ACTA UNIVERSITATIS AGRICULTURAE ET SILVICULTURAE MENDELIANAE BRUNENSIS

Volume 63 82 Number 3, 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.11118/actaun201563030731

BUTTERFLY OF UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN : CAN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS CONTRIBUTE TO CONSERVATION OF DIVERSITY IN NORTHEASTERN REGION OF ?

Mitrajit Deb1, Sunil Nautiyal2, Petr Sláma4, Parimal C. Bhattacharjee3, Shubhadeep Roychoudhury1

1 Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University, 788011 Silchar, India 2 Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources, Institute for Social and Economic Change, 560072 Bangalore, India 3 Wildlife Trust of India, 781012 , India 4 Department of Morphology, Physiology and Genetics, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract

DEB MITRAJIT, NAUTIYAL SUNIL, SLÁMA PETR, BHATTACHARJEE PARIMAL C., ROYCHOUDHURY SHUBHADEEP. 2015. Butterfl y of Assam University Campus in Silchar: Can Academic Institutions Contribute to Conservation of Species Diversity in Northeastern Region of India? Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 63(3): 731–739.

Northeast India is amongst most bio-diverse ecological communities although recent developmental activities marred the environment to a great extent. Assam University campus in Silchar is situated in of Assam, boasting a variety of habitats supporting invertebrate diversity. Heavy rainfall during monsoon increases vegetation and in turn larval food plants and overall butterfl y density. Total 38 butterfl y species were identifi ed belonging to 30 genera under 5 families: having the maximum species richness (58%), followed by Hesperiidae (13%), (13%), (11%) and Papilionidae (5%). This paper focuses on the problems and possible solutions towards butterfl y conservation and highlights the role of academic institutions in conserving by acting as green spaces for reducing eff ects of climate change, carbon sequestration and lowering of energy consumption among other benefi ts.

Keywords: butterfl y, environment, , conservation, academic institutions, green spaces

INTRODUCTION The Assam University campus in Silchar is Physiographically the Northeastern region home to a large number of fauna ranging from of India can be categorized into the Northeast the microscopic zooplanktons to some endemic hills (Patkai-Naga Hills and Lushai Hills), Eastern primate species like phayre’s langur and rhesus and the Brahmaputra and Barak Valley macaque (Dutta et al., 1998, 2008; Mazumdar et al., plains encompassing the states of Arunachal 2011). The vegetation around the campus represents Pradesh, Assam, , , , a secondary succession status. A forest cover inside , and . The Northeastern the campus has been designated as eco-forest as region of India falls under the tri-junction of it is relatively less disturbed and supports good three biogeographical realms i.e. the Indian, biodiversity. There are about 18,000 recorded Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese imparting an species of butterfl ies in the world out of which 1,501 exceptionally diverse biota with a high level of species have been recorded from India (Kehimkar, endemism (Chatterjee et al., 2006). 2008). They are important pollinators and indicate

731 732 Mitrajit Deb, Sunil Nautiyal, Petr Sláma, Parimal C. Bhattacharjee, Shubhadeep Roychoudhury

the general environmental health of an area. Due to Data Collection high sensitivity to sudden changes and disturbance The university campus in Silchar was explored in vegetation, butterfl y species can be used to over a four month monsoon period from June till study particular habitats and the levels of habitat September in the year 2012 to assess the diversity destruction (Erhardt, 1985). The present study is of butterfl ies. Survey and recording of the butterfl y fi rst of its kind aiming at providing the baseline fauna were done according to Checklist Survey information about the butterfl y species likely to be (Royer et al., 1998). Identifi cation was carried out seen in Assam University campus in Silchar during using methods already standardized (Evans, 1932; monsoon season. Haribal, 1992; Kehimkar, 2008; Kunte, 2000). Status and global distributions were prepared following MATERIALS AND METHODS standard procedures (Kehimkar, 2008; Kunte, 2000; IUCN, 2013; IBP, 2013). Study Site The Assam University campus (24o 41’29.5” and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 92o 45’ 02.7”) spans over 600 acres of land nestled in An inventory of butterfl y fauna of Assam the Dargakona Hills of Barak Valley, which was once University campus in Silchar was prepared based on a vast expanse of dense forest (Fig. 1). Four study the fi ndings of butterfl y diversity study presented sites were chosen for the survey that includes areas in Tab. I. Royer et al. (1998) recommended Checklist in and around Vice Chancellor’s Bungalow, Boys’ Surveys for initial determination of a species list Hostel No. 4, Shaktipada Setu and the Eco-forest. for a site. In the present study, a total of 38 butterfl y Monsoon season was chosen for the survey because species belonging to 30 genera under 5 families were the period is believed to have the highest butterfl y identifi ed. Five families viz., Papilionidae (2 species), activity as a number of host plants grow in vacant Pieridae (5 species), Nymphalidae (21 species), areas. Lycaenidae (5 species) and Hesperiidae (5 species) were noted. Out of the 38 species, 24 species were recorded from the eco-forest area of the campus alone.

