1. PROTECTED AREAS AND NOTIFIED FORESTS India is one of the 17 mega diverse countries of the world. With only 2.4% of the world’s land area, 16.7% of the world’s human population and 18% livestock, it contributes about 8% of the known global biodiversity. A network of 668 Protected Areas (PAs) has been established, extending over 1,61,221.57 sq. kms. (4.90% of total geographic area), comprising 102 National Parks, 515 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 47 Conservation Reserves and 4 Community Reserves. UNESCO has designated 5 Protected Areas as World Heritage Sites. Mizoram has 2 national parks and 8 wildlife sanctuaries comprising total 1240.75 sq km area i. e. 5.9% of states total geographical area. The name of the national parks are (i) Murien (ii) Phawngpui and wildlife sanctuaries are (i) Dampa (tiger reserve), (ii) Khwnglung, (iii) Lengteng (iv) Ngengpui, (v) Pualreng (vi) Tawi (vii) Thorangtlang (viii) Tokalo. The state has no biodiversity reserve. (Source: Protected Area Network in India, MoEF&CC). Mizoram has the third highest total forest cover with 1,594,000 hectares (3,940,000 acres), and highest percentage area (90.68%) covered by forests, among the states of India, according to 2011 Forest Survey of India.[9]Tropical Semi Evergreen, Tropical Moist Deciduous, Subtropical Broadleaved Hill and Subtropical Pine Forests are the common vegetation types found in Mizoram. Bamboo is common in the state, typically intermixed with other forest vegetation; about 9,245 km2 (44%) of state's area is bamboo bearing. The state and central governments of India have cooperated to reserve and protect 67% of the land covered by forests, and additional 15% by management. Only 17% of the land is non-forested area for cultivation, industry, mining, housing and other commercial human activity. Satellite data suggests 91% of state's geographical area is covered by forests.[9] Jhum cultivation, or slash-and-burn practice, were a historic tradition in Mizoram and a threat to its forest cover. Mizoram is host to numerous species of birds, wildlife and flora. About 640 species of birds have been identified in the state, many of which are endemic to Himalayan foothills and southeast Asia. Of the birds found in Mizoram forests, 27 are on worldwide threatened species list and 8 are on critically endangered list. In addition to that, Government of Mizoram has made preliminary notification ( No B 12012/22/2013- FST/53) in the Mizoram Gazette on 06.02.2015 for Saikhawthir Wildlife Sanctuary of 94 square kilometre. The proposed area is sandwiched between R Tuichawng lui and R. Sekulh under Tuithmhnar Forest Range and Chawngte Forest Range under Lai Autonomous District Council. LADC RF16 & Thichawng RRF exist on the west whereas the Ngenpui RF, Chhimtuipui RRF & Ngenpui wildlife sanctuary exist on the eastern side within 2-3 km radius downhill of the project road (As per forest correspondence letter). Village wise forest land falling within the study area are given in Error! Reference source not found. and Error! Reference source not found.. 2. NGENPUI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Location, Extent & Boundaries Ngengpui is located in a geographical coordinate of 22°21’18”– 22°30’01”N and 92°44’30” – 92°50’37”E, It is close to Indo-Myammar & Indo Bangladesh border. It is under Lawngtlai District and under Lawngtlai Rural development Block within Lai Autonomous District Council. Administrative headquarter of the Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary is at Lawngtlai under the name of Chhimtuipui Wildlife Division. It covers an area of about 110 Sq. km. The Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary ranges in altitude from 200 m to about 1200 m above sea level. The sanctuary is surrounded by seven villages. It is managed by Range Officer with headquarter Ngengpui, and 5 Beat Officers under the control of DFO Chhimtuipui Forest Division Biogeographic Classification Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary falls in North East Zone as per Biogeographic Zone and 8B-North East Hills as per the Biotic Province Zoning map of India (Source: http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/HtmlPages/ biozonemap.htm). The Forest Types The forests area falling in the Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary are of Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests type (1B/C3) as per Champion and Seth classified. Importance of Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary: Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctaury is very rich in Biodiversity. The Forest type reported are Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest and Semi-evergreen Forest. Varieties of Dipterocarpus, Terminalia, Mechelia champaca, Phoebe species, Schima wallichii, Duabanga species, Amoora mixed with bamboo like Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus sikimensis, Schizostachyum capittum, Schizotachyum dulloc