Experiences with Rhino, Tiger and Elephants in Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh.

 

                     In 1987, after successfully executing two major assignments  one of them was my doctoral work on Gir Lion study in Gujarat, the survey of snow leopard in Trans Himalayas and my contribution to the EIA of Gori Ganga River, I was looking forward for some new assignment. During the same year the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun (WII) was involved in a collaborative project with UP Forest Department on monitoring the reintroduced rhinos in Dudhwa National Park (DNP) under the supervision of Prof VB Sawarkar, IFS. Considering my field experience in wildlife ecology that included several ecosystems, habitats and species, I was offered the task—intensive monitoring of the re-introduced rhinos leading to establishment of their population. A well-wisher had told me that it may prove a challenging assignment as not many have endured the hardships of living and working under the harsh conditions of those forests that were dominated with terai vegetation—swamps and tall wet grasslands with dense sal forests on the upland areas. It was known that dacoits often camped in these forests to escape from law, and tigers inhabiting the park had earned some notoriety in attacking people. There was a history of man-eating tigers, although most incidents had taken place outside the park in sugarcane fields dotted with swamps. The HQ of the project was at Salukapur that had a forest rest house (FRH) and a small establishment of field staff. The area was malaria prone.  I was informed that one researcher had already left the Salukapur monitoring center. Accepting such a challenging assignment was not new to me, so I decided to accept it.

 

Experiences during Mountaineering expeditions: A unknown Bonding with the mountains

                               Call of the Mountains;  A divine attachment 

By

Dr Satya Priya Sinha

 As a matter of fact, most renowned people usually prefer to write their memoirs based on their lifetime endeavors, experiences, and achievements while some others pen their life’s pages in their biographies. But I have no intention to do so because I am neither a renowned person nor a famous individual. As I am a simple person, I just wish to share my experiences that I felt and confronted on the mountains as a mountaineer and in the wilderness as a researcher in different National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of India over a span of almost 40 years.   Hopefully, in the coming years I would add my recent experiences to this chronicle.

 True wilderness has become a matter of the bygone era as the damaging footprints of mankind even in the remotest of forests have gradually diminished them along with their jewels - the wild animals.

  Our team leader was a strict disciplinarian and an adept climber himself. In his mountaineering career, he remained totally devoted to this part of his vocation. In one of the expeditions, when his leg got fractured, he had trudged nearly five kilometers and had reached a motorable stretch from where he was rescued.

  Later during my training, I had a golden opportunity to work directly with Tenzing Norgay, the first Everest summiter and Nawang Gombu, who had scaled Mount Everest twice. One thing which I have learned in their association is to respect the Mountains, its wilderness and to face the odds cheerfully despite the hardships. I had always found Tenzing in a cheerful mood and encouraging the entire team. Later I followed the edicts of these two great mountaineers when I was working in Ladakh in search of the elusive snow leopard. In Ladakh, I met two very old Lamas in one of the villages in Markha valley. Local people told me that those Lamas were very old and highly respected in the valley. They had come to Markha valley for the last rites of a Lama who had died recently in a Gompa near Hankar, which was the last village in this valley. I told them that since last 8 months we were in search of the snow leopard without any success. After a few moments, one of the Lamas with a wide smile on his face predicted that I would see the animal in that valley within a short time and he was right as later, during the very next month, we sighted a snow leopard in the Markha valley.