1: Location of the study site including the eco-forest area in the Assam University campus in Silchar (Google Earth, 2013)

I: Diversity of butterfl y fauna in Assam University campus in Silchar Sl. No. Common Name Scientifi c Name Global Distribution Status Family: Hesperiidae 1. Chestnut Bob salsala India, , , Bangladesh, Common India (Except ), , Nepal, , 2. Straight Swi Parnara guttata Common Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka India [Western Ghats (Karnataka Southwards), 3. Coon Sancus fuligo Common Northeast] Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, 4. Common Snowfl at dasahara Uttaranchal to , Northern Nepal, Not Rare Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka 5. Common Grass Dart maevius South Locally Common Butterfl y of Assam University Campus in Silchar: Can Academic Institutions Contribute to Conservation… 733

Sl. No. Common Name Scientifi c Name Global Distribution Status Family: Papilionidae 6. Common Mormon Princeps polytes Oriental region Common 7. Common Bluebottle Graphium sarpedon Oriental and Australian regions Common Family: Pieridae 8. Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona , and Common Tropical , South Asia, Southeast Asia and 9. Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe Common Australia Common Grass 10. Eurema hecabe Tropical & Sub-tropical Africa, Asia and Australia Common Yellow 11. Pale Wanderer avatar Sikkim, Northeast India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar Rare 12. Psyche Leptosia nina Oriental region Common Family: Lycaenidae India (except Northwest), Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, 13. Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon Not Rare Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka India (Uttaranchal to Arunachal Pradesh, Peninsular 14. Yamfl y atymnus India up-to Maharashtra, North Bihar and Madhya Common Pradesh), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar 15. Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis South Asia Common India (South India upto , Uttaranchal to Western Centaur 16. Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast, West Bengal), Nepal, Uncommon Oakblue pseudocentaurus Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka India (South India Up-to Gujarat, Uttaranchal to Common Acacia 17. quercetorum Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast, Jharkhand), Nepal, Locally Common Blue Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Family: Nymphalidae 18. Peacock Pansy Junonia almanac Indian sub-continent Common 19. Grey Pansy Junonia atlites South Asia (except drier areas) Locally Common 20. Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias South Asia Common 21. Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta South Asia Common 22. Chocolate Pansy Junonia iphita South Asia (except drier areas) Common Common India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh 23. perseus Common Bushbrown and Sri Lanka Dark Brand India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh 24. Mycalesis mineus Common Bushbrown and Sri Lanka India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh 25. Common Fourring Ypthima hubenri Common and Sri Lanka 26. Eastern Fivering Ypthima similis India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh Common India (except arid North and Northwest), Nepal, 27. Angled Castor Ariadne ariadne Uncommon Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka 28. Common Jester Symbrenthia hippoclus India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh Common 29. Bamboo Treebrown Lethe europa India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar Common 30. Common Nawab Polyura athamus India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh Locally Common India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh 31. Common Palmfl y Elymnias hypermnestra Common and Sri Lanka India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri 32. Common Lascar Pantoporia hordinia Common Lanka 33. Common Yeoman Cirrochroa tyche India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh Common Rarer in South 34. Grey Count Tanaecia lepidealepidea India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh India than in North India (Uttaranchal to Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, 35. Common Earl Tanaecia julli Common Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh India Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh 36. Plain Tiger Danaus genutia Common and Sri Lanka India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri 37. Common Sailor Neptis hylas Common Lanka Double Branded India (Maharashtra onwards), Nepal, Bhutan, 38. Euploea sylvester Locally Common Crow Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka 734 Mitrajit Deb, Sunil Nautiyal, Petr Sláma, Parimal C. Bhattacharjee, Shubhadeep Roychoudhury

