Lok Sabha Question No. 3494 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-20
Subject: Biodiversity Hotspots in NER
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3494

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021

## Biodiversity Hotspots in NER

## 3494.  SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the data on the biodiversity hotspots in the North East Region (NER);
- (b) whether the Government has special programmes for the conservation of biodiversity in NER;
- (c) if so, details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the funds allocated for the conservation of biodiversity in NER during the last three years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

The  North  East  Region  of  India  comprising  two  biodiversity  hotspots,  namely Indo-Burma  and  the  Himalaya  hotspots.  The  Indo-Burma  biodiversity  hotspot includes  entire  North-eastern  India,  excluding  Assam.  The  details  of  data  on

- (a) to (d) biodiversity in NER are as below:
- (i) The North East Region contains more than one-third of the country's total biodiversity.
- (ii) With over 7,500 species of flowering plants like 700 orchids, 58 bamboos, 64 citrus, 28 conifers, 500 mosses, 700 ferns, and 728 lichen species.
- (iii) Of the estimated, out of 800 species that are consumed as edible plants in India, nearly 300 species are found in the NER.
- (iv) Diversity of Orchidaceae in  the  region  is  more than 57% of total orchids available in India.
- (v) In  genus  Rhododendron  (family Ericaceae ),  98%  of  India's  species  are available in the region.
- (vi) Rattan, which is commonly known as cane, has over 26 species out of total 60 species in India and the region has majority of bamboo species
- (vii) NER has 16 species of cereals and millets, 6 species of legumes, 51 Fruits species),  27  Vegetablesspecies,  01  Oilseed  species,  05  Fibersspecies,  13 Spices  and  condiments  species  and13  miscellaneous  species  of  the  total species diversity of 132 species.
- (viii) The region comprises of 16 National Parks, 52 Wildlife Sanctuary and 194 Community  Reserve,  which  also  includes  7  Tiger  Reserve,  10  Elephant Reserve, 4 Biosphere Reserve and 3 Ramsar Sites.

The  details  of  special  programmes  for  conservation  of  Biodiversity  in  North  East region during the last three years are at Annexure.

***

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  3494  DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON  20.12.2021  REGARDING "BIODIVERSITY  HOTSPOTS  IN  NER"  RAISED  BY  SHRI  VISHNU  DAYAL RAM, HON'BLE MEMBER OFPARLIAMENT

Annexure

- (i) The details of projects undertaken by Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat on conservation of Biodiversity in North East Region from 2018 onwards:-

|   S. No. | TITLE OF THE PROJECT                                                                                                                                      |   Budget outlay (Rs. in lakhs) | Remarks                     |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|        1 | REDD-plus Himalayas: Developing and Using Experience in Implementing REDD-plus in the Himalayas (PILOT PROJECT IN MIZORAM) Funding Agency : ICIMOD        |                          60.11 | Concluded in December, 2018 |
|        2 | Identification of suitable clones of Populus species for Northeast India through genetic evaluation. Funding Agency : ICFRE                               |                          29.37 | Concluded in March, 2019    |
|        3 | Performance evaluation of native plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for crop productivity enhancement in jhum fields of Nagaland Funding Agency : ICFRE |                           5.5  | Concluded in March, 2019    |
|        4 | Assessment, Documentation and Characterization of Lichen diversity of Tripura, North - East India. Funding Agency : ICFRE                                 |                           8.89 | Concluded in March, 2020    |
|        5 | Micropropagation of rare and endangered species of orchids of Mizoram and their re-introduction in wild. Funding Agency : ICFRE                           |                          15.68 | Concluded in March, 2020    |
|        6 | Exploration and utilization of wild mushroom diversity in Mizoram. Funding Agency : ICFRE                                                                 |                          10.7  | Concluded in March, 2020    |
|        7 | Phyto-diversity and carbon stock assessment of Trees Outside Forests in Upper Assam using Remote Sensing and GIS. Funding Agency : ICFRE                  |                          26.57 | Concluded in March, 2020    |
|        8 | Preparation of People's Bio-Diversity Register for different blocks in Tripura Funding Agency : Tripura Biodiversity Board                                |                           2    | Concluded in March, 2020    |
|        9 | Taxonomic study of Tettigonidae (Orthoptera) of India Funding Agency : MoEF&CC under All India Coordinated Project on Taxonomy (AICOPTAX)                 |                           9.82 | Concluded in April, 2020.   |