                                  In Gangotri Glacier area, Garhwal Himalaya

                                 

                                Advance Mountaineering course in HMI, Darjeeling

                            Graduation ceremony at HMI Hon Defense Secretary presenting the ice axe

Living with lion and leopard in Gir National Park/Wildlife Sanctuary, Saurashtra, Gujarat

 Living with lion and leopard in Gir National Park/Wildlife Sanctuary, Saurashtra, Gujarat

Dr SP Sinha

My experiences with lions of Gir

               My association with Gir national park began in 1978 when I first arrived there with my colleagues as a common visitor and saw a pride of lions resting. They were totally indifferent to the presence of humans around them. There is no doubt it was a fascinating experience to see lions in the wild. Their magnificence stirred in me an ardent desire to work on the lion in detail and I decided to do my doctorate on the Gir lions. Thereafter, as of my resolve, from 1980 to 1985 I became a part of the Gir sanctuary and its lions. When tracking lions during the day and then at nights in those years of my research I had a clear impression that by disposition lions were very gentle and disciplined animals. A lion never attacks humans unless pestered and provoked but even then unless the culprit is within a striking distance only then a lion may attack in self defense. In some cases, sudden confrontation with the animals might precipitate fatal accidents.

I used to track three prides on a regular basis. I experienced that if a pride or an individual lion are being followed at a safe distance—for the lions that is—for a long stretch of time, the lions get used to the person and tolerate the presence so long as the approach is discreet. During the night time the big cats are very active, therefore, while tracking them at night exercising adequate caution is necessary.  One has to be extra cautious during the mating period of lions to avoid an attack, which often can prove fatal. 

During my research period, I never at any time felt uneasiness in proximity of lions but I was more careful in areas with the known presence of leopards; I was apprehensive while following lions along river courses during the day or the nights since crocodiles as well as leopards were always active in such riparian areas.

 

T

  Nomadic Male lion Tipu monitored regularly in Gir NP

                                             lionesses of study pride and 

                                        One of the male member of Lion pride

                                                

                                 One of the Male member of study pride of Lion

                                       Myself with Lone nomadic male lion Tipu

                       

    

                               My field guide Abla Jaffer an excellent wild lifer

Inside the Gir NP maldharies rear the livestock and sell the milk

                                            Maldhari hut and its entrance 

                                        Maldharies in their traditional dress

Maldhari  Charan family 

                                Tulsishyam temple inside Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

                                        Banej Temple inside Gir WlS

                                        Kankai Maata temple inside Gir NP

On the occasion of completion of 50 years of Gir National Park, facilitation ceremony 

in search of Snow Leopard in Trans-Himalayas covering Uttar Pradesh,Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir (Ladakh)

  In search of the elusive lord of the Mountains :The Snow Leopard in Trans-Himalayas covering Uttar Pradesh,Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir (Ladakh)

 

During my visit to Srinagar in 1985, I had seen pelts of snow leopard and other endangered species being sold in the market place. Jammu and Kashmir have a different wildlife protection Act, and the state did not follow the central Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 till the year 1986. There are several parallel provisions but with gaps. Local people, out of frustration kill snow leopards, in retaliation for the loss of their livestock. In a village of Markha Valley, one night I had seen a snow leopard creeping into a sheep’s pen and causing death of 27 sheep. Snow leopard actually would have killed only a few animals but others in the same pen died from panic, stampede and suffocation. This is a typical consequence, unfortunate as it is, when a predator enters a pen. The natural prey of snow leopard like wild sheep (blue sheep / Bharal), goats, have been reduced through excessive hunting by local people. This has consequences for livestock. Every year large number of Bakarwals along with their flocks of sheep climb up to the alpine grasslands in summer months; during this journey a number of wild sheep and goats are killed by the snow leopard. Another reason for the decline of the natural prey base is the severe competition for food as growing number of  livestock have now exerted serious pressure on wild ungulates within their preferred grazing areas. If these trends continue—there does not appear to be any favorable change—it is doubtful that the snow leopard will survive across its natural range except in few isolated areas or some in captivity. While this is true of present times the situation was not too different in the distant past

