Design By: Parag Sir

Narak ! My Lord,you are the creator of music in the world of Lepchas Oh Narak ! My Lord, let me dedicate myself to you. Let me gather your music from the springs, the rivers ,the mountains, the forests, the insects and the animals. Let me gather your music from the sweet breeze and offer it to you .

Lepchas OR Rongpas (Sikkimese: ), are the aboriginal people of Sikkim, numbering 50,000. Many Lepcha are also found in western and southwestern Bhutan, Tibet, Darjeeling, the Ilam District of eastern Nepal and in the hills of West Bengal.

The Rongs popularly known as the Lepchas live here. The word Lepcha, or Lapche means the people of vile speech and was a contemptuous appellation given to this tribe by the dominant Nepalese. Amidst the idyllic backdrop of Mount Kenchenjungha, this tribe has managed to create a perfect harmony with nature. Now many generations have passed and the place has changed radically. The once unexplored, uncharted territory inhabited by the amiable, peaceloving people has now seen the rise of an all-pervasive cosmopolitan culture.

The Majesty of Life When we say we want to save the planet, we use the word "biodiversity" to encompass this entire concept - which, granted, is a big one.

Biodiversity: Life, the world, the variation of life for the entire globe. Its a big idea with a long history.

Biodiversity found on Earth today consists of many millions of distinct biological species, the product of four billion years of evolution. But the word Biodiversity itself is actually quite new. "Biodiversity" was coined as a contraction of "biological diversity" in 1985.

A symposium in 1986, and the follow-up book BioDiversity (Wilson 1986), edited by biologist E. O. Wilson, carved the way for common acceptance of the word and concept. And as politicians, scientists, and conservationists became more interested in the state of the planet and the amazing complexity of life we became quite attached to this new word. And why were we talking so much about Biodiversity? Simple.

The world has begun, relatively recently, to lose species and habitats at an ever-increasing and alarming rate.
Why? Because of us

Definition from Textbook : Biodiversity or Biological Diversity is immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in form and function but closely integrated in a system through multiple network of interdependencies .

The term Flora is used to denote plants of a particular region or period .

The species of animals are referred to as Fauna .

India is one of the worlds richest countries in term of its vast array of biological diversity,and as # Nearly 8 per cent of the total number of species in the world.

# This is possibly twice or thrice the number yet to be discovered .

Diverse flora and fuana are so well integrated in our daily life that we take these for granted .

They are under great stress mainly due to insensitivity to our environment .

Do you know ?

Over 81,000 species of fauna and 47,000 species of flora are found in this country so far ? Of estimated 47,000 species , about 15,000 flowering species are endemic (indigenous) to India .

India estimates suggested that at least 10 % of Indias recorded wild flora and 20 % of its mammals are on the threatened list . Many of these would now be categorised as critical, that is on the verge of extinction ..

Like.

Asiatic Cheetah

Pink-headed Duck

Mountain Quail

Forest spotted Owlet

Like

Madhuca insignis.

Hubbardia Heptaneuron

Do you know ?
79 species of mammals , 44 of birds , 15 reptiles ,3 of amphibians are threatened . Nearly 1500 plant species are considered endangered . Extinction rate : estimated 50 to 100 times more than average expected natural rate .

Passenger Pigeon

Vanishing Forest ( Deforestration )

The dimension of deforestration in India are staggering . The forest cover in the country is estimated at 637,293 sq km, which is 19.39 %of total gwographical area . According the State of Forest Report(1999), the dense forest cover has incresed by 10,098 sq km since 1997, Due to plantation by different agencies.. This report does not differentiate between Natural Forest & Palntations .

Different categories of existing plants and animals

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN)
Based on the

Normal Species
Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival such as cattle, sal , pine rodents .

