Threats & obstacles in conservation of biodiversity in Manipur
- Part 1 -

Kh Hitler Singh *

Keibul Lamjao in Moirang as seen from the Road in August 2012 :: Pix - Jinendra Maibam

Definition of Biodiversity: As per the Convention of Biological Diversity 1992 'Biological diversity' means 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 a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. Biodiversity is a compound word derived from 'Biological diversity' and therefore considered to have the same meaning.

Manipur is blessed with diverse biological species both plants and animals (domesticated and wild) which is in short termed as Biodiversity and different type of habitats due to several land forms and altitude; as it is situated in the Indo Malayan Biological Hot Spot. A region is said to be a Biological hotspot if the region contain at least 1500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world's total and the region have lost more or equal to 70% of its original native habitat.

In the world there are thirty four Biological Hot Spots, and India is having three Biological Hot Spots viz; Indo Malayan, Himalayas and Western Ghat. Further Manipur is situated in the Bio geographical region of 8 (North East Zone) and North East Zone is the most bio diverse region in India and also its flora and fauna is depleted at the higher rate than the other region of India. Manipur is home to many rare and endemic flora and fauna. For this article I would like to restrict to the wild or non-domesticated Biodiversity of Manipur.

Manipur is home of as many four species of deer viz; Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii), Hog deer (Axis porcinus), Sambar (Cervus unicolor) and Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak). There is unconfirmed report of availability of Mouse deer in the Chingkao Forest of Tamenglong District adjacent to the proposed Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary. Again both the Goat Antelopes- Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis) and Ghoral (Naemorhedus goral) are found in the hills cliff of all the Hill Districts of Manipur. There are several carnivores of Cat family consisting of Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Common leopard (Panthera pardus), Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), Golden cat (Catopuma temminckii), Marble cat (Pardofelis marmorata), Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverinus).

Two bear species viz Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and Malayan sun bear (Helarctus malayanus) are reported in Manipur. Again Both Indian Elephant and Burmese Elephant are spotted in Manipur in the western and Eastern Part of Manipur. The only Indian ape; Hoolock gibbon (Hylobates hoolock) is found in the jungle of Manipur. Other primates found in Manipur are Slow loris (Nycticebus), Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulata), Stump tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides), Pig tailed Macaque (Macaca leonina). Banteng (Bos javanicus) and Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) were once roamed in the Khuga Valley of Manipur but these had been extinct from Manipur a few decades ago.

A vanishing avian species as far as I have tried to find the evidence of live sample is the Manipur Bush Quail (Perdicula manipurensis). The other important forest birds found in Manipur are Nongin (Syrmaticus humiae humiae), Blyth tragopan (Tragopan blythii), Burmese green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), Kaleej pheasant (Lophura leuucomelanos), Shiri Grey-sided thrush (Turdus feae), Amur falcon (Falco amurensis), White rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) etc. the Water birds found in Manipur are Ruddy shelduck, Pintail, lesser whistling duck, Comb duck, Mandarin duck, Geese.

All together about 666 bird species are listed by Shri K. Jugeshwor Singh in his book entitled "Check List of Birds of Manipur" published by Forest Department Manipur in 2014. Further the Species diversity of water birds in Loktak and associated wetlands of Manipur is about 57(fifty seven) number as per the Water Birds Census carried out by the Wildlife Wing of Forest Department, Manipur since 2011.

Recently Forest Department, Manipur had taken some very good measures for Protection of Wildlife in Manipur. During the tenure of Shri P.N. Prasad as Chief Wildlife Warden; the Area of KLNP have been increased by about five Sq Km, the much awaited enlistment of Keibul Lamjao National Park in the tentative list of World Natural Heritage Site was also fulfilled. As a wildlife manager and activist; the writer was relentlessly advocating creation of more Wildlife Divisions in Manipur. This is also fulfilled by creating a Wildlife Division beside DCF/ Keibul Lamjao National Park for managing Wildlife Protected Areas with more consolidated and integrated manners under the active effort of Shri P.N. Prasad PCCF and Head of Forest Force, Manipur.

Bhalok Village was declared as Amur Falcon Village by the Forest Department under the initiative of Shri K. Angami APPCF (FDA & Development). But still a lot of things are required to be accomplished to conserve the diverse Wildlife and their natural habitat which are fast dwindling and degrading. There are still impending threats and obstacles for long term conservation of Biodiversity, Forest & Wildlife in Manipur.

The threats and obstacles in conservation of the rich and diverse flora and fauna both wild and domesticated in Manipur are herewith listed for kind attention of the general readers and also for the students.

1. Habitat loss due to deforestation and change of land use.

Ever since the human civilization the Forest area had been under deforestation for different purposes. For settlement and agriculture practices forested area are to cleared and burn down. As Industrialization started quantum of deforestation has been on the rise and Forest area is going to shrink to lesser and lesser area. The mechanization in lumbering also make it easy to turn Forest land into agricultural land and then these agricultural land into wasteland as the productivity goes down as the soil nutrient are depleted. Habitat loss also can be triggered by wanton setting of Wild fire in the Hills of Manipur.

2. Poaching or Hunting of the wild animals.

Poaching or hunting of wild animals is age old practices in the Valley and Hill of Manipur. Before the embracement of Hinduism among the Meitei of Manipur; meat eating was not taboo but after Hinduism; there were practice of not eating of meat but they still eat fishes. In the hill the practices are still practiced even they had adopted Christianity as their religion. It was very popular time pass and the person with the maximum kills was honored in the Village.

The age old practices are still continuing in many hill villages of Manipur. They are nonchalant about the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Even in the valley many people indulged in killing water birds during migratory seasons. Under WPA 1972 any person who have committed wildlife offences concerning Schedule-I and Part-II of Schedule-II are to be penalized with minimum three years of imprisonment which may extend to seven years and also fine not less than Rupees ten thousand.

For other wild animals the penalty is with imprisonment upto three years or fine upto Rupees twenty five thousand or with both.

3. Unsustainable harvest practice of different forest produce.

There are lots of important medicinal plants in Manipur such as Common yew (Taxus baccata) found in Ukhrul and Tamenglong District which has taxol which has curative property of Cancer; but due to unsustainable harvesting these trees are on the verge of extinction. Another important medicinal plant is Indian Indian gingseng (Panax pseudoginseng) which is grown in wild in Senapati and Ukhrul District in plenty a few years ago are also declined at an alarming rate. Many important minor forest produce had been subjected to depleting and harmful harvest practices.

To be continued....