biodiversity as well as topography. The Shivalik ranges, or the foothills, are uplifted glacial debris.
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livestock.
l They are of immense livelihood, cultural and spiritual significance

for local communities.

l These wetlands are crucial for biodiversity, sustainable economic

growth, control over climate and river flow, hydropower generation, transport, irrigation and fisheries.

Common Pochard 24

Middle Himalaya reaches altitudes up to 3,000 m in the form of undulating hills, cut by flowing torrents and rivers. The Greater Himalaya range consists mainly of sedimentary rocks with patches of igneous (solidified from lava) rock formations. Most of this area is covered with huge glaciers and peaks, with a few semiarid and occasional arid valleys.
Greater Himalaya

A Profusion of Plants
The region supports nearly 50% of the total flowering plants of India.
l Represents 18,440 species of plants, (all the plant groups), of

which about 4,665 endemic species are represented.

l Over 1,700 species of medicinal and aromatic plants provide

Across the Greater Himalaya is the region referred to as Trans-Himalaya. The Himalaya forms the watershed for most of the rivers flowing in northern India, sustaining the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. The high ranges of the Himalaya stop the northward movement of monsoon clouds that bring rain to the Indian sub-continent. The diverse terrains and altitude gradients harbour a rich variety of flora, fauna which show several behavioural and physiological adaptations. There is also a great deal of cultural and ethnic diversity.

livelihood, healthcare and food for millions.

l Endemic species such as Himalayan May Apple and Himalayan Yew

are said to have anti-cancer properties.

l About

155 sacred plants including deodar, brahmakamal, bhojpatra and pipal are found here.

rudraksha,

l 87 species of Rhododendron and 26 species of Oak grow in the

forests.

Brahmakamal

At Home in the Himalaya Forests: From Peaks to Plains

There is great variety in forests in this region. Forest types are determined by rainfall regime, altitude and latitude. Major forest types Thorn scrub, desert steppe: Trans-Himalayas Montane grasslands, shrublands, alpine shrubs, meadows: Greater Himalayas Temperate broadleaved and mixed forests: Lesser Himalayas Sub-tropical pine forests, sub-tropical broadleaved forests, scrubby forests: Shiwaliks Grasslands, savannas, deciduous and evergreen forests: BhabarTerai Tract
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The himalayan mountain system is recognized as a centre of origin and evolution of many living forms.
l Is home to almost 300 species of mammals, of which 12 are

endemic, including Kashmir Markhor, Kashmir Red Deer, or Hangul, Himalayan Tahr.
l About 1000 out of the 1300 bird species of India occur in the

Blue Sheep

Himalaya, including 31 endemic species. A majority of these breed in the region.

l Harbours the largest diversity of domestic and wild relatives of

sheep, goats and equids (hoofed animals such as horses).

l Today, several of these are vulnerable, endangered or critically

endangered.
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Hop, Fly, Swim in the Himalaya

The Himalayan mountain system is recognized as a centre of origin and evolution of many living forms.
l Over 925 out of the 1501 species of Indian butterflies are found in

declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO under the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme in 2004.

New Discoveries
Despite large tracts being remote, harsh, and inaccessible for most part of the year, new floral species are constantly being discovered in the region. Its rich biodiversity is yet to be entirely documented. Several of the species were identified by scientists of Botanical Survey of India. The new discoveries have not yet been given common names.
Silene gangotriana

Western and North Western Himalaya.

l Nearly 175 species of reptiles have been documented, of which

nearly 50 are endemic.

l Of around 105 species of amphibians, over 40 are endemic. Two

species of caecilians (legless, tailless tropical amphibians) are found here.

l Fish species from three major drainage systems, the Indus,
Banded bent-toed gecko

Ganga, and Brahmaputra, inhabit the Himalaya. 30 of nearly 270 species are endemic.

Mountains and People

Since time immemorial local people have used forests and pastures in this region for multiple uses and values. Pastoralists migrate from lower reaches to alpine pastures every summer along with herds of goat and sheep. Livestock rearing has been the backbone of the local economy. Mountain people rely heavily on natural resources and make optimum use of nature's bounty. Products or by-products are never wasted and thus, various livelihood activities emerge from one another. While agriculture and animal husbandry are the primary occupations, various non farm-based livelihood practices include:
l Tourism and pilgrimage-related services tour guide, porters,

Under Threat
Threats to Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan fauna include habitat loss and degradation, poaching, wildlife trade, logging, over-fishing, pollution, human-animal conflict, climate change and unsustainable harvesting for firewood, food, fodder and timber.

Snow Leopard (EN)

Valley of Flowers
The Valley of Flowers is renowned for its meadows of rare, native and endemic alpine flowers, and outstanding natural beauty. Located in Uttarakhand Himalaya, this valley, together with Nanda Devi Park, has been designated as Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Over 55 per cent of the species in the Reserve are native to Himalaya, over 10 are endemic and 225 are near endemic.The Biosphere Reserve was

religious services, trekking, mountaineering, summer and winter sports etc.

l Collection of non-timber forest produce (fodder, medicinal plants)
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Impatiens devendrae 28

l Apiculture, mushroom cultivation, poly greenhouse cultivation l Handicrafts and handloom such as wooden furniture, baskets,

LIVESTOCK AND LIVELIHOOD

Livestock rearing is an integral part of livelihood in rural areas.
l Livestock provide draught power, manure, wool and food. l Ownership of cattle ensures economic stability and sustainable

rattan / bamboo products, ropes, garments, carpets, souvenirs etc.

AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
Environmental, biological and socio-cultural diversity of the Himalaya has resulted in unique traditional varieties of crops, livestock, and agro-pastoral practices. Some traditional agricultural practices:
l Mixed cropping l Agro-forestry l Rotational cropping
Agroforestry

farming.
l In spite of hardships of high altitudes, there is presence of different

breeds of sheep, goats, horses, yaks, mules, pigs and poultry in this region.
l Nomadic pastoralism is a common practice of some mountain

tribes.
l Threats

l Crop sowing prioritization (sowing crops in a certain sequence) l Seed selection (collecting seeds from different villages every 3-4

to domestic animals include shrinkage of grazing pastures, shortened grazing periods, inadequate fodder growth, shortage of water, poor health of animals due to changing temperatures and parasitic infections.

years to avoid in-breeding)

l Root spreading (digging soil to facilitate horizontal spread of roots) l Apricot grafting (grafting sweet apricot on bitter, wild apricot)
Foxtail Millet : Finger Millet
A rare indigenous crop in Kedarnath Valley

BARAHNAJA
An age old agricultural practice of intercropping of twelve or more compatible mix of crops using native, indigenous seeds.
l A community of cereals, lentils, vegetables, creepers, and root

l Better soil fertility with animal bones.

Agricultural patterns in the Himalaya differ according to geographic zones. Western Himalaya, a region of low rainfall, heavy snowfall and temperate conditions, grows mainly cereals and fruits. Eastern Himalaya with high rainfall is a major producer of potato, oilseeds, sugarcane, millet, pulses and vegetables.
Common Millet Amaranth

vegetables grown together on the same terraced fields in the kharif or monsoon season.
l This helps maintain ecological balance, protects farmers from

losses due to crop failures, enhances food and nutritional security, and provides good quality fodder for domestic animals.
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l This system of bio-farming is scientific, sustainable, replicable and

highly beneficial to the rural farmer.

l Traditionally practised in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, this dying practice

is being revived by Vijay Jardhari, a farmer and one of the founders of the Beej Bachao Andolan.

SAVING THE SANJEEVANI

Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas (MPCA) The collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) from the wild, as well as their cultivation, provide livelihood and health care to a majority of rural India.
l Over-exploitation and habitat degradation are threats to MAPs. l Some of the MAPs have been categorized as Globally Significant

Saving Monarch of the Mountain

The snow leopard inhabits 1.5 lakh sq km of the Greater and Trans- Himalayan regions of J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Being a top predator, this medium-sized cat is an ideal flagship for conservation efforts in the cold, dry, nonforested high altitude regions of the Himalaya. Only 3500-7000 snow leopards are left in the wild. This endangered animal is a Schedule I animal. It is also protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora) that disallows any international trade in snow leopard or its parts. Many organisations such as Snow Leopard Trust (SLT), Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC), Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are working to conserve the
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Medicinal Plants (GSMP).

l For the protection, conservation, cultivation and regeneration of

MAPs and GSMPs in their natural habitats, a network of natural sites or forests have been set up as MPCAs.
l The network of MPCAs represents the diversity of forest types. l MPCAs

are managed departments.

by

local

communities

and

forest

l Sustainable harvesting is promoted from adjoining areas of

MPCAs.
l MPCAs offer protection to species that are in high demand and at

risk of becoming extinct.

l PCAs help in preserving germplasm of important plants.
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Snow Leopard and its habitat. The Hemis High Altitude National Park is working to reduce retribution killings and providing alternative incomes. NCF and SLT have helped set up livestock insurance programmes and community-managed reserves in Spiti and Ladakh. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), GoI with SLTNCF, inaugurated a flagship programme in 2009 called 'Project Snow Leopard' (PSL). It stresses on: identification and zonation of large landscapes that have conservation value; identification of threats; innovative approaches to conservation; participation of other institutions. The PSL encourages the use of alternative energy sources, environmental education, and eco-friendly cultivation practices. Advanced tools have also been introduced to accurately measure the number of snow leopards in India. Today, there are 400-700 snow leopards left in India, and over 30 PAs that cover their range. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem GoI's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) has enunciated the launch of a National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem. The mission attempts to address some important issues concerning biodiversity conservation and protection; and wild life conservation and protection in the context of the traditional knowledge societies and their livelihoods. It recognizes the importance of scientific and technological inputs and planning for sustaining of the Himalayan Ecosystem which is vulnerable and susceptible to the impacts and consequences of climate change and anthropogenic activities.
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Coping with Change in the Himalaya

The Himalayan ecosystem, one of the most fragile ecosystems of the world, is faced with many natural changes, as well as challenges of developmental process, deforestation and land use changes. These changes are severely affecting livelihoods of millions of people, including indigenous communities who reside in the mountains and valleys of the region and whose livelihoods and culture are closely linked to the mountain ecosystems. Climate change is having a critical impact on this region, as a result of which conventional ecosystem services are being adversely impacted. Reduced food productivity and water availability, loss of flood regulation, increased cases of natural disasters are all examples reflecting the loss of ecosystem services. Unpredictable variations in temperature and rainfall patterns, affecting stream flow, inappropriate moisture conditions for crops, lowered agricultural productivity and diversity, and reduced for animals are some of the impacts of climate change. Himalayan glaciers are the primary source of water to several perennial rivers, and also have profound effect on both the regional and global climate. The retreating of the glaciers is leading to glacial lake outburst floods in the mountains, and floods and drought in the plains. The communities in these regions are some of the most susceptible to even a slight change in temperature and precipitation. Minimum temperatures are projected to rise by 1
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to 4.5 degree C, and the maximum temperatures may rise by 0.5 to 2.5 degree C. Existing and detailed knowledge on the vulnerability of the region to impacts of climate change is still limited. Absence of information calls for an urgent need to initiate efforts to generate information to respond and adapt to the current and future consequences on the natural resource base and climate change in the region. IUCN, in collaboration with Nokia, is working to encourage an integrated multi-stakeholder approach for developing sustainable and effective adaptive strategies to cope with climate change in the Himalayan region. A priority of the project is to document and disseminate best practices related to water management and climate change adaptation in the Indian Himalaya, and presenting improved water management regimes from the perspective of indigenous systems, the work of government, civil society and community-based organizations. In order to increase the resilience of the Himalayan ecosystem and reduce the vulnerability of the local communities it is essential to develop guidelines that can ensure sustainable management of the natural resources. This is possible through implementing the best practices for sustainable development and improving the existing governance structure as well as strengthening the local institutions and participatory planning. Equally important is the development of a strategic, integrated approach for addressing the issues of biodiversity conservation and improvement of livelihoods in the context of climate change, that ultimately ensures the well-being of the people in the Himalayan region including their social, economic and cultural aspects.
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THE GANGETIC PLAIN

Lifeline for Millions
l The Gangetic Plain refers to the floodplains of the rivers Ganga and

Yamuna. The soil of this region is formed by the fertile alluvial deposits of the Ganga and its tributaries.
l The rivers and wetlands are important habitats for migratory

waterfowl. They also support Crocodiles, Gharials, the Ganges River Dolphin, and more than 15 species of freshwater turtles.
l Most natural vegetation and wildlife is found in the north bordering

Shivalik hills and in adjacent Bhabar and Terai tracts. The vegetation is typically tropical, moist and dry deciduous.
l The important Protected Areas in this region are Dudhwa, Valmiki,

Buxa and Sundarbans. The approximate population of tigers in these areas was estimated to be 274 in 2010.

India's Largest River Basin

The Ganga is India's 'National River'. The Ganga basin is a network of river Ganga and its tributaries some of them are the Yamuna, Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, Son. The major part of the Ganga basin falls in the Gangetic Plain area.
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The basin is home to rich natural vegetation, considerable endemic flora, and supports a large number of wildlife species. River Ganga is considered to be one of the most sacred rivers, and is recognized as the country's valuable heritage. Industrial and domestic waste water, agricultural runoff, some developmental projects, disturbance on the river catchment area, contribute to make the Ganga river basin highly polluted in the Gangetic Plain.

Farm lands: Paddy, Wheat, Maize, Pulses are some of the major crops grown here.

Sal
A tree that can be as tall as a ten storey building! Sal (Shorea robusta) is a large, deciduous tree which is native to the Indian subcontinent. This moderate to slow growing tree can attain a height of 30 to 35 m and girth of up to 1.5-2 m. Its wood was widely used for making railway sleepers by the British. The trees shed their leaves in February-March, this is followed by flowering. The small off-white flowers fill the forest with fragrance. The fruits are food for many animals during the dry summer months. Sal is the dominant forest type mainly distributed in the Terai region of the Gangetic Plain. Periodic infestation by Sal borer affects Sal forests.

Forests to Farmlands
The Gangetic Plain comprises a variety of habitat types. These include floodplains dominated by agriculture; marshy grasslands in the Terai, and forests along the northern fringes. Each habitat has typical vegetation. Forests: Sal (Shorea robusta), Bahera (Terminalia belerica), Jamun (Syzygium cumini), Gular (Ficus glomerata), Semal (Salmalia malabarica), Khair (Acacia catechu) are characteristic tree species. Grasslands: Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus), Kans (Saccharum spontaneum), Munj (Saccharum munja), Narkul (Phragmites karka), Pater (Typha angustata) are typical grasses of this region. Wetlands: Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), Trapa (Trapa natans), Water lily (Nymphaea sp.) are some of the common aquatic plants. Canebrakes: Cane or Bent (Calamus tenuis). Mangroves: Rhizophora sp. Found mainly in the Sundarbans. Rivers: Aquatic plants.
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Freshwater Turtles
Freshwater turtles are of two types depending on the shell, which is either a soft shell or a hard shell. Turtle populations in this area have declined drastically during the last few decades. The freshwater habitats of turtles are under constant threat due to sand mining, agriculture practices on the river banks, discharge of pollutants etc. Turtles are also poached for food and medicinal purposes. This is currently the most serious threat. The loss of turtle eggs due to predation by domestic and wild animals, as well as humans, is another factor responsible for the decline in the population of turtles.

Did You Know?

Some turtles are very important for aquatic ecosystems as they act as natural scavengers by eating dead and dying aquatic animals.

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Herbs for Health

When you think of health, think of plants. Different parts of plants provide raw material for use in several indigenous systems of medicine in IndiaAyurveda, Unani, Siddha, and home remedies. Many modern medicines contain plant derivatives as well. Tulsi leaf juice is useful for treating gastric disorders, bronchitis and skin diseases. Bel fruit destroys intestinal worms, stops nausea and vomiting and purifies blood. Brahmi is used to treat rheumatism, mental disorders, constipation and bronchitis. The gum of Palash, or Dhak, is beneficial in the treatment of diarrhoea. The seeds are beneficial in the treatment of skin diseases. Amla is a rich source of vitamin C, and it is prescribed in jaundice, hemorrhage etc. Neem is used as an insecticide. Extracts are used in hair oils, toothpastes and mosquito repellants. Arjun leaf juice helps to cure dysentery and ear ache, and maintains cholesterol levels. Ashwagandha improves memory and concentration. It is a powerful antioxidant and boosts the immune system. Aloe vera helps in healing small cuts, insect stings, wounds etc. It is widely used in cosmetics industry.
Aloe Vera 42

A Bounty of Crops
Put water and the right type of soil together, and Nature gives you a bounty of crops. The mainly alluvial type of soil and annual rainfall ranging from 1000 to 2000 mm support the cultivation of a variety of crops in the Gangetic Plain, including rice, wheat, lentils, pulses, maize and sugarcane. Not just once but thrice! There are three major cropping seasons: 1. Rabi (October - February): Wheat and Mustard 2. Kharif (June - October): Rice 3. Jayad (February - June): Maize, Udad and Moong Kalanamak Rice Kalanamak is one of the finest quality, scented rice varieties of India. It derives its name from its black husk. Kala means black, and namak means salt. It is believed that this variety has been in cultivation since about 560 BC. Kalanamak was grown widely in Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh. Farmers have been using their own Kalanamak rice seeds since ages. This variety of rice is now threatened due to poor yield, decline in grain quality, non-availability of quality seeds, and lack of research support.
Mango

Phal, Phool, Sabzi

Vegetables and fruits play a major role in Indian agriculture by providing food, nutrition and economic security. Horticulture is the science of cultivation of fruit (phal), vegetable (sabzi) and flower (phool) crops.
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Vegetables The Gangetic Plain ranks first in vegetable production in India. Major vegetables produced are potato, tomato, peas, sweet potato, cucurbits, cauliflower and cabbage. This region is the largest producer of tomato and cauliflower in the country. The Indian Institute of Vegetable Research is in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Vegetables

Some of the IBAs in this region: Uttar Pradesh: Patna Jheel, Etawah; Shiekha Jheel, Aligarh; Lakhbahosi, Farrukhabad; Saman, Mainpuri; Sandi, Hardoi Bihar: Kanvar Lake Bird Sanctuary, Begusarai; Gogabil Bird Sanctuary, Katihar; Nagi Dam and Nakti Dam, Jamui; Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, Bhagalpur. West Bengal: Kulik Bird Sanctuary, Raiganj; Sundarbans, 24 Paraganas. Ramsar Sites: The Gangetic Plain has two Ramsar Sites, wetlands of International Importance designated under the Ramsar Convention. Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch) Uttar Pradesh East Kolkata Wetlands, West Bengal

Fruits Mango: Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh is world famous for the popular Dussehri Aam. Litchi: Muzaffarpur in Bihar is famous for the production of the Shahi Litchi. Guava: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal are main guava producing states. Safeda guava of Allahabad is famous. Banana: Hajipur in Bihar is famous for the production of the best quality of banana. Betel Leaf : The Gangetic Plains are one of the largest producers of Betel leaf, or paan. 66 per cent production of paan is contributed by West Bengal alone.