 Alarmed by these reports, in 1985-86 a Snow leopard Survey was launched   jointly by some of the international conservation agencies and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India to assess the status of the snow leopard and its prey. The survey was undertaken by some scientists of the Wildlife Institute of India drafted specifically for this purpose and the International Snow Leopard Trust, USA, WWF-International and US Fish and Wildlife Service.  The Survey team included besides myself, a zoologist, Pallav Das, sociologist, Raghu Chundavat, botanist and Dr J.L.Fox, a representative of the International Snow Leopard Trust. The objectives of this survey included ascertaining the status of snow leopard and its prey base in Uttar Pradesh--now the Garhwal region of Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir especially the Ladakh region. The areas covered during the survey included all the representative snow leopard habitats throughout northwestern India. The survey sites were within the alpine, sub-alpine, and arid desert zones of Himalayan and trans-Himalayan mountains. They ranged from the high desert Zanskar mountains of central Ladakh, through somewhat moist alpine forests of the southern slopes of the Himalayas along the northern region of Uttar Pradesh and the Pir Panjal Range in Himachal Pradesh. The elevation of survey areas ranged from 2000m to 5000 m.

 

                   Nun kun peak and the Zanskar  Vally marsh near Zuldok Village

                Initial surveys from 9 November to 22 December, 1985 were conducted in the upper Suru / Zanskar Valleys, south of Kargil in Ladakh, J&K. Further surveys in this general location, and over Pensi La to Padam in Zanskar, were conducted from 26 June to 15 July, 1986. This included the areas from which  the Rangdom Wildlife Reserve was later carved out. The Markha valley region, south of Leh, Ladakh, was surveyed in three stints - from 1-15 January, 1986; 23 February to 28 March, 1986 and during 4-8 July 1986. This region included areas which were later notified to constitute the Hemis National Park. The Shang Wildlife Sanctuary, northeast of and adjacent to Markha valley, was surveyed from 31 December, 1985 to 6 January, 1986, and again during 8-11 July, 1986. Areas to the south of Markha valley, which were under consideration for  protected area status, were surveyed from 26 June to 4 July 1986. The Himalayan crest region in the vicinity of Shingo La was surveyed from 12-21 June 1986 as far as Jispa in Lahul, Himachal Pradesh and Padam in Zanskar, Jammu and Kashmir.

 

                                                        

                                                        Wooley hare

                    

                    Blue sheep fawn and herd in Kommarula Pass in Markha valley

 

      Topographical features of different valleys in Trans-Himalayas during survey of snow leopard

                                       Local inhabitant of Zuldok village of Zanskar valley                                   

                            Snow leopard in the wild in Markha Valley, Laddakh

                             Photo by Dr Satya Priya Sinha on 8 March, 1986)

Assessment of Corridor Viability and Habitat Restoration between Dudhwa National Park and Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and its ManagementKheri District, Uttar Pradesh, India

 

Dr. Satya Priya Sinha, Project Coordinator

                                                                            And team  

INTRODUCTION

The terai is one of the worlds most spectacular landscapes, encompassing the tall grasslands and sal forests of the southern slopes and foothill valleys of the eastern Himalayas. This biologically diverse landscape spans as area of approximately 12.3 million acres (5 million hectares) from Nepal’s Bagmati River in the east to India’s Yamuna River in the west. The Terai is home of endangered wildlife such as the tiger, Greater One-horned rhino, Asian elephant, sloth bear, gaur and Gangetic river dolphin and also contains vital migratory and breeding habitat for over 500 bird species.

In fact, the Terai landscape is one of the last few places in the world where rhino, elephants and tigers coexist and offers exciting and urgent need for conservation. This landscape contains two Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy (AREAS) priority populations of Greater Indian One horned Rhinos. In fact, terai landscape area supports the second largest population of Greater One-horned rhinos in the world along with three reintroduced rhino population.

            Fifty years ago, terai (In Sanskrit for “lowlands”) stretched across 1,600 kilometers of rich forests and tall grasslands. Since than, the exploitation and unsustainable management of forest resources has led to fragmentation and degradation of natural habitat. Approximately 3 million people, of which 50 percent subsist below the poverty line, live in this landscape and depend on its resources for their livelihood. In addition to the degradation of habitat, specific threats to the landscape, and to its rhinos, elephants, and tigers, include poaching and illegal wildlife trade, as well as human- wildlife conflict (WWF-Nepal Terai ARC).