Endangered Species
These are the species which are in danger of extinction. The survival of such species is difficult if the negative factors that have led to decline in their population continue to operate. Examples

Vulnerable Species
These are the species whose population has decline to levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the negative factors continue to operate . Examples

Rare Species
Species with small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting then continue to operate .. Examples

Endemic Species
These are the species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Examples

Extinct Species
These are the species which are not found after known or likely areas where they may occur. A species may be extinct from local area , region , country , continent or the entire earth . Examples

Different categories of existing plants and animals

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN)
Based on the

Rare Species
Extinct Species

Endemic Species

Endangered Species

Vulnerable Species

Normal Species

The Asiatic Cheetah ("cheetah" from Hindi ct, derived from Sanskrit word chitraka meaning "speckled") (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is now also known as the Iranian Cheetah, as the world's last few are known to survive mostly in Iran. Although recently presumed to be extinct in India, it is also known as the Indian Cheetah. During British colonial times in India it was famous by the name of Hunting-Leopard,a name derived from the ones that were kept in captivity in large numbers by the Indian royalty to hunt wild antelopes with.

Tragedy of Asiatic Cheetah,Where did they go ?

: Photo of the last three Asiatic cheetahs (on record) shot dead in Surguja district, Madhya Pradesh, Central India along with the Maharajah Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo who reportedly shot them down at night as reported in the Journal of Bombay Natural History Society by his private secretary. The Asiatic Cheetah has never been recorded in India after this. The last three Asiatic Cheetahs recorded from India were shot down by Maharajah Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo in Surguja, Madhya Pradesh, Central India seen in this photo submitted by his private secretary to JBNHS

What are the negative factors that cause such fearful depletion of the flora fauna ? We have transformed nature into a resource obtaining directly indirectly from forest and wildlife . wood,bark,leaves ,rubber ,medicines dyes ,food,fuel,fodder,manure etc. So it is we ourselves who have depleted our wildlife and forest .

During colonial period- expansion of railway, agriculture ,mining commercial and scientific forest. Between 1951 and 1980, according to the Forest Survey of Indiaover 26,00 sq.km. area converted into agricultural land. Substantial parts of the tribal belts, especially in the north eastern and central India, have been deforested or degraded by shifting cultivation .

Large scale development projects .. 5000 sq km land cleared for river valley project .

Narmada Sagar Project 40,000 hectares of forest .

Mining is another important factor behind deforestation . Wet Bengal dolomite mining. Problems _ Habitat,Migration-Indian Elephant Depletion of forest resources are grazing and fuel-wood collection.

Himalayan Yew
Taxus wallichiana (Himalayan Yew) is a species of yew, native to the Himalaya from Afghanistan east to western Yunnan in southwestern China, at altitudes from 2,0003,500 m. The Himalayan Yew Taxus wallachiana is a medicinal plant found in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. A chemical compound called taxol is extracted from the bark, needles, twigs-exploitation. In the last one decade, thousands of yew trees have dried up in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Habitat distruction , hunting , poaching , over-exploitation, environmental pollution, poisoning and forest fires are factors . Wildlife is under serious threat, that too, from man. Man is increasingly being a threat to the creatures and has a big hand in making them extinct. Poaching of wildlife shows no sign to budge. And with the ever-increasing hunt for animals, the list of endangered creatures is all the time on the rise. Recent times have reported a spurt in poaching activity in the so-called guarded forests and biosphere reserves, which are meant to be home for the wild creatures. Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Orissa reported killing of several creatures in March this year. Four poachers were caught red-handed inside the reserve area following the incident. But shockingly, they soon found themselves moving scot-free, as the local court found lack of evidence against them. However, the forest officials seized a gun, meat and heads of a mouse deer and a barking deer from their possession.N. K. Biswal, Range Officer, Katipada, said:-

At the spot, we seized a single barrel gun, cartridges, torchlight, animal meat and heads. They were charged under penal section 51 Para 2, which is a non-bailable offence and I have mentioned it in the case records.

