The Biodiversity Hotspot of Eastern Himalayas and Its Conservation: A Case Study with Special Reference to Goalpara Forest Division in Assam

Abstract

Nazrul Islam Abstract: “Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources including inter-alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes of which they are a part.” - The Convention of Biological Diversity (1992) Click here to print/download PDF of this research paper Introduction Norman Myers introduced the term ‘biodiversity’ in 1988. “Areas which exhibit high richness as well as high species endemism are termed as hotspots of biodiversity.” “Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability among all groups of living organisms and the ecosystem complexes in which they occur.” Similarly, a biodiversity hotspot is a biogeography region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans. Biodiversity satisfies the needs of the human beings. Contrary to this, the hotspots of biodiversity are facing serious threats in several ways. In an estimate, noted ecologist E.O.Wilson puts the figure of extinction at 10,000 species per year or 27 per day. There are many factors working adversely leading to serious challenges to the biodiversity. Therefore, the conservation of biodiversity has been the prime sector of interests today for the state planners, researchers and conscious people. There are 25 such hot spots of biodiversity on a global level out of which two are in present India, namely the Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats. The North Eastern states, including Assam fall under biodiversity hot spo...