Uttarakhand to Set up 42 Forest Labs | 18 Sep 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttarakhand Forest department has established 42 ecological laboratories to monitor the impact of climate change on the forests.

Key Points

  • These labs will collect data on changes like early flowering in rhododendrons and Brahmakamal, and the quality of litchis affected by high temperatures.
  • These ‘ecological labs’, also called ‘living laboratories’ are distributed across various ecosystems, from the Terai region to alpine meadows.
  • Uttarakhand this summer has reported soaring temperatures beyond 42 degree celsius, which affected the quality of Dehraduni and Ramnagar litchis.
  • Rhododendron: Rhododendron is a genus of flowering plants with around 1,000 species, known for their showy, brightly colored flowers, and are popular as ornamental shrubs or small trees.
    • In India, Pink Rhododendron is the state flower of Himachal Pradesh, and Rhododendron arboreum is the state flower of Nagaland and the State Tree of Uttarakhand.
    • Health benefits: Prevention and treatment of diseases associated with heart, dysentery, diarrhea, detoxification, inflammation, fever, constipation, bronchitis and asthma. The leaves possess effective antioxidant activity. The young leaves are used to alleviate headaches. The wood of this plant can be used for making khukri handles, pack saddles, gift boxes, and gunstocks.
  • Brahmakamal: It is the state flower of Uttarakhand.
    • It occurs in alpine meadows of the Himalayas, from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, and is also found in Bhutan, China, Nepal, and Pakistan at altitudes of 3700 to 4600 meters.
    • The plant's roots and floral buds are used to treat leucoderma, urinary issues, bone fractures, wounds, bone pain, cough, cold, and digestive problems; the whole plant is used for veterinary medicine in haematuria.
    • In Tawang, its dried powder or paste is applied for skin diseases, and floral buds are used to treat boils.

Litchi

  • Botanical Classification: Litchi belongs to the Sapindaceae family and is known for its delicious, juicy, translucent aril or edible flesh.
  • Climatic Requirements: Litchi thrives in sub-tropical climates and prefers moist conditions. It grows best in regions with low elevation, up to an altitude of around 800 meters.
  • Soil Preference: The ideal soil for litchi cultivation is deep, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter.
  • Temperature Sensitivity: Litchi is sensitive to extreme temperatures. It does not tolerate temperatures above 40.5 degrees Celsius in summer or freezing temperatures in winter.
  • Rainfall Impact: Prolonged rain, especially during flowering, can interfere with pollination and affect the crop adversely.
  • Geographical Cultivation: In India, the commercial cultivation was traditionally restricted to the north in the foot hills of Himalayas from Tripura to Jammu & Kashmir and plains of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
    • But due to increased demand and viability, cultivation has expanded to states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.
    • Bihar alone accounts for nearly 40% of India’s litchi production. Bihar is followed by West Bengal (12%) and Jharkhand (10%).
  • Global Production: India ranks as the second largest producer of litchi globally, following China. Other significant litchi-producing countries include Thailand, Australia, South Africa, Madagascar, and the United States.