Butterfl y diversity study revealed that Assam Nymphalidae family viz. , Mycalesis University campus in Silchar has good butterfl y mineus, Ypthima hubenri, Ariadne ariadne, Symbrenthia fauna ranging from the Lesser Grass Blue with hippoclus, Lethe europa, Polyura athamas, Cirrochroa tyche a wingspan of 19–26 mm (Kehimkar, 2008) to large and Euploea sylvester (Fig. 2). conspicuous butterfl y Common Mormon. Some Furthermore, according to their ecological very common butterfl ies recorded included Grey status the butterfl y species were categorized into Pansy, Lesser Grass Blue and Common Emigrant. Common, Locally Common, Rare, Not Rare and Low anthropogenic pressure in the eco-forest Uncommon species (Fig. 3). A number of species resulted in higher diversity of butterfl y fauna. were classifi ed as rare, not rare or uncommon. Some In the present study we recorded 19 species for locally common species were also recorded from the study area which were not recorded in an earlier the study sites. This clearly shows the importance study carried out by Changmai and Choudhury of biodiversity conservation in the study site or else (2011). These include 3 species belonging to these rare species can become locally extinct if the Hesperiidae family namely Parnara guttata, Sarangesa present trend of biodiversity destruction continues. dasahara and Taractrocera maevius; 2 species from During the whole study season, extremely Pieridae family viz. Pareronia avatar and Leptosia high species richness was noted for the butterfl y nina; 4 species from Lycaenidae family namely belonging to the family Nymphalidae which , Zizina otis, Arhopala pseudocentaurus, represented 58% of the total butterfl y species and ; and 9 species from recorded in this study. Nymphalidae family was

a b c

d e

g i j f

h

2: Butterfly fauna from the degrading secondary succession habitat in the Assam University campus in Silchar, India: a. – a trek along the eco-forest in the study area; b. – Ariadne ariadne; c. – Zizina otis; d. – Sarangesa dasahara; e. – Polyura athamus; f. – Loxura atymnus; g. – Mycalesis mineus; h. – Arhopala pseudocentaurus; i. – Leptosia nina; j. – Lethe europa

3: Categorization of the species in Assam University campus in Silchar according to their ecological status Butterfl y of Assam University Campus in Silchar: Can Academic Institutions Contribute to Conservation… 735

