Assam, one of the most beautiful state not only in Northeast but in whole India, that is known for its rich flora and fauna and for its numerous National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserved Forests, is now losing its natural beauty day by day due to various reasons, which could be Deforestation, Illegal encroachment in forest area and also because of the mismanagement from the government end's.
Image by- Kankan Boruah
In one hand, Assam has 7 and the second highest numbers of National Parks in the whole country after Madhya Pradesh while in another hand Behali Reserve Forest that is situated in Biswanath District of Assam is at danger.
Behali Forest was declared as the reseved forest in 1917 and it is one of the few forests left in Biswanath District. As it is lying on the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, it is unlikely the part of a disputed territory and has noticed huge increasion in the encroachment over the years. Its initial area was of 140 sq km(in 1917) but now it has shrunk to only 60 sq km(in 2021) due to illegal encroachment and deforestation.
Image by-Dipankar Borah
The reserve forest is bordered by the Buroi River in the east, Borgang river in the west, Papum Reserve Forest of Arunachal Pradesh in the north and several human settlements and tea plantations in the south.
According to a survey conducted by Bhattacharya and Bhagabati in 2009, the soil is composed of new and old alluvium, unconsolidated and loose in structure.
Forests are the home of various creatures and we (humans) are just not only destroying the forest but also a shelter of many living beings. According to an article published by The Sentinel Assam, some nature lover and researchers of Assam observed that there are around 308 plant species, 49 mammals, 282+ birds, 23 snakes, 12 turtles species, 11 lizards, 12 amphibians and 275+ species of butterflies are found inhabiting in this reserve.
Nearly 30 per cent of the reserve forest is lost within the two decades(between 1990 to 2021), and it might lose more of its area in the future.
There has been constant demand to declare the Behali Reserve Forest into a Wildlife Sanctuary, but the government of Assam is showing negligence towards the issue.
Research by- Rahul Sarmah & Jogesh Upadhyaya
Written by- Jogesh Upadhyaya
Sources
3) Mongabay
Ethnobotany of Northeast India
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