The destruction of forest and wildlife is not just a biological issue.The biological loss is strogly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity. Such losses have increasingly marginalised and impoverished many indigenous and other forestdependent communities.
The list of poaching cases of major wild animals detected in various states during the last three years : Reported cases of Tiger Poaching: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

1998

14

38

39

35

47

Reported cases of Leopard Poaching : 1999 80 2000 201 2001 69 2002 87 2003 15

1998 28

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife In India

Project Tiger: Project Tiger, launched in 1973-74, is one of our most successful conservation ventures in the recent times. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially constituted 'tiger reserves', which are representative of various bio-geographical regions falling within our country. It strives to maintain a viable tiger population in the natural environment.
An estimate of the tiger population in India, at the turn of the century, placed the figure at 40,000. Subsequently, the first ever all India tiger census was conducted in 1972 which revealed the existence of only 1827 tigers. Various pressures in the later part of the last century led to the progressive decline of wilderness, resulting in the disturbance of viable tiger habitats. At the IUCN General Assembly meeting in Delhi, in 1969, serious concern was voiced about the threat to several species of wildlife and the shrinkage of wilderness in the country. In 1970, a national ban on tiger hunting was imposed and in 1972 the Wildlife Protection Act came into force. A 'Task Force' was then set up to formulate a project for tiger conservation with an ecological approach.

@ Tiger Habitat & Population Evaluation System for the Indian Sub Continent A 'Tiger Atlas of India' and a 'Tiger Habitat & Population Evaluation System for the country is being developed using the state- of - the - art technology. This involves: 1. Mapping , data acquisition and GIS modeling 2. Field data collection and validation 3. Data Maintenance , Dissemination and Use The following potential tiger habitats in the country are being covered: >Shivalik-Terai Conservation Unit(Uttaranchal, UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Nepal) >Nort east Conservation Unit >Sunderbans Conservation Unit >Central Indian Conservation Unit >Eastern Ghat Conservation Unit >Western Ghat Conservation Unit

16 17

1987-88 1988-89 1989-90

Dudhwa Kalakad-Mundanthurai Valmiki

Uttar Pradesh Tamil Nadu Bihar

1093.79* 895.00 840.00*

18
19
20 21 22 23 24

1992-93
1993-94 1993-94 1994-95 1994-95 1998-99

Pench
Tadoba Andheri Bandhavgarh Panna Dampa Bhadra

Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Mizoram Karnataka

411.33
625.82 716.903 576.13 500.00 492.46

25
26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

1998-99
1999-2000 1999-2000 1999-2000 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2008-09 2009-10

Pench
Pakke Nameri Satpura Anamalai Udanti-Sitanadi Satkosia Kaziranga Achanakmar Dandeli-Anshi Sanjay-Dubri Mudumalai Nagarhole Parambikulam Sahyadri Total * Not yet notified.

Maharashtra
Arunachal Pradesh Assam Madhya Pradesh Tamil Nadu Chhattisgarh Orissa Assam Chhattisgarh Karnataka Madhya Pradesh Tamil Nadu Karnataka Kerala Maharashtra

257.26
683.45 200.00 1339.264 958.00 851.09 523.61 625.58 626.195 814.884 831.25* 321.00 643.35 390.89 Notification Awaited 32137.14

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife In India

Conservation in the background of rapid decline in wildlife population and forest become essential. Conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life supportive systemswater,air and soil. Conservation also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and breeding .

Eg- In agriculture - using traditional varieties, Fisheries-maintenace of aquatic biodiversity .

In the 1960s and 1970s conservationists demanded a national wildlife protection programme and laws. The Indian Wildlife(Protection) Act,1972 was implemeted , with various provisions for protecting wildlife and habitats. An all India list of protected species are published.

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife In India

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife In India

wildlife sanctuaries

Tiger, One horned rhinoceros, Kashmir stag(hangul, Crocodiel and Gharial,Asiatic Lion,The great Indian Bustard,Black buck,Indian Elephant etc.

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife In India

The Conservation Projects are now focusing on biodiversity rather than few of its components. There is now more intensive search for different conservation measures. Even insects are beginning to find a place in conservation planning. Notification Under Wildlife Act of 1980,1986,1991 Butterfly, Moths , Beetles, dragonfly and six plants species have been added.

Types and Distribution of Forest & Wildlife..