Wetland Birds
Long-haul flight from Siberia to India over the Himalaya. No Passport Required! The wetlands are favourite wintering grounds of the migratory birds from Siberia. Some Migratory and Resident Birds. 1. Spotbilled Duck 2. Pintail 4. Ruddy Shelduck 6. Common Coot 8. Rosy Pelican 10. Pheasanttailed Jacana 12. Sarus Crane 3. Shoveller 5. Lesser Whistling Teal 7. Comb Duck 9. Purple Heron 11.Bronzewinged Jacana 13.Barheaded Goose

Litchi

The Wetlands
Home to innumerable birds and plants, the wetlands also support lakhs of humans. IUCN's Important Bird Areas (IBA) are areas recognized as being globally important habitats for the conservation of bird populations.

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The wetlands provide feeding and breeding habitats for the Sarus Crane, which is the tallest flying bird in the world. Ramsar Convention has defined wetlands as "areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters".

The gharial is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, occurring in the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra and the Mahanadi river systems. Once found abundantly, it is believed that the gharial is possibly extinct from Myanmar, Bhutan and Pakistan. Bangladesh and Nepal has remnant populations. It is estimated that less than 250 'mature individuals' exist in the wild. Thus, gharial is globally 'Critically endangered'. In India the major breeding populations are found in Chambal and the Girwa rivers; Chambal holds 85% of the entire gharial population. Habitat destruction, prey population depletion, pollution, siltation and poaching are some of the main threats to this crocodilian. River conservation and various protection measures can help to save this unique species which is also referred to as the 'River Guardian'.

Swamp deer

Deer
The Gangetic Plain is home to five species of deer. Swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli duvauceli), Sambar (Rusa unicolor), Spotted deer, or Chital (Axis axis), Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Hog deer (Axis porcinus).
Gharial

What Makes a Dolphin ?

Snout: Snout is the elongated, beak-like mouth found in dolphins. A mature female has a longer snout the male. Snout contains the teeth that are homodont. Melon: The head contains a bulging structure, called the melon. It is an important part for acoustic function and helps in echolocation . Blow hole: The blow hole is the organ responsible for breathing in dolphin. It is seen as a muscular flap on the dorsal side of the head. Tail Fluke: Dolphin uses its fluke for propulsion through water. One of the important characteristics of dolphin propulsion is that they produce movement from both up and down stroke of their fluke. Flippers: Flippers are the modified forelimbs. These help in swimming.
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All the five species of deer are found in the Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh.

Did You Know?

Deer are different from antelopes. Deer l have antlers (only males) l shed and re-grow their antlers periodically. The newly-grown antlers are encased in thick soft skin called 'velvet'. Antelopes l have horns (both male and female) l horns are permanent and without branches.

Gharial: Croc with a Pot!

Crocodile, alligator and gharial are collectively called crocodilians. They all share some common featuresa long, toothy snout, a compressed powerful tail and a tough leathery hide. The Gangetic Plain is the home of the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), a specialized river-dwelling fish eater. It lives in deep fast-flowing rivers and feeds mainly on fish. The Gharial gets its name from its long and narrow snout which ends in a tip with a bulbous pot (ghara).

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Increasing Pressure
Some losses of biodiversity are irreversible and are a threat to our own well-being. Human activities are placing severe pressure on biological resources, and increasingly leading to fragmentation and degradation of habitats, and resultant loss of biodiversity.
Deforestation

Religious practices and periodic events such as melas on riverbanks also add to the problem. Several aquatic species such as Ganges River Dolphin, turtles, gharials, and otters, are facing threat of extinction due to river pollution. Dams and Barrages: Dams, barrages, and irrigation projects are changing the courses and water levels of the rivers. Many former habitats of gharial, Ganges River Dolphin and other species have now become inhospitable for these species, especially during the dry season. Sand Mining: Sand mining is one of the major threats to biodiversity in the Gangetic Plain. Despite enforcement of laws, illegal sand extraction continues along the riverbanks of the Ganga and its tributaries. Large-scale sand mining destroys the sandy banks required by gharials, turtles, and some birds for nesting and basking.

Deforestation: Rapidly growing population generates pressure on forest resources to meet the demand for fuelwood, fodder, timber, etc. Spread of human habitations and some development activities are leading to forest cutting and clearing. This leads to siltation of rivers, soil erosion, loss of species, and human-animal conflict. Alien Invasive and Exotic Species: Introduction of non-native species, deliberately or accidentally, has been a major threat. These species have often flourished at the cost of the local native species. Some prominent weeds are Lantana, Water Hyacinth and Parthenium. Poaching and Illegal Trade for animal-based products is one of the major threats to the wild animals. Many species of turtles, migratory birds, and fishes are now on the verge of extinction due to this.

Dams and Barrages

Protected Areas
Out of the 3,54,848 sq km area of the Gangetic Plain 7,807.7 sq km comes under Protected Areas (PAs). The Gangetic Plain covers 10.8 per cent of the total landmass of India. Protected Areas - 52 Area under National Parks 2,363 sq km Area under Wild Life Sanctuaries 5,444.7 sq km National Parks 7 (Uttar Pradesh-1, Bihar-1, West Bengal-5) Tiger Reserves 4 (Uttar Pradesh-1, Bihar-1, West Bengal-2) Wild Life Sanctuaries 44 (Uttar Pradesh-17, Bihar-12, West Bengal-15) Biosphere Reserves 1 (West Bengal-1)
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Threats to Biodiversity
Use of Pesticides: Extensive use of pesticides in agriculture not only kills the pests, but also adversely affects diversity of useful insects and birds. The agricultural runoff which flows into the rivers adds to river pollution. Pollution: Release of untreated industrial and domestic waste into the rivers of the region is leading to a high level of water pollution.
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Ramsar Sites (Wetlands of International Importance) 2 (Upper Ganga River, Brijghat to Narora stretch, Uttar Pradesh; East Kolkata Wetlands, West Bengal)

National Chambal Sanctuary

Supports the largest population of Gharial in the world and over 320 species of resident and migratory birds. This sanctuary, along approximately 425 km length of the Chambal river, borders three states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Out of the 24 species of freshwater turtles found in India at least 8 rare species, including critically endangered red-crowned roofed turtle, are found here. Together with the endangered Ganges River Dolphin, these are the flagship species of the Sanctuary. This Sanctuary is listed as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and is also a proposed Ramsar Site.
Gharial

Dudhwa National Park

Tiger

The Park area of 884 sq km represents the best natural Sal forest left in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, as well as extensive tracts of moist grasslands. Sal, Asna, Bahera, Haldu, Rohini, Semal, Khair are the predominant tree species. Dudhwa is perhaps the last stronghold of the wild fauna of the Gangetic Plain. Several endangered and important species are found here. It is home to sizeable populations of Tiger and Leopard. Some critically endangered species like the Bengal Florican and the Hispid Hare are also found here. Once distributed across the floodplains of Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra, the one-horned rhino now occurs only in a few pockets in terai of Nepal and West Bengal, and Brahmaputra valley in Assam. Rhinos are reported to have occurred in Dudhwa in the 19th century. Since it offered the required swampy habitat under the protection of a national park, rhinos were successfully reintroduced in the park through a programme initiated in 1984. Dudhwa is the only National Park of Uttar Pradesh, located in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of the state.

Marsh Crocodile

Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary

The only protected area in the world established for the conservation of the Gangetic Dolphin. The River Ganges Dolphin is an endangered freshwater mammal species endemic to the Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems in India. The Sanctuary is situated in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. It supports a relatively high density of dolphins. The Sanctuary also supports a rich diversity of other wildlife species, many of which are threatened with extinction. These species include the gharial, Indian smooth-coated otter, several species of hard- and soft-shell turtles, and an astounding variety of migratory and resident birds including 135 species of water fowl.

Chambal River

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Gharial Conservation Programme was initiated for conserving Gharial in National Chambal Sanctuary and Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. More than 2500 juveniles were released in early 1980s in river Chambal and Girwa and also in other habitats like the Ramganga, Ghaghra and recently in the Ganga at Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. This effort has brought the Gharial population back from the brink of extinction. Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched in 1986 by the Government of India with the main objective of pollution abatement and improving the water quality, as well as supporting research and development to conserve the biotic diversity of the River Ganga. Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has developed the Ganges River Dolphin Conservation Plan 2010-2020.

Back From the Brink

The Rhino Re-introduction Programme, initiated to reestablish the Indian rhino in the Dudhwa National Park, is perhaps one of the most successful conservation programmes in India. With an initial six reintroduced individuals brought from Assam, and with two additional supplements from Nepal, the population of the Rhino in Dudhwa has gone up to 30 individuals. The Sarus Crane is the State Bird of Uttar Pradesh. The population of Sarus Crane has grown during the last decade through strong conservation efforts made by wildlife-related NGOs and Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. Furthermore, intervention made by the Allahabad High Court for conservation of wetlands in Etawah and Mainpuri helped in saving more than 3000 Sarus Cranes, which represent one third of the global population.
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Joining Hands
Joint Forest Management approach is adopted under the Uttar Pradesh Participatory Forest Management and Poverty Alleviation Project (UP-PFMPAP) by Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. It aims at restoring degraded forests, augmenting forest resources and improving livelihoods, thereby empowering the local forest dependent communities. Children's Forest Programme as part of UP-PFMPAP project is being implemented in around 650 schools in 6 districts of UP. It aims to create understanding among children about the value of trees and to motivate and support them to plant saplings in schools, thus ensuring their protection and creating mini-forest in school campus.
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Patna University, Vikramshila Biodiversity Conservation Education Centre, Bhagalpur, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) are among the several institutions doing conservation research on biodiversity of the region. Centre for Environment Education (CEE) with the support from MoEF has initiated a Ganges River Dolphin conservation education programme with more than 500 schools. WWF India is implementing initiatives for biodiversity conservation throughout the Gangetic Plain with the focus on conservation research, education and awareness. Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) is working for conservation of freshwater turtles in the region.

Ecosystems for Life: a Bangladesh-India Initiative is a civil society-led multi-stakeholder dialogue process to promote better understanding of the management of natural resources in Bangladesh and India. Ecosystems for Life works to develop a shared vision and understanding of food, livelihood and water security issues through collaborative research and studies; creation of a knowledge hub; development research-based policy options; and enhancing the capacity of civil society stakeholders to participate in the management of natural resources. Ecosystems for Life is being implemented in Bangladesh and India by IUCN Country Offices and managed by the IUCN Asia Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand.

Ecosystems for Life The Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna, three major rivers, along with their tributaries, drain an area of about 1.75 million sq km and have direct impact on around 620 million people in India and Bangladesh. These great rivers are inseparable from the history and legends of the region, as well as from the people who depend on them for their well-being. Strategies to ensure the future well-being of the region are needed.
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NORTH EAST INDIA

Land of the Rising Sun in India

North East India comprises eight states nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, North Eastern Hills and Assam Plains. This region marks the confluence of Indo-Malayan, Indian, IndoChinese, Indo-Burmese & Indo-Japanese bio-geographical elements. The altitude ranges from 200 m to 8600 m. The climate varies from near tropical to near alpine. The greater part of the region has, however, subtropical climate characterized by high humidity, and moderate temperature. The annual precipitation ranges from 1637 mm to 6317 mm. The world's wettest place, Mawsynram (11,872 mm annual rainfall) is located in this zone. The region has an uneven topography with undulating mountains. The major peaks include Kanchendzonga (the highest mountain peak in India and third highest in the world (8585 m), Tawang, Zafu etc. Amidst the hills, lie more than two lakh hectare of wetlands, which harbour a wide range of aquatic flora and fauna. Assam alone has more than 3500 wetlands (>50 ha).

Did You Know?

The North East is called 'the land of the rising sun in India', because the sun rises first in India in Dong, a village in easternmost Arunachal Pradesh.

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The major wetlands of the region include three Ramsar Sites (wetlands of international importance), namely Loktak, Deepor beel and Rudrasagar. The major rivers of North East include the Brahmaputra, Barak, Teesta and their tributaries.

Rice: The Staple Food

The North East region, with 6 distinct agro-climatic zones, is very rich in indigenous rice varieties including a number of aromatic varieties. Depending on the season, place and system of agriculture, rice varieties grown in the region can be classified into 6 major groups: Ahu (autumn rice) Sali (winter rice) Boro (spring/summer rice) Asra (shallow water rice) Bao (deep water/floating rice) Hill rice.

Many Faces, Many Tongues

The North East has among the highest ethnic, bio-cultural and linguistic diversity in India. The region is home to more than 220 tribes with more than 1000 languages and dialects. They include Indo-Mongoloid, TibetoBurman and Proto-Australoid races.

Did You Know?

The largest population of the Wild Water Buffalo, in the world, is found in the region.

Magnificent Mammals
Royal Bengal Tiger The 5 Tiger Reserves in the region are home for over 150 tigers. 329 species of mammals are distributed over a wide range of habitats from mountain peaks to floodplain wetlands in North East India. One-horned Rhino Kaziranga National Park alone is home to 2290 rhinos out of 2505 found in the region. The rhino population is confined to riverine grasslands of the Himalayas only. Asian Elephant The second largest elephant population (more than 9000) in the country is found in the region. There are 8 Elephant Reserves and 58 elephant corridors.

Hot Hotter Hottest

A great variety of chilli is grown in North East India. This includes popular varieties like King Chilli (Bhut Jolokia), Dhan Jolokia, Khud Jolokia, Krishna Jolokia etc. King chilli belongs to genus Capsicum which includes more than 25 species. Add C to Health More than 17 species of citrus and their 52 cultivars have been reported from this region. As many as 32 strains of lemon alone are available in North East region
l North East India is believed to be the Center of Origin of citrus l King Chilli is believed to be one of the hottest chilli in the world

One-horned Rhino

Did You Know?

Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in Meghalaya is the country's first protected area for Citrus

Royal Bengal Tiger 59

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A Paradise of Birds
Some of the rarest birds of the world like Greater Adjutant Stork, Bengal Florican, Green Peafowl and Bugun Liocichla are found in North East. 3 species Manipur Bush Quail, Marsh Babbler and Black Breasted Parrot bill are endemic to the Assam plains. North East is also home to several species of critically endangered vultures.
White Backed Vulture

6 species of pines out of 7 found in the world are found in North East. Approximately 7500 species of flowering plants, 1000 species of nonflowering plants are found here. 28 species are Gymnosperms (plants whose seeds are not enclosed in an ovule, e.g. a pine cone). 97 ferns and 144 orchids are endemic to North East. Many primitive plants like Tree fern, Magnolia, Ginkgo biloba are found in the region. Out of 124 types of forest in India 54 types of forests are represented here. Bamboo North East India accounts for over 63 species of Bamboo classified under 20 genera. This tall grass is an integral part of the culture and day-to-day life of the people of this region, particularly those living in the rural areas. Himalayan ginseng (Panax pseudoginseng) It has high medicinal propertiesbelieved to be a stamina-boosting plant as it contains sapogenins. Taxus wallichiana An important gymnosperm which yields a valuable anti-cancer compound called taxol.

Apart from the resident species, during the winter, a wide number of migratory birds like the Bar Headed Goose visit this region from Siberia and Mongolia. This region is a part of the migration route Central Asian flyway.

Creatures Big and Small

l 44 Lizard species reported out of 201 species found in India l 102 Snakes species out of the 275 identified from India.
Spot Billed Duck

l 21 tortoises and freshwater turtles species found out of 29 species

known to occur in the country. North East is a 'Hotspot' of tortoises and freshwater turtles within India.
l 105 Amphibian species out of 286 reported from India.

Did You Know?

Out of about 1300 bird species reported from India, North East is home to about 900 species. Assamese Balloon Frog is found only in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It is endemic to North East India.

l 267 Fresh Water Fish species have been reported. l 3624 Insect species have been reported.

Did You Know?

Wave to our Close Relative! The Hoolock Gibbon
It gets its name Hoolock from the howling sound that it makes. Gibbons are apes.
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The Giant or King Fern (Angiopteris evecta) is one of the largest ferns on earth. This rare and endangered fern species is found in Arunachal Pradesh. It is used by the local people as a substitute for staple food during food shortage.

A Plenitude of Plants
The region accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the total number of plant species in India. Many of the flora found here are endemic to the region.

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Look at the Pictures. l What is the most prominent feature of the face? l How are they different? The male is black. The female is brown. l Notice the arms and legs. The arms of the Hoolock Gibbon are normally double the length of its legs.
Hoolock Gibbon

This is the only fair of North East India where the barter system still exists. Before the mela, an Agni Puja, or fire worship, is performed for the well-being of mankind. The mela has great significance for the conservation of Jon Beel wetland.

Sacred Groves
Sacred groves are tracts of virgin forest with rich diversity. They have been protected by the local people for centuries because of the cultural taboos and beliefs that the deities reside in these and protect the villagers from calamities. Several plants and animals that are threatened in other forests are still well conserved in some of the sacred groves. The sacred identity of these forest tracts plays a significant role in promoting sustainable utilization and conservation of flora and fauna of the region. Sacred groves demonstrate an inextricable link between present society and the past in terms of biodiversity, cultural, religious and ethnic heritage. The sacred groves, managed by the Lamas, and the Mompa tribe in Arunachal Pradesh are known as Gompa forest area. Gompa means Monastery. Going Going ... Human activities are posing a serious threat to the biodiversity of the region. Developmental projects: Construction of hydro power dams, roads, railways, industries, townships etc., though inevitable, are leading to loss of forests and posing threat to the wildlife in these habitats.
Jon Beel Mela goods for exchange

Celebrating Biodiversity
Bihu: Farming Festivals Three bihus are celebrated in Assam. Rogali the spring festival is celebrated in April for preparation of farming activity. Kongali is for worshipping the gods for a prosperous yield. The lighting of lamps around paddy fields helps to control pests.
Bihu Dance

Bhogali is a post harvest festival. The traditional dishes for the festival feasts are made from a variety of cereals and seasonal vegetables. Hornbill Festival: Unity in Diversity This most important festival of Nagaland is named after the bird Hornbill (Dhanesh). The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its traditions. The festival signifies unity in diversity. Jon Beel Mela: Conserving the Wetland Jon Beel Mela is a century-old festival of Assam. The three-day mela held in the second or third week of Magh is known for the Gobha Haat.

Did You Know?

Why are they poached? Rhino for its horn Elephant for its tusks Tiger for its skin and bones Snake for the skin

Did You Know?

15 out of 31 known species of primates found in India are reported from the North East.

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Poaching Rhino, Tiger, Elephant and Snakes are some of the prime targets of poachers. This region is on the route of the illegal international trade of wild animals to South East Asia. Encroachment Forests and wetlands are being encroached upon by people for agricultural practices and settlement. This is a major cause of habitat loss for wildlife.

Special Places for Special Species

25 per cent of the birds, mammals, reptiles and other vertebrates found here are endemic (not found anywhere else in the world) to the region. North East India is also home to some of the flora and fauna which are found only in a few other places on the globe.

