Part 1 - English version (PDF) - Convention on Biological Diversity

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India’s Fourth National Report to the <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity The coverage under PA network in IHR has steadily expanded over the years (Figure 1.8 and 1.9) In the Himalayan biogeographic zone, the PAs include 12 NPs (7,367 sq km) and 65 WLS (16,066 sq km), which cover almost 11.12% of the zone. Figure 1.8 : Progression of numbers of PAs in Himalaya Figure 1.9 : Progression of PA coverage in Himalaya (in km 2 ) Beside NPs and WLSs, the GOI has established 6 BRs (out of 15 in India) and 8 Ramsar sites (out of 25 in the country) in the Himalayan States. Out of the five natural World Heritage Sites (WHS) recognized by United Nations Educationmal, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in India, three are located in the Himalayan region viz, Nanda Devi NP, Kaziranga NP and Manas NP. Further, the Valley of Flowers NP has been included in the list of WHS as an extension to Nanda Devi NP. In addition, Kangchendzonga NP and Namdapha NP are included in the tentative list of WHS. Considering the importance of natural sites, an externally aided project titled 'World Heritage Biodiversity Programme for India: Building <strong>Part</strong>nerships to Support UNESCO’s WHS programme’ is being undertaken. 1.3.3.2 The Western Ghats Richness and uniqueness The Western Ghats comprise the mountain range that runs along the west coast of India, from the Vindhya-Satpura ranges in the north to the southern tip. The ecosystems of the Western Ghats include the tropical wet evergreen forests, the montane evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, etc. The Shola grassland ecosystems found in the higher reaches of Western Ghats are unique to this region and harbour a number of endemic species (Table 1.15). World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) has identified Western Ghats region as one of the important areas of freshwater biodiversity. The varied topographic, climatic and geological factors have made significant contribution to biodiversity. Almost one-third of all the flowering plant species in India are found in this region. The Nilgiri BR spread over three states in Western Ghats was the first BR to be set up in the country. 36
Overview of Biodiversity: Status, Trends and Threats Table 1.15: Biodiversity of Western Ghats Group Total Endemic % endemism species species Angiosperms 4,000 1,500 38 Butterflies 332 37 11 Fishes 288 116 53 Amphibians 156 94 78 Reptiles 225 97 62 Birds 508 19 4 Mammals 137 14 12 Source: http://www.wii.gov.in/envis; ZSI 2008 Fifty-six genera and 1,500 species (38%) of flowering plants and 63% of India’s evergreen woody plants are endemic to the Western Ghats. Of the known mammals, 14 species are endemic. The mammalian fauna of the Western Ghats is dominated by insectivores (11 species), bats (41 species) and rodents (27 species including the porcupine). Among the 508 species of birds recorded from the Western Ghats, 144 (28%) are aquatic birds including those found in the coastal habitats. A total of 324 species (64%), predominantly land birds, are residents. Sixteen species of birds are endemic to the Western Ghats. Threat status In the past, the forests of the Western Ghats had been selectively logged. Large tracts of forests were also converted to agricultural land for monoculture plantations of tea, coffee, rubber, oil palm, teak, eucalyptus, and wattle, building reservoirs, roads, and railways. Over 20% of the original forest cover remains more or less in pristine condition and the remaining is subject to varying degrees of human pressure including collection of fuel wood and NTFPs for subsistence. Mass tourism, grazing and forest fires are other concerns. The poverty is rife and economic development is poor in regions adjacent to forests including the PAs. The competing needs of the people residing in the forest fringes lead to human wildlife conflicts. Of the total known fauna, 102 species fall under different categories of threat (Figure 1.10), and of these, mammals (30 species; 21.9%); and amphibians (52 species; 33.3%) are the prominent groups. Figure 1.10: Representation of threatened faunal diversity in Western Ghats 37
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