Corridor plays an important role in management of landscape, by linking fragmented forest patches and provides accessibility to alternative habitat for long ranging animals. It also helps in maintaining gene flow as it is required to prevent inbreeding depression thus causing extinction (Harris, 1984). In recent years a number of wildlife habitats have under gone or are threatened with fragmentation due to various anthropogenic factors and this has actually affected large mammal population residing in them (Johnsingh et al 1990, 91).

 Dudhwa National Park and Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary are important habitat for large mammals like rhino, elephant, tiger, swamp deer and other wild animals found in the terai and bhabar range. Once these areas had abundant population of rhinoceros (Laurie, 1978), linked with each other, now has reintroduced and isolated populations. A number of rhinoceros have been reintroduced in recent past from Pobitara Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam and The Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal to Dudhwa in India (Sale and Singh, 1987, Sinha and Sawarkar, 1993) and from the Royal Chitwan National Park to Royal Bardia National Park in Nepal (Barner, 1988, Mishra and Dinertein, 1987, Jnawali and Wegge, 1993) to establish new viable breeding populations and safeguard this species from various threats. The Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary has three rhinos dispersed from Royal Bardia National Park to Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.

A REPORT ON THE SURVEY ON FLORAL DIVERSITY IN THE CATCHMENT OF RIVER DHUALIGANGA IN THE URTHING SOBIA HEP HYDEL PROJECT AREA

 

A REPORT ON THE SURVEY ON FLORAL DIVERSITY IN THE CATCHMENT OF RIVER DHUALIGANGA IN THE URTHING SOBIA HEP HYDEL PROJECT AREA 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    

 

 

 

By:

 

 

                                          Dr SP Sinha  

                                                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           16 May 2006

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

          Inventorying of biological wealth and assessment of potential resources are by far the most commonly recognized activities for initiating long term conservation measures. The Kumaun Himalaya which occupies central sector of Himalayan Mountain chain and along with a part of Nepal Himalaya lies in the biogeographic transition of wet eastern and dry western Himalaya. Therefore, the biological elements of both east and west Himalaya show a gradient of admixture in this region. While reviewing the literature shows that most of the past studies on inventory and assessment of biological diversity (especially plant diversity) are focused on south-western part of Kumaun e.g. Gaula, Pindari and Sarju catchments (Singh and Singh, 1987, 1992; Singh et al., 1994; Rawat et al., 1994). The north/eastern part remained under or unexplored. However recently some studies have been done in the eastern part of Kumaun region particularly in Gori valley (Kumar et al., 1992 and Kumar et al., 1993; Dhar, 1997) With respect to Panchchuli area Sahani and Raizada (1995) described the floristic patterns of Panchchuli range from western side. Attempt was also made to explore the diversity pattern on eastern side (Dharma valley) by Rawal and Rai, 1998. The socio-cultural patterns and transformation in rural populace in the valley have, however, been studied by Nehal and Nautiyal, 1996; Nehal and Saxena, 1996; Satyal, 1995. The scope of current study on the floral aspect and methodology adopted are given below:

 METHODOLOGY

The methodology followed for the current survey was as follows:

1. The Management plan of North Pithoragarh Forest Division and Management Plan for Askot Wildlife Sanctuary was consulted to get an idea about the boundaries and notification number of Askot Wildlife Sanctuary. Related people of forest department were contacted to know the current situation.

2. Entire stretch from Dar village to the Boungling and Dam site was scanned carefully to collect data on habitat condition.

3. In the area of proposed power station site and observations made on the floristic inventory in Dar site and on the way to Boungling and between Boungling to Dam site.

4. There are possibilities of variation in and just after the rainy season to study the ground cover in all the areas mentioned above.

