Big biodiversity in small city forest

Big biodiversity in small city forest

Big biodiversity in small city forest
Jayashree Nandi, TNN Aug 27, 2013, 03.39AM IST
NEW DELHI: It's not all concrete in the capital. Delhi's city forests are not just lung spaces but
have thriving biodiversity. The forest department has released a field guide to the biodiversity
of Garhi Mandu city forest that has mapped more than 147 species of fauna and 65 species of
flora in the small green patch in north-east Delhi. It took the department over a year to
document these and it's hopeful that the guide would help people understand the relevance of
city forests in the lives of the capital's residents.
While a large number of wetland birds and butterflies were seen by scientists compiling the
field book, forest officials say that there is a healthy distribution of mammals as well. "I have
seen jackals here several times. There are wild hare, mongoose and nilgai. Once people know
there is a small forest here, they will try not to disturb the place," a forest official, who works in
Garhi Mandu, said.
Ads by Google
Tummy Tuck Surgery
Abdominoplasty by Expert Surgeons Fast, Affordable, Professional Care
obesity surgery india.net
How to lose weight fast?
Dr. Shikha's Weight Loss Program Centres All Across Delhi/NCR
www.nutrihealthsy stems.com/
The field guide also lists major threats to Garhi Mandu forest and the wetlands surrounding it.
The department has observed that several rare butterfly and bird species are not seen here
anymore because of swift habitat destruction. People of Garhi Mandu village often dump huge
amounts of non-biodegradable garbage and debris along the banks of the wetlands and within
the forest area. Grazing by domestic cattle and nilgai have also affected the vegetation.
The Garhi Mandu city forest is very prone to flooding as most of the Yamuna flood plains have
been encroached upon and have lost the capacity to soak up excess water. A canal is used to
draw water from Yamuna for the wetlands. Sewage water and pesticides from the farm runoff are also threatening the existence of species in the wetland and small organisms of the
forest, adds the report.
The forest department has suggested some conservation strategies for the area. "We plan to
develop mounds around the wetlands so people are not able to throw garbage. Seeds of babool
and ziziphus may be sown on mounds so that a green camouflage is created to protect the
wetlands," said G N Sinha, head of forest department.
"Garhi Mandu is a continuation of the flood plains of river Yamuna and is very rich in local
biodiversity. It can act as a counter to flooding, increase the groundwater recharge potential
and protect local biodiversity," M Shah Hussain, scientist-in-charge of Aravali Biodiversity
Park, said.
Ads by Google
RELATED ARTICLES
Forest department to book men who disturb wild
animals
January 21, 2013
Jungle safari to start in Mandu forest areas
August 26, 2013
40 ha land may be diverted for mining
August 27, 2011
Ads by Google
Delhi
The Times of India
Advanced Search »
Home City India World Business Tech Sports Entertainment Life & Style Women Hot on the Web Spirituality NRI IPL 2013 Photos Times Now Videos LIVETV
Mumbai Delhi Bangalore Hyderabad Chennai Ahmedabad Allahabad Aurangabad Bhubanesw ar Bhopal Chandigarh Coimbatore Goa Gurgaon Guw ahati Hubli Indore
Jaipur Kanpur Kolkata Kochi Kozhikode Lucknow Ludhiana Madurai Mangalore Mysore Nagpur Nashik Navi Mumbai Noida Patna Pune Raipur Rajkot Ranchi Thane
Surat Thiruvananthapuram Vadodara Varanasi Visakhapatnam
You are here: Home > Collections
ShaSrheaSrheaMreore