FLORA OR FAUNA

LAKSHADWEEP

    There might not be many man made zoos or defined wildlife sanctuaries in Lakshadweep, but there seems to be no need of one. The nature runs at its wildest in all corners of this wonderful group of islands. Be it flora or fauna, one can see the nature's most colorful creations adorning the landscape of Lakshadweep. In fact many of the tourists who come here give highest priority to diving and spending time along side fishes of all sizes and hues. A large part of the islands are covered with forest having different types of floral varieties.

Flora In Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is a completely different piece of land that holds in its heart, the treasures that are seldom seen. The flora in Lakshadweep is no exception itself. Lakshadweep is home to some of the uniquest plant varieties that add to the beauty of this archipelago. Banana, colocasia, Drumsticks, bread-fruit and jack fruit are some of the most common plant varieties in Lakshadweep. However coconut is the only item of economic importance to Lakshadweep peoples. Not only is it the main ingredient in the Lakshadweep cuisine, it is also used for making coirs which is then exported from here.

Fauna In Lakshadweep

Fauna in Lakshadweep consists mainly of marine life that is simply the most colorful you would have ever seen. When schools of fishes of various color swim over corals of different hues, the view is unbelievably intriguing. Skip jack, yellow fin, rainbow fish and King fish are the most commonly seen fishes in Lakshadweep lagoons. On land, cattle and poultry birds are the most commonly seen animals. Lakshadweep is also home to a diversity of bird species. Bangaram is the main island where one can see the birds. Sand piper, golden plover, green shanks and red shanks are few of the most frequently found Avi fauna species on Bangaram island.

MARINE LIFE IN LAKSHADWEEP Lakshadweep State Symbols represents the varied and unique biodiversity of the region. Endowed with the rich flora and fauna, Lakshadweep has a vast reserve of rare and endangered species of aquatic and terristrial life. The golden sandy beaches, crystal clear water of Arabian Sea and attractive coral reefs exemplify the beautiful place of Lakshadweep.

The Lakshadweep state symbols are the symbolic representation of the multifarious life on the beautiful island which enthralls and enchants the tourists with its wide diversity. The crystal clear water of the Aeabian Sea is the natural habitat of many species of marine creatures that imparts a unique character to the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. 

    

THE SYMBOL OF LAKSHDWEEP – THE BUTTERFLY FISH

 

THE BEAUTY OF LAKSHADWEEP

The Lakshadweep Archipelago forms a terrestrial ecoregion together with the Maldives and the Chagos. It has over 600 species of marine fishes, 78 species of corals, 82 species of seaweed, 52 species of crabs, 2 species of lobsters, 48 species of gastropods, 12 species of bivalves, 101 species of birds. It is one of the four coral reef regions in India. The corals are a major attraction for the tourist. Pitti Island, is an important breeding place for sea turtles and for a number of pelagic birds such as the Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), Lesser Crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis) and Greater Crested Tern (Sterna bergii). The island has been declared a bird sanctuary.

The region does not have a rich flora and almost all the plants can be found on the mainland of India. There is also an absence of forest in the region. Nearly 400 species of flowering plants have been documented, including three species of sea grasses Cymodocia isoetifolia, Syringodium isoetifolium and Thalassia hemprichii, other angiosperms as Pandanus, Heliotropium foertherianum,Tournefortia argentea and Pemphis acidula as well as fungi, algae, lichens are also found. The common flora of the coral sands include coconut groves and coastal shrubs as Pemphis acidula, Cordia subcordata, Scaevola taccada, Thespesia populnea, Suriana maritime,Dodonaea viscosa, Guettarda speciosa and seaweeds such as sea lettuces, Codium and Hypena.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

 

Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over 21,495 sq mi (55,670 km2),W and is bordered by Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east.

Himachal Pradesh is known to be abundant in natural beauty. After the war between Nepal and Britain also known as Anglo-Gorkha War, the British colonial government came into power. In 1950 Himachal was declared as a union territory but after the State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971, Himachal emerged as the 18th state of the Republic of India. Hima means snow in Sanskrit, and the literal meaning of the state's name is In the lap of Himalayas.  It was named by one ofthe great Sanskrit scholars of Hi mac ha 1Pradesh, Acharya Diwakar Datt Sharma.

 

The Economy of the Himachal Pradesh is currently the third fastest growing economy in India. Himachal Pradesh has been ranked fourth in the list of the highest per capita incomes of Indian states. Due to the abundance of perennial rivers, Himachal also sells hydroelectricity to other states such as Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan. The economy of the state is highly dependent on three sources: hydroelectric power, tourism and agriculture.

