I’m
sure that you’ve been to the Jim Corbett National Park in the hill-state of Uttarakhand
in northern India or at least heard about it. Indeed, it has captured the
imaginations of us all with its assorted fauna and splendid landscapes. But it
is not just a wildlife sanctuary. The reserve, located partly along a valley
between the Lesser Himalaya in the north and the Shivaliks in the south, has a
sub-Himalayan belt structure. Do you know that the pine forests which the Park
protects are in fact the Himalayan forests? Himalayan
subtropical pine forests are distinguished for being the largest in the whole
of the Indo - Pacific areas.
The Himalaya mountain range is most known for its grand, lofty, snow-covered peaks that draw adventurous mountaineers and wildlife that thrive in alpine conditions. But there is a lesser known part of the Himalayas which is just as important. It is mainly the Indian forest land which runs through parts of the Himalayan states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. It accounts for more than 50% of the country's forest cover and 40% of the species endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
The most remarkable feature of the earth is the existence of life and
most prominent features of life is the diversity. India is among the significant
mega-biodiversity centers of the earth and the Himalayan ecosystem is
contributing much to them. Topography, soil, climate and geographical location
of the expanse influence the vegetation diversity of the forest ecosystem of
Himalaya. The Himalayan forest vegetation ranges from tropical dry deciduous
forests in the foothills to alpine meadows above timberline (Singh and Singh
1992).
The Himalayan ecology is vital to the ecological security of the Indian
landmass, through providing forest cover, feeding perennial rivers that are the
source of drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower, conserving biodiversity,
providing a well-to-do base for high value agriculture, and extravagant
landscapes for sustainable tourism. In addition to all these benefits, it is
the chief supplier of timber, medicinal plants, fibre, oils, firewood, organic
manure, fodder, bamboo, spices and condiments etc. as well.
But unfortunately,
like many other ecosystems in the world, the Himalayan eco system is also susceptible
and prone to the impacts and
consequences of a)
changes on account of natural causes, b) climate change
resulting from emissions
and c) developmental activities of the modern society. Losses of forest cover, biodiversity,
and ecosystem services in this region are problematic and threaten the
sustainable livelihoods of mountain people as well as the inhabitants of the
adjoining places.
Every
problem has a solution. There should be an increase and protection of forests
and forests cover. All countries in the world should co operate for bringing
down the temperature. Proper deliberation is required in developmental planning
and execution of plan is equally significant. It is indeed a difficult path
considering the damage that has already been done, but it is not impossible and
needs to be in our priority list.
This
is a very serious and alarming issue. We should not play with nature. The after
effects will be unbearable. Mind us.
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