Assam: Grasslands in Manas National Park shrank by 50 pc in last three decades

Grasslands in Assams Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve have shrunk by nearly 50 per cent in the last three decades due to various factors including climate change officials saidManas National Park MNP and Tiger Reserve Field Director C Ramesh told PTI that grasslands paving the way for woodlands is a natural process that takes over 100 years but it has accelerated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site forcing herbivorous animals to get concentrated in areas where grasses are availableWe are witnessing that the grassland expanse is shrinking and woodlands are increasing Thats a part of succession but it is happening very rapidly and that is a cause of concern for us as grasslands are crucial for the ecosystem he saidAs per our records we have lost almost 5060 per cent of our grasslands in the last 3035 years he addedRamesh stated that the trees and shrubs that are replacing grasslands are of native species With woodlands replacing the grasslands animals are getting concentrated in areas that have grassNonterritorial animals such as deer roam around the park to feed on grass Now they are getting concentrated in available grasslands Ramesh saidThe grasslands of the national park are unique from a biodiversity point of view as it is the only place in the world where greater onehorned rhino swamp deer hog deer pygmy hog hispid hare wild buffalo Bengal florican tiger and elephant coexist in the same habitatSpeaking about the crisis eminent conservationist and grassland expert Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar told PTI that the grasslands are affected in two ways biotic and abiotic or anthropogenicIn the biotic process a grassland gradually converts into scrubland with the spreading of invasive species and becomes woodland by succession Climate change accelerates the spread of invasive species he addedThe anthropogenic pattern means affecting the grassland through livestock grazing uncontrolled burning and grass cutting for various purposesLahkar said that the diversity of grasses has also been declining over the yearsDifferent animals depend on different types of grasses So if a particular species of grass decreases then the animals dependent on that grass will also gradually vanish from the park he addedLahkar said that flood plays a key role in maintenance and management of the subHimalayan grassland to a large extent but areas like MNP usually do not experience continuous flooding and if it occurs it typically lasts for only a few hoursMoreover nowadays we are seeing very erratic rainfall This is gradually impacting the dynamics of the grassland including changes in the soil composition he addedLahkar said very little emphasis is given in Assam on developing habitats as the primary focus is still on developing infrastructure and combating poachingEchoing similar views Gauhati University Assistant Professor Environmental Science Minakshi Bora said climate change is responsible for altering MNPs grassland community enabling invasive species like Chromolaena odorata and Mikania micrantha to thriveThese species outcompete native vegetation reducing biodiversity and altering ecosystem processes Effective conservation efforts are crucial to mitigate the impacts of invasive species and protect the parks unique biodiversity she addedBora said that rising temperatures and declining precipitation have disrupted the hydrological cycle in the Manas River BasinData from recent studies indicate a gradual decline in the frequency of rainfall resulting in reduced summer water flows and increased potential evapotranspirationThese factors lead to altered river discharge frequent droughts and declining water quality which are directly putting stress on the grassland ecosystems which we know as the backbone of MNP she addedAdditionally flash floods intensified by melting Himalayan glaciers and increased sediment loads are causing significant damage to grassland vegetation and leading to wildlife mortality Bora stressedMoreover the drying up of adjacent wetlands and marshes is further reducing soil moisture and humidity in the basin both essential for healthy grass growth and habitat stabilityWhile grasslands globally face productivity declines and biodiversity shifts from climate change Manas grasslands are particularly at risk from hydrological disruptions and invasions threatening their role as a biodiversity hotspot Conservation efforts must prioritise adaptive management to mitigate these effects she addedRamesh however said that no study has been conducted on the impact of climate change in the forest and there is no weather station inside the national park which is why it is difficult to analyse the change of temperature or rainfall pattern inside the jungle over the yearsIn a bid to arrest the decline the park authorities in collaboration with several NGOs have prepared a 10year Grassland Management Action Plan GMAP to conserve and restore the habitatInvasion by alien species natural succession of grasslands into woodlands and degradation of water bodies are some of the emerging concerns for the park management a document prepared by GMAP statedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever