Kaptipada: The famous Similipal sanctuary is named after Simili tree (red cotton tree) since the forest had a thick cover of this plant species.
However, over the years there has been a steady fall in the number of Simili trees inside the sanctuary which has become a major concern for ecologists.
According to reports, though more than a thousand types of trees are seen in the sanctuary, Simili assumes much importance.
The waning density of this variety of tree has adversely affected the population of honeybees which play a crucial role in the ecosystem, experts said.
They pointed out that the height and structure of a Simili tree always attract honeybees as an ideal habitat. This is the reason more beehives are seen in Simili trees inside the sanctuary.
The red and yellow flowers of the trees attract the bees, while its flowers contain plenty of fluid required to prepare honey. However, the declining number of Simili trees has affected the honeybee population, it was learnt.
Honeybees play a significant role in fertilisation of flowers into fruits. Horticulture and agriculture activities have been severely affected due to a fall in number of bees, said worried environmentalists.
Not only bees, the fluid in Simili flower is a hot favourite of the myna bird. With a fall in the number of this tree variety, mynas are hardly seen in the sanctuary these days.
Similarly, the logs of Simili tree are used in building construction. “With the scarcity of the Simili timber masons are these days using iron and GI sheets for centering,” said a mason Hem Singh.
Environmentalist Dr Sanat Kumar Dash said no species should be neglected in the matter of protection of biodiversity. It is important to protect animals like tigers and elephants but it is also equally essential to save plant species, he advised.
“People collect honey with the help of fire which kills a large number of bees. We should wear protective gear during honey collection instead of killing the insects,” Dash said.
Realising the importance of the Simili tree, an NGO had planted several saplings at Jampada in Jadida panchayat. However, the survival rate of these saplings was dismal due to lack of proper preservation, it was learnt.
When contacted, Kaptipada ranger Maheswar Singh said the forest department is aware of the matter and more emphasis would be laid in future for planting of saplings. PNN
