Guwahati: A reserve forest in Assam identified for its biodiversity, which has been crying for the standing of a wildlife sanctuary, can also be residence to many archaeological relics. Behali Reserve Forest in Biswanath district of Assam just isn’t solely identified for its biodiversity however can also be a storehouse of many archaeological relics that present its advantage of historicity.
Behali Reserved Forest (BRF) declared in 1917 is the final remaining semi-evergreen forest within the Biswanath district of Assam. Residence to round 950 species, it has been demanding standing for a wildlife sanctuary. Initially, with a complete geographical space of about 140 sq km, the dense patches within the reserved forest at the moment are shrunk to solely 60 sq km resulting from unlawful encroachment and deforestation.
A research revealed in Zoo’sPrint says sculptured palaces, tanks, stone boundary partitions, amongst others, will be seen dispersed until now.
Essentially the most engaging historic damage, Maidam Pukhuri, unaccounted for a number of a long time, can also be situated within the pure territory of BRF; findings there embrace a tank constructed between the early ninth to 14th centuries and stone sure borders overlaying an space of 0.26 ha that stay to this date.
Additionally, a rampart named Rajgarh is among the many garhs which runs by means of the BRF, constructed by the Ahom king Swargadeo Singha.
Essentially the most engaging historic damage, Maidam Pukhuri, unaccounted for a number of a long time, can also be situated within the pure territory of BRF; findings there embrace a tank constructed between the early ninth to 14th centuries and stone sure borders overlaying an space of 0.26 ha that stay to this date.
“A heritage that not solely evokes legends among the many locals but in addition seeks safety as part of the scattered wealthy historical past of the area,” the research says.
Dr Nityananda Gogoi, former principal of Biswanath Faculty in a e book ‘A Handbook of Behali Reserved Forest’ says, “The ruins of an historic city of about 14th century AD have been discovered. This city was believed to have been constructed by the Boro-Barahi kings.”
It’s the solely forest in Assam the place three new vegetation had been found for science: Chlorophytum assamicum, Aristolochia assamica, and Peliosanthes macrophylla var. Assamensis and the latter two are thus far solely situated on this forest.
The reserve forest is a refuge to one of many threatened fauna: White-winged Duck, Bengal Sluggish Loris, Capped Langur and hornbills. These species face extreme threats in nearly the entire world and dropping this forest would end in a severe decline of its inhabitants.
Dipankar Borah, Assistant Professor at Goalpara Faculty and one of many major authors instructed EastMojo, “If this forest just isn’t offered instant consideration and safety, residence for greater than 950 species shall be misplaced. The significance of this forest in internet hosting this huge sum of biodiversity in addition to offering an umbrella for the eco-conscious ethnic communities is a severe matter to lookup.”
He additional says: “The current forest is the final patch of forest within the district which gives ecosystem companies comparable to sustaining water cycle, nutrient cycle, carbon storage, and oxygen requirement, other than internet hosting the threatened and native biodiversity. Dropping this can significantly hamper all of the requirements of neighbouring inhabitants and threaten their lives.”
Native youth and a few researchers with the lively NGO are attempting their greatest to create mass consciousness among the many folks and management the felonious actions to some extent. These lovers have been making an attempt to deal with the issue with steady efforts of repeated surveys, correct documentation and are additionally making an attempt to seize the eye of the stakeholders and policymakers by means of publishing analysis articles, sensitizing the native folks and making a residents’ motion.
Senior forest officers and native MLAs have visited the world just lately and have assured the civil society of taking steps to declare the reserve forest as a wildlife sanctuary.
“With elevated consciousness on the significance of this habitat and position of the present biodiversity, there’s a likelihood to save lots of this final forest of the district and its wildlife from being fully perished in a couple of a long time. The initiatives need to be put into motion now since we’re already very late, if not too late, to salvage the remaining space of the forest from devastation,” the research says.
“Encroachment of land, burning of forests, and looking of wildlife can nonetheless be seen within the border areas of the reserve, which is a really severe concern that brings into query the survival of the forest for greater than the subsequent 5 years. Nearly 48% is misplaced, consequently, solely 60 sq km of the intact forest is left of the unique notified space of 140 sq km,” Dipankar says.
