The different rain forest zones of the Northeast, many of those falling under the geographical boundary of Assam, are considered biodiversity hot spots of the world. In fact, renowned environmental and forestry experts consider these areas as next only to Amazon, which is regarded as the richest biodiversity area in the world. Biodiversity hot spots are those that have rich concentration of flora and fauna of different varieties. This piece attempts to throw light on the floral richness of the Karbi Anglong district and efforts towards conservation of the amazing biodiversity.

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Diphu, the headquarter town of the Karbi Anglong, which has been doing its precious bits to conserve the rich biodiversity of the area, thanks to the farsightedness of some forest officials who have been doing whatever they could within their jurisdiction, besides being able to convince the top leadership of the autonomous district council to lend their weight behind a greater cause having the potential to uplift the economic condition of the masses.

Sandwiched between upper Assam and lower Assam, the Karbi Anglong district — formerly the United Mikir and North Cachar Hills district — with an area of over 10,000 sqkm consists of undulating and hilly terrain with numerous rivers and streams. The Biodiversity-cum-Recreation Range, also known as the Recreation Park, was established in 1998 with the initiative of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. Covering an area of 25 hectares, the park is located 6 km away from the district headquarter town of Diphu. With the passage of time the park has earned fame and popularity as the ‘Pride of Karbi Anglong’.

The park abounds with vegetation alongside the recreational facilities for the visitors and the endeavour of all concerned for the maintenance of the park has been highly appreciated by domestic as well as foreign visitors, including dignitaries. The medicinal plant garden in the park harbours around 580 varieties of medicinal plants endemic to Karbi Anglong. The garden has immensely benefited students, research scholars and other associated with herbal drugs. In fact, it has attained the status of a ‘Germplasm Bank’ of the entire northeastern region as it has some very rare, endangered and threatened species of medicinal plants.

The Mini Orchiderium in the park has helped in preservation and conservation of some rare species of orchids, while the lily pools in the park showcase the aquatic floral beauty of Karbi Anglong through plants like lotus, lily, ipomea, et al. The amazing sculpture carved out of a trunk and stem of a dead tree at the centre of the children’s park is a timely warning of the catastrophic effects of rampant deforestation emphasizing the urgent need for biodiversity conservation.

Enthused by the appreciation of various visitors to the park, including the chief minister during his maiden visit to the park in 2007 who hailed the laudable efforts of the concerned authorities in maintaining the park besides emphasizing on concerted efforts to further such causes, the department of environment and forests of KAAC is embarking on another project — conservation and propagation of rare and endangered species of medicinal plants through the establishment of a demonstration centre (herbal garden).

The herbal garden project, formulated on the basis of the operational guidelines of Medicinal Plant Board, Government of India, has been designed to evolve mechanism for conservation of medicinal plants, their propagation, harvesting practices, post-harvesting techniques, storage, etc and further marketing for gainful employment generation. The project is timely as the ever-increasing demand for medicinal plants has threatened genetic stock, diversity and natural habitat thereby necessitating their conservation, protection and propagation.

Everyone, including the respective official and departmental heads working with ayurveda and allied fields, felt the urgent need for regeneration of herbs, shrubs and trees having great demand in pharmaceutical and ayurvedic industries, and thus the good works started. The proposals, obviously beneficial to the society, nay the world at large, have been getting active and timely support from the KAAC. It may be mentioned that the vast majority of the people in the district, predominantly inhabited by Karbis and Dimasas, are in the habit of shifting (jhum) cultivation which causes degradation of forest areas, besides annual productivity decline. Their constant hunt for new areas annually due to lack of scientific approach for harnessing in small cultivable lands for sustainable livelihood, had also taken a heavy toll of these precious natural wealth. Now, these people are being slowly benefited and have involved themselves actively in cultivation, preservation and value addition technique for optimum utilization of land and marketing linkages developed gradually for the species in high demand.

It’s heartening that another big project to set up fruits, flower and herbal gardens of rare, threatened and endangered endemic species in Karbi Anglong district is in the process of being established. The initial formalities in preparation of the estimates, among others, were completed a couple of months back. The concept paper was presented by the district conservator of forest Jatindra Sarma in New Delhi recently to enthusiastic response from the concerned hierarchy in the Union Environment and Forest Ministry who have rightly realized the huge potential and promise of the projects.

Proposed to be implemented adjacent to the Recreation Park, including other suitable areas within the district, the gardens would be a heaven for tourists to explore the unique ethnic biodiversity, sociocultural heritage, among others. The people make pickles from bamboo shoots and cane shoots that are procured from forests. Besides, many varieties of fruits having immense medicinal value are commonly seen in the markets sold as pickles, wild flowers and orchids of many rare varieties are also commonly sold in the markets at throw away prices. These ultimately find their way to the adjoining states for further trade and marketing. These mega herbal gardens would be able to arrest these practices and make the people aware about the huge potential of these resources around and amidst them, thereby, helping them to earn a decent livelihood through manufacture and marketing of these items of high demand.

The project shall be helpful in conservation, protection and regeneration of generic diversity of medicinal plants, herbs, indigenous orchids, flowers, edible fruit tree species, some of which have become very rare, threatened and thereby conservation of biodiversity of the district. It will also provide tangible and intangible benefits by way of opportunities in terms of direct and indirect employment to the local youths, villagers, particularly the womenfolk, thereby raising the livelihood pattern of the people.

The people will be immensely benefited by utilizing their lands optimally while practising shifting cultivation by enhancing the period of the jhum cycle due to cultivation of valuable medicinal and horticultural crops which are in great demand and have national and international markets. There will be mass awareness regarding importance on the conservation of the rare, threatened and endangered species of fruit species, flowers, orchids and more particularly, the medicinal plants available in the district. Besides, people will be encouraged to grow more such crops in their lands which are commercially viable. After implementation of the project, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will maintain the assets out of the revenue generated through inflow of tourists and visitors including the fund from its own budget.

Another new addition to these existing greeneries is an exotic floriculture centre which will be a storehouse of the floral richness of the Northeast. The centre has been designed by Cane & Bamboo Technology Centre, Guwahati, who have also constructed its superstructure.

Simanta Bhagawati