SHABIHA NUR KHATOON
Nature’s delicate balance hinges on the perennial perpetuation of the breathtaking diversity of plant and animal life that is an exotic – and splendid – feature of our throbbing ecosystem. However, depletion of biodiversity and the extinction of species call for a collective effort to conserve flora and fauna. Ahead of International Day for Biological Diversity, Sunday POST highlights the rare botanical and zoological species that have found a safe refuge at eco parks in Bhubaneswar
Biodiversity boosts overall productivity in the ecosystem where each species, no matter how small, has an important ecological role to play. Conservation efforts have resulted in sanctuaries and parks worldwide and the protection of different varieties of zoological and botanical species is essential to arrest depleting biodiversity that threatens ecological stability.
Forests have been the source of invaluable medicinal plants since time immemorial. Living in the lap of nature, traditional societies acquired unique knowledge about the use of wild flora and fauna, most of which are unknown to people who live away from natural ecosystems like forests.
The United Nations observes May 22 as The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness among people about biodiversity. The theme for 2017 is ‘Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism’, which has been chosen to coincide with the observance of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
Ahead of IDB, Sunday POST interacts with scientists and environmentalists on the need to protect biodiversity in the capital city and the corresponding need to create awareness on ecological conservation.
Dr P K Das, a botanist with the Board of Biodiversity says that the Regional Plant Resource Centre is home to various exotic flora and fauna but how far people are aware of it is uncertain. “Biodiversity is the basis for maintaining life and it’s not nature that needs us, in fact it’s the other way around. On International Day for Biodiversity we conduct programmes with a view to generate awareness about conservation. Visitors who throng the botanical parks in the capital city don’t merely indulge in recreation, they also buy different varieties of plants to decorate their houses and gardens,” says Das.
“We want more and more visitors at parks and botanical gardens who have a zest for knowledge and are curious about the different species on display. The need is to raise the overall level of knowledge and awareness about urban environment and worldwide efforts at preserving biodiversity,” Das adds.
Jaydev Vatika is a vast stretch of green wilderness that hosts a variety of indigenous and exotic flora and fauna, as well as species that have adapted to the fast developing urban environment, says environmentalist Sundaranarayana Patro.
Patro says the Vatika has immense potential and could be developed into an ecological theme park. In order to maintain the wild character of the park with indigenous species, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List species, in it, at least 50 per cent of the reserve area should be spared for wild growth. The rest may be maintained as a man-made park attracting nature lovers, students and research scholars.
Picnic parties use loudspeakers and music systems that cause noise pollution to the nuisance of local residents. These activities should be stopped and perfect peace and harmony should be maintained in and around the reserve, adds Patro.
Besides internal revenue generation, the Vatika may also avail of funds from the grants to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation for development of Orissa’s capital as a Smart City. The participation of the local community and welfare associations should be encouraged for the development of the park.
The Regional Plant Resource Centre, popularly known as Ekamrakanan, was established in 1985 with the objective of being an ecological counterweight to increasing urbanisation and rising pollution levels in Bhubaneswar. As the years passed, it emerged as a dynamic and vibrant research organisation of the state government with a consistent focus on conservation of plant biodiversity. Over the years, it has made significant contributions in the field of ex situ and in situ conservation and assessment of genetic diversity of various groups of plants.
Located in the heart of the city, a walk around the RPRC campus is a must for those who are keen to explore the fascinating range of species and breathtaking diversity of nature.
HERBS THAT HEAL
Parks in Bhubaneswar such as the Regional Plant Resource Centre, Jaydev Vatika and Botanical Garden are home to exotic plants that are endowed with medicinal properties as well as those used for various other purposes.
Hypericum gaitii haines: Hypericum gaitii haines is an endangered medicinal plant and has the potential to cure many diseases like cancer, AIDS and tumours. The leaf paste is used as an external ointment to treat skin eruptions.
Saraca asoca (ashoka): Saraca asoca (the ashoka tree; lit., “sorrow-less”) is a plant belonging to the Caesalpinioideae subfamily of the legume family. Ashoka is the widely used uterine tonic in Ayurvedic medicine. It has several traditional uses that support a healthy reproductive system in women. It helps in controlling excessive bleeding during menstruation caused as a result of leucorrhoea, uterine fibroids and other related diseases.
Rauvolfia serpentina (patal garuda): Rauvolfia serpentina is an evergreen, erect glabrous perennial shrub that normally grows up to a height of 60 cm. The herb is considered to be effective in lowering blood pressure and fever. It also helps in stimulating uterine contractions at the time of delivery. The roots are used against snakebite.
Gloriosa superba (agnisikha): Gloriosa superba is a species of flowering plant in the family Colchicaceae. It is also called the Flame Lily. It is used as a tonic, anti-periodic, anti-helminthic, anthelmintic and laxative. The tuber has commonly been used as a suicidal agent among women in rural areas and it has been used for homicide. The flowers are used in religious ceremonies.
