Preference of Indian taste buds

Indian biodiversity 

Biodiversity hotspots are those regions of the world that have exceptionally high number of species, but are severely threatened by human activity. India is home to four of the 36 such hotspots recognized across the world. The northeast of India is a region where two such hotspots meet: the Himalaya hotspot and the Indo-Burma hotspot. Because of the confluence of fauna and flora from different regions (peninsular India, the Himalayas, the Indo-Chinese region), the northeast of India is rich in biodiversity and the state of Manipur is no exception.

India’s Biodiversity Act (2002) mandated the setting up of local committees for documenting, conserving, and managing local biodiversity across the country. These local bodies are known as Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC). BMCs create People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR), documenting all plants, animals, and their uses, as well as advice the various biodiversity boards.

Phalee is a small village with population less than 4000 people, situated in Ukhrul district of Manipur.  Phalee BMC was formed in 2011. But it was in June 2019, under the leadership of Sri. Sochipem Awungshi, about 200 people from various village level organizations, from researchers to economists to government administrators, came together to document, conserve, and create awareness about local biodiversity.

Some of the team members and participants of Phalee BMC

According to Phalee BMC member and researcher Ngalengshim, it was the curiosity of some of the local farmers regarding the many rare plants and animals that triggered his initial interest in documenting this biodiversity. Phalee was facing a number of problems. Cash crops were replacing traditional farmlands and forests. Many invasive species were spreading in both forests and farmlands. Unsustainable hunting practices, man-made wild fires, over-extraction of forest produce, overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides etc. were also contributing to an overall decline in biodiversity as well as quality of life. To him, it was clear that the people of Phalee must remember and recognize the richness of their land and its values, so that they may cherish, conserve, and use it in sustainable ways.

Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae), a species
endemic to the hills of Manipur,
particularly Shirui Kashong.

Currently, more than 27 members are actively involved in efforts to documentation plants and animals in Phalee for the creation of a People’s Biodiversity Register. Additionally, school students and other villagers also help in recording local species. Their surveys have recorded many rare and endemic species. Additionally, Phalee BMC also conducts outreach and educational programmes in schools. It also established a site called Phalee Biodiversity Observatory Station for conservation and monitoring the surrounding region Biodiversity.  They also support other initiatives, such as Betterson Mini Orchidarium, Themthing orchid forest and the regeneration and propagation of other native plant species. They are also working to improve integrated organic farming and regenerate many rare and endemic plant resources. They are also working on improving the indigenous practice of rearing or domestication of eusocial insects such as Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), Asian hornet (Vespa spp.) etc. for food, income and ecological balance. They play an important role as a pollinator in plant reproduction, in improving soil fertility through waste bioconversion, and in natural bio-control for harmful pest. In the long run, Phalee BMC’s vision is to develop a locally viable concept of sustainable development for Phalee and Manipur that is strongly rooted in the knowledge of the local biodiversity.

Bhutan glory (Bhutanitis lidderdalii), a spectacular butterfly from Phalee, Ukhrul, Manipur. 

Once the biodiversity documentation efforts started, they faced the problem of identification of organism. This is when Ngalengshim started uploading photos of unknown plants and animals to the India Biodiversity Portal (IBP) for identification. Soon after, the group Rainforest Biodiversity of Phalee was created within IBP for the purpose of uploading, storing, and curating data from Phalee village. Phalee BMC members upload images of plants and animals on a regular basis, and people from around India have helped to identify and curate this information. Though in existence for less than a year, the group has more than 1500 verifiable biodiversity records, and more than 200 species identified from their village. The major challenge is the number of unknown species: more than 600 observations are still unidentified (to help identify these, click here).

Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) sucking oak exudate, (B) feeding meat to hunt and (C) rearing at home in Phalee, Ukhrul Manipur. 

Phalee is rich in biodiversity, but like most of Northeast India, majority of it seems understudied. Villagers believe that these efforts will bring people back in touch with nature, rediscover the connections, and develop a sense of ownership over their natural resources.

A poster created by Phalee BMC on the flora and fauna, using the India Biodiversity Portal for species identification.