The concepts of Biosphere reserve was initiated by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in
1970 as a global measure to promote in
situ conservation of biological resources human welfare and sustainable
development. Representative areas of natural and cultural landscapes, extending
over terrestrial and coastal / marine ecosystems, with appropriate zoning
pattern, resource base and management mechanisms have been designated as
Biosphere Reserve. This approach is an effective mean of protecting the
landscape along with its biodiversity. So far, 15 Biosphere Reserve have been
established in India across different bio-geographical regions. Similipal in
Odisha was notified as the 8th Biosphere Reserve in June 1994, as
the representative ecosystem under the Eastern Ghats. Similipal Biosphere
Reserve has a unique assemblage of a number of ecosystems, such as mountains,
forests, grasslands and wetlands that congregate into a contiguous patch with a
range of diverse vegetation types. Its rich flora and fauna with many indicator
species makes the region a unique base for ecological studies. The biosphere reserve
has varied topography, geologic formation and rich biodiversity. It is also the
habitat of many aboriginals. It is called “the Himalayas of Odisha” as it
controls the climatic regime of parts of Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and
Eastern India. It harbors the largest tropical peninsular Sal zone forming a
biological link between northern and southern India.Lying between 21° 10´ to
22° 12´ N latitude and 85° 58´ to 86° 42´ E longitude, ranging between 300 m to
1180 m above sea level, the Similipal Biosphere Reserve is located in central
part of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha, close to the interstate boundary with
West Bengal in the North-East direction and Jharkhand in the North-West. The
reserve is a compact mass of natural forest spreaded over a total area of 5,569
km2 with core (845 km2) and buffer zones (2,129 km2)
comparing of 16 forest ranges surrounded by a transitional zone (5, 569 Km2).
The average elevation is 559.31 meters. The highest point in this group of
hills is the Meghasani Hill (Literally meaning, The Seat of Clouds) which rises to a height of about 1166 meters above sea level.
Durdurchampa (1009 meter) and Chahala (775 meter) are the other important hills
of the area. The Biosphere has three protected habitats within its precincts, namely
Similipal Tiger Reserve, Sanctuary and National Park. The core area is
intensively protected and absolutely undisturbed, secured legally and managed
scientifically. No biotic interference is permitted in buffer zone that
surrounds the core zone. Limited activities of recreation, tourism, grazing and
fishing, are permitted in the buffer zone with a view to reduce its effect on
the core zone. The core and buffer zones of the biosphere Reserve are under the
administrative control of three forest divisions: Karanjia, Baripada and
Rairangpur, which comprise of sixteen forest ranges. The transitional zone is
the outermost part of the reserve encircling a belt of 10 km width around the
buffer. This is the zone of collaboration where conservation knowledge and
management skills are applied to foster alternative livelihood and reduce
dependence on forest products. Most of the areas of this zone are under
cultivation of field crops practised by local rural and tribal communities.
With their innumerable crests and valleys clad with rich forests, interspersed
with countless streams and rivers, the hills exhibit a great degree of
topographic variations. A large number of streams flowing out in all directions
drain the water of area. As has been confirmed by recent satellite survey, the
geological formation of SBR is unique. It consists of three impervious huge
quartzite bowls, concentrically placed with their interspaces, the innermost
one filled with pervious volcanic rocks. Laterite capping is very common on the
hill top of SBR. The red soil is found throughout the SBR which indicate the
sound growth of Sal forest in this region. The tropical monsoon climate with
three distinct seasons i.e. summer, monsoon and winter prevail over SBR. SBR
enjoys warm and humid climate. The Southern flank of Similipal adjoining
Devasthali, Upper Barhakamuda, Bhanjabasa and Nawana valley experiences frost
during winter. The topography and direction of the prevailing winds results in
a general decrease of rainfall from South-West to North-East. The average
rainfall of the SBR is 173 mm with a maximum of 225 mm. On the whole, the
rainfall is not well distributed throughout the year, most of it falling during
the rainy seasons. The average maximum temperature during May is 43 °C and the
average minimum temperature is 4 °C during December. High relative humidity
prevails throughout the year which goes up to 90 % during rainy season. There
is precipitation of heavy dew in the central high-lands and in the forest clad
areas in South-West. Frost occurs in winter in the West valleys of SBR.The
flora of SBR exhibits a rich assemblage of species owing to its diversified
hilly topography with lofty mountain crests, innumerable deep valley, abundant
springs, and specialized geological formations. The terrain and topography
offer a congenial environment for the growth of plants including the rare /
endangered which are mostly restricted to this phyto-geographic region. Since
the reserve is located at the junction of four biotic provinces, it forms the agro-ecological
link among the geographical regions such as Eastern Ghats, Deccan Plateau,
Lower Gangetic plain and East Coastal zone. Thus, it has a unique biodiversity
harboring a number of endemic, threatened, medicinal and economically important
plants and it is the centre of origin and diversification for a significant
number of crop plants and their wild relatives. The floral composition shows
affinities to the flora of Northern and Southern India, and Central table land.
It may be due to the formation of transition bridge by migration of species
from North to South or vice versa. Diverse vegetation types prevailing in
different landscapes and microclimates are found in Similipal. SBR exhibits a
mixed type of vegetations such as Orissa semi evergreen forest, tropical moist
broadleaf forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous hill forest,
high level Sal forest with grasslands and Savanna. The credit of first attempt
to identify the flora of SBR is given to Forester H.H. Haines (1921-1925) who conducted
many exploration trip to Similipal area of Mayurbhanj state, including
Meghasini hills. Panigrahi et al. (1964)
undertook an exploration tour to Similipal during February 1958 and reported
collection of 613 field numbers, belonging to 347 species. Misra (1989, 1997 a, b) enumerated 94 species
of orchids, of which 10 species were new record to the flora of Orissa. Saxena
and Brahmam (1989) made an exhaustive study on the flora of Similipal and
recorded 1, 012 species of vascular plants besides 64 species of cultivated
taxa. Bal (1942) and Yoganarsimhn and Dutta (1972) have published an account of
the useful plants and medicinal plants of Mayurbhanj district and Similipal
forest, respectively. Later, Misra (1997 a) provided an account of 52 species
of rare and endangered plants of Similipal Biosphere reserve based on field
observation and refrence of literature. Very little has been added thereafter
regarding ethnobotany, flora of lower plants and other floristic aspects of the
region. Recent reports indicate SBR has 1,254 species of vascular plants which
represents 46 % of the flora of Odisha and 7 % that of India including 94
species of Orchids, 52 species of rare / endangered plants. The extensive and densely forested
hilly tracts of Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) are the home of many tribal
communities such as Ho, Kolha, Santal, Bathudi, Bhumija, Mahali, Saunti, Munda,
Gonda and Pauri Bhuiyan including two primitive groups Hill-Kharia and
Mankirdia. There are 61 villages inside the core and buffer zone and about
1,200 villages in the transitional zone having a total population of about 4.5
lakh out of which the scheduled tribes constitute 73.44 % of total population
of Similipal. These poor tribals practise primitive culture, traditions and
rituals and have no or little acquired skills. Their main occupation is food
gathering, hunting, collection of forest products and traditional farming or
agriculture. In the present study, the Ho, Bathudi, Mankirdia, Kolho, Munda and
Santhal were selected for detail study on their traditional knowledge on Dioscorea species. The “Ho” is a Kolarian
belonging to the same stock of Munda and Kol. They mainly cultivate rice, maize
and millets along with seasonal vegetables. They also collect the different
types of wild plants from forest and store them. They usually collect tubers
and rhizome including starchy tuber of Dioscorea
species. They use tubers as food and medicine. They are very habitual to
collect the Dioscorea puber during
rainy seasons. Mankirdia, a primitive tribe constitutes a semi-nomadic section
of the Birhor tribe. They are primarily a hunting and food gathering community.
Present study observed they wander from Similipal to Hazaribagh National Park
(Jharkhand) and returne after a year to Similipal again (Source: Token
Mankirdia, interviewed near the Kalikaparsad gate, transitional zone of SBR).
During movements in forest, they collect various types of medicinal plants to
cure common diseases. They collect tuber of Dioscorea
bulbifera and Dioscorea pentaphylla
for curing skin infections, abdominal pain and for birth control. They also
collect tubers during early winter and store them for consuming in the summer
and rainy seasons. The Hill-Kharia, locally known as “Pahari Kharia” is a
highland tribal group. They are expert in collection of honey, resin and
arrowroot. They are primarily a forager community in the SBR. They do major
seasonal collection along with agricultural labor in agricultural season.
During the rainy season, most of the Hill-Kharia faces rice scarcity and they
principally depend on other food stuffs, like maize, edible roots and tubers of
Dioscorea species and corms. The
Santal, one of the most populace tribal communities of India, are mainly found
in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Balasore in the State of Odisha.
They collect minor forest products like tuber, root, fruits, green leaves,
honey, mahua flower etc. that sustain them for 3-4 months in a year. Bathudi is
a very common tribal community in SBR. They are very simple and shy in nature.
They are excellent in agriculture, in gathering of forest products and
medicinal plants. They have very good skills in traditional medicines. They do
agriculture in a limited land and do not get enough cereals for a year,
therefore they go to forest and collect roots, fruits, tubers and leafy
vegetables for food and some medicinal plants for therapeutic medicine. They
sell the forest products for purchase of other daily requirements in local
weekly markets. They mostly drink rice beer and occasionally they hunt small
animals for food. In present study, Bathudi of Hatibadi villages are selected
for the questioner about medicinal plants and tuber crops including Dioscorea species.
Sources : Literature and self field study