 

SCOPE OF STUDY

 

B. Biological Resources:

 

 

I). Flora

 

·        Forests and forest Types

·        Vegetation profile

·        Economic important plants and endemic taxa, if any

·        Ecological aspects of the catchments

·        Impact of impoundment and construction activities

·        Location of any Biosphere Reserve, National Park or Sanctuary nearby

II). Flora

 

Forests and forest Types

          The forests type’s changes with the change in altitudinal zones; Sub-Montane zone (Sub-tropical) upto about EL. 1,500 m: A temperate  zone from EL. 1,500 m to EL. 3,200 m and an Alpine zone above that to the snowline.

 

 Table: 1 Forest/ dominant types in the valley and their corresponding Himalayan formation/ forest types

 

Dominant Type	Corresponding formation  type ( Singh & Singh 1987)	Corresponding formation type  (Champion & Seth 1968)
Alnus nepalensis  – mixed broad leaved	---	---
Quercus floribunda – mixed broad leaved	Low to mid montane hemisclerophyllous braod leaf forest (formation 7)	Lower (12/C1) and upper (12/C2) west Himalayan temperate forest
Aesculus indica mixed broad leaved	Mid montane winter  deciduous( formation 9)	Moist temperate deciduous forests(12/C)
Tsuga dumosa –mixed coniferous	Mid montane needle leaved evergreen forests (Formation 8)	Coniferous categories of (12/C! & 12/C2) of temperate west Himalaya
Taxus wallichiana-Mixed coniferous	- do-	- do-
Quercus semecarpifolia-Mixed evergreen	Formation type 7	12/C1 & 12/C2
Pinus wallichiana	Formation type 8	- do-
Abies pindrow	- do-	West Himalayan sub-alpine forest (Silver fir, 14)
Betula utilis	High montane stunted forest (Formation 10)	West Himalayan sub-alpine forest (birch)
B. utilis - Rhododendron	- do-	-do-

Vegetation profile

          Moving towards Dar where construction of Power station is proposed one can easily come across Ficus sp. (Kapri) and Celtis sp., a plant of fodder value. Cyathula tomentosa dominates the stony slopes while Rhus sp. is seen scattered here and there. Solanum nigrum, Chenopodium botrys and cynodon dactylon have been noted as a rare species at the Dar village. In shady moist places Peperomia tetraphylla covers the tree trunk and rocks. Ricinus communis is frequently seen along the track. Some other plants commonly encountered in the area are species of Debregesia, Chrysopogon, Rubia, Saccharun, Pennisetum, Nicotiana, Pouzolzia, Erigeron, Cheilanthus, Anaphalis, Adiantum, polygonum, Cynoglossum and Carex. A little before Dar Village is forest of Alnus nepalensis (Utis), a plant used as timber. Trees of Pyrus pashia and bushes of Berberis are also mixed up in between with Dennstaedtia. Edible fern, Diplazium esculentum (Lingra), is also fairly common here. In moist situations species of Hydrocotyle, Elatosterma, Adiantum etc. grow in abundance. The rocky slopes ahead of Dar are covered with species of Cotoneaster, Berberis, Prinseptia utilis and Rubus ellipticus (Hisalu) with occasional plants of Elaeagnus and Zanthoxylum armatum, a plant of medicinal importance. As the path proceeds toward Boungling, a legume (Butea spp.) is seen in abundance on slopes. The herbaceous plant species around proposed dam site includes on the slope Tylophora govanii. Heracleum lanatum, Serratula pallida, species of Aster, Euphorbia etc. Scattered population of Iris decora is another interesting feature of these slopes. Further ahead a patch of forest comprising typical Himalayan elements like Rhododendron arboretum, Quercus floribunda, Ilex dipyrena, Litsea sp. With Arundinaria sp. and herbaceous species like Disporum cantoniensis, Coniogramme caudate, Paris polyphylla, Trillium govanianum appears before Boungling Village. A medicinal plant Paeonia emodi also grows here. A climber Marsdenia lucida (Bhagal) also grows in abundance. This is said to be poisonous to cattle. Hedera nepalensis is another common climber seen in this forest.

