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The word ‘environment’ has become a fave ingredient of conversations these days. Global warming, ozone depletion, pollution, sustainability and other environmental issues are making front headlines in the newspaper dailies. The media and NGO guys are in the fore run to promote themselves as green ambassadors. In all this process, issues related to native biodiversity have largely remained unaddressed.
But what is our native biodiversity? Which trees are native to India or to Delhi? Why to be so much apprehensive about their conservation? How it matters to me if one or two native tree species get extinct?
For most of us greening campaign means planting beautiful exotic plants which we get through consultation of any local mali. We plant them with great delight in our gardens or balconies and get ourselves labelled as a proud member of the green brigade. But are these plants native? Do they fulfill any ecological role other than greening? Most of them or what I can say, the entire list of ornamental plants is full of non-native plants which are as foreign to our country as Mr. Obama. For most of us, the list of tree species ends with only four and five names. We fail to recognize the use and conservation value of many plant species and neglect them by calling jangli. Innumerable number of birds, insects, mammals and molluscs depend on these native plants for their basic need of food and shelter. Our uncouthness pushes more and more species towards dreaded mouth of extinction. Losing our biodiversity without knowing about it is like burning a library containing scores of unread books.
Nature has bestowed India with exuberant diversity of flora and fauna. The vivid landscapes and climatic conditions support diverse range of flora and fauna. Even a dry region like Delhi can support mind-boggling number of species. The vast biodiversity is in peril, thanks to human activities such as deforestation, construction of roads, railways and dams, uncontrolled urbanization, pollution and climate change. Biological invasion of species has become a major reason for extermination of many native species. Delhi is not an exception to this. Many so-called good-looking aesthetic plants that had been brought from nooks and corners of the world in the past have now become a serious nuisance and an ecological menace. Prosopis julliflora or vilayati keekar that was imported from Mexico by the British has led to extirpation of native tree species of Delhi Ridge like Anogiessus pendula (dhau), Sterculia urens (kullu), Boswellia serrata (salai) and Albizia odoratissima (kala siris).
About my efforts
It all started way back in 2004 when I came to live in this DDA colony. I found large swathe of an empty park behind my apartment, where nothing else than small weeds were growing. As you all know, there are two biodiversity parks in Delhi and the commendable job done by these guys has always been a source of inspiration for me. Then an idea got stuck in my mind, why not to come with my own mini biodiversity park. Soon I got involved in this and my dream started taking shape. I planted around 70 native shrubs and trees of more than forty species. Some of these tree species are Trewia nudiflora (gutel), Acacia catechu (katha), Terminalia bellerica (baheda),Terminalia arjuna (arjun), Madhuca indica (mahua), Pterocarpus marsupium (bijasal), Ehretia laevis (desi papdi), Diospyros cordifolia (bistendu), Salvadora persica (peelu) and so on. The shrubs include species like Adhathoda vasaca (bansa), Caesalpinnia bonducella (kantkarej) and Nyctanthes arbortristis (harsingar). As these trees started their growth, many bird species found them as a suitable site for performance of their melodious chorus. I have recorded as many as 40 bird species that include many rare ones like pied cuckoo, bay-backed shrike, grey francolin and so on. Many types of insects especially butterfly and beetles find the park, a suitable niche for themselves. I will add here the photographs of various species from time to time.
Why this blog?
The main motto behind writing this blog is to sensitize my young friends towards conservation of our native plant and animal species before they get wiped out forever from the face of the Earth. As a responsible human being, it’s a duty on our part to have compassion towards our fellow denizens on Earth.
My little conservation effort focuses on conservation of native plants of India and especially of Delhi region. I am planning to include more native species to this list soon. Come on friends let’s make a small effort by conserving our native species. You never know, when your small step will pave the way for a large change.
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My Biodiversity 