gamble, Dinochloa compectiflorus and at the lower altitude, Dendrocalmus hamiltoni. Among the fauna reported are large herbivores like Elephant and Gaur which are permanent dwellers and no migration has been reported. In fact, it is the last habitat where Elephants are roaming free in wildlife sanctuary boundary. Serow, Sambar, Barking deer, Leopard, Clouded leopard, Marble cat, Golden cat, Leopard cat, and many small carnivores are reported. Primate diversity is also good in this area like Hoolock gibbon, Phayre’s leaf monkey, Pig tailed and Stump tailed macaques. Two types of Bear like Himalayan black bear and Malayan sun bears are also reported in the core area of the Ngengpui WLS forest. It also hosts Hume pheasant, Great hornbill, Pied hornbill, various Pigeon etc. Ngengpui WLS also carries a number of medicinal plants of which the rare species like Raulfia serpentine, Bargenia ciliate, Ardisia macrocarpa, Cautraya gracillis, Gardenis caronania, Rajanda longifolia, Zingiber purphorium. A wide range of Orchid are also found in the area viz Oberonia iridifolia, Vanda coevules, Thuria alba, Paphiopedilum villosum, Liparis longripes. Ngengpui WLS is one of the important bird area (IBAs) in India from the A1 (Globally threatened species) and A2 (Restricted range species). Vegetation: The sanctuary comprises of three type of forest strata i.e top canopy which are tall and gigantic evergreen trees, understory (upto 15mts tall trees) and undergrowth or ground cover There are three types on the basis of height which can be classified as – Top canopy - Dipterocarpus turbinatus Thingsen Michelia champaca Ngiau Terminalia mariocarpa Char Chukrasia tabulasis Zawngtei Toona cilia Teipui Duabanga serasoides Zuang, Acrocarpus fraxinifolias Nganbawm Actinodaphne obovata Pakhat Albizzia chinensis Vang Albizzia ordoratissima Thingri Albizzia procera Kangtek Alphonse aventricosa Zawngbalhla Anogeissus acuminate Zairum Antocephalus chinensis Banphar Aporusa octandra Chhawntual Artocarpus chama Tatkawng Artocarpu snitidus,sp.griffithii Tatte Beilschmiedia gammieana Khuanghlang Bischofia javanica Khuangthli Bombax ceiba Phunchawng Bombax insigne Pang Canarium bengalensis Berawchal Careya laciniosa Hnumhreuh Castanopsis indica Sehawr Castanopsis tribuloides Thingsia Cinnamomum glanduliferum Khiangzo Derris robusta Thingkha Drymycarpus racemosus Vawmbal Duabanga grandifolia Zuang Dysoxylum gobara Thingthupui Elaeocarpus aristatus Theikelek Engelhardia spicata Hnum Ficus religiosa Hmawng Ficus semicordata Theipui Garcinia sopsopia Vawmva Garuga floribunda var gamble Tuairam Garuga pinnata Bungbutuairam Gmelina orborea Thlanvawng Helicia excelsa Sialhma Hydnocarpus kurzi ,Khawitur Kadsura heteroclite Theiarbawm Kydia calycina Thalteh Lagerstroemia speciosa Chawnpui Lithocarpus dealbata Fah Macaranga indica Hnahkhar Macropanax dispermus Phuanberh Mangefera sylvatica Haifavang Mesua ferrea Herhse Michelia oblonga Ngiau (Hnahsin) Mitragyna diversifolia Pualeng Morus macroura Lungli Myrica esculenta Keifang Olea salicifolia Thingthiang Ostodes paniculata Beltur Palaquium polyanthum Hnaibung Phoebia attenuate Bulbawr Phoebia lanceolata Bulfek Protium serratum Bil Prunus nepalensis Lumlerh Prunus undulate Theiarlung Pterospermum acerifolium Siksil Rhus succedana Chhimhruk Sapindus mukorosii Hlingsi Sapium baccatum Thingvawkpui Schima wallichii Khiang Sterculia villosa Khaupui, Syzygium claviforum Lenhmui(hnahsin), Syzygium cumini Lenhmui, Trema orientalis Bephuar, Wightia speciosissima Chawngtlai. Ground Cover - the ground cover vegetation reported in the WLS area are Achyranthes bidentata, Arisaema speciosum, Begonia dioica, Bidens biternata, Cassia tora, Eryngium foetidum, Fogopyrum cymosum, Justicia adhatoda, Leea indica, Lepionurus sylvestris, Mikania micrantha, Mimosa pudica, Osbeckian chinensis, Phrynium capitatum, Premna coriacea, Rubus ellipticus, Sarcococca coriacea, Schefflera venulosa, Seigesbeckia orientalis, Solanum nigrum, Solanum torvum, Solanum viarum, Stellaia media, etc. Bamboo Species - The species of bamboo reported in the WLS area are Dendrocalamus hamiltonii (Nees & Arn) – Phulrua, Dendrocalamus longispathus (Kurz) – Rawnal, Schizostachyum polymorphum (Munro) Majumdar – Chal, Dinochulua compectiflorus -Sairil, Melocanna bacciferra Mau, etc. these species are commonly reported all over the Mizoram states. Canes & Palms - Arenga pinnata Thangtung, Calamus acanthospathus Mitperh, Calamus andamanicus Mawt, Calamus erectus Hruipui, Calamus tenuis Thilte, Licuala peltata Laisua/siallu, etc. Importance of Ngengpui WLS as conservation reserve for Fauna: Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary is a home to avifauna like Peacock pheasant, Bamboo partridge, Black patridge, Hill patridge, Rufous necked hornbill, Great horn bill, Wreath Horn bill, etc. As Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary is the only and last stronghold of Elephant population in the state, conservation importance has to