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Basudev Mahapatra's Blog (6)

Restoration of Ansupa Lake brightens wetland conservation hopes

Across the globe people are worried about the future of wetland ecosystems. Ramsar Convention’s Global Wetland Outlook reveals that wetlands are disappearing three…

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Added by Basudev Mahapatra on July 8, 2019 at 16:25 — No Comments

Biodiversity takes centre stage in Odisha’s silent valley

Mandasaru, 300 km south of Bhubaneswar, is a unique gorge ecosystem in the eastern part of Kandhamal district of Odisha. It is named after the rocks on a hill that narrow towards the top, Manda meaning rock and Saru meaning a narrow progression.

While the lower riparian and moist valleys have semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests cover the slopes of the gorge and dry deciduous forests the top plateaus. Frequent weather changes and the surroundings make…

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Added by Basudev Mahapatra on July 7, 2019 at 18:29 — No Comments

Community protection holds hope for climate change affected Similipal sanctuary

Famous in this part of the world as a habitat of big cats and elephants, among a variety of other mammals, birds and reptiles, Similipal is a thickly forested hill range in Odisha’s northern most district of Mayurbhanj. Its name is derived from the simul (silk cotton) tree and the hill range is referred to in Odia literature as Salmali Shaila (Hill of Simul) by eminent authors.

“At present, one can hardly find a simul tree in this forest,” said Arjun Mahakud,…

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Added by Basudev Mahapatra on July 7, 2019 at 18:15 — No Comments

Forest food ensures nutritional security of Odisha’s tribes

Access to naturally grown forest produce would go a long way in protecting tribal communities in Odisha from the worst impacts of climate change and supply them with all that they need for sustenance.

Forest foods are in high demand in haats or tribal community markets and nearby rural markets. Forest produce such as honey, amla and several fruits are in great demand in urban malls. Though this may appear as an opportunity for economic empowerment of the tribal…

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Added by Basudev Mahapatra on July 7, 2019 at 18:03 — No Comments