Biodiversity Status of Himachal Pradesh, Wildlife Sancuaries and National Park
India is one of 17 megadiverse countries and it has 4 of major hotspots of World. Himachal Pradesh fall in Indo Burma biodiversity hotspots.Himachal biodiversity range from Tropical to Subtropical and Alpine. Himachal constitute the 10.5% of Himachal Landmass.
Legal Protection of Wildlife and national Park in Himachal Pradesh
To protect biodiversity Himachal has constitute the Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board in 14-2-2005 in State Council for Science Technology and Environment under section 22 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources, knowledge and for matters connected herewith and incidental thereto in the state.
Floral Diversity of Himachal Pradesh
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Plant Species in India | 47,000 |
| Plant Species in Himachal Pradesh | 3,295 |
| Angiosperms | 3,120 species |
| Gymnosperms | 13 species |
| Pteridophytes | 124 species |
| Orchids | 38 species |
| Vegetation Types | Ban Oak Forest, Moist Temperate Deciduous Forest, Himalayan Alpine Pastures, Rhododendron Scrub Forest |
| Dominant Forest Types | Blue Pine (lower ranges), Firs & Spruce (higher altitudes), Conifers (mid/high hills), Oaks (depressions), Sal (foothills), Chir Pine (dry localities) |
| Medicinal and Aromatic Plants | Rich diversity, used for livelihood in rural areas |
| Endangered Medicinal Plants (IUCN) | About 60 species |
Faunal Diversity of Himachal Pradesh
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Animal Species in India | 89,451 |
| Animal Species in Himachal Pradesh | 5,721 |
| Chordates | 649 species |
| – Mammals | 77 species |
| – Birds | 447 species |
| – Amphibians | 44 species |
| – Fishes | 83 species |
| Arthropods | 4,543 species |
| – Insects | 4,362 species |
| – Arachnids | 195 species |
| – Myriopods | 11 species |
| – Crustaceans | 73 species |
| Other Groups | 412 species |
| – Annelids | 60 species |
| – Platyhelminthes | 73 species |
| – Cnidaria | 2 species |
| – Porifera | 3 species |
| – Protozoans | 34 species |
| Notable Birds | Kalij, Koklas, Monal, Snow cock, Western Tragopan, Chir Pheasant |
| Notable Herbivores | Serow, Blue Sheep, Tahr, Musk Deer, Ghoral, Barking Deer |
| Notable Carnivores | Black Bear, Brown Bear, Himalayan Weasel, Yellow Throated Martin, Stone Martin, Wolf |
| Big Cats | Common Leopard, Snow Leopard |
Physiographic based classification of Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Park of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh has rich biodiversity. There are many wildlife sanctuaries and few National park. Diverse Physiographic regions from low hills of Shivalik to higher Himalaya all have different -different Climate , which make Himachal a rich in biodiversity. Wildlife sanctuaries of Himachal Pradesh can be classified on number of basis like- region, climate, biodiversity and river regime.
A) Shivalik Region: Shivalik is area of low lying hills, it cover significant part of Himachal Pradesh. It is the most of dense region of Himachal Pradesh( see- Complete Physiographic Division of Himachal Pradesh. )Piedmont Plain on the foothills of Shivalik are very industrialized. Despite all this wildlife thrive in this zone.
- Most important protected area of this region is Simbalbara National Park which is southern most protected area of Himachal Pradesh.It fall in Yamuna river Basin and river Bata Flow through it.
- Similarly Renuka wildlife Sanctuaries is important protected area of Shivalik.
- Two other protected area of this region is Govindsagar wildlife sanctuary and Maharana Pratap Sagar wildlife sanctuary in district Kangra.( see the 3d map fo Govindsagar and Pong Dam GeoVirtual World )
B) Lesser Himalaya:- Dhauladhar and Pirpanjal are two important mountain chain of this region. Lesser Himalaya is known for its dense forest, which make it excellent place for existence of Flora and fauna.
