 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Sains Malaysiana 42(10)(2013): 1377–1386
Floristic
Diversity in the Kashmir Himalaya: Progress, Problems and Prospects
(Kepelbagaian
Flora di Himalaya Kashmir: Kemajuan, Masalah dan Prospek)
G.H. Dar1* & A.A. Khuroo2
1Mahatma Gandhi Chair on Ecology & Environment,
Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah
University Centre for Biodiversity Studies, Rajouri-185
234, Jammu & Kashmir, India
Diserahkan:
10 Mac 2013/Diterima: 12 Mei 2013
ABSTRACT
The Kashmir Himalaya, being nestled within north-western folds of
the Himalaya, harbours a rich floristic diversity of immense scientific
interest and enormous economic potential. Though scientific studies on the
floristic diversity in the Kashmir Himalaya have been started about two
centuries ago, yet they fall short of the requirements needed urgently in the
post-Rio Summit. In fact, at the spatial scale, many far flung areas and
difficult terrains in the hinterland are still either least- or
totally-unexplored; and at the taxon scale, floristic studies especially with
regard to the lower plants are insufficient, thus posing serious problems in
assessing the floristic diversity in the region. With such a perspective in
hindsight, the present paper dilates upon the progress achieved so far,
highlights the problems being faced and envisages the future prospects with
regard to floristic diversity in this region. First, a broad overview of the
current status of floristic diversity in this Himalayan region is presented,
followed by a critical analysis of the knowledge base presently available on various
taxonomic groups of plants. The yawing gaps in our knowledge of floristic
diversity in this region are identified and an action plan to bridge these gaps
is also outlined. Hopefully, addressing these challenges in the immediate
future could facilitate the documentation, conservation and sustainable use of
plant resources in this region, so as to steer this ‘Himalayan Paradise’
towards the path of sustainable development.
Keywords: Conservation; documentation; floristic diversity;
Kashmir Himalaya; sustainable use
ABSTRAK
Himalaya Kashmir terletak di kawasan barat laut Himalaya,
mengandungi suatu kepelbagaian flora yang kaya yang diminati secara saintifik
dan potensi ekonomi yang tinggi. Walaupun kajian saintifik ke atas kepelbagaian
flora di Himalaya Kashmir telah dimulakan lebih kurang dua abad yang lalu,
tetapi ia masih berada di tahap rendah dan perlu perhatian segera selepas pasca
Kemuncak Rio. Pada skala reruang, banyak kawasan yang jauh dan curam yang sukar
di kawasan pedalaman masih berada sama ada di tahap paling kurang atau tidak
langsung dijelajahi; dan pada skala takson, kajian flora khususnya tumbuhan
rendah adalah sangat tidak memadai, justeru memberi masalah serius dalam
penaksiran kepelbagaian flora di rantau itu. Dengan perspektif sedemikian,
kertas ini membincangkan kemajuan yang dicapai kini, mengutarakan masalah yang
ditemui dan mengandaikan prospek masa depan berkenaan dengan kepelbagaian flora
di rantau ini. Pertama, suatu penilaian secara umum mengenai status terkini
kepelbagaian flora di rantau Himalaya telah dipersembahkan, diikuti oleh
analisis kritikal ke atas pangkalan pengetahuan yang tersedia bagi kepelbagaian
kumpulan taksonomi tumbuhan. Luang yang jelas di dalam pengetahuan kita
mengenai kepelbagaian flora di rantau ini telah dikenal pasti dan suatu pelan
tindakan untuk mengurangkan jurang ini telah digariskan. Adalah diharapkan
dengan mengutarakan cabaran ini untuk masa depan membolehkan pendokumentasian,
pemuliharaan dan penglestarian sumber tumbuhan di rantau ini agar ia dapat
memacu ‘Syurga Himalaya’ ke arah pembangunan lestari.
Kata kunci: Himalaya
Kashmir; kepelbagaian flora; pemuliharaan; pengdokumentasian; penggunaan
lestari
RUJUKAN
Ara, S., Naqshi, A.R. & Baba, M.Y. 1995. Indigenous and
exotic trees and shrubs of Kashmir Valley. Indian Journal Forestry (Addl.
Ser.) 8: 233-272.
Dar, A.R. & Dar, G.H. 2006. The wealth of Kashmir
Himalaya – Gymnosperms. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 5(2):
251-259.
