Meghalaya subtropical forests

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Meghalaya subtropical forests
Patkai Range)
Conservation
Conservation statusVulnerable
Protected1.07 (2.78)%[1]

The Meghalaya subtropical forests is Northeast India. The ecoregion covers an area of 41,700 square kilometers (16,100 sq mi), and despite its name, comprise not only the state of Meghalaya, but also parts of southern Assam, and a tiny bit of Nagaland around Dimapur and adjacent Bangladesh. It also contains many other habitats than subtropical forests, but the montane subtropical forests found in Meghalaya is an important biome, and was once much more widespread in the region, and for these reasons chosen as the most suitable name.[2][3] The scientific designation is IM0126.

The Meghalaya subtropical forests are part of the larger

endemic species not found anywhere else in the world. Together with the Western Ghats, Northeast India
are the only two regions of India endowed with rainforest. For these and other reasons, protection and conservation of the Meghalaya subtropical forests are important on a local, national, regional and even global level.

The ecoregion is one of the most

subtropical moist broadleaf forests in some of the montane areas above 1,000 metres. The region is one of the wettest areas in the world, with some places, notably Mawsynram and Cherrapunji
in the south of Meghalaya, receiving up to eleven meters of rain in a year.

The Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests ecoregion lies to the north, the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests ecoregion lies to the east, and the Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests ecoregion lies to the west and south in Bangladesh.

Flora

Fog and mist are persistent in these continuously moist forests

The elevated and damp forest ecoregion is a center of diversity for the tree genera

endemic and 113 species under different threat categories, are found within Meghalaya.[6]

As in other rural areas of India, Meghalaya villages have an ancient tradition of nurturing sacred groves. These are sacred spots within the forest where medicinal and other valued plants are grown and harvested sustainably, and they present a very high biodiversity. In Meghalaya these sacred groves are known as Law Kyntang or Law Lyngdoh.[7][8]

  • The Meghalaya forests near the border with Bangladesh
    The Meghalaya forests near the border with Bangladesh
  • Streams and waterfalls are plentiful
    Streams and waterfalls are plentiful
  • In the seasonal streams, heavy rain flushes all soil away, leaving only rocks and boulders.
    In the seasonal streams, heavy rain flushes all soil away, leaving only rocks and boulders.
  • Spotted-Leaf Sonerila (Sonerila maculata), an undershrub species, is thriving in the wet conditions of the ecoregion.[9]
    Spotted-Leaf Sonerila (Sonerila maculata), an undershrub species, is thriving in the wet conditions of the ecoregion.[9]
  • Orchids (unidentified) growing wild in the forests
    Orchids (unidentified) growing wild in the forests
  • A forest path near Cherrapunji.
    A forest path near Cherrapunji.
  • Jhum cultivation, a slash-and-burn technique, is practised by the hill tribes as an ancient tradition.
    Jhum cultivation, a slash-and-burn technique, is practised by the hill tribes as an ancient tradition.

Fauna

Hornbills are here (Rufous-necked hornbill
).
The Western hoolock gibbon is the only ape in India, and they are dependent on these forests.

The montane ecoregion is home to a diverse mix of birds, with a total of 659 species recorded as of 2017. Some of the birds living here are endemic to the

Slender-billed Vulture, are both in need of extra protection as critically endangered species near extinction. The Meghalaya forests are not only important as a wildlife refuge for birds, it is also important to migratory birds on their long-distance flights.[10][11]

The subtropical forests presents a diverse range of

Khasi earth snake.[10]

The damp and moist environment of the Meghalaya forests also supports what is the most diverse range of

Khasi Hill toad are endemic, and both rare and threatened.[10]

bellamya bengalensis snails.[10]

Situated between the mighty

Brahmaputra in the north and the Barak River to the south, Meghalaya's many waterways are also home to a diverse range of fish species. 152 known species has been observed as of 2017. Two types of mahseer (neolissochilus and tor) are fished for sport.[10]

The subtropical forests are home to 110 species of mammals, none of which are endemic. By far, most of these species comprise smaller mammals, in particular

capped leaf monkey
(Semnopithecus pileatus).

  • Blue Peacock butterfly (papilio arcturus). Several species of butterflies and moths are living in the forests here.
    Blue Peacock butterfly (papilio arcturus). Several species of butterflies and moths are living in the forests here.
  • Scarce vine hawkmoth (Ampelophaga khasiana, underside). This species can have a wingspan of more than 10 cm.
    Scarce vine hawkmoth (Ampelophaga khasiana, underside). This species can have a wingspan of more than 10 cm.
  • Marbled map (Cyrestis cocles)
    Marbled map (Cyrestis cocles)
  • The woodlands are home to several kinds of snakes, including some large poisonous types. (here Yellow-speckled pit viper)
    The woodlands are home to several kinds of snakes, including some large poisonous types. (here
    Yellow-speckled pit viper
    )
  • Capped leaf monkeys
    Capped leaf monkeys
  • Asiatic wild dogs (dholes)
    Asiatic wild dogs (dholes)
  • Clouded leopards are the state animal of Meghalaya
    Clouded leopards are the state animal of Meghalaya
  • Sloth bear. The forests are also home to several species of large (and dangerous) mammals.
    Sloth bear. The forests are also home to several species of large (and dangerous) mammals.
  • Asian elephants has found a refuge in the Meghalaya subtropical forests
    Asian elephants has found a refuge in the Meghalaya subtropical forests

