biodiversity assessment in some selected hill forests of south orissa

important directly as food for humans. Lichens are the first group of plants in the plant succession. As lichens
don’t have roots; they are in direct contact with air which makes them a good indicator of environmental
pollution. Several birds use lichens in nest construction. People have used lichens since antiquity as
medicines, dyes, food, decoration, perfumes and even crude clothing. Bryophytes are the secondary
colonizers on barren rocks next to lichens in plant succession in xerosere. They are extremely good soil
binders as they form large mats on forest floors and roadside cuts, thus controlling soil erosion. They are a
good source of humus and hence a heaven for a number of soil-dwelling invertebrates likes earthworms.
They form very good seed beds for seedlings and saplings and are indicators of environmental pollution. A
number of bryophytes are used as herbal medicine throughout the world. Bryophytes are not only used by
man but also by other vertebrates and invertebrates. The forest concentration is mostly found on the hilly
region and South Orissa is an abode of many small and big hills and mountains including the highest pick of
Orissa, Deomali.The forest vegetation broadly falls under 5 out of 16 categories of forests differentiate by
Champion and Seth, 1968 like tropical Semi-ever green forests, tropical moist deciduous forest, tropical dry
deciduous forests, sub tropical broad leaved hill forests and littoral and swamp forests. Since most of the
mountains of south Orissa are rich with minerals and are the source of origin for perennial hill streams, the
forest ecosystems are rich in species diversity. Keeping in view of the above importance of these areas, the
study was conducted in South Orissa to document the flora and fauna for the first time in a systematic
manner by the research team of Vasundhara which consists of Researchers from multidisciplinary
background including, Field Biologists and wildlife experts from Universities of Orissa .
STUDY AREA: The survey was conducted in some of the important mountainous ecosystems in
three districts namely Kalahandi, Koraput and Rayagada and Gajapati districts of Orissa. Nestled at the
northern part of Eastern Ghat hill ranges, the study areas are considered as large repository of minerals and
are now considered to be under threat by the upcoming mining industries. The study area includes
Panchpatmali, Maliparvat, Patangi, Kodingamali and Deomali in Koraput district, Niyamgiri hills, Sijimali hills,
Khandualmali hills and Krishunmali hills in Kalahandi districts and Baphlamali hills and Kutrumali hills in
Raygada districts and Chandragiri and Mahendragiri hills of Gajapati districts of South Orissa. (Map.1).
OBJECTIVES: Rapid survey of biodiversity selected hill forests of South Orissa
Inventory of flora and fauna of the study area
Survey of ecologically sensitive plants and animals of the area
Identification of migratory route of mega fauna in the area
Identification of the threats on the existing wildlife of the area
Documentation of the community conservation initiatives in the study area.