CONSERVATION OF BIO – DIVERSITY OF ULTAPANI FOREST RANGE UNDER HOLTUGAON DIVISION, MANAS BIOSPHERE RESERVE, ASSAM THROUGH COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Abstract

26⁰68.18^// N to26⁰81.18^// N and 90⁰24.44^// E to 90⁰41.90^// E. Vegetation of the forest is unique in the world as most of its plants are evergreen and semi-evergreen. It consists of lots of floristically diverse plants, of which some of them are rare, endangered and threatened. Some plants along the bank of river “Samukha” of Ultapani forest range under Holtugaon division produce pneumatophore like Mangrove vegetation of coastal area. It is one of the most interesting and unique characteristic which is found only in Ultapani forest range of Assam. Another interesting observation is the presence of a hot water spring in Samukha rivulet which can be cited as another report of hot spring from Assam. Ultapani forest range is also known as “butterfly zone”. But availability of most species of the forest is now threaten due to over exploitation of natural resources and forest encroached by unauthorized settlement in the forest area by economically poor people.

So the authors feel that it is an urgent need for conservation of this unique vegetation of Ultapani forest range under Holtugaon division mainly through alternative livelihood programme. The authors have already attempted to study and conserve the natural habitat of these forest floras through community conservation programme assisted by Ministry of Environment and Forest, Govt. of India.