In India, much of its forest and wildlife resources are either managed by the government through the Forest Department or Other Government Department. They are classified under following categories

Types and Distribution of Forest & Wildlife..

(i) Reserved Forests :- More than half of the total forest land has been declared Reserve Forests. Reserve Forest are regarded as the most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources concerned . (ii) Protected Forests:- Almost one-third of total area is protected forest, as declared by the Forest Dept. This forest land are protected from any other depletion . (iii) Unclassed Forests :- These are other forests and wetlands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities .

Community And Conservation

Sacred Groves a wealth of diverse and rare species

Sacred :devoted to deity: dedicated to a deity or religious purpose Of religion: relating to or used in religious worship Groves : - group of trees: a small group of trees Nature worship is an age old tribal belief based on the premise that all creation of nature have to be protected . Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forest in pristine form called Sacred Groves .(Gods and Goddesses) These patches of forests or parts of large forests have been left untouched by the local people and any interference with them is banned . Mundas ,Santhals (Chota Nagpur) Mahua and Kadamb trees.. Tribals of Orissa & Bihar Tamarind and Mango trees during weddings. All over India Peepal ,Banyan, And Springs, Mountain Peaks , Plants and Animals

You will find Troops of Macaques and Langurs ( Monkey)

Bishnoi Community of Rajasthan -> Herds of Blackbuck, Nilgai, Peacock.. Nobody harm them..

Chipko Movement.
The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan (literally "to stick" in Hindi) is a socialecological movement that practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and nonviolent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from falling. The modern Chipko movement started in the early 1970s in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand,[1] with growing awareness towards rapid deforestation. The landmark event in this struggle took place on March 26, 1974, when a group of peasant women in Reni village, Hemwalghati, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India, acted to prevent the cutting of trees and reclaim their traditional forest rights that were threatened by the contractor system of the state Forest Department. Their actions inspired hundreds of such actions at the grassroots level throughout the region. By the 1980s the movement had spread throughout India and led to formulation of people-sensitive forest policies, which put a stop to the open felling of trees in regions as far reaching as Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.[2] The first recorded event of Chipko however, took place in village Khejarli, Jodhpur district, in 1730 AD, when 363 Bishnois, led by Amrita Devi sacrificed their lives while protecting green Khejri trees, considered sacred by the community, by hugging them, and braved the axes of loggers sent by the local ruler,[3] today it is seen an inspiration and a precursor for Chipko movement of Garhwal.[4][5

Beej Bachao Andolan

The 'Beej Bachao Andolan' (BBA), begun here in the late 1980s, is fifteen years old. Led by farmer and social activist Vijay Jardhari, the 'Andolan' has made village Jardhargaon of district Tehri famous for its unique movement to save the traditional seeds of the hills. The 'Beej Bachao Andolan' (Save the Seeds Movement) is not only a crusade to conserve traditional seeds but also to promote agricultural biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and local traditions.

The hallmark of the BBA is that it is a people's campaign and flourishing without any government financial assistance or help.

Beej Bachao Andolan

On starting the Beej Bachao Andolan, 52-yearold Vijay Jardhari says, "After the Green Revolution of the 1960s, farmers in the hills also adopted high-yielding varieties of seeds. After initial success, the Green Revolution fizzled out as the yields began to decline. This made the villagers realize that so called modern agriculture was unsustainable. Low production despite increased investments on pesticides and fertilizers, as well as decline in soil fertility, forced us to think of corrective measures." "Village elders advised us to focus on traditional farming. We started the 'Beej Bachao Andolan' as an awareness campaign in 1989 for farmers to discontinue growing cash crops like peas, potatoes and soybean, and promote indigenous practices like the 'Baranaja'," Jardhari adds. The Baranaja (meaning twelve grains) is a traditional system of mixed farming, intercropping of twelve species.

Joint Forest Management .

Joint Forest Management Programme has been in formal existence since 1988 when the state of Orissa passed the first resolution for JFM. JFM depends on the formation of local(village) institution that undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest dept. In return, the members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non-timber harvested by successful protection.

I am waiting for your help