131 floral & 30 avian species recorded during Ganga Lake 'Biodiversity Walk'

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: A total of 131 floral species were recorded during the 'Itanagar Biodiversity Walk' at Gyekar Sinyik (Ganga) Lake, organised by the APBB (Arunachal Pradesh Biodiversity Board). The identified species include seven rare category plants: Cythea spinulosa, Podocarpus nerifolia, Garcinia pedunculata, Piper haridasanii, Piper longchites, two endemic fern species — Angiopteris evecta and Dipteris wallichii.

Moreover, 30 bird species were also recorded. Among the avian species are the Striated heron, White breasted waterhen, Slaty bellied Tesia and Black-crested bulbul as well as 20 species of butterflies including Banded tree brown, Northern birdwing, and Glassy blue among others.

The 'Biodiversity Walk' was carried out in three different trails inside the lake premises by documenting the flora and fauna seen in the local landscapes. The programme was launched on the occasion of 'World Forestry Day'. Advisor to the Environment & Forest Department and MLA Kumsi Sidisow flagged off the event in presence of the APCCF (Arunachal Pradesh Chief Conservator of Forest), N.Tam and senior Forest officers and the members of Ganga Lake Committee.

Sidisow emphasized the need for sharing such knowledge amongst various stakeholders to create mass awareness on the importance of biodiversity conservation. Appreciating the initiatives of the Board, he appealed to every citizen to contribute towards the common goal of conservation to maintain ecological balance in the State.

APBB Chairman Tayek Goi said that the Board will organise such walk once in every month in the forested areas in and around the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR).

He added that such surveys will also help the Board to identify the potential 'Biodiversity Heritage Sites' to be designated under the 'National Biodiversity Act-2002'.

APBB Member Secretary, Koj Rinya informed that the findings will also help in field authentication and augmentation of information available in PBR (People's Biodiversity Registers) prepared out of the secondary data. PBR is an important legal document to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits to the locals, arising out of utilisation of their biological resources for research and commercial purposes among others.

Altogether 74 participants participated in the programme.

The participants were divided into three groups and were guided during the 'Walk' by Dr L.R. Bhuyan, Dr B.S. Rawat, D.Yonggam, Dr Daniel Mize, Dr Joram Khopey, Dr B.B.Bhatt, Tajum Yomcha, Dr.R.K Taj and Dr G. Murtem.

The participants were from the 'Biodiversity Management Committee', research scholars and students from Dera Natung Government College Itanagar, NERIST, Rajiv Gandhi University and officers from Biological Park Itanagar.

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