Community Conservation Initiatives

Adding Value to Grasses Broom grass (Thysanolaema maxima) is an important Non Timber Forest Produce of Tripura. Traditionally the broom grass was collected and sold as raw grass through MARKFED, a state level public sector undertaking. In 2011, under the Tripura JICA Project, the Government of Tripura, launched a pilot project to involve 500 households of 14 Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) in harvesting, processing, and value addition of this important NTFP. Some portion of the grass was sold as raw grass, and some portion was used by the members of the JFMCs for making brooms, i.e. value addition. The project yielded a harvest of 522 MT worth Rs 3 crore. Through this initiative the members of the JFMCs got the financial benefit directly without any intervention of middlemen. The project was extended in 9 Ranges in the next harvesting season.
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Did You Know?

Two Biodiversity HotspotsIndo Burman and Himalayanare found here. Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes khasiana) is a carnivorous plant found only in the Khasi hills of Meghalaya. Golden Langur is named for its golden coloured fur. It is restricted to the western part of Assam. Pygmy Hog is found only in Assam. These are among the smallest pigs in the world. Orange bellied Capped Langur is an endemic langur of North East India. The largest population of Greater Adjutant Stork is found in Assam

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A Fragrant Business Tripura supplies approximately 25,000 MT of raw bamboo sticks that account for 60 per cent of the total raw sticks requirement for incense stick production in the country. Tripura JICA Project launched 'Incense Stick Making' as a sustainable income generating activity for the members of the 130 Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMC). Following the training, most of the members started this activity, and through this value addition, have been able to supplement their household income by Rs 2000/- to 2,500/-per month. About 1.5 lakh artisans are engaged in value addition of bamboo in the state. Khonoma Khonoma is the first village in Nagaland to impose a ban on logging and hunting in community forests. The conservation effort was initiated by the local community. The village started the ban on logging in 1996. Subsequently, demarcation of the area as a sanctuary was envisioned, and as a result in December 1998, Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary was established. Centre for Environment Education (CEE) provided support to build capacity of the village council in the context of biodiversity conservation. Organizations like Kalpavriksh and others also extended support. Implementation of conservation and ecotourism initiatives was taken up by Khonoma village council. The council has 3-4 representatives from each khel and 3 women members. The village now has a better forest cover, increased animal population and has become an eco-tourism destination for a number of tourists.

Working Together to Conserve Biodiversity

Recovery Activities in ManasA World Heritage Site Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Park was tagged as in danger after serious wildlife depletion due to political unrest. The Forest Department, Bodoland Territorial Council and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) developed a recovery plan for the site. Activities like translocation of hand raised calves of rhinos and elephants were taken up. Initiatives like Rhino Vision 2020 and Project Tiger have immensely helped in the recovery of the Manas National Park. Active NGOs of the area including WWF-India, Aaranyak, WTI, Ecosystems India, Manas Maozigendri Eco- tourism Society, CEE, Green Manas, Natures' Foster, have helped the Forest Department in implementing the recovery plan and raising public awareness. This collective effort has succeeded in the removal of the in danger tag from Manas National Park. Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme The Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme was started in 1995 to revive populations of the Pygmy Hog through conservation breeding. Captive bred populations are being acclimatized and released into Nameri, Sonai-Rupai and Orang protected areas. Many international and national organizations including the State Forest Department, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Ecosystems India are involved in the project. Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation is the
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first rescue and rehabilitation centre near a protected area in India. CWRC was established in August 2002 near the Kaziranga National Park with the primary aim to stabilize displaced animals and release them back into the wild. This is a joint venture of Wildlife Trust of IndiaInternational Fund for Animal Welfare, and Assam Forest Department. This is one of the most successful rescue and rehabilitation centres with more than 83 per cent successful rescues. Indian Rhino Vision 2020 IUCN Species Survival Commission's Asian Rhino Specialist Group is helping to rehabilitate a once dwindling population of the magnificent Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros. In order to reduce the risks to the Indian rhino population by overcrowding, disasters and disease, The Indian Rhino Vision - 2020 aims to ensure that rhinos are evenly distributed throughout their home range. Translocations are the driving force in the successful comeback of the Greater One-horned Indian Rhino.

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THE INDIAN DESERT THE SEMI-ARID ZONE

Around The Aravalli
The Indian Desert This includes the arid zone west of Aravalli ranges, comprising the Little and Greater Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat, and the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. This area is characterized by extreme climate: annual temperature ranging from near freezing in the winters to over 50 degree C in summers and scanty annual rainfall in the range of 100-150 mm. The Thar Desert is a sandy desert. The Kachchh Desert is a marshy desert. It is characterized by seasonal water-logging. The Semi-Arid Zone This includes the area between the Desert and the Deccan plateau, including the Aravalli hill range. Annual rainfall is between 400 and 1000 mm. Semi-Arid regions are transition zones between arid and sub-humid belts. Protecting the Biodiversity
l The Kachchh Biosphere Reserve covering a total area of 12,454

The Indian Desert The Semi-arid Zone

Did You Know?

Aridity, or (lack of ) moisture and not the temperature is what defines deserts. There can be deserts which are snow covered!

sq km aims to protect the unique desert ecosystem.

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l 5 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 1 National Park help to conserve

Wetlands in the Drylands

l There are more than 25,000 human-made and natural wetlands in

biodiversity of the Indian Desert.

l 81 Sanctuaries and 10 National Parks aim to conserve the

biodiversity of the semi-arid zone. There are 6 Ramsar Sites (wetlands of international importance) in these regions. These are Harike lake, Kanjli and Ropar wetland in Punjab, Keoladeo National Park and Sambhar lake in Rajasthan, and Bhoj wetland in Madhya Pradesh.

the Deserts and Semi-Arid Zone. These attract a large number of birds, both migratory and resident.
l 'City of Lakes' Udaipur is situated in the drylands of Rajasthan! l The rivers Sutlej, Beas, Luni, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum, Yamuna,
Pelican

Ghaggar, Chambal, Bandi, Arvari, Sabarmati, Aji, Bhadar, Mahi, Narmada, Banas are some of the major rivers of the Indian Desert and the Semi-Arid Zones. AND THAT'S NOT ALL Both these zones contribute a large share in India's food security. Together they support more than 30 per cent of the country's food grain and also milk production!

The Semi-Arid Zone: What Is Special?

l The only region in the world which is home to 3 big cats -- the

Asiatic lion, tiger and leopard. The magnificent Asiatic lion is found in its natural state only in the scrub forests of Gir in Gujarat.
l Porbandar Gecko (Hemidactylus porbandarensis), a new species

Asiatic Wild Ass

of lizard found from the region recently, is believed to be unique to this region.
l The world famous bird sanctuary Keoladeo Ghana National Park at

Bharatpur is one of the five World Natural Heritage sites of India.

Asiatic Lion

Deserts Are More Than Sand

Deserts are sometimes wrongly perceived as the end result of land degradation or desertification! In fact, a true desert is not the end result of desertification. It is in itself a unique natural ecosystem. Deserts provide important life-support services to a number of life forms including human populations in much the same way as other ecosystems do. The vegetation in these regions is mainly dry consisting of stunted, thorny or prickly shrubs and perennial herbs which are mostly
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Is The Indian Desert a Dead Zone?

l It is home to 1200 species of animals and 682 species of flowering

plants!
l Flamingo City' in the Rann of Kachchh is amongst the few places in the

world, where flamingos congregate in such large numbers to breed.

l It has the largest grasslands area in India, the Banni Grasslands. l The little Rann of Kachchh is the only natural home of the Asiatic
Great Indian Bustard 72

Wild Ass.

drought resistant. There are open grasslands, too. Short-lived plants cover the desert with a green carpet for a short period after rains. Once upon a time The Thar Desert was a rich forest and Kachchh was sea! The discovery of fossilized remains of dinosaurs and trees and rich reserves of lignite and coal are proof of this. The Indian Desert is the cradle of the Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilizations! The excavations of remains of the ancient settlements of Dhola-Vira from Kachchh indicate that this was once an active port city. Thar Desert is the eastern extension of the Persio-Arabian desert that connects to the great Sahara desert. Complex geological and climatic changes led to the creation of Thar, probably more than 10,000 years ago!

Russell's Viper: The scaly waterproof skin, and the ability to recycle a large portion of fluid from the urinary system help this snake in reducing water loss. Blackbuck: As the heat increases, the body temperature of this antelope also rises. This way it sweats less, as sweating starts only after the body temperature crosses 41 C. It can also obtain water by burning fat tissue. Lampro (Aristida adscensionis) Aristida are an opportunistic species that flower in summer or spring. In severe climatic conditions, these plants die back to the crown, essentially reverting to a bunch-grass-like form; the massive roots allow for rapid re-growth after rain. Kikar (Acacia jaquemontii) This rigid xerophytic (adapted to survive with little water) shrub has a fast growing tap root. This enables it to utilize moisture stored in lower soil layers to remain green into the dry seasons. The extensive root system makes this plant ideal for dune stabilization and preventing soil erosion.
Blackbuck

Russell's Viper

Adapt or Perish
Astonishing adaptations enable local species in a desert not only to survive in minimal moisture, harsh sunlight and high temperature, and high salinity, but even to thrive in these conditions.

Plants of the Desert

Plants in the desert serve numerous ecological and economic purposes. Grasslands of the desert bind the fragile top layer, help to check wind erosion and sustain livestock. Some of the typical and dominant grass species are Sewan grass (Lasiurus sindicus), Dhaman (Cenchrus ciliaris), Bharut (Cenchrus biflorus) and Lampro (Aristida adscensionis).

Did You Know?

l

Did You Know?

With adaptations for survival in seasonal drought and heat, desert plants would not be able to grow well if the soil moisture and water availability increases.

Thar Desert is the most populated desert in the world. It has a population density of 83 persons per sq km as compared to the world average of 7! The cities of Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur are located within the desert!

Succulents such as cactii store water in fleshy leaves, stems or roots. This helps them survive in water-scarce conditions. Some Special Adaptations Flamingo: A pair of salt glands just below its eyes secretes a solution saltier than seawater. This helps flamingos to control the salt level in their blood. The higher the salinity in the water in which they feed, the bigger is the gland size!

Thar Desert harbours about 16 endemic plant species. Phog, Khejari, Rohido are a few of them.

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Some Important Desert Plants Lana (Haloxylon salicornium), Khari jar (Salvadora persica) and Mithi jar (S. oleiodes), Acacia species, Rohida (Tecomella undulata), Fafada Thor (Opuntia elatior), Aak (Calotropis procera).
Jungli Ber Zizyphus nummularia

To Conserve and Protect

Harike Lake A Wildlife Sanctuary and a Ramsar Site, this is an important wintering ground for migratory waterfowl. The wetland has rich floating vegetation. 33 islands are scattered across the lake. During migratory season, the endangered White-headed Duck is found here. Lesser Adjutant, Painted and Black-necked Stork, species of ducks, eagles, and pallid harrier are seen here. The critically endangered Oriental White-backed Vulture and Slenderbilled Vulture are also seen here.

Some Threatened Desert Plants Paneer Bandh (Withania coagulans), Shrubby horsetail (Ephedra foliata), Motio-Hiran Chobbo (Farsetia macrantha), Rato Jal Agio (Ammannia desertorum).

Black-winged Stilt

Motha Chiya Cyperus rotundus

Web of Life
Plants in desert have their own unique place in the web of life. There are birds and animals that depend on a particular vegetation for their different needs. The critically endangered Great Indian Bustard prefers to breed in open grasslands with scattered low scrubs.

Kachchh Biosphere Reserve It is an admixture of saline, marshy and coastal desert where water and soils are extremely saline. Monsoon floods the entire low-lying areas. Then the scorching heat dries up the entire landscape into a flat barren land covered with crystals of salt. A number of wetlands, green elevated patches known as beyt (island), grasslands and saline mud flats give Kachchh its unique biodiversity. Keoladeo Ghana National Park One of the most important waterfowl refuges of the world, a Ramsar Site (wetland of international importance) and a World Heritage Site, this Park is home to rich biological diversity. This is a human-made and managed wetland which was originally a natural depression. It is the wintering area for over 364 species of birds. Herons, storks, common teal, species of ducks and sandpiper, white spoonbill, many species of eagle, partridge, quail etc. are found here. Dalmatian pelicans, sociable lapwing, species of vulture are among the threatened birds found here.

Indian Roller

Aak Calotropis procera

Larva of the Blue Spotted Arab, a butterfly restricted to northwest region in India, can feed only on Salvadora persica and S. oleoides. A number of water bodies and marshes in the desert harbour characteristic aquatic species such as Lemna paucicostata, Najas graminea, N. welwitschii, Potamogeton crispus, P. pectinatus, Spirodela polyrrhiza.

White-breasted Waterhen

Did You Know?

The beautiful pink colour of the flamingo is because of its highly specialised diet consisting almost entirely of blue-green algae such as Spirulina spp., Oscillatoria spp., and benthic diatoms found only in alkaline lakes, salt pans and saline lagoons, and estuaries.

Did You Know?

Cyanophyceae and Rhodophyceae class of algae and bacteria growing in the lake impart a variety of striking colours to the water, and support the lake ecology that, in turn, sustains the migrating wetland birds.

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More Than Just Thorns!

Palash Butea monosperma

Sariska Tiger Reserve Besides the tiger, herbivores such as the spotted deer, sambar and blue bull are found here. Dhok is the dominant tree species. Boswellia serrata and Lannea coromandelica grow in rocky patches. Kattha and Bamboo are common in the valleys. Some valleys support Palash and Ber. Dramatically changing with the changes in season, the forest here is typical dry deciduous. The terrain includes undulating plateau lands and wide valleys. Sambhar Lake This is one of the largest inland salt lakes and also a Ramsar Site. Along with Phulera and Didwana salt lakes, this salt lake forms a vast saline wetland, which constitutes the most important area for the flamingos outside the Rann of Kachchh. Pied tit, red shank, common sandpiper and pelicans are some other birds seen here. Sambhar Lake is amongst the largest producers of salt in India.

The Semi-Arid Zone represents Savannah vegetation. Extensive grasslands rich in legumes and shrubs, deciduous forests, and thorn forests are dominant here. Littoral and swamp forests are seen near wetlands/water bodies.

Denizens of the Desert

The Most Evolved Plant Species

The grasses are considered to be the most evolved species of plants. They are remarkable as they have short life cycle yet a long life i.e. take a short time from germination to reach maturity. Unlike trees, when cut, they sprout back almost instantaneously. They are capable of supporting or converting into incredibly huge amounts of biomass. They also support a rich and diverse variety of fauna. They are efficient in absorbing rain water and play a vital role in water retention and hydrology of an area. - Task Force on Grasslands and Deserts

Scorpion

Amla Emblica officinalis

Indian Long-eared Hedgehog

Orchid Aerides crispum

Desert Fox

Grassland ecosystem in Semi-Arid Zone has its own unique place. Grasslands provide the ecological and economic base of this zone.

Plants of the Semi-Arid Zone

Some Dominant Plants Desi Babul (Acacia nilotica), Ronjh (A. leucophloea), Dhok (Anogeissus pendula), Wild Date Palm (Phoenix sylvestris), Palash (Butea monosperma), Salai guggal (Boswellia serrata), Godal (Lannea coromandelica), Mahua (Madhuca longifolia), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Pipal (Ficus religiosa), Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis). Some Threatened Plants Khadulia (Ceropegia odorata), Strobilanthes halbergii, Rohida, or Marwar Teak (Tecomella undulata), Gundi (Cordia crenata), Marwadi Gokharu (Tribulus rajasthanensis).

Heteropogon contortus, Aristida spp., Eragrostis spp., Chloris spp., and Aeluropus spp. are some of the common grasses of the zone. Wetlands: Some of the species found are Lemna, Hydrilla, Vallisneria, Najas, Nymphaea, Potamogeton, and Wolffia.
Sand Grouse

Did You Know?

The area also has many varieties of medicinal plants like Safed Musli (Chlorophytum spp.), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Baheda (Terminalia bellerica), Harad (Terminalia chebula) and Amla (Emblica officinalis).

Desert Dwellers
Wildlife in the desert is as colourful and vibrant as in other zones. Mammals like blackbuck, chinkara, gerbil, desert fox, caracal, wolf, bats etc. are seen here. Some of these desert animals are also seen in semi-arid areas.

Did You Know?

In the Little Rann of Kachchh, the Wild Ass Sanctuary protects the endemic and endangered Asiatic Wild Ass. In the entire world, just around 4000 individuals of this subspecies are left at this single location.

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Home for a Host of Animals

Greater and lesser flamingos, dalmatian pelicans, sociable lapwing, houbara bustard and great Indian bustard are some of the globally threatened bird species found here. Green munia, white-naped tit, demoiselle crane are some other birds of arid areas. Reptiles like monitor lizards, saw-scaled viper, red sand boa, and invertebrates like scorpion, spider, butterfly species such as White Arab and Plain Tiger are found in the Indian Desert.

Invasive Aliens The uncontrolled spread of an alien species poses an extreme threat to local vegetation and wildlife. Prosopis juliflora, introduced to combat desertification, now dominates the local plant varieties. Asia's finest grassland 'Banni', in Kachchh, is getting converted into a homogenous woodland due to the spread of this species. Water hyacinth, an aquatic exotic plant, is choking wetlands of the region.
The grasslands are the 'common' lands of the community and are the responsibility of none. They are the most productive ecosystems in the subcontinent; they belong to all, but are controlled by none.
- Task Force on Grasslands and Deserts

Overgrazing

Leopard

Special Places for Special Species

Contrary to the common belief that big animals live only in thick forests, it is the open forests of the Semi-Arid Zone that are the habitat for several large animals such as the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Nilgai, Chital and Sambar.
Vulture

Grasslands and wetlands of the region are home to many species of migratory as well as resident birds. Species of crane, grey partridge, peafowl, owl, wagtails, ducks, vulture etc. are found here. Harriers are widespread winter migrants to India. Grasslands of the Velavadar Blackbuck National Park are the Harriers' largest roosting ground in the world. They host the Montagu's, Pallid, Western Marsh and Hen Harriers.

Poison, Power
The birds, Harriers are threatened due to the presence of pesticide residues in their prey insects. Intensive use of pesticides in modern agriculture is posing threats to biodiversity. In last decade, the population of 3 of India's common vulture species has declined by 97 per cent. Investigations have identified the antiinflammatory drug Diclofenac, used to treat domestic livestock, as the cause of mortality of vultures, as they feed on the carcasses of these animals containing residues of the drug. Electrocution Large scale industrialization requires energy in the form of electricity. But, the power supply lines sometimes lead to the death of birds. This
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Limestone Mining

Star Tortoise

Did You Know?

Three out of the four bustard species found in India are seen in the semiarid areas. They are the Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican and Houbara Bustard, all of which are threatened.

Fragile Like Glass

This region is extremely fragile. Once disrupted, recovery is extremely slow or sometimes the loss is irreversible. It takes ages for a plant to adapt and establish itself. Overexploitation of vegetative cover exposes the land, which induces desertification.