|   10. | Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Study on its uses amongst the Tribal Communities of Tripura. Funding Agency : Tribal Research and Cultural Institute, Dept. of Tribal Welfare, Govt of Tripura.                                                                            |   3.00 | Concluded in October 2020    |
|-------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|------------------------------|
|    11 | Undertaking NDF study on agarwood species in India. Funding Agency: MoEF&CC                                                                                                                                                                                            |  13.24 | Concluded in December, 2020  |
|    12 | Development of allometric models for estimating volume and aboveground biomass for important tree species outside the forest (TOF) in Assam. Funding Agency : ICFRE                                                                                                    |   8.43 | Concluded in March, 2021     |
|    13 | Studies on natural regeneration, diversity and distribution of soil seed banks and their relationship with above ground vegetation in watershed of scared Khecheopalri Lake of Sikkim. Funding Agency: National Mission of Himalayan Studies (NMHS)                    |  15.71 | Concluded in March, 2021     |
|    14 | Estimation of species wise Bamboo Resources and Assessment of their utilization pattern in Mokokchung district of Nagaland, India. Funding Agency: National Mission of Himalayan Studies (NMHS)                                                                        |  12.08 | Concluded in March, 2021     |
|    15 | Documentation of the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and quantification of medicinal plants used by the Karbi tribe of Karbi Anglong hill district of Assam. Funding Agency: National Mission of Himalayan Studies (NMHS)                                       |  12.08 | Concluded in March, 2021     |
|    16 | Development of regression models, volume, biomass and carbon tables for Quercusserrata & Pinuskesiya in Manipur State. Duration : 2019-21 Funding Agency : SFD, Manipur                                                                                                |   3.85 | Concluded in March, 2021.    |
|    17 | Reclamation of coal mined land of North Eastern Coalfields, Assam through soil amendment and revegetation with native plant species using integrated biological approach. Funding Agency: Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI), Ranchi, Jharkhand. |  83.18 | Concluded in September, 2021 |
|    18 | AICP programme for Genetic Improvement of Melia ( Under AICP on Melia) Duration : 10 years (2012-22) Funding Agency : ICFRE                                                                                                                                            | 107    | Ongoing                      |
|    19 | Co-ordinated Research Programme on Agar ( Aquilariamalaccensis Lamk.) Duration: 10 years (2017-27)                                                                                                                                                                     | 153.43 | Ongoing                      |