 

HISTORY AND IMPORTANT CITIES

 

The history of the area that now constitutes Himachal Pradesh dates back to the time when the Indus valley civilisation flourished between 2250 and 1750 BCE. Tribes such as the Koilis, Halls, Dagis, Dhaugris, Dasa, Khasas,Kinnars and Kirats inhabited the region from pre-historic era. During the Vedic period, several small republics known as "Janapada" existed which were later conquered by the Gupta Empire} W After a brief period of supremacy by King Harshavardhana, the region was once again divided into several local powers headed by chieftains, including some Rajput principalities. These kingdoms that enjoyed a large degree of independence were devastated by Muslim invaders a number of times. Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered Kangra at the beginning of the 10th century. Timur and Sikander Lodi also marched through the lower hills of the state and captured a number of forts and fought many battles. Several hill states acknowledged Mughai suzerainty and paid regular tribute to the Mughals.

 

FLORA AND FAUNNA

 

According to 2003 Forest Survey of India report, legally defined forest areas constitute 66.52% of the area of Himachal Pradesh, although area under tree cover is only 25.78%. Vegetation in the state is dictated by elevation and precipitation. The southern part of the state, which is at the lowest elevations, has both tropical and subtropical drv broad leaf forests and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. These are represented by northwestern thorn scrub forests along the border with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and by Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests in the far southeast. Sal and shisham are found here. Rising into the hills, we find a mosaic of western Himalayan broadleaf forests and Himalayan subtropical pine forests. Various deciduous and evergreen oaks live in the broadleafforests, while Chir pine dominates the pine forests. Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests grow near tree line, with species that include East Himalayan Fir, West Himalayan Spruce, Deodar (State tree), and Blue pine.

 

In the uppermost elevations we find western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows in the northeast and northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows in the northwest. Trees are sturdy with a vast network of roots. Alders, birches, rhododendrons and moist alpine shrubs are there as the regional vegetation. The rhododendrons can be seen along the hillsides around Shimla from March to May. The shrublands and meadows give way to rock and ice around the highest peaks. Himachal is also said to be the fruit bowl of the country with orchards scattered all over the place. Meadows and pastures are also seen clinging to steep slopes. After the winter season, the hillsides and orchards bloom with wild flowers, while gladiolas, carnations, marifwlds, roses, chnsanthemums, tulips and lilies are carefully cultivated. The state government is gearing up to make Himachal Pradesh as the flower basket of the world.

 

Himachal Pradesh is a well known habitat to a variety of animals. There are around 1200 bird and 359 animal species in the state.This includes the Leopard, Snow leopard (State animal), ghoral, musk deer and Western Tragopan. It has 12 major national parks and sanctuaries - the largest number in the Himalayan region. The Great Himalayan national Park in Kullu district was created to conserve the flora and fauna of the main Himalayan range, while the Pin Valley National Park to conserve the flora and fauna of the cold desert.

 

 

 

GREAT HIMALAYAN NATIONAL PARK

 

The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is the newest addition to India's national parks, located in Kullu region in the state of HimachaI Pradesh. The park was built in 1984. The park is spread over an area of 1,171 km2 that lies between an altitude of 1500 to 6000m. The Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat to more than 375 fauna species that comprises nearly around 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects. They are protected under strict guidelines of Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, hence any sort of hunting is not permitted. It also supports the variety of plant life, scattered over the park.

 

EFFORTS TO CONSERVE

 

Steps are being taken to intensify environmental preservation and sustainable development in

the Himachal Pradesh region. All remaining forests in Himachal Pradesh have been nationalised under the supervision of the officers like Indian forest service,Himachal Forest Service and seasoned Range/Dy.Range Forest Officers. Felling of trees and sale of timber is now controlled by the State Forest Corporation, and an Enforcement Organisation has been established to prevent the illegal felling of trees.and smuggling of timber. Hunting has also been restricted. The government has created 33 Sanctuaries, two National Parks and some national parks sites are proposed.

 

RE-FORESTATION PROGRAMS

 

A World Bank assisted Social Forestry Project has been launched. The aim of the project is to plant more trees for fuel, fodder, and timber to meet the basic requirements of the local people, thus avoiding depletion of the old growth forests. The deforested Kandi areas are also being reforested in another project financially assisted by the World Bank.

 

SNOW LEOPARD

 

Snow leopards occupy alpine and subalpine areas generally 3,350 and 6,700 metres (10,990 and 22,000 ft) above sea level in Central Asia. The Snow Leopard Survival Strategy (McCarthy et al. 2003, Table IT) compiled national snow leopard population estimates, updating the work of Fox (1994). Many of the estimates are acknowledged to be rough and out of date, but the total estimated population is 4,080-6,590. However, the global snow leopard effective population size (those likely to reproduce) is suspected to be fewer than 2,500 (50% of the total population, or 2,040-3,295).