PRIORITIES IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN BARAK VALLEY WITH REFERENCE TO INNER-LINE RF, INDIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/f04fse91Keywords:
North-eastern region, biodiversity, inner-line reserve forest, conservation, Wildlife protection.Abstract
The Northeastern Region of India, comprising Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, is physiographically divided into the Eastern Himalaya, the northeastern hill ranges, and the Brahmaputra-Barak valley plains. Spanning 262,180 km², this region forms a major biodiversity hotspot at the Indo-Burma and Eastern Himalayan junction, supporting nearly 25% of India’s flora, over 14,000 species, and 3,169 endemics. Within this landscape, the Barak Valley of Assam represents an ecologically significant domain marked by extensive forest cover and a network of protected areas. The Inner-Line Reserve Forest (ILRF), one of Assam’s largest reserve forests, covers approximately 44,266 hectares, bordering Mizoram and Manipur, and historically supports diverse fauna, including five primate species. Declining awareness among local communities and delayed implementation of conservation actions have contributed to progressive wildlife depletion. Land-use and land-cover assessments from 1998 to 2011 indicate a clear reduction in forest area within and around ILRF, reflecting broader ecological degradation across the Barak Valley. Compounding these threats is the limited legal protection afforded to many species. While the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 categorizes fauna under Schedules I-V and plants under Schedule VI, effective conservation remains skewed toward Schedule I and portions of Schedule II. This disparity fosters public misperception and neglect of lower-tier species. Consequently, there is an urgent need for policymakers to re-evaluate conservation strategies in light of evolving land-use patterns, climate change, and rapid urbanisation to safeguard the region’s threatened biodiversity.
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