Saputara's biodiversity under threat: MSU study

VADODARA: Almost half of the nearly 300 endemic species of plants that are found only at Saputara - Gujarat's most popular hill station - are facing the threat of extinction.
These species, which are an integral part of the 'Valley of flowers' - a tourist spot in Saputara are facing threat thanks to the increasing flow of tourists who throng the scenic hill station for adventure sports.
A documentation study on endemic species of plants in Gujarat conducted by Padmanabh Nagar, an associate professor at MS University's department of botany suggests that the threat of extinction for these plants at Saputara is nearing owing to the loss of habitat.
Endemic species of plants are unique to a specific geographic region and are more vulnerable to extinction. Endemic plants are indigenous to their area and their loss is a loss to biodiversity.
"One of the major reasons for the extinction is the increase in adventure sports in Saputara leading to deterioration of plants. Because of its attractive appearance, people pluck and sell the orchids in huge quantities resulting in their decrease," said Nagar, who is documenting the species as part of a project funded by the Gujarat Biodiversity Board.
"Out of the 32 species of orchids reported from Gujarat, we have been able to identify 28 species out of which 16 are located in Saputara. All these 16 species of orchids including habenaria grandifloriformis, denmdrobium, among others are facing extinction," said Mittal Bhatt, a research scholar, who is assisting Nagar on the project.
Carvia calossa - an endemic plant that flowers once in four years - is also on the verge of extinction.
"The treasure of Saputara is being killed. Since orchids possess medicinal value and have ornamental usage, tribals in the Dang region also pluck them resulting in decline of their numbers," added Nagar.
According to researchers, the only way to conserve Saputara's rich biodiversity is by declaring the hill station as a biodiversity heritage site.