Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary

Bird Watching Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary -Dr.Susan Sharma Take a peep into the Beautiful Kedar Valley. It got devastated by the recent floods of June 2013. It needs Healing. Here is a call to join an Effort to Rebuild. A call to all members and visitors of http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is rich in biological diversity. The villagers are fully dependent on forest resources, especially ethno medicines. The conservation of plant biodiversity in the Indian Himalayan region has become a major concern; the knowledge of indigenous uses of native plants needs to be studied before it gets extinct. The rivers and streams of the sanctuary are perennial in nature due to thick forest cover and heavy precipitation. Vegetative cover slows the speed of falling rain and prevents soil erosion and gully formation — the precursors to landslides and floods. Dense vegetation, by evapo-transpiration, also stops nearly 30-40 per cent of rainwater from falling to the ground, thereby significantly reducing run-off. Besides holding the soil together, forests and soil soak water from the rain, release it slowly and prevent water flowing as run-off. The sanctuary has a large number of temples located within its precincts. Kedarnath temple is the most historic of these and is visited by a over 6 lacs pilgrims a year during a window of 6 months. This temple dates to the 8th century. The entire 14 km route from Gauri Khund to Kedarnath temple passes through the sanctuary. The sanctuary has a musk deer breeding centre. Musk deer is valued for its glands , the secretion of which , is used in the perfume industry. Musk deer is highly endangered. There is also a high-altitude botanical field station established at Tungnath. The sanctuary harbours extensive alpine meadows and several dense broad leaved oak mixed forest. A total of one hundred and fifty two species of ethno medicinal plants have been compiled. If you are interested in a more detailed presentation, please click on the link below http://www.slideshare.net/susansharma/kedarnath-wild-life-sanctuary All the photographs in this slide show except the one of Mandakini Magpie Bird Watcher’s Camp were taken in 2004, by Shashi Sharma. The photo of the Camp was taken by Mousree Ganguli just two days before the floods ravaged it, in June 2013. You can read a trip report on the camp at this link http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com/UserContent/Trip-Report- Details.aspx?rid=544 Let us make a beginning. Help Mr. Yashpal Negi rebuild the Magpie Birdwatchers camp. Help rebuild Mandakini Magpie Bird Watchers’ Camp Send money to Yashpal Singh Negi Kakragad, PO Bhiri, Dist. Rudraprayag Uttarakhand 246419, India Mobile No. 09412909399 Bank Acctt. Detail State Bank Of India - Bhiri, Code - 9834,Saving Acctt. No. 11442534733 Those who contribute more than Rs 1000/- may send in their name, email id , date and amount of credit to susan_sharma@hotmail.com. IndianWildlifeClub .com will send a high resolution copy of ‘ Morning Glory at Kedarnath” (first photograph) to each one of them.

Bird Watching

-Dr.Susan Sharma

Take a peep into the Beautiful Kedar Valley. It got devastated by the recent floods of June 2013. It needs Healing. Here is a call to join an Effort to Rebuild. A call to all members and visitors of http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com

The Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is rich in biological diversity. The villagers are fully dependent on forest resources, especially ethno medicines. The conservation of plant biodiversity in the Indian Himalayan region has become a major concern; the knowledge of indigenous uses of native plants needs to be studied before it gets extinct.

The rivers and streams of the sanctuary are perennial in nature due to thick forest cover and heavy precipitation. Vegetative cover slows the speed of falling rain and prevents soil erosion and gully formation — the precursors to landslides and floods. Dense vegetation, by evapo-transpiration, also stops nearly 30-40 per cent of rainwater from falling to the ground, thereby significantly reducing run-off. Besides holding the soil together, forests and soil soak water from the rain, release it slowly and prevent water flowing as run-off.

The sanctuary has a large number of temples located within its precincts. Kedarnath temple is the most historic of these and is visited by a over 6 lacs pilgrims a year during a window of 6 months. This temple dates to the 8th century. The entire 14 km route from Gauri Khund to Kedarnath temple passes through the sanctuary. The sanctuary has a musk deer breeding centre. Musk deer is valued for its glands , the secretion of which , is used in the perfume industry. Musk deer is highly endangered. There is also a high-altitude botanical field station established at Tungnath.

The sanctuary harbours extensive alpine meadows and several dense broad leaved oak mixed forest. A total of one hundred and fifty two species of ethno medicinal plants have been compiled.

If you are interested in a more detailed presentation, please click on the link below

http://www.slideshare.net/susansharma/kedarnath-wild-life-sanctuary

All the photographs in this slide show except the one of Mandakini Magpie Bird Watcher’s Camp were taken in 2004, by Shashi Sharma. The photo of the Camp was taken by Mousree Ganguli just two days before the floods ravaged it, in June 2013.

You can read a trip report on the camp at this link http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com/UserContent/Trip-Report- Details.aspx?rid=544

Let us make a beginning. Help Mr. Yashpal Negi rebuild the Magpie Birdwatchers camp.

Help rebuild Mandakini Magpie Bird Watchers’ Camp Send money to

Yashpal Singh Negi

Kakragad, PO Bhiri,

Dist. Rudraprayag Uttarakhand 246419, India

Mobile No. 09412909399

Bank Acctt. Detail State Bank Of India - Bhiri, Code - 9834,Saving Acctt. No. 11442534733

Those who contribute more than Rs 1000/- may send in their name, email id , date and amount of credit to susan_sharma@hotmail.com. IndianWildlifeClub .com will send a high resolution copy of ‘ Morning Glory at Kedarnath” (first photograph) to each one of them.

Indian Wildlife Club Ezine (July, 2013)

Bird Watching

Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary