Notch in the mountains
PERHAPS no other geographical location attracts researchers, non-governmental organisations and social workers like the Indian Himalaya does. Yet, despite all the effort and finances that have gone towards sustainable development of the Himalaya, gaps exist. The information available is skewed with rampant duplication on one hand and blissful ignorance on the other. One glaring example is the state of knowledge available on Himalayan biodiversity.
This book is an attempt to bring together, for the first time, information on the existing knowledge on Himalayan biodiversity and puts across lacunae that exist. In spite of all the efforts and brouhaha about Himalayan biodiversity and conservation, nothing worthwhile has been done, opines editor Uppeandra Dhar. All over the 12 Himalayan states, meetings are held and concern expressed, research projects are initiated and perhaps completed. Unfortunately, most express identical concerns, offer identical solutions and research identical issues. Dhar calls for an end to this and urges people to "overhaul their mindset and conceptualise a framework of action in response to the fast changing global scenario'.
The Himalaya is rich in flora as well as fauna. However, analysis of the information available on Himalayan biodiversity indicates a strong bias towards studies on flora and hardly any on fauna and aquatic ecosystems.
A K Ghosh gives an account of the faunal diversity. Immense diversity exists in both invertebrates and vertebrates. The insect diversity and capability to adapt to the surrounding is amazing. The vertebrate diversity is not far behind