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was the case in Gujarat where electrocution led to the death of hundreds of flamingos.

Communities, Culture and Conservation

The livelihood, culture, and lifestyles of local communities have evolved in tune with the biodiversity and natural resources of the region. Several tribes and communities like Bharwad, Raikas, Bishnois, Aahirs, Gujjars, Banjaras, Nat, Bhils, Siddi, Meena etc. live in semiarid areas. These communities continue to live in close affinity with their environment. Maldharis are pastoralist communities. Their nomadic lifestyles rely on natural resources. They have their own ethos that reflects their respect for nature and importance of conservation. A Jat Maldhari saying goes to the effect: never stop living in temporary homes you build in the grassland as that ensures that you are always on the move allowing the grassland to recuperate behind you. The day you build permanent homes in grassland, remember the doomsday is close!
Pastoralists are traditional custodians of dryland biodiversity and protectors of ecosystem services that are vital for global development. Pastoral lands are threatened by development pressures and the growing impacts of climate change. IUCN suggests that in this context a strategy is needed to enable sustainable pastoralist development: improving pastoralists' standard of living whilst protecting the environmental services that their way of life provides.

Adaptation Features
How Do They Help?

Camel
Hump Stores fat for later use Long eye-lashes Protect eyes from sand Voluntary closure of nostrils Protects from blowing sand Long legs Keep body away from hot ground

Cactus
Fleshy pads Store water Waxy coating on the stem Prevents water loss Green colour of stem Performs photosynthesis Spines Protect from grazing animals

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Drop by Drop
Water Harvesting: Traditional water harvesting structures such as Johads, Tankas, Khadins, step-wells or village ponds have enabled life to flourish in these water-scarce regions.
A Little Water Leads to a Lake Meghoji, a common herdsman of Rajasthan, once happened to pour a little water left in his kuldi in a small pit and then covered the pit with aak leaves. After two days, when he removed the leaves, he could feel cool air rising from the moist pit. The word 'bhap' (Vapour) came to him. Realising the land's capacity to hold moisture he decided to build a lake there. He started his venture all by himself. Slowly others also joined him. Work continued for 12 years. Meghoji passed away but his wife continued his work. And in six months the lake was ready. It was named Lake Bhap which later became Bap Lake.

The Malwa Plateau is one of the prime locations for the cultivation and evolution of durum wheat. 'Bhalia' from the Bhal region in Gujarat is a rain-fed, hardy, high protein wheat variety with low water requirement. It has been registered for the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Sanguineum desi cotton (G7), known for its drought tolerance and fibre quality, was used as a source in the development of the internationally known Bikanery Nerma cotton.
Kankrej Bullock

Gir Kesar Mango

Sturdy, Hardy
Livestock Diversity These regions possess some of the best breeds of livestock of the world. The famous cow breeds are Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Tharparkar, Harianvi, Kankrej, Malvi, Nagori, Mewati, Dangi.
Gir Cows

Sorghum

Arid and Semi-Arid Zones contribute 30 per cent of India's food grain! Traditional dry-land farming practices -mixed cropping, traditional seed storage methods, composting and mulching- enhance communities' food security, and adaptive capacity to climate change.

Gir cows are high milk yielders. Sahiwal is the best Indian dairy breed. Rathi is resistant to adverse desert climatic conditions. Kankrej, Malvi, Nagori and Mewati breeds are excellent draught breeds for hot climate. Banni buffalo has good adaptability to harsh climatic conditions and drought resistance. Mehsani and Jaffarabadi buffaloes are amongst the best milch breeds of buffalo in India. Sirohi goat is used mainly for meat, while Surti is a good milk producer. Kathiawari and Marwari horse are well known horse breeds across the world.

Versatile and Varied

Did You Know?

The GI tag is a name, or sign, used on certain products, which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (a town, region or country).

Crop Diversity Drought tolerant, heat resistant indigenous crop varieties from the region make up an extremely important genetic pool. Rich diversity occurs in millets, beans, grams, sesame, legumes and grasses. The local landraces of pearl millet are being used globally.

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Research and Conservation: Some Institutions l Arid Forest Research Institute, Jodhpur. l Arid Zone Research Association of India, Jodhpur. l Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur. l Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner. l Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar. l Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal. l Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Jodhpur. l Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation, Gandhinagar. l Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE), Bhuj. l National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner.

Efforts to Conserve
Conservation values and practices are embedded in cultural, social and moral ethos of the local communities. Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary is an open sanctuary established entirely on community-owned and private lands of 13 villages of the Bishnoi Community in Firozabad district of Punjab. The Bishnoi Community is known for its respect towards nature, and legendary love for animals, as a result of which the blackbuck population and other wildlife is flourishing here. Bhairon Dev Lok Van Abhayaranya The Bhaonta Kolyala community of Rajasthan, with the support of Tarun Bharat Sangh, revived their traditional water harvesting structures known as Johads. This resulted in the revival of the river Aravari. They also set up self-imposed rules to conserve the degrading forest lands and, in 1998, declared the patch as a people's sanctuary.
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Learning from International Community One of the major causes of bird mortality (especially for migratory species) is collision with and electrocution by power lines. Fitting the earth wire with markers in the form of brightly coloured 'aviation' balls; thickened wire coils; luminescent, shiny or hinged flashing or flapping devices have been shown to reduce bird collision frequency considerably, though the overall impact varies from species to species. In Georgia, USA, bright orange aviation balls fitted on the power lines have helped in reducing collision of wood storks into power lines.

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partnership in the efforts to conserve the Asiatic lion of Gir is probably incomparable in the world. Vulture Conservation Owing to the rapid decline of the vulture population in India, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI, initiated an Action Plan for Vulture Conservation, in 2006. The Haryana Forest Department in collaboration with Bombay Natural History Society has established a Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre at Pinjore. At present the Centre houses 127 vultures. This is the largest collection of the three critically endangered species of vulture at one place anywhere in the world, and is recognized as the first centre of its kind in Asia. Raising Awareness, Reducing Pressure Involving local people in the protection and management of forest areas by effective decentralization, is the basic philosophy in the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aided project being implemented in the eastern tribal belt of Gujarat since 2007-08. The project implements forestry, conservation and income generation activities in an integrated manner to reduce dependence of rural poor on forests. As a result 40 per cent of the degraded lands have been converted into open forests. Grazing pressure and encroachment have been reduced.
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Efforts to Conserve
Government departments, research institutions and NGOs have joined hands to conserve some of the unique and characteristic species of this region. Lion Conservation Programme The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) was nearly extinct at the beginning of the 20th century with merely 50 individuals remaining in the wild in this single habitat of Gir in Gujarat. In 1965, the area was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary and the core area was declared as a National Park. Gujarat Forest Department initiatives and support of the local people have made a tremendous positive impact on the lion's habitat. The number of lions increased from 50 in 1965 to 410 in 2011. Various other areas have also been declared as protected, as the lion's distribution range has expanded. There is a strong cultural and emotional bond between lions and the local community. The strong government-people
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WESTERN GHATS

Western Ghats
Mountain chain that rises in Gujarat, ends more than a thousand km away at Kanyakumari. The Western Ghats, or Sahyadris, are the ancient chain of mountain ranges that run from the southern border of Gujarat down to Kanyakumari, at 30 to 50 km inland along the west coast. More than 30 per cent of India's biodiversity is found here. The region harbours remarkable species diversity, of which around 332 are globally threatened species.
l The Western Ghats Hill Ranges run to a length of about 1600 Kms,

interrupted only between Maharashtra and Karnataka by Goa Gap and near Palghat in the southern-most region by Palghat Gap.
l The average elevation of the mountain range is 1200 m, or 3900 ft.

It has 15 peaks, and the highest peak is Anaimudi (elephant head) in Kerala (2695 m, or 8842 ft).
l The region is rich in natural resources including plant products

(timber, fruits, herbal medicine), animal products (lacquer, honey), and mineral wealth (iron and manganese).
l It is home to a number of tribes who are the original inhabitants of

the region.
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l The major rocks found here are basalt, laterite, granites and granite

gneiss.
l There are more than 400 forts, of which around 300 are in northern

region. Increasing human pressures have resulted in the degradation of the region. Once a dense forest, only one third area now remains pristine. The Western Ghats are identified as one of the world's 8 'Hottest Hotspots', which makes it a critical bio-geographical region for conservation.

An Ancient Link Studies of the species such as Myristica swamps purple frog in the Western Ghats and Madagascar have shown interesting resemblances providing evidence to the Gondwana split theory. Striking similarities between some of the species of the Western Ghats and the Himalayas such as Rhododendron tree, mountain goat, some bird and fish species, indicate that the species distribution was once continuous. Such resemblance also provide evidences of the movement of the Indian land mass.
Elevation

The Breakup of Pangaea

Laurasia

Which is Older?
Gondwanaland What became Indian Peninsula

Water Wealth
The mountain range is the major water source for 6 states for agriculture and supply of domestic water to more than 245 million people. The Western Ghats harvest the monsoon rains. The average rain here is about 3000 mm to 4000 mm from the southwest monsoon. Agumbe, in Karnataka receives an average rainfall of 7640 mm, the second highest annual rainfall in India. It is one of the three major watersheds of India. They feed perennial rivers. The three major rivers Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri originate here and flow east and join the Bay of Bengal. The Periyar and other smaller rivers like the Sharavati and Mandovi that originate here drain west into the Arabian sea. The Western Ghats have been identified as one of the important regions of freshwater biodiversity, with 288 species of fish. There are more than 50 major dams. The Idukki dam built on Periyar river in the Kerala region is the 14th biggest arch dam in Asia. It supplies nearly 70 per cent of the power needs of the Kerala State.
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Himalaya or Western Ghats? It is believed that the Western Ghat ranges were in place even before peninsular India became part of the Asian mainland. During the break up of the super continent Gondwana 150 million years ago, a large part split and moved northwards to collide with the Asian Mainland to become peninsular India. As it drifted over the localised volcanic centres of the earth, called the Reunion Hotspots, series of volcanic eruptions laid down the basaltic sheets or traps resulting in the elevation of its western part. The faults (fractures) caused in the earth's crust during this process between 45 and 65 million years ago, gave rise to the present day hill chain of the Western Ghats. The Western Ghat ranges thus are fault mountains or fault-block mountains due to the uplift along the faults of Deccan plateau. Hence the ranges have high summits, steep slopes, long cliffs, deep valleys and high potential for erosion.

180 million years ago

The Breakup of Pangaea

Future India Future Australia

65 million years ago

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The Jog falls in Karnataka is the second highest waterfall in South Asia. The Sharavati river takes an 829 feet (253 m) plunge here, making a visit to the Jog falls a lifetime experience.

High level of endemism is a special feature of the Western Ghats.

Teeming with Life

The Jog Falls, Karnataka

So many plants and animals species exist nowhere else but here. The tropical and humid climate and varied topography of the Western Ghats have given rise to different ecoregions and forest types which support rich biodiversity here. The biodiversity here has evolved and adapted with high specialization. Many plant and animal species found here exist nowhere else in the world. Hence, they are called endemic species.

Podocarpus (Nageia) wallichianus, the only gymnosperm tree that is endemic to the southern region of the Ghats.

Endemic Species of the Western Ghats

The Tree Fern (Cyathea nilgiriensis) grows wild in the high altitude areas of the southern region of the Ghats.

Group Angiosperms Butterflies Fishes

Total species 4,000 334 290 157 157 508 140

Endemic species 1,500 37 189 135 97 19 18

% endemism 38 11 65 86 62 4 12
This native of the Western Ghats is a recent discovery. This high-altitude wild ginger (Amomum nilgiricum) is found only in the evergreen forests of the Nilgiri Hills .

Did You Know?

One of the most primitive flowering plants, the Myristicas had its origin in the swamps of Gondwanaland, before the Indian peninsula parted from it over 150 million years ago.

Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mammals (2009)

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A Biodiversity Hotspot
The Western Ghats are counted among the world's top eight 'Hottest Hotspots'. The area is biologically rich and has high percentage of plants and animals which are endemic to the region, which means, they are found nowhere else in the world. The region is threatened by human activities and has lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat, primarily the forest cover. All these have made Western Ghats one of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots. significant for conservation.
Globally threatened species in the Western Ghats (at least 325)

The dominant groups are insectivores (those that eat insects) like moles and shrews, and rodents like squirrels, and bats. The Western Ghats are an important Asian Elephant habitat. The Ghats also harbour the second largest population of the critically endangered tiger, particularly in the Karnataka region.

Endemic and Endangered

Liontailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) endemic (not found anywhere else in the world) to the southern Western Ghats is endangered due to the destruction of lush green forests which is their habitat. Large populations are sighted in Silent Valley in Kerala, which is the only undisturbed home left for these monkeys. Have we lost these species?
Liontailed Macaque

129 (40%)
Vulnerable

145 (44%)
Endangered

51 (16%)
Critically Endangered

Isolated populations of the nocturnal Malabar large-spotted civet (Viverra civettina) once lived in the Malabar region. Now they are critically endangered. There are no confirmed records of its recent sightings! The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) resembles wild goats (Capra genus) of the Himalayas. However, it is more closely related to the sheep (Ovis genus). As the name suggests, this is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern Western Ghats and lives in sholas (patches of forests separated by grasslands). It is now endangered due to the degradation of the sholas. The Indian Giant Squirrel, or Malabar Tree Squirrel (Ratufa indica), lives in the upper canopy of trees. This brown squirrel flattens itself on a tree branch when in danger, and the colour of its body blends with the background. It is nearly threatened due to the destruction of trees.

Indian Giant Squirrel

A Heritage Site is an area of outstanding universal value, identified by the biological and cultural significance to be protected and conserved by the global community. The Western Ghats have been nominated and are a strong candidate for becoming a World Heritage Site.

Malabar large-spotted civet

Magnificent Mammals
Asian Elephant 96

About 140 mammals have been identified in the Western Ghats, out of which 18 have made the Ghats their only home.

Nilgiri Tahr 97

India Southern
Elephant Distribution Stray Herds Malnad-Bhadra North Kanara BandipurMudumalaiNilgiris Nagarhole Nilambur-Palghat Anaimalai-Palani

Jungles for Jumbos

The Western Ghats support nearly 15,000 Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus), which is more than 50 per cent of the total elephant population of India. Major elephant ranges are in the Nilgiris. An adult elephant in the wild consumes 100 to 200 kg of vegetation per day from more than 50 plant species. Hence elephants require large forest ranges that make up their home (home range). They migrate from one forest to another through strips of vegetation called corridors that connect forests. Elephants have been an important part of Indian culture and religion from time immemorial. Elephant population is decreasing due to poaching for their valuable ivory and also due to significant reduction in the forest cover and disappearing corridors. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India launched Project Elephant in 1992 to protect and conserve elephant populations. Since migration corridors are vital for elephant conservation, the Project has identified 30 state corridors and 6 major interstate corridors in the Western Ghats.

Ghats the hornbill lacks casque, the spongy growth on the beak, which is prominent in other species of hornbills. Most birds are important pollinating and seed dispersal agents. This is very important for the regeneration and survival of the habitats. This hornbill particularly is a crucial seed dispersal agent in the Western Ghats. Vernal Hanging Parrot (Loriculus vernalis), a resident breeder in the Western Ghats What is a frog doing here? Look again! It is a bird. Its large, flat, hooked bill and a frog-like gape (interior of the open mouth) to catch insects gives it the apt name Frogmouth. Found in the south Western Ghats and Sri Lanka as well, Sri Lanka Frogmouth or Ceylon Frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger) is difficult to spot in the tree. Why? The Malabar Whistling Thrush (Myophonus horsfieldii) is called Whistling Schoolboy. Why? The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), dives vertically and rapidly into water to catch its prey which has little time to escape.
Ceylon Frogmouth Malabar Grey Hornbill

Eastern Ghat

Periyar Agasthyamalai

Distribution of Asian elephants in Western Ghats

Remarkable Reptiles Bird Watchers' Paradise

508 bird species (including 144 aquatic) have been identified in the Western Ghats. Out of these at least 16 are endemic. Malabar Grey Hornbill One cannot miss the distinct loud 'cackling', laughing or screeching calls of the Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros griseus). Endemic to the
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The growing list The Western Ghats are truly the centre of herpetofaunal (reptiles and amphibians) diversity in India. There are around 157 species of reptiles and 157 species of amphibians identified in the Ghats. New species of frogs, lizards and snakes are getting added to this list.

Did You Know?

l 135 out of 157 species of amphibians are endemic to the Western Ghats not found anywhere else on earth. l 12 new species and 3 lost species of frogs have been discovered in recent years.

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About 62 per cent of the reptiles are endemic to the Western Ghats. Snakes are the major reptile group. Some of the species of snakes of Uropeltis, a genus of nonvenomous shield tail snakes and primitive burrowing snakes are almost entirely restricted to the South Western Ghat.
Malabar Pit Viper

tink-tink-tink-tink. The sound is amplified by the vocal sacs that inflate during the call. Observe the inflated vocal sacs. The tree frog (Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus), found in the South Western Ghats, parachutes in the air at an angle greater than 45 degrees. Occurring in a single small location in the Indira Gandhi National Park in Tamil Nadu, it is critically endangered.
Arboreal Frog

The beautiful scales of the venomous Malabar (Trimeresurus malabaricus) are a designer's delight.

Pit

Viper

The Travancore Tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) is a forest tortoise, endemic to the South Western Ghats. More than one foot in length, it resides in hill forests at 450850 m elevation.

Incredible Invertebrate Diversity

About 6000 species of insects are recorded from Kerala alone! Among the invertebrate (without backbones) fauna, insects form the largest group in the Western Ghats. Out of 334 butterfly species reported from the Western Ghats, 37 butterfly species are endemic- found nowhere else on earth. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve alone has 315 species of butterflies! The Crimson Rose butterfly (Atrophaneura hector) is endemic to India and also found in the Western Ghats. The red colour in its wings gives out warning signals to its predators about its toxicity. Some other butterflies also mimic its warning patterns to avoid predators. As the name suggests the Southern Birdwing (Troides minos), the largest butterfly in South India has a wing span of about 6 inches or 15 cm! More common in the Western Ghats, it is the highlight in butterfly walks. Its striking colour warns the predators about its unpalatability due to the toxins it collects from plants. There is also a high diversity of the molluscan fauna, particularly land snails, due to high rainfall.
Southern Birdwing butterfly 101

Survival Secrets
Travancore Tortoise

Varieties of amazing adaptations in amphibians such as body shape, colour, behaviour help them to survive in the Western Ghats. The Purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis) was found in 2003 in 5 localities around the Palghat Gap area. Its closest relative is in the Seychelles. This is an important evidence of the separation of Madagascar and the Seychelles from the Indian land mass. This frog is called a living fossil it is the sole surviving member of an ancient lineage. It is now endangered due to habitat loss. Its distinct body shape and colour conceals the body outline. Spot the frog. The splash pattern of the frog (Nyctibatrachus aliciae) conceals the body shape and merges with its background protecting it from predators. Splendid colours of survival, indeed!

