Kohima, July 9 (MExN): The tiny, picturesque state of Nagaland falls among the 25 listed hot-spots in the world. The hot-spot ranking, is not for any other matter related to anti-social facets, but this time it for its rich and abundant flora and fauna, thankfully.
“Though a small state in terms of area, it has a rich and varied heritage of bio-diversity. It varies from tropical rain forest to alpine vegetation and from evergreen forest to sub-tropical climatic vegetation,” according to the State Department of Forest, Environment, Ecology and Wildlife in its annual report.
The state of Nagaland is home to a very rich and diverse natural vegetation-resources. According to the report, Angiospermic flora is represented by about 2, 431 species belonging to 963 genera and 186 families approximately.
Relatively, the share of Dicotyledons is 1, 688 species, 724 genera from 158 families and Monocotyledons by 743 species under 239 genera from 28 families. Gymnosperms also register their presence with 9 species, under 6 genera from 5 families, the report said.
Furthermore, the report also recorded that Nagaland is also home to a large number of plant species which are endemic to the state or the North Eastern part of India.
It may be mentioned here that the State of Nagaland already boasts of the tallest Rhododendron plant and the tallest Rice plant in the world as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Also, the Naga King chili is a stiff contender of being the hottest in the world, the report said.
“There are numerous rare and endangered species of plant and animals life in Nagaland’s forests. The Blythe Tragopan Pheasant, the state bird, and the Mithun (Bison), the state mascot are themselves rare species in the world,” it said adding that Nagaland state has a great wealth of herbal medicinal and aromatic plants.
The potential of Nagaland’s bio-diversity contributing to the state’s economy is also immense, the department maintained.
As envisaged under Bio-diversity Rules, 2003, a State Bio-diversity Board has been constituted in the state. The board is headed by the Minister in charge of the Department of Forest, Environment, Ecology and Wildlife. The CCF (Bio-diversity, Environment & Research) is ex-officio member secretary of the board, the report mentioned.
.jpg)