          The forest around Sela is a mixed one including Juglans regia (Akhrot), Aesculus indica (Pangar), Quercus semecarpifolia (Kharsu), Ilex dipyrena, Lyconia ovalifolia, Rhododeron arboretum, Pinus wallichiana (Salla), Abies spectabilis (Raga), Quercus floribunda (Telunj), Cederus deodara (Deodar), Salix elegans (Bhoksya), Cotoneaster offinis (Ruins), Pinus spp. (Chir) etc. In between Lonicera sp., Viburnum Sp., Berberis Sp., Corrylus colura and Ulmus wallichiana ( a species of fodder value, now included in the IUCN Red Data Book are also mixed up but more interesting is the presence of Tsuga dumosa (Patari). This species is confined to Kumaun Himalaya only as far as North West Himalaya is concerned. Patches of Taxus wallichiana (Lwaith Tunder) are to be seen in between. This plant is highly sought after for treatment of ovarian cancer and has been exploited commercially. The plant has now listed under endangered category and the International Trade of this plant or the plant part is now banned under Appendix -II of the CITES. The locals are said to use the dried bark as substitute for tea. Pure stands of Hippophae are also occasionally met with in between.

           Among the shrubby elements species of Desmodium, Salix, Viburnum and Colquthounia coccinea are abundant on stony slopes. The herbaceous plants seen are Cardiocrinum giganteum, Gagea lutea, Actaea spicata, Paeonia emodi, Tussilago farfara, Caltha palustris, Thymus linearis and species of Ainsliea, Carex, Calanthe, Polystichum, As0plenium, Lepisorus, Corydalis, Gentiana, Valriana, Veronica, Geranium, Senecio, Anemone etc. Morchella esculanta (Guchhi), a highly sought plant for culinary and well known for its nutritional value too, also grows in the forest.

 

·        Economic important plants and endemic taxa, if any

TABLE SHOWING ECONOMIC IMPORTANT PLANTS USED BY LOCAL VILLAGERS FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES (*Scientific Name of plants are given in alphabetical order)