Conservation of Butterfl ies with Reference to Barak Valley in Assam (India) In the Barak valley including the site of the present study there has always been a lack of well- planned and serious research works concerning Lepidopterans. The study site is a part of one of the three global biodiversity ‘hotspots’ of which India is a part (Karmakar et al., 2010). Proximity to both the Eastern Himalayas and the Indo- Burma ‘hotspots’ of biodiversity along with its notable forest cover makes the valley ‘home’ to a large variety of endemic fauna. In Western Ghats, appropriate methodology has been devised (Kunte, 4: Family-wise distribution of butterfly species 2008) to evaluate conservation values of butterfl ies. in the Assam University campus in Silchar The usefulness of long term butterfl y community studies lies in the fact that it acts as a powerful tool followed by Hesperidae and Lycanidae families in measuring changes in biodiversity in relation to with 13% each, whereas the family Pieridae was various unwanted environmental changes such as represented by 11% of butterfl y species. The least anthropogenic pressure, grazing pressure, among butterfl y species richness was observed in the case others. It also aids in formulating and devising of Papilionidae family which accounted for only 5% sound conservation and management strategies. of the butterfl ies recorded (Fig. 4). Thus butterfl ies act as important indicators of Moreover, conservation eff orts concerning environmental health and changes can be easily Lepidopterans have rarely been taken up in the detected in a long term study. Some basic issues and present study area due to remoteness of the place. region centric recommendations are given below. Thus preliminary studies hold much importance as it helps in gathering basic information on the study Lack of Awareness and Nonexistence of Scientifi c site, preparing baseline data and aids in formulating Checklists sound conservation strategies. Presently the forests The general populace of Barak valley is largely of entire Northeast India including Assam is under unaware of the ‘ecosystem services’ provided by continuous threat of large scale forest clearing for butterfl ies. Eff ective conservation of butterfl ies various developmental works such as laying new must be achieved through public awareness and roads, land reclamation by illegal settlers, shi ing people’s participation because biological resources cultivation in the hilly areas, among others. need protection against inappropriate use and Observations indicated that the butterfl y fauna overexploitation. Thus, there is a need for awareness of the campus are facing acute anthropogenic regarding problems faced in butterfl y conservation pressure. All the studied sites were highly degraded amongst the public. Academic research involving excepting the eco-forest. Rampant collection of butterfl ies are also lacking and there is no readily fuel wood and bamboo by the local communities available published information or baseline data living nearby the university campus was evident on butterfl ies of the region. Complete absence of throughout the study period. Over-grazing by inventories and checklists of butterfl ies from the livestock reared by rural people living nearby the reserve forests and sanctuaries of the region does campus was observed even within the eco-forest not help the cause of their conservation. area throughout the study period which increased the disturbance and most of the new plant growth Absence of Vernacular Names in Local during monsoon season was consumed by the Communities Inhabiting the Study Region livestock. With ample rain, an increase in vegetation The study region is a matrix of several and host plants in the monsoon season was noted, communities including a number of ethnic tribes which resulted in notable butterfl y diversity and we and sub-tribes with many diff erent vernacular recorded 38 species of butterfl y in this preliminary languages and dialects. The communities inhabiting study. Thus, it shows that monsoon season plays an the area include Bengalees, Deshwalis, Biharis important role in the life cycle of butterfl y species. and Manipuris apart from the dominant tribal Hence it may be suggested that proper fencing of groups such as Dimasa, Hmar, Kuki, Khasi, , eco-forest may be a solution to protect the habitat Mizo, Chakma and Rongmei Naga (AOP, 2013). against over-grazing and excessive fuel wood A contemporary discourse regarding butterfl y collection. Moreover, small camps may be organized conservation and its importance is lacking amongst in nearby villages to create awareness among local the inhabitants of the region. The preliminary survey populace regarding the importance of biodiversity revealed that there are no or very few vernacular and its conservation. names for butterfl ies in regional languages. 736 Mitrajit Deb, Sunil Nautiyal, Petr Sláma, Parimal C. Bhattacharjee, Shubhadeep Roychoudhury

