Uttarakhand’s first orchid conservation centre opened in Chamoli district
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand’s first orchid conservation centre was inaugurated in Mandal area of Chamoli district on Friday. Besides conserving orchid species, a forest official said, the centre will boost tourism and provide livelihood for locals.
Spread over an area of 6 acres, the centre it has four parts – conservation and demonstration area, 1.25 km long orchid trail, interpretation centre and an orchid nursery, said the official.
Sanjiv Chaturvedi, chief conservator of forests (CCF), said it was the state’s first such centre dedicated to exclusively for orchid species. “At present, the centre has 70 different orchid species, mainly which are medicinally and ecologically important. A good number of these orchid species like Lady’s Sleeper Orchid comes under the threatened category,” he said.
Uttarakhand has around 250 recorded orchid species. Mandal valley in Chamoli is rich in orchid species. It has around 50 recorded orchid species.
Chaturvedi said: “Orchid has the same place in the plant kingdom as the tiger has in the animal kingdom. However, orchids are very sensitive to ecological changes and thereby they are considered to be good indicators of the health of any ecosystem.”
On threats to orchid species, Chaturvedi said activities like rapid constructions, deforestation, smuggling, land-use change, habitat fragmentation, have threatened their existence. “We need to take urgent conservation measures. Thus, the aim of the centre is conservation and awareness.”
“In Uttarakhand epiphyte orchids are found mostly on Banjh, Aiyyarn and Toona trees. Lopping of Banjh Oak for fodder purpose, greatly damages epiphyte orchids coming on branches of Banjh Oak. All orchid species are protected under
CITES which means that their international trade requires prior permission,” he said.
“Hatha jadee, Jeevak, Riddhi, Vriddhi, Rishbhak, Salam Mishri, are some of prominent medicinal orchid species found in Uttarakhand. Four of eight herbs forming Ashtavarga which is the basic ingredient of Chavanprash, comes from Orchid species,” Chaturvedi said.