Pterocarpus marsupium (piasal, bija): Pterocarpus marsupium is an important medicinal tree for managing diabetes in Ayurveda. Various parts of this tree are used for treatment of a variety of diseases. The leaves are useful in skin diseases. The bark is used to tackle bleeding and diarrhoea. The inner part of a tree trunk or heartwood is medicine for anaemia, intestinal worms, urinary problems, diseases of skin, obesity and lipid disorders. The bark is useful in the management of diabetes. Chemical studies done on various parts of this tree indicate more than 50 biologically active compounds that act against various major and minor diseases including diarrhoea, dysentery, leucoderma and elephantiasis.
Asparagus racemosus (Asparagaceae)
Plant used in night blindness.
Evolvulus alsinoids (Convolvulaceae)
Whole plant juice with mustard oil is used as hair growth enhancer.
Heliotropium indicum (Boraginaceae )
The plant’s root with honey is taken as a vitamin by woman against anemia during pregnancy.
BIODIVERSITY BRANCHES OUT
Cycas sphaerica roxb: Cycas sphaerica is a poorly known species found in the Eastern Ghats in eastern peninsular India. It ranges from the northern part of Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh northwards into Orissa at least as far as Bhubaneswar. It also occurs in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It is used to make ‘sago’ flour.
Lasiococca comberi haines: Lasiococca comberi is a small to moderate sized evergreen tree species attaining a height up to 15-20m. The wood of this species is used for making farm implements.
Polyalthia simiarum: Polyalthia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Annonaceae. Seeds from the ripened fruits are used to treat snakebite. The stem is used for making furniture. The fibers of the bark are made into ropes and woods are used to make tea boxes.
Pecteilis gigantea: Pecteilis gigantea is a fragrant orchid species, placed in various genera: Pecteilis, Habenaria, Orchis, Platanthera. The Butterfly Orchid is so named because of its wing-like sepals and fringed lip lobes. It is a ground orchid of swamp and grassland with very large white terminal flowers and elongated nectarines. The flowers have a pleasing fragrance.
Cajanus cajanifolius: This particular species grows in tropical moist forests along stream banks. It has also been found in dry deciduous forests in partial shade and in open grassland. It is known to tolerate soils with high iron
content. It is considered to be the nearest wild relative of the Pigeon Pea Cajanus cajan. The seeds of cajanus cajanifolius are collected from the wild for research purposes, as food and for horticulture because it is closely related to the Pigeon Pea.
AVIAN HUES
Pale capped pigeon (Columba punicea): The Pale-capped pigeon is a local resident species in India that largely inhabits forest habitats, chiefly primary or secondary evergreen forests, and bamboo and agricultural fields in close proximity to forests. In Ekamra Kanan, the birds usually perch on ornamental trees like Glircidia sepium. They feed on the berries of fruiting trees like Litsea glutonisa and Trema orientalis. The RPRC campus has many such trees that fruit at different times of the year, thereby seeming to provide substantial feeding opportunities for this forest-dwelling species.
White-bellied drongo (Dicurus hottentottus): The white-bellied drongo is a species of drongo found across the Indian subcontinent. Like other members of the family Dicruridae, they are insectivorous and mainly black in colour, but with a white belly and vent. Young birds are, however, all black and can be confused with the black drongo, although smaller and more compact in appearance, and the subspecies found in Sri Lanka has white restricted to the vent. These species are commonly found in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, usually in dry scrubs or open forests.
Plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus): The plaintive cuckoo is a species of bird belonging to the genus Cacomantis in the cuckoo family Cuculidae. It is native to Asia, from India and China to Indonesia.
Dwelling on the rare species found in Jaydev Vatika, Sudhakar Kar, former senior wildlife scientist with the Orissa Forest Department, says that the civet cat, mongoose and wild cat are fast becoming rare in the state. “These species are found throughout Bhubaneswar but in Jaydev Vatika they are well protected as they live in a forest enviornment surrounded by natural vegetation,” says Kar.
SAFE HABITAT
Wild cat or Katasa: The wildcat (Felis silvestris) is a small cat native to most of Africa, Europe, and Southwest and Central Asia into India, western China, and Mongolia. Because of its wide range it is assessed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List since 2002. However, crossbreeding of wildcat and domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) occurs in particular in Europe and is considered a potential threat for the preservation of the wild species. The wildcat is the ancestor of the domestic cat. Genetic, morphological and archaeological evidence suggests that domestication of Old-World wildcats began approximately 7500 years ago in the Fertile Crescent region of the Near East.
Civet cat (Civettictis civetta): Civet, also called civet cat, is found in Africa, southern Europe and Asia. Rather catlike in appearance, they have a thick furry tail, small ears and a pointed snout. The colouration varies widely among the species but commonly is buff or greyish with a pattern of black spots or stripes or both. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists several civets in danger of extinction. The cat can be spotted in Jaydev Vatika.
Mongoose (Herpestidae): Mongooses are long, furry creatures with a pointed face and a bushy tail. Despite popular belief, mongooses are not rodents. They are members of the Herpestidae family, which also includes civets and meerkats. According to the IUCN, most mongoose species are listed as threatened, but not extinct.
There are 40 animals which are being listed as endangered in Nandankanan Zoological Park. They include gharial, estuarine crocodile, mugger crocodile, peafowl, white-necked stork, tiger, leopard, Himalayan black bear, sloth bear, Manipuri deer, Barasingha, Nilgir langur, lion-tailed macaque, Indian pangolin and Blackbuck.