A Gene Bank of Alpine Medicinal Plants
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
© 2018-19 ENVIS HUB SIKKIM Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim Any part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, provided that the same is duly cited. All efforts have been made to make the PANDA information shown as accurate as possible. ENVIS HUB SIKKIM Newsletter Editorial Board Volume No 11 Issue No. 4 [2019] Registration No. 61685/93 Mr. M. L. Srivastava, IFS ISSN 2320-3943 Principal Secretary –cum- PCCF PANDA is a newsletter published by Mr. B. P. Pradhan, IFS Sikkim State ENVIS Hub (formerly ENVIS CCF (HQ) Center), Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government Mr. B. B. Gurung, of Sikkim. This newsletter is aimed at GREEN GOOD DEEDS disseminating environment, forest and Director (Env. & SC, RVP, Planning and ENVIS) wildlife information among the public at large Published by: and is also envisaged to serve as a medium Mrs. Kusum Gurung, to communication among foresters and Joint Director (ENVIS, SPCB, Sericulture) Sikkim State ENVIS Hub others engaged in nature conservation in Forests, Environment & Wildlife the State. Free and voluntary contributions Compilation & Design: Management Department for publication in the newsletter may be sent Government of Sikkim to ENVIS. Mr. Rajen Pradhan, Sr. Programme Officer (ENVIS) Electronic version available online SIKKIM STATE ENVIS HUB ENVIS team sincerely thanks the resource persons in ENVIS Sikkim website On Status of Environment & its Related Issues and well wishers for their contribution in this http://www.sikenvis.nic.in Forest Secretariat B - Block, issue. Room No.B-101, Ground Floor Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim, Deorali -737102, Gangtok Quarterly Newsletters of 2018-19 Email us at: [email protected] Visit us at :www.sikenvis.nic.in Tel (O) : 03592-280381 Fax: 03592-281778 / 280381 ENVIS TEAM Coordinator Mr. B. B. Gurung, Director of Forests (Env. & SC, RVP, Planning and ENVIS) Mrs. Kusum Gurung, Joint Director (ENVIS, SPCB, Sericulture) Apr-Jun Vol. 11, Issue 1 Jul-Sep Vol. 11, Issue 2 Oct-Dec Vol. 11, Issue 3 Sr. Programme Officer Mr. Rajen Pradhan Information Officer Sikkim State ENVIS Hub On Status of Environment publishes Mr. Laxuman Darnal newsletter on quarterly basis with the support from IT Officer the Ministry of Environment, Forests& Climate Change, Ms.Renu Gurung Government of India. The fourth quarter publication is a special annual edition titled “PANDA” which is published Data Entry Operator Ms. Tulsha Gurung with the extended support from the Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim. Please login www.sikenvis.nic.in to download the e-copy Cover photo: First-ever camera footage of the Royal Bengal Tiger roaming the forests of Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim, captured on December 6, 2018 at 6:23 pm near Goru ENVIS PUBLICATION 2018-19 Jurey at an altitude of 9583 ft. EDITORIAL MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Sikkim, a tiny Himalayan State in the North Eastern part This edition of PANDA news magazine provides of India has always been an explorer’s paradise. The insights to such research and scholarly adventures of State flaunts with rich inheritance of diverse floral and the mountain eco-system. The State has diverse cultural faunal species fascinating researchers across the globe. communities living in harmony with nature which is The research expeditions here in Sikkim are nonpareil the basis for holistic and sustainable development and conducive to new findings and discoveries, an amidst global threat of climate change and hardships indication of a healthy forest eco-system flourishing in of mountain life. The people of this peaceful Mountain our State. State are endowed with immense responsibility to sustain the eco-friendly practices for safeguarding The first ever sighting of Royal Bengal Tiger through future generations. This edition intends to reflect and camera trap installations at Sikkim forests during learn more of our own natural environment for wider December 2018 is a major breakthrough amidst stories and deeper understanding. murmuring of its presence for centuries. The venture to estimate the wildlife population in the State has bred I hope you will find this edition interesting and enjoy fruitful results. The wary and majestic predator of the reading it! high mountains, the Snow Leopard has been found in packs. Red Panda, the State animal has been estimated to be around 380. The wildlife Protected Areas in the Shri. M. L. Srivastava, IFS State have good habitats for flourishing the native and Principal Secretary -cum- PCCF endangered species. Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department Government of Sikkim Send your comments and suggestions to [email protected] [email protected] Temperate Coniferous Forest PANDA | VOL. 11 | ISSUE 1 | 2018-19 1 PANDA V o l . 