- Majority of Protected area( see below map) fall in this zone
- If we start from Dhauladhar range- Kais, Kalatope, Dhauladhar wildlife sanctuary, Khokhan, Nargu, Chail, Churdhar etc all are located here.( For more information see- below map and try to match Wild life sanctuary with mountain range)
- Similarly Tundah, Kugti, Inderkilla, Manali, Sainj etc are all located in Pirpanjal mountain range.
C) Greater Himalaya: This is the highest mountain range of Himalaya. Important wildlife sanctuaries of this region are Khirganga, Pin valley National Park, Greater Himalaya National Park, Raksham Chitkul and Rupi Baba wildlife sanctuaries.
| Sr No | Name | Size | Year | Sr No | Name | Size | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary | 41.32 | 1949 | 19 | Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary | 108.85 | 1974 |
| 2 | Kais Wildlife Sanctuary | 40 | 1954 | 20 | Sechu Tuan Nala WS | 349 | 1974 |
| 3 | Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary | 61 | 1954 | 21 | Shikari Devi WS | 378.86 | 1974 |
| 4 | Manali Wildlife Sanctuary | 104 | 1954 | 22 | Shilli Wildlife Sanctuary | 675 | 1974 |
| 5 | Shimla Water Catchment WS | 710 | 1958 | 23 | Chail Wildlife Sanctuary | 4.02 | 1976 |
| 6 | Simbalbara National Park | 943.98 | 1958 | 24 | Rupi Bhaba Wildlife Sanctuary | 278.37 | 1982 |
| 7 | Govind Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary | 27.88 | 1962 | 25 | Maharana Pratap Sagar WS | 100.34 | 1983 |
| 8 | Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary | 72 | 1962 | 26 | Great Himalayan NP | 30.69 | 1984 |
| 9 | Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary | 90 | 1962 | 27 | Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary | 6 | 1985 |
| 10 | Naina Devi Wildlife Sanctuary | 108.54 | 1962 | 28 | Pin Valley National Park | 123 | 1987 |
| 11 | Talra Wildlife Sanctuary | 1171 | 1962 | 29 | Raksham-Chitkul WS | 167 | 1989 |
| 12 | Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary | 3207.29 | 1962 | 30 | Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary | 64 | 1992 |
| 13 | Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary | 269 | 1964 | 31 | Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary | 14.19 | 1994 |
| 14 | Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary | 2.13 | 1974 | 32 | Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary | 304 | 1994 |
| 15 | 33 | ||||||
| 16 | Darlaghat Wildlife Sanctuary | 14.05 | 1974 | 34 | Inderkilla National Park | 31.8 | 2010 |
| 17 | Gamgul Wildlife Sanctuary | 26 | 1974 | 35 | Khirganga National Park | 56.15 | 2010 |
| 18 | Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary | 102.95 | 1974 |
Protected Area in Increasing Order of their area
Classification of Wildlife Sanctuaries on the basis of River Regime, Himachal Pradesh:
( see Complete Rivers Basin of Himachal Pradesh. (Part-2).
Satluj River Basin:- It is the largest river basin of Himachal Pradesh. It hold significant number of wildlife sanctuaries and Protected area
- Kibber and Pin Valley national park are two important high altitude protected area of Satluj basin. Both are located in Cold Desert. Lippa Asrang, Chitkul and Rupi Bhabha etc of Kinnaur also fall into Satluj catchment.Similarly Darnghati, Majthal, Darlaghat and Govind Sagar etc are located in Satluj Basin.
Beas River Basin:- Beas river basin cover area south of Greater Himalaya. It has number of important wildlife protected areas like Manali, Inder Killa National Park, Greater Himalaya National Park, Khokhan wildlife sanctuary and Govindsagar Ramsar site.
Ravi Basin:– Ravi basin separated from Chandrabhaga basin by Pirpanjal Range , it has number of important wildlife sanctuaries likes- Kugti, Tundah, Kalatope, Kais and Gamgul. However it is important to understand here that Saechu Tauan Nala wildlife sanctuary of Chamba is part of Chandrabhaga basin. In fact Chandrabhga basin has only one Protect area i.e Secu Tuan Nala.
Tons Basin:– Tons Basin has one important National Park i.e Simbalbara. Besides it Chail wildlife Sanctuary, Talra and Churdhar, Renuka etc are also part of it.
