Sunday

16


April , 2017
Rhododendron wildflowers of Eastern India turn into indicators of climate change
00:00 am

Samarpita Ray


 


This year witnessed the lowest ever seen maximum and minimum sea-ice coverage in the Arctic and the Antarctic, respectively. Warmer-than-average temperatures and other factors (such as storms) during the winter slowed ice growth in the region. A gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere and its oceans is believed to be permanently changing the earth’s climate. And India’s climate condition is not out of the box. A village called Bhira from Raigad district in Maharashtra recorded the world’s second highest temperature of 46.5°C on March 31 this year.

The Rhododendron is native to the Himalayan habitat and serves an important economic role in the mountains of the Eastern Himalayas. However, Rhododendron are victims of anthropogenic disturbance associated with deforestation, unsustainable extraction, over-exploitation,
and agricultural practices. These have collectively put
pressure on the species resulting in many such species becoming endangered, rare, or threatened.

Climate change's impact on North-Eastern India

The North-Eastern region in India constitutes one of the twelve bio-diversity hotspots having more than one-third of the country's bio-diversity and it is observed that the forests of the North East are primarily impacted by climate change. According to Dr. Amita Prasad, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India is one of the 12 mega diversity countries in the world having two hotspots- the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalayas based on species' rarity and endemism. “The Eastern Himalayan region also provides a diverse range of ecosystem services,” said Dr. Prasad during the release of the book ‘Discovery of Rhododendron Forest of Eastern Himalayas - an encyclopedia’  authored by Lovita Morang with her Green Oscar entrant film, “Discovery of Rhododendron Forest-where highest Rhododendron grows”, in New Delhi last month. The programme was organised by Unite4:Good, an organisation working for finding solutions to climate change which lies in Eastern Himalayas.

Former Ambassador Nirupama Rao recalled her visit to Tawang, Sela  and Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh during her training period in the Indian Foreign Service in 1974 and her first glimpse of the rhododendrons blooming in high altitude areas. She emphasised the crucial need for the preservation and protection of the environment in the Eastern Himalaya, the vast forest and water resources as well as the cultural, intangible heritage of the tribal people. She said the Himalaya was an abode of light, a sacred mandala, from which the people of India drew their strength and sustenance.

Rhododendron forest in Eastern Himalayas

Designated as the state tree of Uttarakhand, throughout the Himalayan region, the Rhododendrons command a high socio-cultural reverence. Rhododendrons are highly populated here and the highest Rhododendrons grow in the Eastern Himalayan zone. Rhododendrons are high altitude wildflowers and they grow from 3000 feet to 14000 feet onwards. The specialties of the wildflower Rhododendrons are that it reveals the health of the earth as the lichens and mosses on tree trunks and branches are the indicator of the purest air. A study by a group of scientists of the G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Almora has generated evidence of changes in the flowering phenology of Rhododendron.

Lovita J.R. Morang, a professional filmmaker, artiste, and a poet stated during the release of her book that this Rhododendron forest is being disturbed by both natural and man-made disaster as Rhododendron burns easily due to the high raisin content in it. “A spark can burn the whole Hill. And senseless human intrusion is disturbing this undisturbed ecosystem of Rhododendron forest,” she said.  Her book and the film depict the biggest Rhododendron nutalli to smallest Rhododendron santapui, to edible rhododendron arboreum to poisonous rhododendron campylocarpum.

She also warned that if the Rhododendron forest of Eastern Himalayas is not taken care of now, this discovered beautiful Rhododendron forest will disappear, according to scientific prediction in twenty to thirty years. “On par with the prediction that Arctic sea ice will disappear, every great things on earth will disappear. These are the predictions, we are witnessing because of climate change. Earth will come to an end. But like we need this beautiful earth, this beautiful earth too needs us. This great universal understandings and great interdependence shall, I trust will help to tackle the climate change and earth shall remain a beautiful place, a most precious gift to mankind,” she added.

Corrective actions to save Rhododendron forest

In this regard, knowledge of the Rhododendron species distribution is essential for its institutional conservation and management. More field surveys and ecological niche modelling is required to expand existing traditional knowledge which will further help in developing sustainable conservation actions and possible reintroduction of the species in the Eastern Himalayan region.

While acknowledging the significant diversity of biological resources in the Eastern Himalayan Region, it is
recognized that rigorous efforts to monitor and research the impacts on biodiversity in the region are essential. “Ministry of External Foreign and Climate Change has established a dedicated database management centre for Himalayan studies at G.B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development, Almora which will encourage data sharing and sharing of experiences among educational institutions, universities and different departments of the state governments in the IHR. Apart from the above, it is also creating awareness to the youth of the country through the National Museum of Natural History whose mission is to promote environ- mental education and through the Environmental Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT) scheme,” said Dr. Amita Prasad.

“Investment on Eastern Himalayan issues which include strategy, data collection, decision support, priority, policy and action plan through the formulation of scheme, programmes and projects are also required. Accordingly, funds can also be accessed through Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green India Mission (GIM) in the ministry,” she further added. “The need for data collection and data sharing is important on all important Himalayan species. Research stations by BSI and ZSI can definitely help. Declaration of Arunachal Pradesh and Eastern Himalayan Region as heritage site by UNESCO would require more work and proposal by state government.  It is suggested that the state government may contact WII, BSI and GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Almora for taking further guidance in this matter,” she added.

It is scientifically proven that when we are close to nature, the brain behaves differently. “Being connected with nature results in some amazing changes inside our head which begin to calm you and soothe your nerves. It reduces stress and fights depression. Reconnecting with nature is like resetting your brain. One can always calm in nature. One can find comfort and clarity in the company of woods. So, instead of deforestation it should be reforestation. So, great attention must be given in conservation of forest and in this case the conservation of the Rhododendron Forest in Eastern Himalayas,” said Ike Sinha, Country Director, Unite4: Good.

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