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| WORLD BIODIVERSITY DAY: MAY 22 | | BIODIVERSITY OF LADAKH | | Dr. Parveen Kumar, Dr. Kunzang Lamo, Dr. D. Namgyal
The article 2 of the Convention on Biological Diversity defines Biological Diversity as the variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. Thus we can say that ‘Biodiversity’ is the combination of life forms and their interactions with each other and with the rest of the environment that has made Earth is a unique planet for all the living organisims on this planet. Its rich biodiversity has been a source of life to millions and millions of different organisims on this planet. Biodiversity provides us a large number of goods and services that sustain our lives. The biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend. Biodiversity also includes genetic differences within each species for example, between varieties of crops and breeds of livestock. Biodiversity also includes a variety of ecosystems such as those that occur in deserts, forests, wetlands, mountains, lakes, rivers, and agricultural landscapes. In each ecosystem, living creatures, including humans, form a community, interacting with one another and with the air, water, and soil around them. Considering the importance of biodiversity and the emerging threats to the biodiversity, the United Nations declared May 22 every year as International Biodiversity Day.
The country is one of the twelve mega biodiversity rich countries of the world which together supports nearly 60-70 per cent of the world’s bio diversity. Ten bio geographic zones represent the biodiversity of India. The Union Territory of Ladakh is considered as one of the zone. Situated across the main Himalayan chain, Ladakh forms the bulk of the Indian Trans-Himalayas, a unique region distinguished by highly evolved and diverse life forms, including a variety of aromatic and medicinal plants, several wild relatives of domesticated plants and animals and a charismatic mega-fauna, still preserved in its entirety unlike most other parts of the world. Ladakh is a repository of vibrant traditions and indigenous knowledge which have evolved in harmony with its natural wealth. It is a rich repository of medicinal and aromatic plants. It is estimated that the region may harbor close to 1,100 species of vascular plants and ferns. As many as 23 species of flowering plants are endemic to Ladakh. The region also has many plants with therapeutic properties many of which are unexplored or have been over exploited. Seabuckthorn is also an important plant of this region having great medicinal and nutritive value.
Nearly half of the 600 flowering plants reported in Ladakh have medicinal value, 46 (85%) of its 54 rare/endangered plant species are medicinal plants. A study done some years back revealed that the traditional medical practitioners of Ladakh or ‘Amchis’ are estimated to cater to 60% of the public health needs of the region. Despite its harsh climate, poor vegetation cover and the substantial presence of domestic livestock, Ladakh still host unique and quasi complete faunal assemblages, including the whole range of mammalian herbivores and carnivores characteristic of the steppe ecosystem. Ladakh cold desert also harbors a diverse bird fauna including charismatic species like the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrisaetos), Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), Common raven (Corvus corax) and several species endemic to the Tibetan Plateau such as the Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus), Tibetan partridge (Perdix hodgsoniae), Tibetan Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes tibetanus), Snow Pigeon (Columba leuconota), Great and Streaked Rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilla, C. rubicilloides). Through a long process of adaptation and innovations, local farmers have selected and developed a number of land races of both indigenous and introduced crops. Over 70 indigenous varieties of apricot and 7 of apple have thus been documented in Ladakh. Reports reveal that at least ten local cultivars of wheat and as many or more of barley from this cold arid Ladakh region. Several land races of lesser millets, radish, turnip, peas are also known. These indigenous varieties and land races are well adapted to Ladakh conditions displaying early maturity, an important trait in view of the very short growing season, as well as resistance to drought, extreme cold, pests etc.
But the unique bio diversity of the region is under threat. The large scale development of the region also brought with it the threat to its biological diversity. These developments have already resulted in significant losses in biodiversity affecting both natural and agro-ecosystems. Several species of medicinal plants and wild tree species like Junipers have become endangered due to over-collection and habitat degradation. Natural grasslands and forests have been reduced or degraded including by plantations of faster growing exotic species. Several local crop varieties and breeds have also been displaced or become extinct following the introduction and widespread use of exotics, ‘High Yielding Varieties’ and crossbreeds. Rare and endemic species of wild fauna have been pushed to the brink of extinction even in remote areas, under the pressure of uncontrolled developmental activities including tourism, overgrazing and poaching. A study of DRDO reveals that out of the 70 varieties of apricot indigenous to the region, only 10 are still widely cultivated, and at least 4 are on the verge of extinction. Similarly, of the ten or so
traditional varieties of wheat only 3 are still widely cultivated and at least two have apparently disappeared. Local varieties of lesser millets, radish and turnips (Swede) are much less in use now and some may already have become extinct. What is worse is that many of these varieties and the indigenous knowledge associated with these are disappearing even before they have been properly documented. Such erosion of the natural resource base poses a major challenge to the long term development and prosperity of Ladakh. These losses are thus probably irremediable and represent a serious erosion of Ladakh domesticated biodiversity potential.
The only silver lining is that large scale environmental degradation and biodiversity loss is a relatively recent phenomenon in the region. There are thus good prospects to mitigate these threats if effective conservation and sustainable development steps are taken rapidly and decisively by the main stake holders. Conservation of medicinal plants, protecting the diversity and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants widely used in Ladakh traditional system of medicine, is an important issue for Ladakh with direct bearing on wild flora conservation and public health. According to a report of World Health Organization, the demand for medicinal plants stands at US$ 14 billion/year. This is likely to grow at annual growth rate of 15 to 25 percent and thus will reach US$ 5 trillion by 2050. Ladakh with a very rich medicinal biodiversity has a much larger scope in all this.
This year this day is celebrated under the theme ‘Our Solutions are in Nature.’ On this important day let all of us pledge to make all our efforts to conserve the floral and faunal biodiversity of our region with the ultimate aim of conserving biodiversity across the globe. The solutions to our problems lie in the nature. We have to find a solution to our problems from the nature without disturbing the delicate balance between nature and ourselves. Talking about the day, Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General said, ‘From individual species through entire ecosystems, biological diversity is vital for human health and well-being. The quality of the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe all depend on keeping the natural world in good health.’ |
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