Protected areas

The ecoregion has several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, but they are all of relatively small size.[13] In addition, Meghalaya holds a total of 712.74 km2 reserved forest and 12.39 km2 protected forest.[14]

Some of the reserved forest is used by locals for voluntary wildlife reserves, in particular to help save the threatened

wildlife corridors, for elephants for example, and to safeguard against damaging habitat fragmentation.[19]

Related parks and gardens

The nature and wildlife of Meghalaya, and the montane rainforests of the ecoregion in particular, is of interest to the tourist industry in the area, and to cater for these interests, an Eco Park has been created in

Cherrapunjee.[20] Several waterfalls and caves of the region are also of interest to nature loving tourists.[21]

The state of Meghalaya maintains a total of three botanical gardens, all three are in the capital of Shillong.[22]

Conservation status

The Meghalaya subtropical forest ecoregion is part of the larger

endemic species not found anywhere else in the world. Together with the Western Ghats, Northeast India are the only two regions of India, endowed with rainforest. For these, and other, reasons, protection and conservation of the Meghalaya subtropical forests are important on a local, national, regional and even global level.[23][24]

As seen in other rainforests of the world,

second-growth forests are much less species-rich (both flora and fauna), than the original forest. In addition to these problematic issues, the dense forest habitats of Meghalaya are also dwindling because of tree thinning. This forestry practise puts extra pressure on species that can only thrive in dense forests.[citation needed] The root motivation for the increase in these environmentally changing practises are thought to be a high population growth and increased industrial activity in Meghalaya.[25]

See also

Sources

  • Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment, Island Press;
    Washington, DC
    .
  • Aabid Hussain Mir, Krishna Upadhaya and Hiranjit Choudhury (2014): Diversity of endemic and threatened ethnomedicinal plant species in Meghalaya, North-East India, Int. Res. J. Env. Sc. 3(12): 64-78.
  • Hooker, J.D. 1872-1897. The Flora of British India, 7 vols. L. Reeva and Company, London.
  • Khan, M.L., Menon, S. and Bawa, K.S. 1997. Effectiveness of the protected area network in biodiversity conservation: A case study of Meghalaya state, Biodiversity and Conservation 6: 853-868.
  • Chettri N, Sharma E, Shakya B, Thapa R, et al. (2010). Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas: Status, Trends and Vulnerability to Climate Change (PDF).
    ICIMOD
    Books.

Notes and references

  1. ^ Note: The figure in parentheses also includes reserved forest areas.
  2. World Wildlife Fund
    (WWF). Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  3. ISBN 978-962-85152-1-9
    .
  4. ^ Khan et al., 1997
  5. ^ Hooker, 1872-97
  6. ^ Mir et al., 2014
  7. S2CID 9581334
    .
  8. JSTOR 23616662
    .
  9. ^ "Spotted-Leaf Sonerila". Flowers of India (FOI). Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Threatened Faunal Species in Meghalaya". Meghalaya Biodiversity Board. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Meghalaya" (PDF). Important Bird Areas In India. Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests. 7 October 2004. pp. 754–76. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  12. ^ a b Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya (23 May 2019). "For India's imperiled apes, thinking locally matters". Mongabay. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  13. ^ "List of Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in Meghalaya". Pin Code India. 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Reserved and Protected Forests in Meghalaya". Forest and Environment Department, Meghalaya Government. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  15. ^ Note: Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 2015 but is rarely presented as a wildlife sanctuary, perhaps because of local opposition.
  16. ^ "Villagers to move SC against Narpuh eco-sensitive zone". Highland Post. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  17. ^ Irina Ningthoujam (20 April 2007). "Tribesmen in Sebalgre in Meghalaya declare their first notified Village Wildlife Reserve". E-Pao. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  18. ^ Sibi Arasu (25 March 2019). "Meghalaya's community-managed forests protect endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Rewak-Emangre Corridor is declared a Village Reserve Forest". World Land Trust. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Cherrapunji - Eco Park". India Beacons. 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Wild Life". Meghalaya Tourism. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  22. ^ "Botanical Gardens in Meghalaya". Meghalaya Biodiversity Board. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  23. ^ "Biodiversity in Meghalaya". Meghalaya Biodiversity Board. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  24. ^ Saikia, Purabi; Khan, Mohammed (2017). "Floristic diversity of Northeast India and its conservation". Plant Diversity in the Himalaya Hotspot Region. Central University of Jharkhand, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh. pp. 1023–1036.
  25. ^ Anwaruddin Choudhury (October 2003). "Meghalaya's Vanishing Wilderness". Sanctuary Asia. Retrieved 20 July 2019.

External links

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