Scientific Name*             Name of NTFP      Parts  Used      Remarks

A. MEDICINAL PLANTS 1. Aconitum heterophyllum      Atis             Root           Commercial 2. Acorus calamus                             Buch           Root             Commercial 3. Berberis asiatica                  Kilmora      Root             Commercial 4. Bergenia  ciliate                            Gheepati     Rhizome     Wound 5. Dactylorhiza hatagirea        Hathajari    Root           Burns/cuts 6. Dioscorea deltoidea             Ban tarur    Tuber                   Commercial 7.Ephedr gerardiana               Tut gatha    Stem           Asthma 8. Hyoscyamus niger                 Langtang    Seed            Toothache 9. Macrotomia benthamii                  Balsamjari  Root           Hair tonic 10. Megacarpae polyandra      Roorki        Root           Lowfever 11.Myrica esculenta                 Kaphal        Bark            Commercial 12. Parnassia nubicola            Nirbis                   Root           Antidotefor poison 13. Permelia spp                      Muk(Lichens)  Entire plant Commercial 14. Picrorhiza kurroa              Kutki          Root              Fever 15. Pleurospermum angelicoidesChhipi         Root              Stomachache 16. Polygonatum verticillum    Khakan      Root             Commercial 17. Rheum australe                  Chhirchey   Root           Wound   18. Solanum nigrum                Makoi         Fruits          Dysentery 19. Thalictrum foliolosum        Mamira       Root           Commercial 20.Zanthoxylum alatum           Timur                   Seed            Cold B. VEGETABLES AND FOOD SUBSIDERY FOOD 1. Allium wallichii                    Lathum       Leaves 2. Arisaema jacquemontii        Bankh         Tuber                   Edible 3. Asparagus racemosus          Keeru                   Leaves        Young leaves 4. Chaerophyllum villosum      Gyan           Tuber                   Edible 5. Chenopodium  botrys            Bathuwa    Whole plantsEdible 6. Diplazium esculentum          Lingoro       -do-             -do- 7. Fagopyrum cymosum           Jhankara     -do-             -do- 8. Lepidium sativum                 Ban Halim  Leaves        Fever 9. Morchella                            Morchella   entire fruit   Eaten 10. Paeonia emodi                            Hilto           -do-             -do- 11. Phytolacca acinosa            Jarak           Leaves        Edible C. FRUITS  1. Corylus colurna                  Tamakha    Fruit           eaten  2. Elaeagnus   parviflora                  Gain            Fruit        3. Ficus    roxbergii                 Timal           Fruit          Fodder  4. Ficus palmate                     Beru            Fruit  5. Juglans regia                      Khaksing    Fruit             commercial  6. Prunus cerasoides               Padam        Fruit           Multipurpose 7. Prunus cornuta                    Bambhalu   Fruit  8. Ribes uva-crispa var sativumKontilo      Fruit           Pickles  9. Sorbis vestita                       Nephal         Fruit        D. SPICES / CONDIMENTS /PICKLES   1. Allium stracheyi                 Jambu         Leaves        Spice  2. Carum carvi                        Thawe         seed            commercial  3. Cinnamomum tamala                   Tejpatta      Leaves        Commercial  4. Hippophae tibetana            Tar Chuku  Leaves        Pickles  5. H. salicifolia                       Chuku         Fruit           Pickles  6. Thymus serpyllum               Balma Jhar Leaves        In Brewery E. INCENSE /DHOOP 1. J. communis                          Sirsing       Branches 2. Juniperus pseudosabina        Pama                   Branches 3. Jurinea macrocephalia        Dhoop        Root           Commercial 4. Nardostachys jatamansi       Masi           Leaves          Commercial 5. Pleurospermum densiflorum Gokul                   Leaves 6. Rhododendron anthopogon Tarsing       Leaves  7. Skimmia laurelola                Kedar Patti   Leaves F. OTHER USES: 1. Agave Americana                 Rambans    Leaves        Fiber 2. Betula  utilis                         Syasing       Bark           Roof ceiling 3. Cannabis sativa                             Bhang         Stem and Bark   Fiber 4. Cassiope fastigiata               Pongche      Stem           Roof ceiling 5. Arundinaria falcata             Ringal         Clums         Thatch,   Basket 6. Chrysopogon  gryllus           Chemsi       Leaves        Thatch 7. Gerardinia palmate             Sium            Stem and Bark  Fiber 8. Pringpia utilis                      Dhindeli      Seed            Edible oil 9. Saussurea obvallata             Kawal         Flower        Religious 10. Taxus baccata                    Lwait          Bark           As tea

 

        Endemic plant species which are found in this starch are as follows:

          The River Dhauliganga catchment area harbours rich biological heritage representing a considerable admixture of various floristic elements which migrated and occupied the area from different phytogeographical zones, e.g.  steppes elements like Artemisia, hippophae, Astrgalaus, Caragana and Juniperus from North temperate zones ; European and Sub-arctic like Aconitum, Clematis, inula, Leontotpdium and Spiraea; North- eastern elements like Arsaema, Aesculus, Acer and Petula; Mediterranean elements like Celtis australis, Silene and Quercus; Didyocarus and Goldfussia representing Indo-Malayan region; and Typical Sino- Himalayan elements like Cardiocrinum giganteum, Nardostachys and Lyonia. The area being the Eastern most end of the Western Himalaya and Western most part of E.Himalaya serve as a buffer zone of Floristic elements which harbours gene pools equally from the both phytogeographical regions,e.g., Tsuga dumosa an elements of E. Himalayan forests and Picea smithiana and Cedrus deodara essentially the elements of W.Himalaya. Furthermore, the area assumes still greater importance botanically as it being an extension of Sino-Himalayan region which constitute secondary center of diversity for primary gene pool for some of the temperate genera (Kumar, 1983).

