Format: ORAL

Debjyoti Bhattacharyya

Department of Life Science & Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar 788 011, Assam, India

North Eastern Region (NER) of India comprises eight States viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The region covers an area of 2,62,179 sq. km, of which, about 66% is under forest cover. Occupying only 7.7% of the total geographical area of India, the region supports about 50% of the total flora of the country. Blessed with tropical humid climate, vast altitudinal variation, dynamic ecosystems and geographical isolation, the area serves as a rich repository of wild floras. Two important biodiversity hotspots, the Himalaya and the Indo Burma cover the region which contains a globally significant array of unique flora with high endemism. Diverse forest types ranging from tropical to sub-tropical broad-leaved forests, temperate, sub-alpine to alpine meadows host various plant species. These include gigantic trees and lianas in the foot hills of Himalayas to rhododendron scrubs at the high-altitude alpine region. Composition of about 8000 flowering plants with high percentage of endemic taxa has made the region an area of interest for the conservationists and nature lovers. The area has been identified as the home for a wide range of Orchids, Grasses and Bamboos, Gingers, Rhododendrons, Primulas, Impatiens, Begonias, Pedicularis and so many. Many commercially valuable hardwood trees, medicinal and aromatic species, ethno-medicinally important taxa used in the traditional systems are profusely found in the region. Still many areas are underexplored and even unexplored due to dense forests and tough terrain. Exploration to the areas in future may open up new vistas for discovery of many new taxa. India has set up a wide network of conservation programmes for sustenance of biodiversity in the region along with prioritization of preserving ecosystems and their natural resources. In this paper, floristic diversity of the region is discussed with their challenges and opportunities of conservation.