Bio-Diversity and Cultural Aspects of Mahendragiri, in ... - Vasundhara

The Eastern Ghats, EPTRI - ENVIS NewsletterAbstract:Bio-diversity and Cultural Aspects ofMahendragiri in Eastern Ghats of India.Prasad Kumar Dash* and P. W. Jaykumar Choudhary*Plant Ecologist,Community conservation and Forest Governance ThemeVasundhara, Odisha.Guest Faculty in Zoology, P.G. Department of Life Sciences, SKCG College, ParalkhemundiThe Mahendragiri hills on the Eastern Ghats of Indiaare floristically, archeologically and ecologicallyimportant habitat as they harbour both the Northernand Southern Indian floral elements. A vegetationsurvey was conducted in Mahendragiri hills todocument the floral diversity of the region onNovember, 2010 which yield 679 species of plantsthat includes 3 species of gymnosperms, 676 speciesof angiosperms under 453 genera and 115 families.Polygala crotalarioides var. glabrescens, Gnetummontanum, Drosera burmanii, Drosera indica andBupleurum falcatum are reported for the first timefrom the hill. Similarly many Rare, Endangered andThreatened plants were recorded during the surveythat includes species of both northern and southernIndian floral composition. Mahendragiri hill forestcomplex acts as the carbon sink and water tower, thusplays a pivotal role in maintaining the ecologicalbalance and climate control of the entire southOdisha and Srikakulum district of Andhra Pradesh.Irrespective of the rich floral diversity, the hills areunder severe threat of deforestation and degradationdue to several anthropogenic activities. To protectand conserve the ancient sacred hill, it is nowimperative to declare Mahendragiri-Singaraj-Badadeva-Devagiri system covering more than 5,000sq km as a Biosphere Reserve or BiodiversityHeritage Site. A detailed and seasonal survey on allgroup of life forms of the hill need to be documentedbefore preparing conservation and management planIntroduction:The 5,000 feet high Mahendragiri-Singharaju hills,situated in the middle of Eastern Ghats in theParalakhemundi sub-division of Gajapati district is175 km away from Berhampur. It is a treasure ofplant genetic wealth and being treated as criticalhabitat of Saura, a primitive tribal Group (PTG) ofIndia. As per Gamble (1892), Mahendragiri is theamalgamation of biodiversity with species from bothnorth and south, the Himalayas and the Nilgiris.Theannual rainfall is 1551.6 mm. Spread over an area ofover 2,000 sq km bordering Andhra Pradesh, thismajestic micro-environmental terrain is dotted with3Vol.18, No.1, 2012over 25 small and big hills among which Singaraj(1516 meters), Mahendragiri (1601 meters) andDevagiri (1392 meters) are the highest peaks in theregion forming a golden triangle symbolizing thearea's immense ecological asset.The lush greentropical forests (semi ever green to moist and drydeciduous type) of Mahendragiri acts as atransitional zone between flora of southern Indiaand the Himalayas making the region an ecologicalestuary of genetic diversities which provideslivelihood to the Saura's. The archeologicalimportance of the hills includes Kunti temple,Parshuram temple, Bhima temple, Yudhisthirtemple, Hanuman temple etc. which are of prehistoric ages. Sivaratri is the main festival herewhich draws a large crowd. This testifies the factthat it was once a centre of Saivite culture.Ecologically, the Mahendragiri terrain is in a verybad shape today as the vegetation cover has becomevery thin except in the valleys due to anthropogenicactivities, lack of alternative livelihoods and legalprotection of traditional knowledge. Both the plantwealth and indigenous knowledge are in imminentdanger.Geology:The rocks of Mahendragiri hills belong to graniteand magnetiteDrainage:Mahenragiri is the origin point of two importantrivers of south Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Theprincipal drainage systems are Bahuda Riveremanated from Singaraju peak, Ghodahada River animportant tributary of Rushikulya starts fromRamgiri of Dhoba dhobani hill ranges and joinsRushikulya at Hinjilikatu, Sana nadi, a tributary ofVamsadhara starts around R. Udyagiri and joinsVamsadhara at Gunpur. Similarly, Mahendratanayawest, a principal tributary of Vamsadhara has cutacross mahendraparvat and joins Vamsadhara atParalakhyamundi, another Mahendratanaya startsfrom Mahendragiri peak and flows via Mandasa andBaruva and finally join sea on the east.Study site:Mahendragiri hilly terrain is located in Survey ofIndia topographic maps 74 A/4, A/8, 74B/1 and74B/5 in Paralakhemundi division of Gajpatidistricts of Odisha (Fig 1). Following peaks are thecharacterstic features of the hill which