Crimson Rose butterfly

Nyctibatrachus aliciae 100

The small endemic, arboreal frog (Philautus luteolus) in the Western Ghats makes loud calls during monsoon, which sounds like

The endemic land snail (Indrella ampulla) shows great colour diversity from white, yellow, red to black. It is found along water bodies and other moist habitats of the evergreen forests.

Shola: Biologically Unique Landscape

Sholas refer to patches of stunted tropical montane rain forests separated by vast, rolling grasslands. Found in the valleys at altitudes above 1700 m, they are the special features of the Western Ghats. Their occurrence is more frequent in parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Sholas are treasure house of rare and endemic species as compared with other parts of the Ghats because like islands, they are somewhat isolated from other areas. Shola grassland supports rich herbivorous animals including the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, Slender Loris and Giant Squirrels. The forest patches provide them with shelter. Sholas play a critical role in regulating water in the Ghats and are ecologically important.
Exacum bicolor

Forests
Endemic Land Snail

There are four major forest types in the Western Ghats. North Western Ghats Moist Deciduous Forests: Teak is the dominant tree species here. North Western Ghats Montane Rainforests: Cinnamon type of trees dominate. South Western Ghats Moist Deciduous Forests: Predominantly trees of Cullenia genus of the Bombacaceae family like wild durian (Cullenia exarillata) are found here. South Western Ghats Montane Rainforests: Most species-rich, with about 80 per cent of the flowering plant species of the Ghats range. Also known as Shola Forest. Forest Is More Than Just Trees Besides 4000 and more higher plants, 320 species of pteridophytes, 200 species of bryophytes, 300 species of algae and 800 species of lichens have been identified. One-third of all the flowering plant species in India are found in the forests of the Western Ghats. Of the 267 species of fascinating orchids, 130 are found nowhere else. Plant diversity increases from north to south of the Ghats.

Gaur

Relic Forests
Some of the Last Non-equatorial Rainforests Located in the north of the Equator, the tropical forests of the Western Ghats have patches of ancient forests. These are called relic forests. They shelter rare and endemic plants and animals. The luxuriant rainforest with its thick canopy and three-layer vegetation is nearly impenetrable. The undergrowth of shrubs and herbs supports varieties of invertebrate fauna and facilitates a steady flow of water making the Ghats water-rich.

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Original Inhabitants
The Western Ghats first came under human influences during the stone age some 12,000 years ago! Tribes of the Western Ghats are the original inhabitants (Adivasis) of the region. There are several tribal communities in the region, living in small pockets. Coexisting with nature, each tribe has developed unique culture and practices closely linked with nature. They have rich knowledge of the local natural resources. Interestingly, each of these tribes uses different resources for their sustenance and livelihood, thereby not competing with the other. This supports the sustainable use, and harvest of the available resources.

patch work quilts (kawandi or kaudi) stitched by Siddi women are popular the world over. In Harmony with Nature: The Warli Tribe Living in the northern-most region of the Western Ghats, Warli, an agricultural tribe, is said to predict the onset of the monsoon using eco-indicators such as the time of the sunset, bird calls etc. They respect life forms and do not hunt unless it is a necessity. Traditional folk paintings of the Warli tribe revolve around nature, religious rituals and daily social life. The Kings of Wayanad Jungles: Kattunayakans Kattunayakan is one of the five primitive tribal groups in Kerala. They are also called Cholanaickan in Nilambur area and Pathinaickans in the plains of Malappuram district. Kattunayakans gather forest produce. Expert honey gatherers, they can even tell if there is honey in a hive hanging at a height of 20 m!

Nature and social life figure in Warli paintings

Sustainable Living
The Way of Tribal Life
Todas: The Nobles of Nilgiris The well-built Todas, supposed to be of some foreign origin, believe that they are the God-sent lords of the Nilgiris. Dairy is the livelihood of this pastoral community. The population of the Todas is less than 1000 today. Siddis: From East Africa to Uttara Kannada Siddis, supposed to have African ancestors have been living in the forests of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka for the last 400 years. They believe that Barack Obama, the US President shares their genepool! They even wanted to gift him a bottle of honey during his visit to India in 2010! They practise agriculture, collect forest produce like honey, and occasionally hunt small animals. Colourful, traditional
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Changing Times Troubled Tribes

The tribes today form less than 5 per cent of the population in the Western Ghats. The umbilical cord between the tribes and the Ghats are being severed. Declining forests, developmental activities like dam construction, forest policies etc. have made life difficult for these tribes. Forced out of their traditional way of life and livelihood, tribes are finding it difficult to adapt to the changing lifestyles. Incidences of crimes and begging are on the rise. Allowing tribes to lead their traditional lifestyle and/or equipping them to lead a decent life before bringing them to the mainstream are the needs of the day. The 'hotspot' status of the Western Ghats defines only the protection of plants and animals, but not of the tribes who live there!
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Munds (Toda huts) built from mud and bamboo

The Crumbling Paradise

Why are the Western Ghats under threat? Human interference has led to steady and extensive transformation of the Western Ghat habitats eroding much of its rich biodiversity. Reduction in the forest cover is the major change due to deforestation and forest fragmentation, degradation being greater and rapid in the southern stretch. Can any afforestation programme replace the rich pristine forests of the Western Ghats? With the vital ecological services like soil, water, temperature regulation, economic benefits are being lost. Of the total known fauna, 102 species fall under different categories of threat, mammals and amphibians being the prominent groups. With the changing lifestyles, the traditional conservation ethics and knowledge are being eroded. Sacred groves are losing their significance and are fast disappearing. l No more than 8000 sq km of pristine forest remains. The annual deforestation rate is more than 1 per cent. l The unique Myristica swamps have been replaced by paddy cultivation. l Large dams are causing submergence of tracts of prime forests and displacement of indigenous people l Due to the fire used to clear forests for agriculture the vegetation pattern has changed to more fire tolerant species such as catechu (Acacia catechu), Rose wood (Dalbergia latifolia), Teak (Tectona grandis) l Extensive plantations of tea (750 sq km), coffee (1500 sq km) and cardamom (825 sq km) above 1500 m elevation in the Ghats.
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Bababudan Giri (hill) in Chikmagalore in the Karnataka Ghat region is named after a Muslim pilgrim, Baba Budan who introduced Arabic variety of coffee here in the 17th century from just 7 seeds brought from Yemen. Coffee from plantations which originated from those 7 seeds is famous. l Mining is disrupting the large home ranges of elephants, tigers and liontailed macaques. l Significantly altered habitats have disturbed the life support system of the elephants leading to human-elephant conflicts and elephant deaths. l Climate change is likely to change the character of the forests. In the Nilgiris, there may be a deterioration in shola ecosystem, the only habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr. Will these animals survive this change?

Protecting the Hotspot

Biodiversity hotspots are regions that harbour especially high numbers of endemic species and, at the same time, have been significantly impacted by human activities. These areas need special protection. There are 16 National Parks and more than 47 Sanctuaries. These are spread over 10 per cent of the Western Ghats. Ten areas have been notified across the Ghats as Tiger Reserves, constituted of National Parks and Sanctuaries. One third of the tiger population of India finds protection here.
"The tiger cannot be preserved in isolation. It is at the apex of a large and complex biotope. Its habitat, threatened by human intrusion, commercial forestry and cattle grazing, must first be made inviolate." Mrs Indira Gandhi
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The Blue Mountains

Nilgiris [Nil = Blue, Giri = Mountain] Why this name? l The blue haze enveloping the hill ranges? OR l The carpet of purplish blue flowers of the shrub, Neela Kurinji (Strobilanthes kunthianus) that cover these hills? OR l Both? The Nilgiris is the name of the hill range which is over 2000 m high, in the State of Tamil Nadu, where the Karnataka and Kerala state borders meet. There are more than 24 peaks in this range.

The Abode of Agasthya

Agasthyamalai, or Ashamb Hills, are situated in the extreme south of the Western Ghats in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is also being considered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of very high plant diversity and endemism at the species level. The hill is named after the Vedic Sage Agasthya because of the valuable medicinal plants found here. It is believed that Boopathi Kuligai, one of his herbal preparations, is so powerful that it would even bring the dead back to life!

Key Biodiversity Areas Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Recognized globally as one of the most critical habitats for a host of species. The Nilgiri hill range was chosen by the Man And Biosphere (MAB) programme as the representative of the Western Ghats by UNESCO in 1986 for long-term conservation. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India coordinates the MAB programme. The Biosphere Reserve is spread across 3 states, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, covering about 5500 sq km. 126 Key Biodiversity Areas are identified and delineated in the Western Ghats. KBAs are areas containing irreplaceable and threatened biodiversity and hence are globally important sites for conservation. Conserving such areas ensures the conservation of biodiversity in the larger protected area. The KBAs in the Western Ghats help to protect unique species such as the liontailed macaque and purple frog, among others.
Liontailed macaque (Macaca silenus) Malabar Gliding/flying frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) Crimson rose butterfly (Atrophaneura hector) Openbill Stork (Anastomus oscitans)

Did You Know?

l The Neela Kurinji shrub blooms once in 12 years. l The Paliyan tribe used this blooming cycle to calculate their age.

In just about 0.15 per cent of India's land area, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve harbours 23 per cent of vertebrates, 15 per cent of butterflies and 20 per cent of flowering plants found in India. The Reserve also supports the largest single population of elephants and tigers in India.

Corridor Conservation
Green Corridor, or Wildlife Corridor, is a patch of habitat that connects populations of wild life, which may become isolated by activities such as forest clearing, fire and so on. Such corridors are vital for the movement of animals, requiring large home ranges, such as the elephant and tiger for re-establishment and breeding.
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For instance, the Project Elephant, launched in 1992 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, has identified 30 State corridors and 6 major interstate corridors in the Western Ghats for conservation.

Promising Ventures
How secure is the future of the Western Ghats? As the initiatives to conserve the Western Ghats Biodiversity increase, new challenges are emerging, particularly the complexity surrounding the developmental projects and climate change. DNA Barcoding DNA barcodes are used in rapid assessment of species from samples. It is a cheaper taxonomic method that uses a short genetic marker in an organism's DNA to identify the species. The National and State Governments are planning the DNA barcoding project to identify and distinguish species in the Western Ghats, with the Kerala State initiating the project in threatened habitats. Policy for the Protection of Fragile Mountain Scape National Environment Policy (2006) views mountains (Western Ghats and Himalayas) as entities with Incomparable Values. The policy has recommended some measures for conservation such as appropriate land use planning and watershed practices, adopting best practice norms for infrastructure projects, promoting organic farming, encouraging sustainable tourism and so on. How effective are the actions? How precise and prompt are the deliveries? The future of the Western Ghats depends on how positive the answers to these questions are. Act Now to save the Western Ghats with their exceptional lifescape before this paradise is lost!

Sacred Groves
Traditional Way to Conservation Thousands of sacred groves are found in the Western Ghats, with their area ranging from 0.01 acre to more than 50 acres. Sacred Groves are pockets of vegetation preserved on religious grounds and dedicated to various deities by the traditional societies. These groves are rich repositories of biodiversity and indicate the type of vegetation that existed, in the distant past in the region. Over 1000 Sacred Groves (Deva kadu) are documented in the district of Kodagu alone, in Karnataka. Dedicated to Ayyappa, the forest god, the groves are protected and maintained by the martial community of Kodavas, with strict laws and taboos against poaching and felling of trees. In many such sites, ritualistic dances like Theyyam in Kerala are performed for the deity in connection with the grove protection. Traditional societies living in the Western Ghats area perceive conservation as a part of their religion, traditions and culture. The Sacred Groves are one of the greatest repositories of ethno-biological knowledge.
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Some Organizations Working for Western Ghats Conservation Several development agencies including government organizations, research and academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations are working towards Western Ghats conservation through policies, surveys, research, management, education, livelihood improvement and so on.
l Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad l C.P.R Environmental Education Centre, Chennai l Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru l Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON),

Steps to Save the Western Ghats

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India is a major benefactor in Western Ghats conservation. With the help of 5 State Governments, the Ministry implements major conservation projects such as Project Tiger, Project Elephant and Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas. It also takes the help of legislations such as the Forest Conservation Act (1980) to enforce conservation. Several research and academic institutions, as well as NGOs have joined hands in this endeavour. There is considerable interest among the local people and NGOs to revive the tradition of sacred groves along the Western Ghats. The Hotspot status of the Western Ghats has attracted international funding for conservation. The Global Environment Facility, World Bank provides funds to save this iconic biome, with the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF, 2000) being the major fund.
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l l l l l l l l l l

Coimbatore Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Trivandrum Centre of Excellence in Environmental Economics, Chennai Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bengaluru Centre for Animals and Environment, Bengaluru Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala. Key Stone Foundation, Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore Wildlife Conservation Society, India, Bengaluru

An IUCN and Zoo Outreach Organisation joint assessment on global conservation status and distribution of freshwater species confirms the Western Ghats as a significant centre of diversity and endemism for freshwater species. 96 of the endemic species are under IUCN Red List category as they are threatened with extinction risk.
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Did You Know?

Save Silent Valley campaign, a people's movement that resulted in the cancellation of hydroelectric project across the river Kuntipuzha, attracted global attention in 1970s. Why the name Silent Valley? Absence of cicadas (a species of insect) or the presence of macaques (Macaca silenus)? Find out!

Actions required to prevent extinction of the Western Ghats freshwater endemic species include protection of key habitats, prevention of flow modifications where possible, conservation of specialized ecosystems such as Myristica swamps, prevention of agrochemical use in upper catchments, effective effluent treatment and better solid waste disposal and regulation of tourism in critical habitats. Awareness programmes promoting better understanding of the values, sustainable use, and management of wetlands and rivers are crucial to eliminate public perception of wetlands as wastelands. Management plans need to be developed with community participation to benefit both the many dependant people and the rich biodiversity that these areas support. The Western Ghats provides important ecosystem services including food and resources to sustain livelihoods to about 400 million people.
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THE DECCAN PENINSULA

The Deccan Peninsula
The Deccan Peninsula is a large area of raised land covering about 43 per cent of India's total land surface. It consists of 5 provinces: Central Highland, Eastern Highland, Chhota Nagpur, Deccan Plateau and Deccan South. 4 The Eastern and Central Highlands Moist and Dry Deciduous Forests The trees in these forests usually have broad leaves and they shed the leaves during the dry winter and summer season. The common trees of these forests are teak, sal, sandalwood, mahua, palash, khair, wattle, semal, shisham, and arjun. The largest area under bamboo forests (over 50000 sq km) is in this region. Dry Evergreen Forests extend as a narrow strip along southern coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The monsoon here is brief and occurs in the month of October and December. These forests retain their leaves through the year.
1 2 3 4 5 Central Highland Eastern Highland Chhota Nagpur Central (Deccan) Plateau Deccan South

1 3

Did You Know?

Moist deciduous forests may get converted to dry deciduous forests and dry deciduous may become scrub forests as rainfall patterns in India change due to climate change. Think, then what will happen to the animals?

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Who Lives Here? 1. Long billed vulture 3. Palash tree 5. Painted spurfowl 7. Cicadas 9. Termite 11. Yellow footed green pigeon 13. Flying squirrel 15.Mahua tree 17. Ratel 19. Rock python 21. Dung beetle 23. Harvester ant 25. Red jungle fowl

2. Hanuman langur 4. Bulbul 6. Crocodile bark tree 8. Monitor lizard 10. Sloth bear 12. Teak tree 14. Forest owlet 16. Tiger 18. Plain tiger butterfly 20. Grasshopper 22. Giant wood spider 24. Indian cobra

consists of open, low vegetation characterized by thorny trees with short trunks such as Acacia spp. The region is neither exceptionally speciesrich, nor high in endemism, still it is home to a variety of life forms. Who Lives Here? 1. Black shouldered kite 3. Ashy crowned sparrow lark 5. Indian wolf 7. Bay backed shrike 9. Grey francolin 11. Great Indian bustard 13. Indian silverbill 15. Milkweed plant 17. Field mouse 19. Fan throated lizard 2. Baya weaver 4. Blackbuck 6. Ber tree 8. Jungle bush quail 10. Green keelback 12. Yellow wattled lapwing 14. Funnel web spider 16. Plain tiger butterfly 18. Toad 20. Painted grasshopper

The Deccan Plateau

Grasslands and Scrub Forests are the predominant vegetation types of Deccan Plateau. Grasslands Grasslands cover areas where rainfall is usually low, and the soil depth is shallow. The low rainfall does not support the dense growth of large trees and shrubs, but enough to support the growth of grass during the monsoon. Most of the grasses evolved 40 to 50 million years ago after volcanic eruption and Deccan Trap formation, that is after dinosaurs became extinct. Scrub Forests The Deccan scrub forests are located in the arid parts of the Deccan Plateau. The annual rainfall here is less than 750 mm. This forest type
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Grasses Sustain Lives and Livelihoods

Grasses are integral part of human lives, livelihood and culture. Grasses are used for food, fodder, medicines, building materials, paper, perfumes and more. Bamboo is also a grass! Bamboo craft includes a variety of items such as baskets, mats, furniture, poles, ropes, bows and arrows. Thatch grass is used to cover huts. Ropes and brooms are also made from grass. Disappearing Grasslands Natural grasslands are being converted into farmland, into spaces for human habitation and for industrial areas. This means loss of habitat for the grassland flora and fauna.

Did You Know?

The Deccan Plateau was formed from lava flows and volcanic eruptions about 65 million years ago.

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The native grasses are gradually being replaced by less nutritious grasses due to over-grazing, soil erosion and degradation. The Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh is the country's premier research institute in the area of grassland, fodder production and utilization.

The plant grows everywhere, but it is not browsed by cattle, because it is toxic. Giant milkweed has immense medicinal value. Animals that Eat Milkweed (Primary Consumers) Locate two animals that eat parts of the plant Locate three animals that feed on nectar Animals that Eat Other Animals that Eat Milkweed (Secondary Consumers) Locate two animals that eat creatures that feed on leaves, seeds or nectar of milkweed

Did You Know?

Bamboo is the tallest grass. It can grow up to a height of 50 m. Rice, wheat, maize, barley, oats, rye, bajra, sorghum which are part of our daily food are all seeds of plants in the grass family. Sugarcane is the sweet grass!

Grasses Provide Us Our Food!

l Grasses are among the most recently evolved plants. l They can grow even in low rainfall areas, in harsh sunlight and

rocky soils.
Golden Bamboo

The Food Web

l They enrich and stabilize the soil and, therefore, help other plants

to grow. What makes a grass? l Stems called culms which are generally cylindrical and hollow. l Ribbon-like leaves which are called blades. l Fibrous roots which form an intricate web under the ground. l Grass also has flowers and fruits.

