Nagaland harbours rich and unique biodiversity

Although Nagaland has a geographical area of only 16, 579 sq km, it harbours very rich and unique biodiversity with the state being a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. “The State has very rich floral and faunal diversity,” according to a pamphlet issued by the State’s Department of Forests, Ecology, Environment & Wildlife.

The richness is evident in the fact that there are 2, 431 species of angiosperms (flowering plants) in the State. Gymnosperms (non- flowering) also register their presences with nine species, a large number of these plant species being endemic to the State or the north eastern part of India.

The fauna of the State has not been comprehensively documented, as such; the exact figure for the species diversity of animals in the state is not available, the pamphlet said. “However the richness of animal diversity in the State can be gauged by the presence of many species endemic to the State that fall in the Rare Endangered or Threatened category of the IUCN,” it said.

The State boasts the presence of the tallest rhododendron in the world, the tallest rice plant, rare orchids such as the Tiger orchid, Cymbidium tigrinum, Bulbophyllum rothschildianum and rare threatened animals such as the Hoolok gibbon, the Blythe’s Tragopan, Mrs Hume’s bar tailed pheasant etc., the department said.

The pamphlet also stated that given the natural wealth of the State, the rate at which this is being lost is alarming. According to the latest report of the Forest Survey of India, the loss of forest cover in the state is 201 sq kms between 2005-2007.

The major cause of this loss can be attributed to the prevailing practice of jhum cultivation in the State, the pamphlet said adding “This coupled with other causes such as deforestation, urbanization and climate change can have a devastating effect on the biodiversity in the State.”

The presence of a large number of endemic and rare species in the state makes the biodiversity of the State very susceptible to any change in the environment. “There is now broad scientific and political consensus that we have entered a period of unavoidable and unprecedented climate change,” the pamphlet said adding that it impacts on biodiversity is already measurable.

Climate change has the potential, over a period of a few decades, to undermine our efforts for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Sustainable cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions are required to mitigate the longer –term threat to biodiversity, it said.

Protection of biodiversity can help limit atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations because forests, peat lands and other habitats store carbon, it said adding, “Policies will also be needed to help biodiversity adapt to changing temperature and water regimes. Care must also be taken to prevent, minimize and offset any potential damages to biodiversity arising from climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.”

It also stated that climate change will significantly effect economies and societies through its impacts on ecosystems, adding, and “This is because the impacts of climate change on man are largely mediated by natural systems.”

Healthy ecosystems will be more resilient to climate change and so more able to maintain the supply of ecosystem services on which our prosperity and well being depend, the department said.

It also said that maintaining healthy biodiversity can play a significant role in climate change mitigation and the world’s protected areas- national parks, marine reserves, wilderness areas and so on- are essential in safeguarding this role.

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