|    | Funding Agency : ICFRE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |       |         |
|----|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|---------|
| 20 | Conservation and Evaluation of Bamboo Genetic Resources in Northeast India Duration : 10 years (2017-27) Funding Agency : ICFRE                                                                                                                                                          | 95.08 | Ongoing |
| 21 | Utilization of Ectomycorrhizal diversity for the quality stock production of Junipers, Oak and Chestnut in Sikkim, India. Duration : 3 years + 1 year extension (2018-22) Funding Agency : ICFRE                                                                                         | 14.95 | Ongoing |
| 22 | Genetic improvement of Parkiaroxburghii Duration: 3 years (2019-22) Funding Agency : ICFRE                                                                                                                                                                                               | 24.58 | Ongoing |
| 23 | Genetic diversity of plant growth promotorydiazotrophs and fluorescent pseudomonads associated with traditionally distinct mountain agroecosystems of Nagaland. Duration : 2 years (2020-22) Funding Agency : ICFRE                                                                      | 22.42 | Ongoing |
| 24 | Assessment of population structure and regeneration status of Magnolia gustavi King. - A criticallyendangered tree species of Assam. Duration : 3 years (2021-24) Funding Agency : ICFRE                                                                                                 | 18.14 | Ongoing |
| 25 | Creation of North-East Indian Zingiberales biodiversity garden (Gene Bank) in RFRI. Duration : 5 years (2017-22) Funding Agency : National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB)                                                                                                                 | 18.87 | Ongoing |
| 26 | Exploration, identification of genetic resources and strategies for sustainable management of Paris polyphylla in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland in Northeast India Duration: 3 years (2018-21) Funding Agency : National Medicinal Plant Board, AYUSH, Govt. of India | 26.44 | Ongoing |
| 27 | Restoration of orchid flora of Makum Coalfield areas of Digboi Forest Division. Duration : 3 years (2019-22) Funding Agency: Central Mine Planning &Design Institute Limited (CMPDI), Ranchi, Jharkhand.                                                                                 | 45.14 | Ongoing |
| 28 | Genome wide and geospatial approaches for enhancing the adaptive potential of threatened rattan resources of India. Duration : 3 years (2019-22) Funding Agency : DBT                                                                                                                    | 25.59 | Ongoing |

|   29. | Improving the traditional homestead to a viable agro- forestry system for biodiversity conservation and inclusive growth of Khampti tribe of Namsai District, Arunachal Pradesh. Duration : 3 years (2019-22) Funding Agency : National Mission of Himalayan Studies (NMHS)   |   41.20 | Ongoing   |
|-------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-----------|
|    30 | Assessment of socio-ecological vulnerability to climate change among agroforestry managers along an altitude gradient in the Eastern Himalayas. Duration : 2 years (2020-22) Funding Agency: DST, Govt. of India                                                              |   31.06 | Ongoing   |
|    31 | Establishment of micro/medium processing units for bamboo product development and processing. Duration : 2020-21 Funding Agency: NBM                                                                                                                                          |   90    | Ongoing   |
|    32 | Identification of genetically superior germplasm of priority bamboo species of Mizoram. Duration : 3 years 2021-2024 Funding Agency : Mizoram Horticulture Department Project Code: RFRI/ 2021-22/FRCBR/MHD-1                                                                 |   25    | Ongoing   |
|    33 | Evaluation of Contribution of NTFP in Tripura's Economy. Duration : 2021(July)-2022 Funding Agency : NTFP Centre of Excellence- Tripura                                                                                                                                       |   11.5  | Ongoing   |

## (ii) Funds released to the North Eastern states by NBA during the last five years (Rs. in crore):-

| S. No.   | States            | Funds released       | Funds released                             | Funds released                                                 | Total funds   |
|----------|-------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|
|          |                   | Strengthening of SBB | Constitution of BMC& documentation of PBRs | Access and Benefit Sharing component shared with beneficiaries | released      |
| 1        | Arunachal Pradesh | 1.1697               | 1.7065                                     | 0                                                              | 2.8762        |
| 2        | Assam             | 0.9988               | 0.3540                                     | 0.0073966                                                      | 1.3528        |
| 3        | Manipur           | 0.5745               | 0.8785                                     | 0                                                              | 1.453         |
| 4        | Meghalaya         | 1.0555               | 0.1610                                     | 0.0087128                                                      | 1.2165        |
| 5        | Mizoram           | 0.7562               | 0.6360                                     | 0                                                              | 1.3922        |
| 6        | Nagaland          | 1.2093               | 1.6880                                     | 0                                                              | 2.8973        |
| 7        | Sikkim            | 0.5472               | 0                                          | 0                                                              | 0.5472        |
| 8        | Tripura           | 0.7185               | 3.4379                                     | 0                                                              | 4.1564        |
|          | Total             | 7.0297               | 8.8619                                     | 0.016109                                                       | 15.8916       |

- (iii) The details of the funds released to North East  Regions under Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Project Elephant' during the last three years are given below:

