Rare herbs vanishing from Shivalik forests, warn experts

One of the rare species of herbs in the Shivalik forests has dwindled by 75 per cent in the last decade and, along with some others, may vanish forever if steps were not taken quickly, experts said.

The Shivalik ecosystem near Doon valley, which is known for its rich biodiversity, has been jeopardised over the years because of various biotic factors, including human activity, they said.

There were 100 plants of the ornamental Eremostachys superba 10 years ago. Now there are just 25, say conservationists at the National Botanical Research Institute at Lucknow.

The species is endangered today and is now confined just to Dehra Dun district of Uttar Pradesh and two localities in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Another reported site is Peshawar, Pakistan, they said.

NBRI experts have found that there were no traces of E superba in the Rajaji national park. Its presence had been reported there earlier. NBRI has now set up a project to find what is stopping the plant from reproducing and proliferating. Recently, a United Nations Development Programme-assisted project was also initiated to conserve biodiversity in the fragile Shivalik ecosystem.

Part of the UNDP's mountain ecosystems operation programme, it is to be implemented through the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, a Doon-based non-governmental organisation. This project hopes to protect the Shivalik forests and endangered species therein, establish a biodiversity register and promote ecologically and culturally responsible tourism.