biodiversity assessment in some selected hill forests of south orissa

INTRODUCTION: Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of all life including all species of
plants, animals and micro-organisms, the ecosystems and the ecological processes of which they are parts.
Where rich biodiversity is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, it also provides wide range of goods and
services that are essential for the sustenance of the biota. Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is
an indicator of sustainable development. Unfortunately, during the last century, a drastic decline in
biodiversity has been observed in different parts of the world in an alarming rate leading to mass extinction.
Anthropogenic activities and over exploitation of the resources existing in an ecosystem has destroyed its
homeostasis and altered the habitat of the native species. This has threatened the survival of endemic
species making them endangered. Therefore, the present day ecosystem research has advocated the
conservation of habitat and the environment for giving all the species to grow undisturbed in their native
habitat. Despite the considerable worldwide efforts to establish the wildlife protected areas, destruction of
wildlife habitats has remained the leading threat to biodiversity. This destruction, taking different forms (i.e.
degradation, fragmentation or outright loss) prompted mainly by such factors as poverty, demographic
factors, land tenure systems, inadequate conservation status, development policies and economic
incentives. Anthropogenic activities such as overgrazing, deforestation, bush fires, shifting cultivation,
developmental activities like mining, urbanization and road construction inside the protected areas are found
to be the major causes of lose in biodiversity. Last but not the least climate change is emerging as a new
threat to the whole ecosystem. The Eastern Ghats are isolated hill ranges in Peninsular India (Andhra
Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka), harbors primarily tropical moist deciduous vegetation, which
represents species of high economic, timber, medicinal potential, lies in 110 30' to 210 0' N Latitudes and
770 22' to 850 20' E Longitudes. Eastern Ghats are highly significant in terms of its Bio-diversity. Of the
estimated 3,200 flowering plant taxa, about 100 are endemics that need immediate attention for their
conservation (Jonathan, 2006). There are 528 tree taxa under 271 genera belonging to 80 families
(Sandhyarani et al., 2007) distributed in different regions of Eastern Ghats In total 454 species under 243
genera and 78 families are endemic to Eastern Ghats (Kanyana, 2008). Out of the 7,500 species plants of
medicinal value reported in India, about 1800 species are known to occur in Eastern Ghats. It is the abode of
62 tribes who sustain their livelihood from the forest resources of Eastern Ghats. At least 50 dye yielding
plants and 40 aromatic plants are also known to occur in this region. The Eastern Ghats constitute the
principal mountain system of Orissa extending over 1.5 Lakh sq. km. areas, which is just 4.25% of the total
landmass of the state, extending from north of Similipal in Mayurbhanj district and runs through Malkangiri
basing on geological and tectonic considerations. Eighteen districts of Orissa including 14 protected areas
(13 wild life sanctuaries, one Biosphere reserve, one National Park, two tiger reserve and one Ramser
Wetland) comes under the Eastern Ghats of India. The biodiversity of Orissa consists of 2760 species of
angiosperms, 543 species of algae, 132 species of pteridophytes, 473 species of birds, 110 specie of