Genetic Level Losses and Forest Degradation scientists and technicians working in inventory, In the region, once large and virgin forests have research, and monitoring. Consequently with been converted into small fragments thus reducing greater accumulation of data, today our knowledge the habitats restricting the species in small areas on the distribution and richness of the country’s and reducing the benefi ts of ecosystem services biological resources is comparatively very (Groombridge, 1992). Forests of the region are highly encouraging. Generally, academic institutions in exploited for the forest products. Moreover, jhum India have large land holdings as an establishment or shi ing cultivation is the only adopted method which ranges from 20–250 hectares. The academic by the tribal people of the region for agricultural institutions can eff ectively conserve biodiversity in and horticultural activities. This has been causing their region of location thereby managing valuable direct losses in gene level and consequences can diversity (Nautiyal, 2010, 2011). be devastating (Barton & Whitlock, 1997; Hanski & The role that Indian higher education institutions Gilpin, 1997; Kareiva & Wennergren, 1995). can play in conserving plant biodiversity has been demonstrated recently (Nautiyal, 2010). The case Better Conservation through Capacity study in the Institute for Social and Economic Building Among Local Youths and Budding Change (ISEC) campus situated on just 16 hectares Conservationists of land in Bangalore, demonstrated the eff ective For any successful management and conservation conservation of nearly about 400 species of strategy the participation of local people has always plants along with their promising regenerating been a key component. This can be achieved through capabilities. In particular, it was noted that the ISEC mass awareness and providing livelihoods to the campus has been acting as a natural laboratory for rural people who depend on ecosystem services on an economically important species Santalum album. a day-to-day basis. Capacity building among youths This species in wild is vulnerable to extinction at grassroots level can form an eff ective conservation due to high exploitation in local and international group. Unemployed tribal and non-tribal youths markets for its oils and medicinal properties. It is should be employed and trained so that they can advisable therefore to utilize the space in academic act as local conservationists and can also educate institutions to conserve, preserve and increase the people in the vernacular languages. Specifi c courses green cover. should be introduced immediately in the colleges This model of conservation can be emulated in and universities regarding conservation studies diff erent institutes and universities of Northeast of fl ora and fauna of the region with emphasis on India. This can greatly aid in the conservation of Lepidopterans. rare and endangered fl ora and fauna. With greater land availability due to less population as compared Role of Academic Institutions in Northeast to the rest of the country, academic institutions in India in Biodiversity Conservation Northeast India have an added advantage of having large campuses and vast part of which is already With its lush green forests and serene wetlands, green and biodiversity rich. Tab. II shows a list of biodiversity of the region is one of the richest in some universities in Northeast India and the total the world. Many of the bio-diverse regions are land area of their campus. It is seen that most of designated as ‘hotspots’ to indicate their biological these institutes on an average basis have a land area richness both in terms of fl ora and fauna. At of more than 250 acres where some part can be used present, these bio-rich areas are most threatened for biodiversity conservation. In this regard the due to a number of anthropogenic reasons such study site of Assam University campus in Silchar is as extremely high population pressure and over- fortunate to have a large land holding of 600 acres. exploitation of resources which has negatively Incorporating of in situ and ex situ conservation impacted the plant diversity in particular and methodologies and prioritizing few economically has undoubtedly aff ected both (both important species in the academic institutions is invertebrates and vertebrates) and humans (Myers, suggested, too (Nautiyal, 2011). In collaboration 1990; Nautiyal, 2011; Somanathan, 2007). Earlier with forest departments academic institutions can it was assumed that the decline was strictly limited conduct academic research in various fi elds such to species level but studies revealed striking losses as domesticating useful plants, documentation in genetic and functional diversity (Naeem, 1999). of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and All animals greatly depend on plants for their germination experiments of valuable medicinal nutritional requirements and survival as a whole. and aromatic plants. This approach at a later stage Lately, with mass extinctions of important species, could also incorporate tribal communities and destruction of valuable ecosystems and high losses their increased fi nancial gains and an improved in natural vegetations, the landscape of the Earth economy. An academic institution’s main objective has been altered like never before. should also include motivating and inspiring youths Presently, India has numerous institutions of who can play an active role in the conservation higher education and universities with scientifi c of biodiversity. It is important to aware youths temper which are deeply involved in biodiversity about the various consequences of not conserving studies involving a great number of enthusiastic biodiversity. Youth advocacy in sustainability and Butterfl y of Assam University Campus in Silchar: Can Academic Institutions Contribute to Conservation… 737