1 1 I s s u e 4 2 0 1 8 - 1 9 I S S N 2 3 2 0 - 3 9 4 3 R e g i s t r a ti o n N o . 6 1 6 8 5 / 9 3 An ENVIS SIKKIM Publication On Status of Environment & Related Issues Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim C O V E R P A G E W H A T ’ S M O R E ….. page-wise Royal Bengal Tiger 4 Royal Bengal Tiger roams Sikkim Forest roams Sikkim Forest Highest Elevation Record of Royal Bengal Tiger in Highest Elevation Record of Royal Bengal 6 Sikkim Tiger in Sikkim 4 Snow Leopard in East Sikkim 9 Nectar of Erythrina (Phaledo) as an alternative foraging substrate for the bird species in Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya, India Report on Camera traps of Flagship Study 10 15 on Musk Deer (Moschus sp) Biodiversity Assessment of Lhonak Valley in North Sikkim, Nectar of Erythrina (Phaledo) as an India alternative foraging substrate for the 15 21 bird species in Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya, India Lashar Valley Expedition My Tryst With Monkeys A Gene Bank of Alpine Medicinal 19 Plants 29 Biodiversity Assessment of 21 Lhonak Valley In North Sikkim, India Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of Green Lake Trekking Route Sampling Path in Khangchendzonga National Park, North Sikkim, India Lashar Valley Expedition 2017 a Gene 29 45 Bank of Alpine Medicinal Plants The Teesta An overview of potentially Domung-Gora-la Complex A Rich polluted river stretches in Sikkim Ecological Community in Lachung Range, 36 68 North Sikkim, India Climate Change: How vulnerable is Sikkim? Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of Green Lake Trekking Route Sampling Path in 45 73 Khangchendzonga National Park, Visit our Website for the electronic [PDF] copy: North Sikkim, India www.sikenvis.nic.in 2 PANDA | VOL. 11 | ISSUE 1 | 2018-19 An ENVIS SIKKIM Publication On Status of Environment & Related Issues Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim W H A T ’ S M O R E ….. page-wise Field expedition of Muguthang, 54 North Sikkim, India Analysis of Biometric Parameters, Phytosociological Studies and Tree Species Diversity in Closed Permanent 57 Preservation Plot at Tumlabong Reserve Forest in Rangpo Block, East Sikkim An overview of Polluted River Stretches 68 of Teesta in Sikkim Climate Change 73 How Vulnerable is Sikkim? Hariyo Makha 80 (Sikkim Against Pollution) Bar Peepal Vivah - A spiritual marriage tradition held at 85 Lower Gom-Belbotey, South Sikkim PANDA | VOL. 11 | ISSUE 1 | 2018-19 3 Royal Bengal Tiger roams Sikkim Forest 4 PANDA | VOL. 11 | ISSUE 1 | 2018-19 The presence of tigers in Sikkim forests is an indication of the existence of a healthy forest eco-system flourishing in our State. Mon, Jan 7, 2019 DECHEN LACHUNGPA Divisional Forest Officer, East Wildlife Division History has indeed been created with the first-ever tigers right up to 10000 ft was an unusual phenomena camera footage of the Royal Bengal Tiger roaming the and could be attributed to the tigers developing a taste forests of Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim, for yaks. captured on the night of December 6, 2018 at 6:23 pm and 7:00 pm near Goru Jurey at an altitude of 9583 ft. No doubt, during the 1990s, tiger pugmarks were reported from inside the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary Up until the late 80s, there has been oral narratives and in March 2009, tiger pugmarks have been seen near of tigers freely roaming the forests of Sikkim, having Jelepla at an altitude of 10,000 ft, with approximately migrated from the neighbouring Neora Valley National 70 meters of the animal track discovered. Roars have Park of West Bengal. The tigers crossed into Sikkim’s been heard, pugmarks have been seen, tiger kills have Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary and made their way to been described but a visual capture of the Royal Bengal the Assam Reserve Forest (altitude 5000 ft, opposite Tiger roaming the forests of Sikkim calls for a moment Tsongmo Lake). After two days of kill, it moved to of celebration. Rateypani (6000 ft) in the Bulbuley Reserve Forest and thence migrated further upwards towards North Sikkim In an era when tigers have been listed as highly protected through Phamthang Reserve Forest (6000 ft), spending Schedule-I species, due to its dangerously dwindling a week while feeding on the resident’s livestock. After population, nearing extinction, the presence of tigers Phamthang, it arrived at the Toong and Naga Reserve in Sikkim forests is an indication of the existence of Forest (7000ft). a healthy forest eco-system flourishing in our State. It is an affirmation of the positive consequences of the This migration of tigers to Toong and Naga coincided Sikkim government’s long-term visionary and pro- with the seasonal winter migration of herds of cows from environment policies of conservation and protection of Lachung and Lachen during January to mid-March.