(Rs.in Lakhs)

| S. No.   | State/ UTs        |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |
|----------|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1.       | Arunachal Pradesh |     0     |   103.268 |   282.256 |
| 2.       | Assam             |   354.351 |     0     |    35.284 |
| 3.       | Meghalaya         |   217.879 |   177.898 |     9.36  |
| 4.       | Nagaland          |   141.219 |   213.95  |    92.5   |
| 5.       | Tripura           |    43.92  |    45.38  |    24.71  |
| 6.       | Manipur           |     9.072 |    10.944 |     0     |
|          | Total             |   766.441 |   551.44  |   444.11  |

- (iv) Funds  sanctioned  and  released  under  National  Plan  for  Conservation  of  Aquatic ecosystems (NPCA) scheme in the last three years are as given below.

| Financial Year   |   Amount (Rs. in Crore) |
|------------------|-------------------------|
| 2018-19          |                    8.18 |
| 2019-20          |                   14.48 |
| 2020-21          |                   11.2  |

## (v) The details of funds allocated to ZSI for the conservation of biodiversity in the North East region are as below:-

|   S. No. | Activities                                                                                                                | Fund allocated (Rs. in lakhs)   |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|        1 | Assessment of Moths (Lepidoptera) as significant pollinator in Eastern Himalayas.                                         | Rs.93.65                        |
|        2 | Biodiversity Assessment through Long Term Monitoring Plots in India Himalayan Landscape.                                  | Rs.171.86                       |
|        3 | Lipidoptera (Insecta) as potential Indicator-taxa for Tracking Climate Change in the Indian Himalayan Landscape.          | Rs.239.22                       |
|        4 | Conservation of threatened vertebrate fauna in Indian Himalayan region through long term monitoring and capacity building | Rs.995.06                       |
|        5 | Understanding the impact of forest fire on faunal resources of north eatern states for conservation and management.       | Rs.99.68                        |

- (vi) The details of fund released under Project Tiger during last three years is as under:

(Rs. in lakhs)

| S. No.   | States            |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |
|----------|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1.       | Assam             |   1919.62 |   2198.76 |   2513.9  |
| 2.       | Arunachal Pradesh |    929.76 |    846.31 |    803.76 |
| 3.       | Mizoram           |    318.84 |    337.7  |    161.53 |
| 4.       | Nagaland          |     24.86 |      0    |      0    |
| Total    | Total             |   3193.08 |   3382.77 |   3479.19 |

- (vii) Details of funds released to North East States for Development of wildlife Habitats during last three years are as below:-

(Rs.in lakh)

|   S. No | Name of States/UTs   |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |
|---------|----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|       1 | Arunachal Pradesh    |    344.42 |    512.69 |    312.59 |
|       2 | Assam                |    265.32 |    164.26 |      0    |
|       3 | Manipur              |    405.6  |    396.45 |    241.12 |
|       4 | Meghalaya            |    312    |    238.83 |    263.5  |
|       5 | Mizoram              |    430    |    431.79 |    339.61 |
|       6 | Sikkim               |    394    |    557.35 |    349.63 |
|       7 | Tripura              |      0    |     90.31 |    260.68 |
|       8 | Total                |   2151.34 |   2391.68 |   1767.13 |

- (viii) The details  of  the  funds  allocated  for  the  conservation  of  biodiversity  in  the  North East region for the last three years in respect of Biosphere Reserve Scheme are as below:-

(Rs. in lakhs)

|   Sl. No. | Name of State (NE)   |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   Total Amount |
|-----------|----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|----------------|
|         1 | Arunachal Pradesh    |     0     |     0     |    85.04  |         85.04  |
|         2 | Assam                |     0     |    80.952 |    92.77  |        173.722 |
|         3 | Meghalaya            |   136.323 |     0     |   155.53  |        291.853 |
|         4 | Sikkim               |   205.825 |     0     |   137.214 |        343.039 |