 

 ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE CATCHMENTS

Following components of the biodiversity were observed during the visit/survey of the study sites:

§  Land animals (wild and domestic) including reptiles

§  Predatory birds

§  Small game fish

§  Fish, and shellfish

§  Natural floral diversity with economic important and endemic plant species

§  Insects

§  Aquatic plants and

§  Micro fauna  

 

IMPACT OF IMPOUNDMENT AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES

 

1.     Impact of impoundment

   The catchment formed by the dam may cause following impacts-

·       Destruction of pristine area

·       Loss of original river section; changes in flow regime, detention time,

·       Collection / settlement of sediments

·       Water born pathogens

·       Local climate changes, e.g. increased fog

·       Change in down stream water quality

·       Eutrofication effect

·       Alter down stream fish populations

·       Altered water conditions

·       Proliferation of lake fish populations and associated organisms

·       Decreased woodland and wildlife

·       Blocking of wildlife migration routes

·       Decreased  many economic and endemic plant species

·       Changed evapotranspiration and seepage

·       Increased wetland flora and fauna

·       Temporary changes in air quality

·       Earthquake and land slides risk

2.     Impact of construction activities

Construction activities that will add pollutants to the atmosphere or alter the weather and climate may result in adverse effects on people, plants, animals, materials and buildings. These effects can occur at the local, regional or even global scale.

Air impacts                                                                             

·        Diffusion factor                                          

·        Particulates                                                 

·        Sulfur oxides

·        Hydrocarbons

·        Nitrogen oxides

·        Carbon monoxide

·        Photochemical oxidants

·        Hazardous toxicants

·        Odours

Water Impacts

·        Aquifer safe yield

·        Flow variation

·        Oil

·        Radioactivity

·        Suspended solids

·        Thermal pollution

·        Acid and alkali

·        Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

·        Dissolved oxygen (DO)

·        Dissolved solids

·        Nutrients

·        Toxic compounds

·        Aquatic life

·        Fecal coli forms

Land Impact

·        Soil stability

·        Natural hazard

·        Land use patterns

·        Soil erosion

·        Waste disposal

Ecological Impact

·        Loss of , and damage to, habitats and plant and animal species

·        Loss of, and damage to, geological, palaeontological and physiographic features

·        Other ecological consequences

Sound Impact

·        Physiological effects

·        Psychological effects

·        Communication effects

·        Performance effects

·        Social behavior effects

Socio-economic impact

1.     Direct economic

·                    Local – non local employment

·                    Characteristics of employment

·                    Labour supply and training

·                    Wage levels

2.     Indirect / wider economic / expenditure

·        Employee retail expenditure

·        Liked supplier to main development

·        Labour market pressures

·        Wider multiplier effects

3.     Demographic

·        Changes in population sizes; temporary and permanent

·        Changes in other population characteristics (i.e. family size, income levels, socio-economic groups )

·        Settlement patterns

4.     Housing

·        Various housing tenure types

·        Public and private

·        House prices

·        Homelessness and other housing problems

5.     Other local services: public and private sector

·        Educational services

·        Health services; social support

·        Others (e.g. police, fire, recreation, transport)

·        Local finances

6.     Socio-cultural

·        life styles / quality of life

·        social problems (e.g. crime, illness, divorce)

·        community stress and conflict; integration and alienation

Location of any Biosphere Reserve, National Park or Sanctuary nearby

 

          Currently the catchment of River Dhauliganga comes under the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary. It was notified by the Government of Uttar Pradesh under G.O No. 996/14-3-30/84 dated 30.7.1986 for the conservation of regional flora and fauna (Arya, 1991). There are possibilities of denotify the project area and to cast out the area from Ascot Wildlife sanctuary and is under consideration.