?
Garden lizard

Predatory mammal

Flowers

Ladybird beetle

Predatory bird

Blade Culm (stalk) Node Sheath

?
Giant Milkweed
More Than Meets The Eye! There are many common plants which we come across daily but tend to ignore. Every plant constitutes a small world in itself. Take the example of the Milkweed; locally known as Aak, Madar, Aakdo, Rui. The plant plays an important role in improving the fertility and water holding capacity of the soil.
Snail Aphids Fruit fly Mantid Carpenter bee

Spider Purple sunbird

Did You Know?

The Plain tiger butterfly lays its eggs on milkweed. When the caterpillars hatch they eat the leaves which contain a toxic chemical. This chemical does not affect the caterpillar but makes it unpalatable for birds. This provides safety from predators.

Shoot

Milkweed
Calotropis procera

Plain tiger butterfly

Stolon

Fibrous roots

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Jerdon's Courser
Named after the British surgeon-naturalist Thomas C. Jerdon who described it in 1848, sightings of this bird were reported till the early 1900s. In 1986, Dr. Bharat Bhushan, a researcher from the Bombay Natural History Society and a local person were able to locate the bird again. It lives in sparse scrub forest. It is endemic to southern India, and its range is mainly the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. This fairly long-legged ground dwelling bird prefers to run rather than fly. Its habitat is being destroyed by quarrying, extraction of fire wood, cattle grazing and conversion of the forest areas to farms. It is currently known to exist only in Sri Lanka Malleswara Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh. There are 9 species of Coursers worldwide. The Jerdon's Courser is classified as Critically Endangered as it is thought that no more than 200 individuals remain.

The bird faces threats like habitat destruction, forest fires and hunting due to superstitions. As only about 100 individuals have been found so far, the Forest Owlet is still classified as Critically Endangered.

In Danger!
The existence of wild animals and plants is in danger. If their habitat is not conserved, we might lose them forever. The natural habitats of the Deccan Plateau and Highlands are rapidly deteriorating due to a number of reasons. With the loss of habitat there is also loss of the flora and fauna of this habitat. With reduction in grassland habitat and conversion to farmlands, blackbuck sometimes enter crop fields. Bauxite mining in reserved forests of Araku valley will destroy the pristine habitats of several endangered flora and fauna. Construction of dams, urbanization and sprawling industries have greatly reduced the undisturbed wilderness available for wild creatures to live in.

Jerdon's Courser Locally known as Kalivi Kodi, this bird is active at dawn and dusk.

Forest Owlet
Thought to be extinct, rediscovered after 113 years! The Forest Owlet was first described in scientific literature in 1878. It was last seen in 1884. For a long time, it was thought that this bird was extinct. But, in 1997, a team of scientists surveying the forests found it again in the Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. Besides Nandurbar, Forest Owlets are also found in Melghat in Maharashtra and some parts of Madhya Pradesh. This owl is endemic to the dry deciduous, teak-dominated forests of Central India.

Gone
Where is the Asiatic Cheetah? Some species are now believed to be extinct, while others are endangered or threatened. Once the top predator of the Deccan grasslands, the Asiatic Cheetah has not been seen in the wild in India since the middle of the 20th century. It is believed that the last one was hunted down in 1947.

Forest Owlet Unlike other owls, the Forest Owlet is up and about during the day, not at night. 122

Cheetah 123

Going?
The Last Wild Buffaloes The wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is the ancestor of the domestic water buffalo. It is bigger in size and heavier, with majestic horns. The Udanti and Indravati wildlife sanctuaries in the State of Chhattisgarh are the only places in Central India where genetically 'pure' wild buffalo population is concentrated, with numbers less than 40 individuals. The remaining wild buffaloes in India total less than 4,000.
Wild Buffalo

Plants in Peril
Rakt Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus) This tree species which is endemic to the Deccan area is widely used for timber and in medicines to treat injuries, reduce burning sensation, arrest bleeding and treat skin disorders. The wood is illegally traded for its medicinal value. The tree is listed as endangered. Rakt chandan, or red sandalwood, is smuggled and fetches a high price as the Zitan furniture (famously called King's Furniture) in China is made from this wood. It is commercially valuable for extraction of dye and cosmetics. Swallow Root (Decalepis hamiltonii) An endemic and endangered medicinal plant of Peninsular India, it is found in the forests of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The plant roots are used in ayurvedic medicine to treat wound, bronchial asthma, fever, haemorrhage. It is also used to make pickle and chutney which taste like ginger. Yenadi tribes of Andhra Pradesh prepare traditional drink from it called Nannari. This drink cools the system and purifies blood. The plant is listed as endangered due to habitat destruction, illegal trade and over-exploitation for its medicinal value.
Rakt Chandan

Competing for Space

Rhesus and Bonnet Macaque The Godavari river in east-central India and the Tapi river in the western part of the country form the dividing line for the distribution of Bonnet Macaque and the Rhesus Macaque. Bonnet Macaques are restricted to peninsular India, i.e. south of the dividing line whereas Rhesus Macaques are found above the Tapi. Rhesus Macaque have a large habitat range and they adapt easily. Due to rapid urbanization, extensive fragmentation and loss of their forest habitat Rhesus Macaques have extended their geographical range into the southern peninsula which is Bonnet Macaque's range. This is leading to competition for food and space between the two species.

Swallow Root

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People with a Long History

Tribal communities have been present in the Deccan peninsular region for thousands of years. Over millennia these communities have developed knowledge of, and close relationship with, numerous plants and animals. Tribes like Kolam, Katkari, Madia and Kamar practise huntinggathering, fishing and shifting cultivation for their subsistence. Some other tribes are:
l l l l

People and Practices

Snake venom for livelihood! The traditional knowledge and skills of tribal communities are being used in mainstream economic and conservation activities. Irulas: Snake-Catchers The Irulas are hunter-gatherers by tradition. Their expertise in catching snakes is legendary. The ban on snake hunting for skins deprived the Irulas of their main source of livelihood. In 1978, Irulas Snake-Catchers Industrial Cooperative Society was formed. The Society is engaged in extracting snake venom which is then crystallized and supplied to various laboratories in India for experiments and making antivenin, which is used in making medicine for snakebite and some blood disorders. Kolam: Expert Honey Collectors Kolam tribe harvests honey from trees as high as fifty feet in darkness with little support. Srujan, an organization working with this community has initiated a 'Non-violent' honey extraction method without destroying bee hives. The Kolam's custom of leaving some trees in the forest untouched as 'sacred abodes of god' shows their understanding and commitment towards conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Phase Paradhi: Hunters Who Protect Phase Paradhis are traditional hunters skilful in trapping methods. They possess invaluable knowledge of wildlife and their habitats. In Akola and Washim districts of Maharashtra, they helped in recording 11 sightings and protection of three nests of Lesser Florican, not recorded in last 30 years in Maharashtra. They are also playing a critical role in grassland improvement.
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Kurubas: traditional sheep keepers Baiga: semi-nomadic; do not plough the earth out of respect for it Bhoi and Koli: fishing communities in Maharashtra Bhil: rich cultural tradition visible in their songs, dances, stories and art. Walls are decorated with clay relief work, mittichitra, and paintings.

Conserving Traditional Rice Varieties The knowledge, practices and cultural values of tribal communities are a valuable resource for modern conservation work. Bastar in Chhattisgarh has over 5000 traditional varieties of rice and millets such as ragi, kodo and kutki. These have been developed and cultivated over generations by Gond, Madia, Halba, Bhatra and other tribal groups. Dharohar Samiti, a local tribal farmers' group in Kondagaon area, is conserving over 260 traditional varieties of rice and millets. Through the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique, they have improved productivity of these crops in an organic way, to match productivity of hybrid varieties. This also helps to conserve crop diversity and maintain the ecological integrity of this agro-climatic region.
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Cock a Doodle Doo!

From Forest to Game Arena Aseel Bred from the Red Jungle Fowl in East Godavari region, this indigenous breed is valued for its meat, agility and ability to escape predators. Aseels are bred for cockfight games due to their aggressive tendencies. Kadaknath Native to Central India, this breed is popular for its adaptability and tasty meat.
Red Jungle Fowl

Baa Baa Black Sheep!

The Deccan Peninsula has a little more than half the sheep population of the country. The region has more than ten breeds: Deccani (Bellary), Nellore, Madras Red, Mandya, Tiruchy Black, Mecheri, Ramnad White, Nilgiri, Coimbatore, Kilaikarsal, Kengiur and Vembur.

Hooves and Horns

Selective breeding over 200 years and a new breed is born! The domestic breeds are well adapted to specific local conditions and needs. They are able to withstand the local weather changes, and diseases. They can feed on locally available plants. Pandharpuri buffalo This breed is native to the dry regions of Solapur, Kolhapur, and Sangli in Maharashtra. It is easily identified by its long, sword-shaped horns. Khillari cattle This breed is found in the Bijapur district of Karnataka, and the Solapur, Kolhapur and Satara districts of Maharashtra. It is suitable for draught. Deoni cattle This breed is found mainly in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, Bidar in Karnataka and adjoining parts of Andhra Pradesh. It has been developed within the last 200 years by selective breeding among Gir, Dangi and local cattle.

Hound Named after a Princely State

Mudhol Hound The Raja of Mudhol, an erstwhile princely state in Karnataka, is said to have presented a pair of hound puppies to King George V of England, who named them the Hounds of Mudhol. This breed is found not only in Mudhol but widely throughout the Deccan. It is a strong dog capable of great speed and stamina.
Mudhol Hound

Goat The region has about a third of the goat population of the country. Sangamneri, Osmanabadi, Kannaiadu are the important breeds. The Osmanabadi Goat, which gets its name from Osmanabad in Maharashtra, is known for its tasty meat. Goat rearing requires little investment and is not labour intensive. Thus, it is a productive option for the poor in this dry region.

Did You Know?

Ghongadi is the traditional woollen blanket of Maharashtra and Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. It is woven from the black wool of Deccani Sheep reared by shepherd communities known as Dhangar, Kuruba and Golla in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh respectively. This highly adaptable sheep provides livelihood to farmers, shepherds and craftsmen. Sangar community in Maharashtra has specialized in weaving ghongadi.

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Celebrating Cereals
Ragi - brought to India 4000 years ago! Rice - 19000 varieties in Chhattisgarh alone! Millets are a group of small-seeded species of grasses, the seeds used as cereal or grains. Eight millet species are commonly grown in Deccan Peninsula. Millets are specially suited to this region because of their adaptability to grow in water-scarce areas, and heat and drought resistance capacity. They can be cultivated round the year. Wild Ancestors The plants and animals we have domesticated have originally come from wild varieties. From the great variety of wild species of plants human beings have, over centuries, selected some of the species to cultivate. Farmers and scientists developed improved crop varieties through selection, cross-breeding, and grafting to enhance taste, nutritional value, yield, resistance to diseases, drought tolerance etc. The eastern part of peninsular India is the centre of origin of Toor, or pigeon pea. Its closest wild relatives (Cajanus cajanifolia) occur in forests of Odisha.

TYPES OF CEREALS FOUND IN THE REGION

Sorghum, or Jowar Source of energy One of the most important staple foods of millions of poor people in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa. Pearl Millet, or Bajra Source of iron and protein It can grow where other cereals like wheat and maize cannot. Foxtail Millet It is one the worlds oldest cultivated crops. Finger Millet, or Ragi Rich in calcium Native of Ethiopian Highlands, this was introduced in India about 4000 years ago.

Little Millet Domesticated in India It grows even in dry weather. Stalks are good fodder for cattle. Proso Millet Requires very little water An excellent crop of dryland as it requires little water and grows in 6090 days. Barnyard Millet Fastest growing It produces a crop in six weeks. Kodo Millet High fibre content Domesticated in India almost 3000 years ago.

Did You Know?

l A leading expert on rice in India, Dr. R. H. Richharia, has recorded about 19000 rice varieties from Chhattisgarh. l In Puri, a different variety of rice is offered to Lord Jagannath every day! How many varieties of rice do you eat? Find out what different varieties are used for different dishes.

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Government Efforts
Government of India has established several wildlife Protected Areas to conserve flora and fauna in the wild. There are 116 wildlife sanctuaries and 21 national parks in Deccan Peninsula. These include special sanctuaries to protect the highly endangered Great Indian Bustard and Jerdon's Courser.

ICT for Conservation

The Forest Department, Madhya Pradesh has launched a unique Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) initiative for effective monitoring of wildlife and conservation of forests. This is the Forest Offence Management System which helps in registering forest offences electronically on GPS-facilitated PDAs at the location of offence itself.The Forest Department has given Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) to all Beat Guards in Kanha National Park and Satpura Tiger Reserve to enable them to immediately report offences. PDA phones have round-theclock satellite link. This initiative has inspired States like Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Haryana and Rajasthan to adopt the same system.

Conserving Great Indian Bustard

The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has been categorized as 'critically endangered' by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Birdlife and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).The Ministry of Environment and Forests has initiated the GIB Recovery Project in the five states of their occurrence i.e. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. The recovery plan includes three-tier strategies: at national level, State-specific, and Site-specific conservation. The highlight of the project is to link local livelihoods with bustard conservation; set up a profitable and equitable mechanism to share revenues generated from eco-tourism with local communities; identify core breeding areas and keep them inviolate from human disturbances; permitting only low intensity, traditional pastoral activities during the non-breeding season. Bustard species are regarded as indicators of grassland ecosystems. By conserving the bustard and their habitats a very large number of species dependent on healthy grassland will be protected.
Great Indian Bustard 132

Wild Buffalo Recovery Project

It was found that Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh had only seven individuals, including a male calf and one female of the wild water buffalo. The lone female buffalo and her male calf are being kept in a spacious enclosure within the sanctuary for their safety. This is part of the Udanti Wild Buffalo Recovery Project which aims to stabilize the wild buffalo population. The plan aims at ensuring zero unnatural deaths of the remaining individuals, and habitat improvement. Additional females from closelyrelated populations are to be brought in for breeding in Udanti. The species is classified 'endangered' and listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Wild Buffalo 133

Benefit Sharing Enabled

India has taken significant legislative measures for ensuring Access and Benefit Sharing. In one such case of benefit sharing in the country, the royalty amount of Rs.20,000/- has been given to Amarchinta Biodiversity Management Committee in Mahboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, for the export of neem leaves to Japan. This has been enabled through the National Biodiversity Authority, as per the provisions of Biological Diversity Act.

Conserving the Gene Pool

An early-maturing and large-seeded hybrid of Bajra variety MBH 110 was wiped out due to downy mildew epidemic disease in 1989. International Crops Research Institute for the SemiArid-Tropics (ICRISAT) developed a new variety called ICTP 8203 similar to MBH 110, from a Bajra variety found in the northern Togo in Africa.

Community Efforts
Biodiversity on Wheels
The Mobile Biodiversity Festival is a unique conservation and cultural campaign initiated in 2001 by the Deccan Development Society in Andhra Pradesh. The festival features a caravan of bullock carts that move from village to village. Displayed in the carts are hundreds of traditional varieties of seeds of the Deccan dryland region. The annual festival begins on Sankranti Day, and the jatra of the caravan ends a month later at the Central Community Seeds Shrine run by women farmers. At every village along the route, discussions are held with farmers about local seed varieties, and also about other agriculture-related issues. Food festivals of traditional dishes and screening of films are the other highlights. Over the decade, the participation of farmers in the festival has increased greatly.

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The festival symbolizes the celebrations of the agrobiodiversity of the region and a sense of pride in the local crops, animals and their relationships with local culture.

Conserving Local Biodiversity

The Deccani sheep is being conserved in Solapur district, Maharashtra and in Medak district, Andhra Pradesh by Anthra, an organization started by women veterinary scientists. Interested farmers and local school groups are also conserving traditional millets, pulses and oil crops, fodder seeds and medicinal plants, local breeds of poultry, cattle and goat in Medak, Pune, Satara, Ahmednagar, and Solapur districts.

Ministry of Environment and Forests as the main implementing partner guides efforts to ensure the sustainable development of medicinal plants and to promote and protect the livelihoods of the rural population. The project has support of United Nations Development Programme, and State governments and organizations across India. Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bangalore, Karnataka coordinates the activities of the state and local partner agencies in nine states of India. The agency provides technical and policy advisory services. The programme also promotes the exchange of expertise and best practices with traditional medical practitioners across Asia, Africa and South America.

A New Way of Thinking

IUCN's Livelihoods and Landscape Strategy (LLS) initiative represents a new way of thinking from focussing on threats to promoting negotiated plans for productive landscapes. To achieve this, LLS goes beyond forest management and links positively with other sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, health and the private sector. LLS provides for immediate needs while supporting long term changes that will improve human well being and resilience. The LLS initiative has worked in two sites in India, the Shiwalik foothills in Haryana, and the Kaptipada and Baisingha Forest Ranges, Mayurbhanj district in Odisha.

Conserving Medicinal Plants

Indian government has incorporated traditional medical practices and the conservation of medicinal plants into existing national health and forestry policies.
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THE COASTS THE ISLANDS

Coasts
Where Sea Meets Land l The coastal zone can be described as that part of the sea which is affected by land and that part of the land which is affected by sea.
l Coasts include more than just the sea shore or beach. They

comprise habitats such as cliffs, rocky coasts, sandy coasts, estuaries, deltas, lagoons, backwaters, mangrove forests, mud flats, salt marshes, sea grass beds, and coral reefs.
l Salinity, waves and tidal actions are the major factors that affect

the biodiversity of the coasts.

l The extent of the coastal zone varies with location and time! For

example, near the Shravan Kavadia temple (in Lodai village, Bhuj District in Gujarat) there is a 0.7 ha land-locked patch of mangroves, which is located 100 km from the seashore. This is an evidence that once this area may have been on the shoreline. In India, for regulation purposes, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2011 Notification, states that coastal zone is 500 m on the landward side from high tide line and up to 12 nautical miles seaward from the low tide line.

Did You Know?

l Every fourth Indian lives within 50 km of the seashore. l 3 of the 4 metropolitan cities in India are located along the coast. l 9 states and 4 Union Territories of India have a coastline.

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Islands
0k m. Landward side 12.5 m 10

l 600 species of crabs l 103 species of echinoderms l 2546 species of fishes

50

Seaward side m

Surrounded by Sea
l An island is a landmass surrounded by water. l The major island groups of India are the Andaman and Nicobar

25 m 37.5 m 50 m

islands, and the Lakshadweep islands.

l The Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu has 21 islands and Marine

Our Coastline
India has the world's seventh longest coastline. l The coastline of India is 7516 km long. Of this, the mainland coastline is 5422 km, Lakshadweep coast line 132 km and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands coastline is 1962 km. l Salt pans are a common feature of coastal states of India. These support the important salt industry. l The Marina Beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is the world's second longest beach. l A Bay is a large body of sea water surrounded by land on three sides. The Bay of Bengal is an example. l A Gulf is a large area of a sea or ocean partially enclosed by land. The Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat has the second largest tidal range in the world. l Estuaries are water bodies where there is mixing of freshwater from river and salt water of the sea. Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems and abodes of rich biodiversity. l A Lagoon is a shallow lake of salt water separated from sea by offshore islands, coral reef, sand bars or shingle spits. Chilika Lagoon, Largest in India l Chilika Lake in Odisha, spread over 1165 sq km, is the largest lagoon in Asia and second largest in the world, after the Patos Lagoon in Southern Brazil. It is a Ramsar Site, a wetland of international importance.
141 Painted Storks in Chilika Lagoon

Coastal Space: ranges from 100 km landward to 50 m seaward

National Park, Jamnagar in Gujarat has 42 islands. Island Types Continental: These lie on the continental shelf and are mostly volcanic in origin, e.g. Sri Lanka, Java, Sumatra, Greenland. Oceanic: These do not lie on the continental shelf. They may be volcanic in origin, e.g. Andaman, Nicobar. Some may be formed due to corals, e.g. Lakshadweep.