II: List of Universities in Northeast India with their Land Holdings Name of University Total Land Holding (in acres) Arunachal University, Arunachal Pradesh 306.60 Assam Agricultural University, Assam 29.825 Assam University, Silchar, Assam 600 The College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Mizoram 168.61 University, Assam 507.50 Gauhati University, Assam 538.56 Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam 700 Manipur University, Manipur 287 Mizoram University, Mizoram 978.19 National Institute of Technology, Silchar, Assam 540 North Eastern Hill University, Meghalaya 1225 North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Arunachal Pradesh 500 Sikkim Manipal University, Sikkim 313 University, Assam 262 Tripura University, Tripura 254 reduction in carbon footprints through biodiversity about 1.5% from various respiratory infections is a major step towards better conservation and (Ravi and Krishnaraj, 2012). Therefore a good and management of valuable plant biodiversity. preserved ‘green space’ in due course can purify air Development and capacity building of youths in and act as a fi lter by trapping each year more than 12 academic institutions via training them in seed million tons of polluting matter (Grass Facts, 2010) germination techniques and developing low cost and protect humans from serious health eff ects, farmer-friendly technologies have already been including asthma, cardiovascular diseases and advocated (Nautiyal, 2011). other respiratory illnesses, as well as environmental Internationally, academic institutions are also damage (EPA, 2013). trying to achieve a green campus thereby promoting These steps can undoubtedly ensure greater biodiversity upkeep. University of Ilorin in sustainability for plant conservation and can act has already started eff orts to attain a better control as a rich habitat for butterfl y species. Butterfl y via regulated use of land, controlled wildfi res, inventory and research like the present study can planting boundary trees, construction of botanical/ be further developed and all the host plant species zoological gardens, parks, plantations, among of butterfl ies should be documented. This will others, thus increasing much needed green space allow conservation and regeneration of host plants which not only conserves invaluable eco-diversity of butterfl ies. Recent studies have elaborated the but also reduces energy usage and erosion (Oloyede, evolutionary relationship of butterfl ies and plants 2010). As a result the air quality in the University and showed a positive correlation between host of Ilorin campus has improved signifi cantly and plant diversity and butterfl y diversifi cation and thus promising a healthy future ensuring the a congruent association between the phylogenies amalgamation of environmental, social, human and of plants and butterfl ies (Ferrer, 2013). Many economic goals. Environmental Health Research caterpillars are exclusive feeders on native plants Foundation, a nonprofi t research foundation and the removal of such plants can mean extinction specializing in health and environmental science in of a particular butterfl y species in a certain time- its recent research elucidated the benefi ts of ‘Green period. In a recent report, Poweshiek skipperling Space’, such as erosion run-off prevention, water population has shrunk to its lowest in Canada and and air purifi cation, temperature lowering and cost is almost on the verge of extinction (CBC, 2013).). savings, oxygen generation and carbon sequestration According to a global study conducted by the (Heinze, 2011). In our case, the campuses of Zoological Society of London it has been startlingly academic institutions in Northeast India can act as reveled that butterfl ies are more endangered than ‘green space’ thereby lowering the harmful eff ects of tigers and lions as they have maximum chances pollution in the ecosystem. In this context, a current of extinction in near future (Earthnews, 2013). study in Bangalore city measured the eff ect of Furthermore, they added that have been increased urban air pollution upon humans (Ravi pushed out of lands at which they once fl ourished and Krishnaraj, 2012). The results revealed that as a result of human development of agricultural very high percentages of people are suff ering from lands, cities and pollution caused by cars and diseases related to air pollution. Around 54% people factories. So it is high time for institutions with vast have been suff ering from air pollution induced lands to adopt a positive approach as they could play cough, 25% from dust allergy, 7% asthma cases and a very signifi cant role in conserving biodiversity via 738 Mitrajit Deb, Sunil Nautiyal, Petr Sláma, Parimal C. Bhattacharjee, Shubhadeep Roychoudhury

designating certain parts of their area for planting eff orts can be initiated for restoring the precious trees and shrubs which will also increase the balance of the Earth and greatly reduce the eff ects of aesthetic value of their campus. It is high time for current climate changes which are threatening the us to act so that much loss can be compensated and very basics of human existence.

CONCLUSION The Assam University campus is Silchar has a large area designated as eco-forest. The area is a rich repository of plants and animals. During the monsoon season with ample rain vegetation markedly increases and the surge in host plants of butterfl ies have been found to result in notable butterfl y diversity. In the present preliminary study we recorded 38 species of butterfl y from the study site and the diversity has been noted to be the highest in the eco-forest area of the university campus. However, the problem lies in managing the eco-forest as local people frequently raid the forested area for forest resources. This creates an unwanted disturbance in the forest. Initiatives have to be taken to protect and maintain the biodiversity which is already present. The tree barren grassy hillocks can be taken up for plantation of diff erent plant species both of economic, aesthetic and cultural importance. Assam University campus in Silchar can become a model institution in Northeast India by framing proper management committees which can mediate conservation of biodiversity and eco- restoration in the campus as well as adjoining areas and can also suggest ways to overcome livelihood issues among local communities. Experienced people from local area need to be trained and hired for protection of fl ora and fauna fostering a sense of hope among the fi nancially deprived populace.

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Contact information Mitrajit Deb: [email protected] Sunil Nautiyal: [email protected] Petr Sláma: [email protected] Parimal C. Bhattacherjee: [email protected] Shubhadeep Roychoudhury: [email protected]