Endangered Flora

Natural forest environments in various parts of the world are affected due to pollution, climate change, and other reasons. These have affected the biodiversity of these regions. This has led to the destruction of specific species of flora and fauna. The plants that are threatened to be extinct are listed under endangered flora. Countries that have the largest number of endangered flora include India and Australia.

The depletion of forest wealth is mainly due to heavy uncontrolled biotic interference which has greatly affected the natural forest environment. Therefore, it affected the wildlife adversely. Many species of tropical flora and fauna have reached near extinction and some are known to have become extinct. 

Causes of Threat

The causes of threat to the plant species can be classified into natural and artificial. 

The natural causes responsible for endangered plants are landslides, drought, floods, storms, earthquakes, etc. Other threats include the invasion of exotic and other aggressive weeds, air, water, pollution, and lack of pollinators. 

The artificial threats include grazing, commercial exploitation, industrialization, forestry, urbanization, scientific and educational research, roads, dams, an increasing number of townships, tourism, mining, and pressure of introduced plants. In addition to these, there are a few more causes such as, 

• The introduction and growth of weeds and pests result in a reduction in vegetation of natural flora.
• Over-exploitation of plants for commercial purposes leads to the distribution of their habitat.
• The supply of raw materials to forest-based industries is also a major cause of forest destruction.
• Another cause of forest destruction is an increase in cattle population.

Conservation or Protection of Endangered Flora

Across the world, there is a growing awareness of the conservation or protection of endangered flora and fauna. The Red Data Book on endangered animals and flowering plants has been prepared by the Survival Service Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

It has been estimated that out of 18000-20000 species of flowering plants in India, about 1000 species fall into the conservation category (rare, endangered, or depleted) and need adequate conservation. 

The 10th General Assembly of IUCN held in New Delhi in 1969 focused its attention on the urgent need to prevent endangered species. There was also a proposal to the government to bring those endangered species to effective cultivation. 

Thus, some of the notable plants like Rauwolfia serpentina, Dioschoria deltoids, Cypripedium cordigerum, Nepenthes khasiana (pitcher plant), Rheum nobile, etc have been decimated and are being threatened with extinction in their original habitat. 

The conservational ones are next on the list for protection. Therefore, there is a proposed set up of conservation units to cater to the needs of endemic and vanishing plant taxa in Indian flora and fauna. It prepared a baseline upon which future action plans can be prepared. 

Rare Endangered and Threatened Economic Plants of India

• Acorus calamus
• Allium stracheyi
• Angelica glauca
• Atropa acuminate
• Betula utilis
• Balanophora involucrata
• Chlorodendron arizelum
• Dischidia rafflesiana
• Drosera peltata
• Lagerstroemia hypoleuca
• Rheum emodi
• Santalum album

National Parks in India

A national park is a protected area mainly for conserving wild animals. However, it houses several species of endangered flora as well. All habitat conditions are properly adjusted and maintained to meet the requirements of animals. Wild animals such as tigers, lions, hangul, rhinoceros, etc are being conserved in national parks. 

The size of a national park varied from 0.04 sq km to 1000 sq km with their boundaries limited. Human interference has been allowed only at the buffer zones. No importance is given to the gene pool and the management as well as the conservation of other species living in national parks. 

There are 106 national parks in India as of January 2023. The total area they cover is 44,402.95 sq km which is almost 1.35% of the total geographical area of the nation. Some of the important national parks in India are, 

• Desert National Park
• Gangotri National Park
• Gir Forest National Park
• Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park
• Hemis National Park
• Indravati National Park
• Jim Corbett National Park
• Khangchendzonga National Park
• Namdapha National Park
• Sundarbans National Park

Sanctuaries

A sanctuary is a protected area that is being maintained for conserving wild and endangered flora and fauna. Unlike national parks, sanctuaries give importance to the plants as well. It can be a natural space or protected area for the zoological association. 

The size of the sanctuary is between 0.61 sq km to 7818 sq km. Even though there is no attention given to the gene pool and its conservation, human interference is allowed only to a certain extent. Tourists are allowed to enter sanctuaries to enjoy natural beauty. 

567 sanctuaries in India cover about 125564.86 sq km of area. Some of the well-known sanctuaries include, 

• Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary, Jammu and Kashmir
• Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary
• Landfall Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Andaman
• Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
• Srisailam Wildlife Sanctuary, Telangana

References

• Shukla, R.S. and Chandel, P.S. (2001) Plant Ecology. S. Chand and Company Ltd., New Delhi.
• Verma, P.S., Agarwal, V.K. (1999). Cell biology genetics molecular biology evolution and ecology. New Delhi: S.Chand Co.(Pvt) Ltd.
• All You Need To Know About Endangered Plants Species