ECOLOGY & BIODIVERSITY: Complete study has been done and given below on the ecological environment of the study area. 1.1.1 Introduction on Ecology and Biodiversity: A natural ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of nature. It has different components, which are interrelated to each other survive by interdependence. An ecosystem has self-sustaining ability and controls the number of organisms at any level by cybernetic rules. The basic purpose to explore the biological environment under Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to assist the decision making process and to ensure that the project options under consideration are environmental-friendly. An ecological survey of the study area was conducted, particularly with reference to listing of species and assessment of the existing baseline ecological conditions in the study area. The main objective of the ecological survey is aimed at assessing the existing flora and fauna components in the study area. Data has been collected through extensive survey of the area with reference to flora and fauna. With the change in environmental conditions, the vegetation cover as well as animals reflects several changes in its structure, density and composition. The present study was carried out in separately for floral and faunal community of core and buffer zone respectively. Need to study: The present study was undertaken with the following objectives: To assess the nature and distribution of vegetation in core and Buffer Zone. To assess the animal life spectra (within 5 km radii) To achieve the above objectives a study area was undertaken. Thedifferent methods adopted were as follows: Compilation of secondary data with respect to the study area frompublished literature and various government agencies; Generation of primary data by undertaking systematic ecologicalstudies in the area. 1.1.2 Selection of Sampling Location for the study of Flora and Fauna: Core Zone: Core zone is the Non-Forest barren area where mining is being done. Core zone is mainly vacant and has few planted species. Buffer Zone:For sampling purpose, buffer zone is further divided in 2 Km and 5 Km. Patches of flora are studied in 2 locations within 2 km , 3 locations within 5 km and 2 Locations within 10 Km. Location of flora is given below. Fauna is recorded randomly. Table Error! No text of specified style in document.-1, Location For study of Flora and Fauna Sr. No. Name of Location Distance Direction E1 Murma Village 0.25 Km West E2 Pipra kalan Village 1.04 Km South East E3 Ran Ki Khurd Village 2.89 Km South West E4 Daruna Village 3.40 Km North East E5 Gaura Village 4.36 Km North West E6 Rabda Village 5.62 Km WSW E7 Naluma Village 6.67 Km WNW Figure Error! No text of specified style in document.-1Sample Location Map 1.1.3 Methodology for the study of Flora and Fauna: Methodology for Study of Flora: During the study, the floral composition of the area was evaluated through primary survey. The local inhabitants were also consulted to get extra information. Plant Species are counted and identified within core zone. In buffer zone flora isestimated with the help of line transect and random survey method. Methodology for Study of Fauna: Different species were observed at different timing during the day. Bird: Birds were watched during dawn. Nocturnal and Burrowing animals: After Sunset. Animals: Morning & Evening. 1.1.4 Introduction of the project highlighting the Environmental sensitivity: The proposed project is a graphite mineral mining project. In the zone of 10 Km around the project Palamau National Park is located 5.2 km SSW from the lease area. There is no perennial water body with in the leasehold. The nearest perennial water body is Maila Nadi 0.38 km NE from the mining lease and Kathautiar Lake 0.27 km N. Other perennial river is Auranga River about 5.01 km W and Bahera Nadi 4.90 Km S from the lease area. Koili Nalla is 4.62 km NNW from the lease area. Dhbadih Lake is 2.94 Km NNW from the mining lease area. Forests within the buffer zone are: 1. Nawadih protected forest : 6.80 km NW 2. Polpol protected forest : 7.83 km NWW 3. Betla Reserve forest : 5.20 km SW 4. Betla Protected Forest : 10.2 km SW 5. Rajhara Protected Forest : 8.52 km NW 6. Kewatbar Protected Forest : 15.02 km NW 7. Kechki Protected Forest : 13.08 km NW 1.1.5 Description of Core Zone with flora and Fauna Details: Flora of core Zone: Mining has been commenced in lease area; lease area is vacant with few patches of vegetation. Plantation of few species has been done. Details of the planted species are given in the table below: Table Error! No text of specified style in document.