Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 5: A team of exerts of Dr Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama has identified the existence of 987 sacred thickets known as Nagabanas and all of which are in their original forms. The team has conducted a study on the biodiversity of these spots and sent the report to Karnataka Biodiversity Board.

In the western ghats, in addition to natural forests, various communities have carefully conserved small 'Banas' for offering prayers to gods. These forest areas are being maintained by rural communities for upholding cultural and religious values. The team has conducted a study on the sacred Vanas and the rich plant life existing there.

Over 333 of these Banas exist in government land and 654 in private land. They are housed in different sized plots from five cents to five acres. Around 24 of these Banas were chosen for the study. In Banas which are completely covered by plants and trees, 289 different spices of plant life have been identified with 119 trees, 67 shrubs, 46 vines, 51 groves, three orchids, and four other various plants. Six varieties of vegetation, Calophyllum elatum, Garcinia indica, Hydnocarpus pentandrus, Myristica malabarica, Okrinoklia missionis, and Saraca asoca, which are on the verge of extinction, as well as two other varieties that are facing a serious threat of extinction, have been documented.

The Nisargadhama has submitted a technical report on its study on Karnataka sector of the western ghats to the government. The study was conducted in 46 forest areas. 1,936 varieties of vegetation were recorded. As part of the project, Herbarium and botanical museum have been set up at Pilikula. During the study, 12,805 models belonging to 1,936 varieties have been identified and collected. Seeds, timber, fibre product, spices, bamboo cane varieties etc have been collected and kept in the botanical museum, said chief researcher Dr H Sooryaprakash Shenoy.