An Enchanting World
In the marine world you can see 'deserts' of sand dunes, 'forests' of sea grasses and mangroves, and spectacular coral reefs. The animal and plant life is incredible in its diversity, and has amazing adaptations to the marine world. The Indian coasts host, among others l more than 180 species of benthic algae l 14 species of sea weeds l 12 species of sea grasses l 108 species of sponges l 4 species of lobsters

Did You Know?

Mumbai is actually an archipelago (group or cluster) of 7 islands. It appears as a continuous land mass because of the land reclamation and rapid urbanization.

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l Chilika is a unique assemblage of marine, brackish and freshwater

ecosystems with estuarine characters. l Chilika supports rich and varied wildlife the highest density of the Irrawaddy Dolphins, 167 species of migratory and resident birds, etc. l The lagoon includes the Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary (15.53 sq km of Nalaban area) and the rest is "Closed Area" under the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Chilika: A Success Story Chilika lagoon was designated as 'Ramsar Site' in 1981. Around the same time, ecological factors and human activities were putting severe pressure on the lagoon. This adversely affected the livelihood of the local community. To address these issues, the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) was formed in 1991 under the aegis of Forests and Environment Department, Odisha. Over the last two decades, the CDA has implemented a variety of measures e.g. catchment area treatment, desiltation of lead channels, opening of mouth to the sea, fishery resource development, improvement of the ecosystem and overall eco-development programmes with the community. As a result the ecosystem has been restored to a great extent and there has been improved livelihood of the community. CDA got the international Ramsar Wetland Award and also the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, both in 2002.

About 97 per cent of all species found in the sea are invertebrates (animals without backbone). They range from primitive sponges (Spongilla) to the complex echinoderms (starfish). Planktons are microscopic organisms that provide the basic source of food for aquatic life-forms. Hints to the Past
l Balanoglossus is an evolutionary link between invertebrates

and vertebrates. They have gill slits but no nerve cord.

l Ammonites (coiled marine molluscs) are an extinct group of

marine invertebrates. Their fossilized shells are found in the Kali Gandaki valley of the Himalayas, indicating the presence of sea once upon a time in that area.
l Horseshoe Crab is known as a 'living fossil' because it is almost
Horseshoe Crab

identical to the species present during the Triassic period (230 million years ago). It has nine eyes and copper-based blue colour blood.
l Squids are the largest invertebrates on earth. A giant

squid's eyeball can be as big as a basketball! It can change its colour to suit its surroundings. The Humboldt squids are intelligent and hunt in groups exhibiting cooperation and communication.
l Amazing Partners: The Clownfish and the Sea Anemone have a

Amazing Life In The Sea

Sponge-Crab Association 142

Life can be found even in the deepest and darkest corners of the sea.

useful partnership. The Clownfish avoids its enemies by staying nestled among the Anemone's stinging tentacles. In return, it protects the Sea Anemone from its predators like butterfly fish. The Anemone also gets nutrition from the faeces of the Clownfish. This is an example of mutually beneficial relationship called symbiosis.

Did You Know?

l Is 'Jellyfish' a fish? l The jellyfish is not really a fish. They belong to the phylum Coelenterata, are found as free swimmers (moving with waves and currents), and have tiny stinging cells in their tentacles.

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Habitats And Inhabitants

As the homes so the occupants. Diverse species have characteristic features that help them to live in their specific habitats like mud flats, estuaries, sandy beaches, mangroves, lagoons.
Green Sea Turtle

The dominant group of vertebrates (animals with backbones) in the sea is made up of fishes although the marine vertebrates range from tiny fishes to giant whales. So special! The special aquatic adaptations like gills to extract oxygen and salt from water, streamlined shape of the body and fins help the fish swim swiftly in water. Some fishes migrate from river to sea and vice-versa for spawning (egg laying and sperm discharge). The 'Hilsa' swims up from sea to rivers and 'eel' migrates from freshwater rivers to sea for spawning. Keystone species A keystone species is a species that exerts major influence on the structure of the ecosystem. If its population dwindles the food web can be drastically disturbed. The Dugong (seacow), the State Animal of A&N Islands, is a keystone species in the seagrass ecosystem.

Sea to Sand l Sea Turtles: Five species of sea turtles Olive Ridley, Green Turtle, Hawksbill, Leatherback and Loggerhead come to the Indian coasts for nesting every year. Gahirmatha in the state of Odisha is the world's largest rookery (mass nesting site) for Olive Ridleys. In the Mangroves l Mudskippers: These walking fish can breathe through their skin, crawl and jump on mud flats. l Sundarban Tigers are well adapted to mangrove forests with a lean and athletic build. They prey on fishes, crabs, water lizards and other aquatic animals. l Saltwater crocodile, the largest crocodile in the world, is also found in mangrove forests in estuaries. Its special ability to excrete salt is one of the adaptive features for living in the estuarine habitats. Guests from Abroad: The Indian Coasts are host to lakhs of migratory birds arriving from Siberia, Asia, Europe, Arabia and Mongolia.

Mudskippers

Sundarban Tiger

Puffer Fish

Plants In The Sea

The base of the marine food web is invisible. Microscopic marine plants phytoplankton form the basis of the marine food web. Seagrass is the only flowering plant that can live underwater in the sea. Seagrass absorbs nutrients from coastal run-off, which helps stabilise sediment. This keeps the coastal waters clear. Seagrass beds are the feeding grounds for marine animals like dugongs, turtles, prawns and fishes. Seaweeds are macroscopic algae found largely in shallow coastal waters. They have specialized pigments for absorbing whatever minimal sunlight falls on the coastal waters. Hence they are found in

Did You Know?

l Dugongs and Dolphins are not fishes; they are mammals living in water. l Whales are mammals of the deep sea, sometimes come close to the coast.

Did You Know?

l Out of 58 varieties of seagrasses in the world, India has 12 varieties belonging to 6 genera. l Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Andaman & Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep islands are well known for seagrasses.

Full Of Fish
2546 species of fish have so far been recorded along the Indian coasts.

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different colouration and are accordingly classified into: Blue-Green Algae, Green Algae, Brown Algae and Red Algae. Seaweeds also have other adaptations like holdfasts instead of roots, stems and leaves, to hold firmly on any place; stipes to keep them upright, and leaf blades for photosynthesis.

Support in nutrient cycling, topsoil formation and fertility Cultural & spiritual, Educational & scientific information, Recreation

Thick succulent leaves to minimize evaporation

salt glands to extract salt

Tsunami Soldiers
and more... Multipurpose Mangroves
Vivipary germination

Floral Paradise
From colorful, glistening algae to the gallery of sea grasses and seaweeds. The vegetation of the Indian coasts is unique in forms and functions. Plants along the shore There are 338 species of coastal sand dune flora found in Indian coasts. The predominant species are Beach Sedges, Beach Morning Glory, Giant Milk Weed, Horse-tail Sea Oak, Coconut and Palm tree. Cocos on coast The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is predominant along the Indian coast with incredible adaptations to the saline environment and sandy soil. The coconut fruits can float for thousands of miles in the sea until they are cast onto a sandy shore and eventually sprout to life. It is said that every part of the coconut tree has important uses. It is used for food and shelter, and plays a significant role in livelihood, culture and lifestyle of the coastal communities.

Your roots are showing! Mangroves are a group of specialized woody, flowering plants growing in intertidal region along creeks, estuaries and river deltas. They have stilt (aerial) roots for support and breathing during water logging. The diagram shows some more adaptations. Mangrove habitats are also a migratory path for catadromous fish (fish migrating from river to sea, e.g. eel) and anadromous fish (migrating from sea to river for breeding). Hilsa fish is an example of anadromous fish.

Stilt (aerial) root for support during water logging

Provides breeding, feeding, and shelter to many animals

Coral: Stone, Plant Or Animal?

Corals are tiny animals living in colonies in the sea. Each coral is called a polyp of a sea anemone and lives inside a cup of calcium carbonate (limestone). It has a mouth at the top surrounded by tentacles that help to capture food. Coral Reefs Coral reefs are colonies of tiny corals found in marine waters. They are very fragile ecosystems and indicate the health of the overall marine ecosystem. Global factors such as climate change, pollution caused by oil spills, pesticides, sewage and dredging are threatening the health of the reefs.

Sea Grass

Did You Know?

l About 60% of the coral reefs of the world are found in the Indian Ocean l Most of the coral reefs of the Indian ocean are Atolls l Greatest coral diversity is found in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Mangrove Ecosystem Services

Stilt (Aerial) Roots 146

Food, fish resources, medicines, livelihoods Protection from floods, shoreline erosion, cyclones

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Types of Coral Reefs

l Fringing reefs (grow close to the shore) l Barrier reef (grow away from the shore and are separated by wide

l Algins from brown algae are used in paints, pigments, dyes, paper,

cardboard, textiles, explosives and fire retardants.

l Pearls from Pearl Oyster are used in jewellery. Artificial pearl

expanse of water) l Atoll (roughly circular ring of reefs)

Salt Farming

culture is carried out in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

Coasts Under Threat Livelihood Gifts From Sea

There are 3322 fishing villages in India employing over 14 million people. About 50 per cent of the total marine fish production in India is from nearshore waters, caught by traditional fishermen.
l There are 13 major and 185 minor ports along the coastline of

India. The cumulative impact of port-related activities harms coastal biodiversity.

l Every day, about 18240 million (1824 crore) litres of untreated

sewage is being discharged into the sea in India!

l Every day, about 34 million (3 crore and 40 lakh) tons of garbage

Horseshoe Crab

caught in a net

Agriculture

Essential Elements from the Sea

l Minerals like iodine, bromine, magnesium, calcium, silicon and tin

and other solid waste is being released into the sea in India!

are extracted from the sea water. Deposits of radioactive elements like thorium are found on the seashore of Kerala and Odisha. l Materials extracted from sea sponges have antibiotic and antifungal properties.
Fishing

S.O.S.
Coasts and islands are facing threats from a variety of factors human activity-related as well as natural. l Overexploitation of fishery resources.
l Dredging and mining of shore sand leading to shore erosion and
Sea erosion

Salt of the Sea Can anyone think of a delicious dish without salt?

flooding.
l Pollution, oil spills, sewage and effluent disposal, hot water

Did You Know?

l Carrageenan extracted from red seaweed is used as a thickening agent in cakes, chewing gums, jams, jellies, and also in cosmetic products like toothpastes, shampoos, shaving cream.

l Salt production through salt pans is a common feature of all coastal

states of India. l The farmers of Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal cultivate more than 10 varieties of salt-tolerant paddy in saline low land areas. l Agar from brown algae is used in bakery products, ice creams and microbial culture media.

discharge from thermal power plants, coastal ground water overexploitation, urbanization and industrial establishments that convert coastal habitats.
l Climate change impacts like increase in sea surface water

temperature, sea level rise, changes in ocean currents, coral bleaching.

Port operations 149

148

l Natural hazards such as tsunami, cyclones, storm surges, coastal

l The lagoon, reef and the deep sea provide the islanders with their

flooding. Early Warning System

l Some species capture signals of the biological conditions in the

basic needs - food, construction materials, and livelihood resources such as fishing and coconut cultivation.
l Common sea birds are Taratachi (Sterna fusca) and Common

environment. They give an early warning of the deteriorating health of the ecosystem, e.g. coral reefs, sponges, mussels, pearl oyster. These are known as bio-indicators.
Fishing trawl net with TED

Noddy (Anous stolidus) The Coral Islands l The word 'Lakshadweep' in Sanskrit means one lakh (laksha) islands (dweep). In fact, this island group includes 36 islands of which 11 are inhabited.
l Some of these islands are made up of coral formations, and others
Rani crab

l Haliclona tenuiramosa is a marine sponge which absorbs heavy

metals present in sea water and, thus, a concentration of these metals in its tissues can indicate the level of pollutant load.
l Sea urchins are used as bio-sensors for the effects of ultraviolet

radiation.

of rocky formations and large lagoons.

l There is a continuous interaction of coral reef, lagoons and the sea.

Ted To Trounce Turtle Trap

Turtles are often caught in fishing nets. To prevent this, a Turtle Excluder Device (TED) has been invented. TED is a frame installed in the trawl net used for fishing. It allows large animals like turtles to escape in case they are accidentally caught in the net. TED is extensively promoted by Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, for use by marine trawl boat owners and fishermen. This has resulted in the conservation of endangered sea turtles significantly.

All these harbour a variety of plants and animals.

l The islands have no forests and no endemic plants. Most of the
Coral with open polyps

plants have been introduced from the Indian mainland and other countries.
l Coconut groves are the predominant vegetation.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

About half of all the plants and animals found here are not found anywhere else in the world! The Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) islands have been isolated from the mainland for millions of years. This has led to the evolution of flora and fauna that are not found anywhere else. Plants and animals found in a particular area but not anywhere else in the world are called endemic species. There are 95 species of birds, 8 species of bats, 301 species of plants that are endemic to A&N islands.

Did You Know?

406 medicinal plants have been recorded in A&N islands. The islands have some of India's best nesting beaches for three species of marine turtles: Leatherback, Hawksbill and Green Turtles.

Did You Know?

Each island is fringed by large lagoons on the western side and by rocky formations on the other three sides.

Lakshadweep
There are no dogs, no snakes on these islands! l The coral reefs and lagoons have rich species diversity.

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A&N are a group of 306 islands situated in the Bay of Bengal. Of these islands, 33 are inhabited, 88 are designated as sanctuaries and 6 areas as National Parks. Two of these are Marine National Parks.
l Megapode: This bird is closely related to fowl (hens and cocks).

MARINE PROTECTED AREA NETWORK

31 Marine and Coastal Protected Areas (MCPAs) covering 6271.2 sq km have been designated. These fall in 9 coastal states and 4 Union Territories. CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH Various Government Departments, research institutions, and NGOs are working towards marine biodiversity conservation and coastal management. These include Government of India: Ministry of Environment & Forests (Nodal Agency), Ministry of Agriculture (Fisheries management and Aquaculture), Ministry of Defense (Oil pollution and Poaching), Ministry of Urban Development (Town and Country planning). Research Institutions and NGOs: National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, National Institute of Oceanography, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (all Government associated) National Fish Workers Forum, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Environmental Team, etc. (all NGOs). There are various Acts & Rules of Government of India for safeguarding the coasts and islands in India. The specific ones include Fisheries Act, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification and the Island Protection Zone (IPZ). International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships (Marine Pollution Convention) is one of the international attempts towards the management of coasts and islands.

The bird does not sit on its eggs. To provide warmth, it lays its eggs on ground and covers them with a mound of leaves and soil.
l Andaman Day Gecko: This emerald green reptile is found only in

the Andamans.
l Andaman Water Monitor: Lives in fresh and salt water where it

feeds on crabs, prawns and shelled creatures.

l Giant Robber Crab: With powerful jaws and legs, it can pluck a

coconut from the tree, tear away the outer cover and feed on the flesh inside.
l Nicobar Crab-eating Macaque: It is endemic to the Nicobar

islands and prefers to live in mangroves and coastal forests.

l Andaman Padauk, or East Indian Mahogony, is valued for its

toughness and use as timber. When freshly cut the wood is bright red, which fades over time to a rich brown. Visitors that stayed on: Animals brought to the islands by humans or transported through natural factors or other animals are called introduced species. Some of these species are domestic dogs, cats, goats, spotted deer, house sparrows, rats, etc. Now, the unchecked population of these species has become a threat to the native (local) species.

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CONSERVING FOR TOMORROW

Mangroves for the Future Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is an IUCN and UNDP led partnership-based initiative promoting investments in coastal ecosystems that support sustainable development. MFF provides a collaborative platform for many countries, sectors and agencies taking up the challenges of coastal ecosystem conservation and livelihood sustainability and is helping them to work towards a common goal. MFF in India has focused on improving the scientific knowledge base for Integrated Coastal Management and on managing coastal and marine biodiversity. Although MFF has chosen mangroves as its flagship ecosystem, the initiative embraces all coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, wetlands, beaches and seagrass beds. Its management strategy is based on specific national and regional needs for long-term sustainable management of coastal ecosystems. To Save Sharks Wildlife Trust of India marched a step forward targeting specific groups to change perceptions, impart awareness and education, in order to conserve the whale shark in India. About 5,000 people (fishermen, school children, NGOs and government officials) participated in the Whale Shark Vhali Utsav 2007 in Veraval, Gujarat.

Cultural Practices
l Conch Shell, Coconut, Cowrie as sacred items in their puja

worship. Red Coral stone is considered as an astrological gem.

l The Shiva deity in Nataraja temple in Chidambaram district

(close to the Pichavaram mangrove forests) in Tamil Nadu is called Thillai Natarajar named after the Thillai mangrove (Excoecaria agallocha) worshipped since the 3rd century.
l The local community of the Sundarbans pray to 'Bano bibi' and

'Bandurga, Bandevi' as a guardian deity of the Sundarban mangrove forests. 'Sundarban' in Bengali language means ('Shundor' beautiful and 'bon' forest) a beautiful forest of the Sundari trees (mangrove species, Heritiera fomes). The Sundarbans mangrove forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
l The Matsyasana (yogic posture) is from the Sanskrit word

Matsya (fish). It strengthens the spinal cord and helps digestion. Our ancient Rishis observed features of biodiversity to create healthy lifestyles. Landmark in Sea Turtle conservation Smithsonian Natural History Museum recognized Sea Turtle Conserverancy's (STC) long-term Green Turtle recovery program at Tortuguero, Costa Rica, as being one of the world's greatest marine conservation success stories. STC has worked with the Tortuguero community since 1959 to protect green turtles. This effort has produced a 500 per cent increase in the nesting populationmaking the Tortuguero green turtle colony by far the largest in the Western Hemisphere.

Did You Know?

l In India, total extent of mangrove

cover is 4,639 sq km.

l West Bengal has nearly half of the

mangrove cover of the country.

l An increase of 58 sq km of

mangrove cover has been reported at the national level as per India State of Forest Report 2009.