Dar, G.H. & Christensen, K.I. 1999. Habitat diversity
and zonality of vegetation in Sind Valley, Kashmir Himalaya. Nature and
Biosphere 4(1 & 2): 49-71.
Dar, G.H. & Farooq, S. 1997. How diverse is
biodiversity! Do we know? Oriental Science 2(1): 51-69.
Dar, G.H. & Naqshi, A.R. 2002. Threatened flowering
plants of Kashmir Himalaya – A checklist. Oriental Science 6(1):
23-53.
Dar, G.H., Khuroo, A.A. & Nasreen, A. 2012. Endemism in
the angiosperm flora of Kashmir Valley, India: Stocktaking. In Proceedings
of International Seminar on Multidisciplinary Approaches in Angiosperm
Systematics, edited by Mukherjee, S.K. & Maiti, G.G. Kolkata.
Dar, G.H., Bhagat, R.C. & Khan, M.A. 2001. Biodiversity
of the Kashmir Himalaya. Srinagar, Kashmir: Valley Book House.
Dar, G.H., Naqshi, A.R. & Ara, S. 1995. New records and
new taxa of flowering plants from Jammu and Kashmir State, 1970-1992. Oriental
Science (Special Issue): 33-44.
Dar, G.H., Khuroo, A.A., Khan, Z.S. & Dar, A.R. 2007.
Medicinal flora of the Kashmir Himalaya: A taxonomic perspective. Journal of
Himalayan Ecology and Sustainable Development 2: 13-20.
Dhar, U. & Kachroo, P. 1983. Alpine Flora of Kashmir
Himalaya. Jodhpur, India: Scientific Publishers.
Heywood, V.H. 1995. Global Biodiversity Assessment.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Husain, M. 2001. Geography of Jammu and Kashmir. New
Delhi, India: Rajesh Publications.
Kaul, M.K. 1986. Weed Flora of Kashmir Valley.
Jodhpur, India: Scientific Publishers.
Kaul, M.K. 1997. Medicinal Plants of Kashmir and Ladakh,
Temperate and Cold Arid Himalaya. New Delhi: Indus Publishing Co.
Khuroo, A.A., Dar, G.H., Khan, Z.S. & Malik, A.H. 2007.
Exploring an inherent interface between taxonomy and biodiversity: Current
problems and future challenges. Journal for Nature Conservation 15(4):
256-261.
Khuroo, A.A., Irfan, R., Zafar, R., Dar, G.H. & Wafai,
B.A. 2007. The alien flora of Kashmir Himalaya. Biological Invasions 9(3):
269-292.
Lawrence, W.R. 1895. The Valley of Kashmir (Reprinted).
Srinagar: Chinar Publishing House.
Puri, G.S. 1943. The occurrence of Woodfordia fruticosa (L.)
S. Kurz in the Karewa deposits of Kashmir with remarks on changes of altitude
and climate during the Pleistocene. Journal of Indian Botanical Society 22:
125-131.
Puri, G.S. 1947. Fossil plants and the Himalayan uplift. Journal
of Indian Botanical Society (M. O. P. Iyenger Commemoration Vol.) 25:
167-184.
Rodgers, W.A. & Panwar, H.S. 1988. Biogeographical
Classification of India. Dehradun, India: Wildlife Institute of India.
Singh, G. & Kachroo, P. 1976. Forest Flora of
Srinagar and Plants of Neighbourhood. Dehra Dun, India: Bishen Singh
Mahendra Pal Singh.
Singh, J.B. & Kachroo, P. 1994. Forest Flora of Pir
Panjal Range (Northwestern Himalaya. Dehra Dun, India: Bishen Singh
Mahendra Pal Singh.
Stewart, R.R. 1979. The first plant collectors in Kashmir
and the Punjab. Taxon 28: 51-61.
Stewart, R.R. 1972. An Annotated Catalogue of the
Vascular Plants of West Pakistan and Kashmir. Karachi, Pakistan: Fakhri
Press.
Vigne, G.T. 1842. Travels in Kashmir, Ladak and Iskardo
(1835- 1839). London: Henry Colburn.
Vishnu-Mittre. 1963. Oaks in the Kashmir Valley with remarks
on their history. Grana Palynologica 4(2): 306-312.
Wilson, E.O. 2003. The encyclopedia of life. Trends in
Ecology and Evolution 18: 77-80.
*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: profdar99@gmail.com
|
|||
|