-2, Flora of Core Zone S. No Botanical Name Common Name 1 Mangifera indica Mango 2 Dalbergia sissoo Sheesham 3 Delonix regia Gulmohar 4 Tectona grandis Sagwan 5 Punica granatum Pomegranate 6 Gmelina arborea Gamhar 7 Phyllanthus emblica Amla 8 Melia azedarach Bakain Flora of Buffer Zone: In the buffer zone of 10 Km,Palamau National Park is located 5.2 km SSW from the lease area.The buffer zone is characterized by trees/shrubs/which are common in occurrence, some less common trees and some isolated and rare plant. Flora of Buffer Zone including flora of Palamau National Park, Protected forests and reserved forests: Table Error! No text of specified style in document.-3, Flora of Buffer Zone S.No. Botanical Name Common Name 1 Adina cordifolia Kadam 2 Aegle marmelos Bel 3 Albizia chinensis Kala Siris 4 Alstonia scholaris Chatian 5 Anogeissus accuminata Dhok 6 Anogeissus latifolia Axle wood 7 Antidesma diandrum Khatua 8 Aphanamixis polstachya Pithraj 9 Artocarpus heterophyullus Kathal 10 Azadirachta indica Neem 11 Bauhinia variegate Kachnar 12 Bauhinia purpurea Orchid Tree 13 Bauhinia vahlii Maloo creeper 14 Boswellia serrata Luban 15 Bridelia retusa Kaji 16 Butea monosperma Palash 17 Careya arborea Wild guava 18 Cassia fistula Amaltas 19 Cleistanthus viscosa Bhani 20 Cleistanthus collinus Garari 21 Chloroxylon sweitenia Satin wood 22 Cochlospermum religiosum Golden Silk cotton Tree 23 Combretum decandrum Devanagari 24 Croton oblongi folius Croton 25 Dalbergia sissoo Shisham 26 Dellenia pentagyna Dog Teak 27 Diospyros peregrine Makar Kendu 28 Eugenia cumini Jamun 29 Ficus cunia Khaina 30 Ficus bengalensis Banyan Tree 31 Ficus glomerela Gular 32 Ficus religiosa Pipal 33 Garuga pinnata Garuga 34 Gardenia gummifera Dikamli 35 Gardenia latifolia Papra 36 Gmelina arborea Gamhar 37 Grewia titliifolia Dhaman 38 Helicteres isora Indian screw tree 39 Holarrhena antidysenterica Kurchi Bark 40 Hymenodictyon exeleum Bandaru 41 Imperata cylindrica Cogon grass 42 Ixora arborea Jungle flame 43 Kydia calycina Bharanga 44 Lannea coromandelica Moya 45 Madhuca indica Mahua 46 Mallotus philipinensis Kamala 47 Mangifera indica Aam 48 Millettia auriculata Khacho 49 Mitragyna parvifolia Kadamb 50 Musa acuminata Banana 51 Nyctanthes arbotistia Har sinagar 52 Ougenia oojeinensis Chariot tree 53 Oroxylun indicum Broken bone tree 54 Phyllanthus emblica Amla 55 Pterocarpus marsupium Kino 56 Phoenix sylvestris Khajoor 57 Randia uliginosa Perar 58 Randia dunetoram Mainphal 59 Salmalia malabarica Shalmali 60 Semecarpus anacardium Bhilawa 61 Schleichera oleosa Kusum 62 Shorea robusta Sal 63 Spondius pinnata Wild mango 64 Sterculia urens Gum karaya 65 Terminalia arjuna Arjun 66 Terminalia tomentosa Asan 67 Terminalia bellerica Bahera 68 Terminalia chebula Harra 69 Toona ciliata Toon 70 Vitex penduncularis Charaigorwa 71 Wendlandia tinctonia Tillai 72 Woodfordia fruticosa Dhawai 73 Wendlandia exerta Tilki 74 Ziziphus mauritiana Ber 75 Zizyphus xylopyra Katber 76 Tectona grandis Teak (Source: Field survey done by Ecology & Biodiversity team and data of forest Department) 1.1.6 Study of Fauna: Fauna in core zone: - The table is given below showing faunal species of core zone Table Error! No text of specified style in document.-4, Fauna of Core Zone Sl. No Scientific Name Common Name Wildlife schedule Avian fauna (Bird): 1. Acridotheres fuscus Jungle myna IV 2. Acridotheres tristis Myna IV 3. Columba livia Blue rock pigeon IV 4. Corvus macrorhynchos Jungle Crow V 5. Corvus splendens House crow V 6. Francolinus pondicerianus Grey patridge IV 7. Gallus gallus Jungle fowl IV Mammals 8. Felis chaus Jungle cat II 9. Funambulus pennanti Five stripped palm squirrel IV 10. Herpestes edwardsii Mongoose II 9. Lepus nigricollis Indian hare IV 10. Pteropus vampyrus Fruit bat V Reptiles 11. Bufo parietalis Indian Toad IV 12. Bungarus caeruleus Common Indian krait IV 13. Calotes versicolor Lizard - 14. Plyas mucosus Dhaman II (Source: Field survey done by Ecology & Biodiversity team) Fauna in buffer zone: The buffer zone is full of diversity of birds & animals. It is consisting of 10 km radius and it covers National Park, protected forest, village, agricultural land and vacant land so following varieties of fauna are found. Table Error! No text of specified style in document.-5, Fauna in buffer zone Sl. No Wildlife Scientific Name Common Name schedule Mammals 1 Tetracerus quadricornis Antelope, Four - horned I 2 Mellivora capensis Badger, Honey or Ratel I 3 Rousettus leschenaultia Bat, Fulvous Fruit - 4 Pteropus giganteus Bat, Flying Fox V 5 Cynopterus sphinx Bat, Short-nosed Fruit V 6 Melursus ursinus Sloth Bear I 7 Bos gaurus Bison, Indian wild I 8 Sus scrofa Boar, Indian Wild III 9 Felis chaus Jungle cat II 10 Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Common Palm Civet - 11 Viverricula indica Small India Civet - 12 Munticacus munrjak Barking Deer III 13 Tragulus meminna Mouse Deer I 14 Axix axis Spotted Dear, Chital