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Biodiversity
Lead Knowledge Partner Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
Resource Institutions and Individuals
l Applied Environmental Research Foundation l Andaman & Nicobar Environment Trust l Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment l Botanical Survey of India l Central Arid Zone Research Institute l Central Himalayan Rural Action Group l CPR Foundation Environmental Education Centre l Centre for Science and Environment l Deccan Development Society l GEER Foundation l Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology l International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development l International Union for Conservation of Nature l Kalpavriksh l Madras Crocodile Bank Trust l MS Swaminathan Research Foundation l National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources l North Eastern Hill University l Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History l Society for Andaman & Nicobar Environment l World Wide Fund for Nature l Zoological Survey of India l P R Sinha, WII l V B Mathur, WII l R Suresh Kumar, WII l l l l l l l l l

Trans-Himalaya and Himalaya

Lead Knowledge Partner G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development (GBPIHED)
Photographs
l Botanical Survey of India l Abhijeet Das l Aditya Roy l Aminul Islam l Ashish Sakla l Bhaswati Kakati l Bijaylakshmi l Barpuzari l Bijoy Sankar Goswami l C.S. Negi l CEE Photo Bank l Dave Bird l Debapratim Saha l Dhiresh Shah l Dilip Panging l Farhad Contractor l Ganesh Pangare l Gaurav Sharma l International Snow Leopard l Pijush Kumar Dutta l Prasad Kumar Dash l Pratyush P. Mohapatra l Rajasri Ray l Rajpal Singh l Ravi Panchal l Rebo Borah l S.Sivakumar l Sanidhya Narayan l Sanjay Das l Satheesh Periyapatna l Satish Sharma l Satyabrat Mishra l Shantun Malhotra l Sushant Kumar Nayak l Sushma Durve l Syed Suhail l Tetei Ralte l V. Deepak l Vinod Gajjar l l l l l l l l l l l l

Resource Institutions
l Foundation for Revitalisation of

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l Bio-Cultural Profile of Central and Western

Editing, Design and Development

Centre for Environment Education (CEE)

Local Health Traditions l International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development l Nature Conservation Foundation l Wildlife Institute of India

Photographs
l Botanical Survey of India l Foundation for Revitalisation of

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

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Trust Joy Chakraborty Joydeep Shil K. N. Rai Kalyan Varma Kamal Lochan Purohit Kedar Champhekar Mayukh Ghose Mukesh Acharya Nitesh Parulekar

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

The Gangetic Plain

Lead Knowledge Partner Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
Photographs
l CEE Photo Bank l Photo collection of JICA assisted

North East India

Lead Knowledge Partner Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)
Editing, Design and Development
Centre for Environment Education (CEE)

References and Information Sources

l For A Living GangaWorking with People and Aquatic

Resource Institutions and Individuals

l Aaranyak l Cotton College l Ecosystems India l Gauhati University l Lotus Progressive Centre l Tripura Forest Department l Birendra Nath Dutta l P C Bhattacharjee

Photographs
l CEE Photo Bank l Wildlife Trust of India, l l l l l l l l Partha Pratim Baruah,

Editing, Design and Development

Centre for Environment Education (CEE)

l l

l l l l

UP-Participatory Forest Management Poverty Alleviation Project Ganesh Pangare Rajeev Chauhan, Director, Society for Conservation of Nature, Etawah Sandeep Behera, Associate Director, River Basins and Biodiversity, WWF-India Sanidhya Narayan Shailendra Singh, Country Director, TSA India Sheena L Koeth, Biologist, TSA, India Sunil K. Choudhary, Vikramshila Biodiversity Research & Education Center, Bhagalpur, Bihar

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Gauhati University
l Peter Lobo l Pijush Kumar Dutta,

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l Amphibians and Reptiles of

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North East India- A photographic Guide- M. Firoz Ahmed, Abhijit Das, S.K Dutta l Biodiversity Significance of North East India- Sudipta Chatterjee, Abhinandan Saikia, Pijush Dutta, Dipankar Ghosh, Govinda Pangging, Anil K. Goswami l ENVIS Bulletin: Himalayan Ecology 12(1), 2004) B.S. Asati and D.S. Yadav l Status paper on rice in North East India- Dr. S. V. Ngachan Dr. A. K. Mohanty & Dr. A. Pattanayak

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Acknowledgements

The Indian Desert and The Semi-arid Zone

Lead Knowledge Partner Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
Resource Institutions
l D. V. Rangnekar

Western Ghats
Lead Knowledge Partner Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science
Resource Institutions
l Dr. T. V. Ramachandra, Centre for

References and Information Sources

l Important Bird Areas in India, BirdLife

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l http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/in-

l Dinesh Misra, Addl. PCCF, Gujarat State l Lokhit Pashu Palak Sansthan, Rajasthan l Minoo H. Parabia l Ratibhai Pandya l Rohit Patel, GUIDE, Gujarat l Satish Sharma, Rajasthan State Forest

International, M. Zafar-ul Islam and Asad R. Rahmani, Indian Bird Conservation Network: Bombay Natural History society, and BirdLife International (UK)
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Editing, Design and Development

Centre for Environment Education (CEE)

Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science

nr-04.pdf quick facts

l http://www.cepf.net/Documents/final.westernghatssr

ilanka_westernghats.ep.pdf profile

Photographs
l CEE Photo Bank l Creative Commons Attribution l Down to Earth l Keystone Foundation l Wikimedia Commons l Akhil Vijayakumar Modemplackel l Amoghvarsha l Dave Bird l Kalyan Varma l Nitesh Parulekar l Rajasri Ray l Saldanha l Santosh Sutar l Satish Awate l V. Deepak

l http://www.cepf.net/Documents/CEPF_WesternGhats

_factsheet.pdf facts and map

l http://www.cepf.net/Documents/WesternGhats_outco

Department
l Shailendra Tiwari, Sevamandir, Rajasthan l Subhash Nautial, Head, Botany Division,

Convention on Biological Diversity, Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI, New Delhi, 2009
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mes_map.pdf MAP
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FRI, ICFRE, Dehradun

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Wildlife), H.S. Singh, Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation, Gandhinagar, 2001
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Photographs
l CEE Photo Bank l Maldhari Rural Action Group l Tarun Bharat Sangh l Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development

001.pdf
l http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/sahyadri/m

CEE, 2005
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l http://www.cepf.net/Documents/WesternGhats_outco

Department
l V. K. Bahuguna, Director General, ICFRE,

and Vice Chancellor, FRI University, Dehra Dun

l V. Vijay Kumar, Director, GUIDE, Gujarat

and Deserts, Government of India, Planning Commission, New Delhi.

l Special Habitats and Threatened Plants

Studies, Amritsar
l Aditya Roy l Devjibhai Dhamecha l Farhad Contractor l Gaurav Sharma (ZSI) l G. Singh (AFRI) l Kalyan Varma l Mukesh Acharya l Rajpal Singh l Rohit Patel (GUIDE) l Satish Sharma l Shantun Malhotra l V. Vijay Kumar (GUIDE) l Vinod Gajjar

mes_map.pdf
l http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/santosh/emsind.gif

of India. ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife and Protected Areas, Vol. 11(1), 2008; Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
l The Book of Indian Butterflies, Isaac

Info-graphics

l http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/sahyadri l http://www.ecofriends.org

Editing, Design and Development

Centre for Environment Education (CEE)

Kehimkar, BNHS, 2008.

l The Radiant Raindrops of Rajasthan,

Anupam Mishra
l Times of India, 2 Dec, 2011; Ahmedabad

edition.
l www.moef.nic.in l www.icfre.org

160

161

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

The Deccan Peninsula

Lead Knowledge Partner Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
Resource Institutions and Individuals
l ANTHRA l Dharohar l ICRISAT l IUCN Country Office l Lok Panchayat l Wildlife Institute of India l Nilesh Heda l Sahaj Samruddha l Satheesh Periyapatna l l l l l l

The Coasts and Islands

Lead Knowledge Partner National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)
Editing, Design and Development
Centre for Environment Education (CEE)

References and Information Sources

l http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/it-initiatives-to-conserve-

Resource Institutions
l Institute of Ocean

References and Information Sources

l An evaluation of flora from coastal sand dunes of India:

Editing, Design and Development

Centre for Environment Education (CEE)

Photographs
l CEE Photo Bank l The Walt Disney Company India l S. Rao l Hemal Solanki l K. N. Rai l Kalpesh Dave l Kedar Champhekar l Nitesh Parulekar l NTFP-EP Network (India) l Ravi Panchal l Sarita Thakore l Satheesh Periyapatna l Satish Awate l Sushma Durve

l l l l l

forests-wildlife/ http://moef.nic.in/report/1011/AR-Eng%20Vol2.pdf http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/ GIB%20Species%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_naped_hare.jp http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thum b/4/4d/ Poecilotheria_metallica.JPG/768pxPoecilotheria_metallica.JPG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Terminalia_muelleri_le aves_ in_Talakona,_AP_W_IMG_8296.jpg http://malkhaindia.blogspot.in/2011/09/blog-post.html http://images01.olx.com.pk/ui/11/69/27/1295939617 _ 160816227_3-Granted-aseel-murgs-hens-for-saleLahore.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cajanus_cajan.jpg http://www.kalpavriksh.org http://www.anthra.org http://www.madrascrocodilebank.org http://www.myindianculture.com/2011/12/indian-folkart-tribal-art-paintings.html

Management, Anna University, Chennai l Chilika Development Authority, Bhubaneswar

l l

Photographs
l ANET l CEE Photo Bank l United Artists' Association l l l l l l l l l l l l l

l l l l l l l l

(UAA) Abhijeet Das Dhiresh Shah Kamal Lochan Purohit M. Satyanarayan Mukesh Acharya Prasad Kumar Dash Pratyush P. Mohapatra Rudra Mahapatra Satyabrata Mishra Satyanarayan Mishra Shriji Kurup Sushant Kumar Nayak Vinod Gajjar

l l l l l l l

162

Rationale for conservation and management, Ocean & Coastal Management, vol. 54 (2); 2011 Conservation and management of mangrove habitats, Centre of Advance Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University Conservation of Chilika lake, Orissa, India; The 12th World Lake Conference Living Sea, CEE Publication Mangrove: a livelihood option for coastal community, Bangladesh Research Publication Journal, April 2010, Vol. 3, Issue 4. Mangroves for the Future (MFF), National Strategy and Action Plan India, MoEF. Marine biological resources of India: an over view, National Biodiversity Authority Oceans Omnibus, CEE Publication Report of the public consultation with fisherfolks and community to strengthen CRZ Notification, 1991 Report of the Task Force on islands, Coral reefs, Mangroves & Wetlands in Environment & Forests, MoEF Report on visit to Lakshadweep : a coral reef wetland included under National Wetland Conservation and Management Programme of MoEF, Planning Commission, GoI Seaweed Farming : An alternative livelihood for small scale fishers, Coastal Resource Center, University of Rhode Island Towards safe coasts, CEE Publication Treasured animals, ANET Publication Turtle excluder device in trawl nets: applicability in Indian trawl fishery, Indian Journal of Fisheries, 58 (4); 2011 www.cmfri.org.in www.icsf.net www.moef.gov.in

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CEE Credits
We would like to thank all those from the Ministry of Environment and Forests who provided us vital encouragement and support as well as made valuable and creative suggestions to the exhibition. Coach 2: Trans-Himalaya and Himalaya Abdhesh Gangwar, Rashmi Gangwar, Senjooti Sen Coach 3: Gangetic Plain Preeti R. Kanaujia, Neeraj Pal, Abdul Kalam

Coach 8: Coasts and Islands D.P. Rath, Satyanarayan Mishra, Shriji Kurup Design Coordination Kiran Desai, Kalpesh Dave, Meena Nareshwar Graphic Design D. M. Thumbar, Mukesh Panchal, Shailesh Bhalani, Hemal Solanki, Hitesh Vaza, Mahendra Dadhania, Hardik Raval, Ravi Panchal, Pankaj Gorana, Jogendra Rajora, Pratik Gajjar, Chirag Thumbar Printing & Production Shailesh Bhalani, Pratik Gajjar, Baldev Thakor Exhibit Design Kalpesh Dave, Praful Bilgi Models Kaushik Christian Fabrication and Installation Co-ordination: Kalpesh Dave, Hemal Shah, Amrut Anna, Ramesh Sachania, Mansukh Modasia, Dipendra Harsora, Chandubhai Gajjar, Dineshbhai Prajapati, Amrut Thakore, Manilal Sudra, Jayantibhai Patel, Madhavsingh Chauhan, Vipul Parmar, Praful Padhiyar, Rajendra Waghela, Ashok Waghela, Fatesingh Thakore, Manubhai Thakore

Take-away Material Concept: Kartikeya Sarabhai Pattern Design: Santiago Acosta, Juliana Pelaez Co-ordination: Aditya Ray, Purvi Vyas Souvenir Mug, Kit Bag: Santiago Acosta, Juliana Pelaez Booklet Design: Mukesh Panchal, Hardik Raval, Hitesh Vaza Brochure Design: Mukesh Panchal, Mahendra Dadhania Poster/Post Card Design: Pankaj Gorana Printing & Production: Mukesh Panchal Administration & Purchase: Sureshbabu, K. Chandran, Rethi Menon, Rajesh Rathod National Microbe Nominations/ Activity: Shyamala Mani, Purvi Vyas

CEE Team
Coordination Kartikeya Sarabhai, Kiran Desai, Mamata Pandya, Atul Pandya, Ramesh Savalia, Kalpesh Dave Secretariat Atul Pandya, Ramesh Savalia, Janki Shah, Amit Shah (RPG Team), Meena Nareshwar Editing: Mamata Pandya, Kiran Desai, Ramesh Savalia Coach 1: Introduction to India's Biodiversity Kartikeya Sarabhai, Sharad Gaur, Ramesh Savalia, Kedar Champhekar, S. Sivakumar
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Coach 4: North-East Abdhesh Gangwar, Simanta Kalita, Bijoy Goswami Coach 5: Western Ghats Shailaja Ravindranath, Ishwar Poojar, Reema Parikh, Santosh Sutar Coach 6: Desert and Semi-arid Atul Pandya, Ramesh Savalia, Janki Shah, Santosh Gupta, Amit Shah, Amrita Badheka, Ayub Sherasiya, Samat Solanki Coach 7: Deccan Peninsula Sanskriti Menon, Satish Awate, Sarita Thakore, Satya Ranjan Mahakul

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Note on Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS)

conservation supported by HSBC, the Swiss Embassy, Nestle and PCRA. The Legacy of Science Express showcasing the most popular exhibits from the previous phases has been exhibited in one coach. The VASCSC Joy of Science (JOS) Lab supported by Indus Towers is housed in another coach, in which students can perform various experiments and activities to understand concepts in biodiversity, climate change, environment and science. A training facility is also provided in a coach primarily for capacity building of teachers in Environment and Science. Complementary activities will be organized to reinforce the message of SEBS. These include the Outreach Programme to be conducted at local schools and institutions associated with the National Environment Awareness Programme (NEAC), National Green Corps (NGC) and the Paryavaran Mitra Programme. Interesting platform activities for visitors of SEBS have also been planned at respective train stations. In addition to this, informative take-away material will also be made available for wider distribution among visitors. The SEBS, Phase II, will be flagged off from Delhi on the 9th April 2013 from the Safdarjung railway station. The exhibition timings will be between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm at respective railway platforms (schedule attached). If you want to plan a visit to the exhibition or have any queries regarding it, please send an email to sciencexpress@gmail.com or contact +91 9428405407.

Science Express - Biodiversity Special (SEBS), an innovative and unique mobile exhibition mounted on a specially designed 16 coach AC train, traveled, in the First Phase, across India to 52 locations from 5 June to 22 December 2012. In its Second Phase it will travel across India to 62 stations from 9th April to 28 October 2013. The state-of-the-art exhibition aboard the SEBS aims to create awareness about the biodiversity of India, climate change and similar issues among students, teachers and the general public. A collaborative initiative of the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) and Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, SEBS, in its First Phase, was also stationed at Secunderabad to coincide with the XI Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-11) held from October 1 to 19, 2012 in Hyderabad. Dignitaries and delegates from about 190 countries and various organizations visited the SEBS during this time. Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC) and Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad along with lead knowledge partners - Bombay Natural History Society, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, National Museum of Natural History, Wildlife Institute of India and Wildlife Trust of India, and several others have contributed to give final touches to this unique exhibition on wheels. In the First Phase the train traveled 18,000 km, halting for 3-4 days at each of the 52 locations. The exhibition was visited by more than 24 lakh visitors. Of the 16 coaches, eight coaches supported by MoEF highlight biodiversity found in different bio-geographical zones of India as well as various facets of marine, coastal, forest, microbial, agro biodiversity and their linkage with livelihoods besides challenges of conservation. Three coaches have exhibitions on Climate Change, Water and Energy
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Science Express - Biodiversity Special Schedule (9 April 2013 28 October 2013)

Sr. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 168 19 Station Delhi Safdarjung (Flag off) Pragati Maidan Patiala Jalandhar City Verka Pathankot Bajalta Amb Anduara Ambala Cantt. Haridwar Bareilly Azamgarh Mughal Sarai Bhagalpur Katihar Purnea Bagdogra Alipurduar Jn. Lumding New Tinsukia Dimapur New Bongaigaon New Coochbehar New Farakka Raniganj Joichandi Pahar Sini Kharagpur Balasore Cuttack Balangir Raigada Exhibition Dates 9 April 10 - 13 April 14 - 16 April 17 - 20 April 21 - 24 April 25 - 27 April 28 April - 1 May 3 - 4 May 5 - 7 May 8 - 10 May 11 -13 May 15 - 16 May 17 - 20 May 21 - 24 May 25 May 26 May 27 May 28 - 30 May 31 May - 2 June 3 - 6 June 7 - 8 June 9 - 12 June 13 - 15 June 16 - 18 June 19 - 21 June 22 - 24 June 25 - 27 June 28 June - 1 July 2 - 4 July 5 - 8 July 9 - 11 July 12 - 14 July 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 Sr. No. 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Station Vishakhapatanam Kakinada Tirupati Chennai Central Cuddalore Port Jn. Tiruchirapally Kudalnagar Trivandrum Alappuzha Coimbatore Kozikhode Kannur Madgaon Miraj Maltekdi Aurangabad Valsad Navsari Vadodara Ujjain Kota Daurai (Nr. Ajmer) Marwar Abu Road Linch (Nr. Mehsana) Bhaktinagar (Rajkot) Junagadh Bhavnagar Adraj Moti (Nr. Gandhinagar) Gandhinagar Capital Exhibition Dates 15 - 18 July 19 - 21 July 23 - 26 July 27 - 30 July 31 July - 3 Aug 4 - 7 Aug 8 - 11 Aug 12 - 14 Aug 16 - 19 Aug 20 - 23 Aug 24 - 27 Aug 28 - 31 Aug 2 - 5 Sep 6 - 9 Sep 11 - 14 Sep 15 - 18 Sep 19 - 21 Sep 22 - 25 Sep 26 - 28 Sep 29 Sep - 1 Oct 3 - 6 Oct 7 - 9 Oct 10 - 12 Oct 14 - 16 Oct 17 Oct 18 - 19 Oct 20 - 22 Oct 23 - 25 Oct 26 - 27 Oct 28 Oct 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013

(Schedule subject to change)