Introduction
It is estimated that the global number of trees is approximately 3.04 trillion, however the number of species in not indicated. It is predicted that Indo-Burma biodiversity hot spot region is a home of more than 3,000 species of plants. Frank Kingdon Ward, who embossed our flora and fauna on the botanical world map through Lilium mackliniae (Shirui Lily), mentioned more than 120 species of plants in his book “Plant Hunter in Manipur”, sans less conspicuous plants (Image 1). Since then we went into a deep slumber unable to convert or capitalise our plant natural resources which is worth Billions of Rupees into respectable livelihood asset. Rainforest Biodiversity of Phalee (RBP) has documented 1,700 plants and counting from Phalee and surrounding villages, out of which 500 species are used in different forms in community daily live: 200 plant species are used for cuisine and herbal medicine, 37 are fruit bearing plants, 12 species are agricultural weeds, 80 are orchids, 16 are domesticated crop cultivars, 50 are ornamental, more than 100 species are used for fuel wood and few species are under IUCN red list. (However, this documentation is preliminary, isolated, and not exhaustive). RBP documentation and analysis using simple arithmetic indicates that Ukhrul plant resources worth Billions of rupees remained under-utilize or misuse.
Also read | Ukhrul: A town of thousand dried pond
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Our Backyard
Can we now improve the value addition for these 500 plants species and their products? Should we try to increase the number of plants to 1,000 species for our daily uses? Should we still wait on someone else to convert these resources into economy? Other than our ignorance and lack of innovation, two other major factors hampering our development are lack of value addition and information available on plant germplasm or seed bank is scattered and not readily accessible, i.e. only found in ‘grey literature’ or known in little-known local languages. Under the current crisis of global biodiversity loss, where one third of assessed plant species is threatened at some level, it is critical to ably address our strength and the challenges that plant diversity and natural habitats are facing.
Documenting Biodiversity
We have built a dynamic and perpetual microsite- Rainforest Biodiversity of Phalee (RBP) within India Biodiversity Portal (IBP). It is a database and a repository of Ukhrul flora and fauna. It currently hosts more than 3,800 observations by species groups, and 700 validated species has curate on IBP and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Denmark (Image 2). We catalogued and compiled the flora and fauna and the traditional knowledge (TK) associated with them into a paper based format known as People Biodiversity Register (PBR). It recorded the species status and safeguard against misappropriation of indigenous knowledge and bio-piracy. It guaranteed the preservation of biological diversity, and provides mechanism for equitable sharing of benefits (ABS) arising out of the use of traditional biological resources and knowledge enshrined on the Article 8 (j) and other Provisions of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). This objective supports the integration of Indigenous Peoples’ and Local community (IPLC) TK and practices in mainstream policy and governance systems.
Also read | Rainforest Biodiversity of Phalee selected for United Nations Development Programe Project
Message of Frank Kingdon Ward
Our region is far from being botanically explored yet. But much of what remains to be done is now predictable, thanks to increased knowledge since the day of Frank Kingdon Ward plant hunting in Ukhrul in 1940s (Image 3). It enables us to carry on the work more systematically by exploring our region for largely predictable plants that there might be in wandering through unexplored places. But lack of knowledge is a real handicap. One thing is sure to us now that our forests are fundamental for regulating the Earth’s climate, exchanging more carbon, water and energy with the atmosphere than any other terrestrial ecosystem. They affect rainfall patterns and the severity of heat waves, impacting the resilience of agricultural systems and local communities.
Significance of Forests Conservation
Forests store about 18% of all human-caused carbon emissions. In addition to carbon, the physical structure of forests also affects both the global and local climates. Forests absorb energy from the sun to move vast quantities of water from the soil back into the atmosphere, through a process called evapo-transpiration, cooling the surface temperature locally and globally and repeat the water cycle. The forest canopies contributes to the upward mixing of warm air into the atmosphere, drawing away heat, capturing cloud and redistributing essential moisture and water droplets. These biophysical processes stabilize weather as well as climate, limiting daily temperatures, reducing the intensity and duration of extreme heat and dry spells, and maintaining rainfall seasonality. Yet every year we lose hectares of forests from wood fuel collection and forest fire and their manifestations are clearly visible in our day to day life- Water scarcity in Ukhrul which, natural disasters, drying up of river, losing of birds and animals, flocking of insects on crops.
The Cost of Biodiversity Loss
Our preliminary results of a recent survey and documentation showed that the extent of deforestation from fire wood collection and forest fire in Ukhrul are significant. The damage and costs of forest fires and deforestation involves nature loss, health, and human livelihoods of the entire region. From 2001 to 2020, Ukhrul, Manipur, India lost 37.9 Kilo hectares (Kha) of tree cover, equivalent to a 10% decrease in tree cover since 2000, and 19.4Mt of CO₂e (Metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions (Image 4). There were 28,692 GLAD (Global Analysis and Discovery) alerts reported in Ukhrul, Manipur, India between the 1st of October 2020 and the 30th of September 2021, of which 100% were high confidence alerts. Forest-related greenhouse gas emissions in Ukhrul, Manipur, India between 2001 and 2020, an average of 968 kilo tonnes (kt) per year was released into the atmosphere as a result of tree cover loss in Ukhrul, Manipur, India. In total, 19.4Mt of CO₂e was emitted in this period. This is the result of forest fires and deforestation mainly from fuel wood collection and jhum cultivation.
Conclusion
Our environment is vulnerable to the natural disasters. It withstanding capability to water scarcity, landslides, forest fire, sinking, pest infestation, or natural forces are on the verge of collapse. Therefore, securing rich and healthy plant diversity in functioning ecosystems is fundamental to the achievement of a sustainable future where the ecosystem services that plants provide are crucial to our survival. These services include food, medicine, clean water, climate amelioration, rich and productive landscapes, fabrics, building materials, energy and a healthy atmosphere.
New directions in plant conservation are vital in conservation of genetics, species recovery and ecological restoration. Plants are critical to sustaining all life on Earth as they maintain environmental balance and ensure ecosystem stability. Through photosynthesis, plants are at the base of most of the trophic chains or food chain that sustain life across the planet. We need clear, measurable targets, new information, tools and the sharing of experiences to make good progress in conservation through both in situ, ex situ and integrated approaches. Capacity building, education, and public awareness programmes focused on plants on the scientific basis for achieving long-term sustainable ecological restoration are crucial.
Written by: Ngalengshim, ngashangva.ng@gmail.com, phalee.rfb@gmail.com
Rainforest Biodiversity of Phalee
About The Author
