Where the Otters Live - Landscape Foundation studio - CEPT

THE RIPARIAN FOREST OF SHIVALIK ONE FOREST

Landscape Foundation Studio Monsoon 2020 Hardikkumar Agawala PLA20123

PROCESS 1

Recording LandscapesChopta - Chandrashila, Uttarakhand

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DRAWING THE FOREST

Sal mixed Moist deciduous Riverine Forest, Scrub-land, Subtropical Pine Forest (Rajaji National Park)

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Forest Sketches

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3

Forest Sections

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4

Stories and Tales of the Forest

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5

Forest Narrative

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6

Correlating Systems

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6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4

38 40 44 46

Locating the forest Investigating forest and its systems Observations Correlating habitats

RIPARIAN FOREST OF SHIVALIKS 7

The Riparian Forest of shivalik 50

7.1 7.2

Larger connection Correlating different habitats of riparian forest

52 58

JOURNEY THROUGH THE FOREST | RIPARIAN HABITATS

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8

Locating suitable habitats of otters

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8.1 8.2 8.3

Riverbed with jamun tree islands Grasslands and a flood plain Old growth forest

68 70 72

POINTS OF PAUSE | INDICATOR OF HABITATS

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ANNEXTURE BIBLIOGRAPHY

RECORDING LANDSCAPES

In the Landscape Foundation studio we initially started with understanding a wild area which we once visited. Then we investigated this primeval landscape entity and attempted to look at it from a multi-dimensional perspective. we attempted to record the wilderness by understanding its various dimensions such as spatial quality, volume of the space, light and shadow, depth and perspective through line sketches and pencil sketching.

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FOREST SKETCHES

Sal mixed Moist deciduous Riverine Forest, Scrub-land, Subtropical Pine Forest (Rajaji National Park)

The Forest is a combination of many complex and diverse systems.

We attempted to record and observe through photographs and record through sketches. medium - Charcoal and pen / Ink.

The Dense part of the forest brings out a sense of moisture where one can look at longer distances after one travels through the dark and dense Sal Forest.

[Source: https://rajajinationalpark.co.in]

The trees canopy bring about a sense of shade to the wild area with crooked trunks.

The forest floor is covered with leaf litter and one can spot deers in this area.

[Source: https://rajajinationalpark.co.in]

The Dense part of the forest brings us to the trail of first order steam.

[Source: Author]

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FOREST SECTIONS

Sal mixed Moist deciduous Riverine Forest, Scrub-land, Subtropical Pine Forest (Rajaji National Park)

In this exercise we attempted to understand the scale and proportion of the forest by drawing sections based on photographs. We tried to understand the layers of the forest in terms of ground cover, terrain conditions and details in vegetation. We also tried to explore different mediums by using charcoal.

The Sal Trees which form the dense jungle Grow tall and also allow several layers of Vegetation to grow under.

[Source: https://rajajinationalpark.co.in]

The trees canopy bring about a sense of shade to the wild area with crooked trunks.

The forest floor is covered with leaf litter and one can spot deers in this area.

[Source: Author]

The trail along the sal forest.

[Source: https://rajajinationalpark.co.in]

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0m

3m 1m

15m 7m

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Section through mix sal forest of north slope.

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0m

4m 1.5m

15m 7m

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Section through ganga river bed.

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0m

4m 2m

20m 10m

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Section through valley and 2nd order stream.

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0m

4m 2m

20m 10m

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Excerpt sourced from kindle version of the book

STORIES AND TALES OF THE FOREST ‘The Blue Umbrella‘ has a Blakean feel about it as the story flourishes on innocence, simplicity, childlike wonder and awe and imagination.

The landscape, as always, is an integral part of Ruskin Bond’s stories and is given quite a lot of spotlight even in ‘The Blue Umbrella‘. The beauty, whims and vagaries of nature are all spread out for the reader to enjoy. The purity of the hills is reflected in the purity of Binya and Bijju’s behaviour. {Source - summery of Simran Kaur Saini - https://medium.com/@simrankaursaini20/the-blue-umbrella-byruskin-bond-summary-17ee91ebee12]

“THE UMBRELLA WAS LIKE A FLOWER, A GREAT BLUE FLOWER THAT HAD SPRUNG UP ON THE DRY BROWN HILLSIDE” RUSKIN BOND, THE BLUE UMBRELLA

Excerpt sourced from kindle version of the book

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[Source - https://medium.com/@simrankaursaini20/the-blue-umbrella-by-ruskin-bond]

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FOREST NARRATIVE

Sal mixed Moist deciduous Riverine Forest, Scrub-land, Subtropical Pine Forest (Rajaji National Park)

In this exercise we tried and attempted to expand the sections beyond Just a photograph and tried to explain the overall journey of the forest Through our memories, keeping in mind all the aspects of spatial quality, volume of space, light and shadow.

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CO-RELATING SYSTEMS In this exercise we understood forest as a complex set of systems overlaid over one another. We tried to analyse the different layers of rainfall, topography, climate, vegetation, geology, hydrology. Further we also looked into forest type and its vegetation series. We tried to study the keystone species, their habitat, range, movement patterns and migration. This helped us understand that a forest is more than its political boundaries.

LOCATING THE FOREST

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0km

200km

100km

1000km 500km

41

Himalayan Sal Mixed Moist Deciduous and riverine forest (Lower Shivalik Range, Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand) Himalyan Range

Lower shiwalik range

Chinese plateau

Nanda devi National park Mansarovar reservoir

Greater Himalyas

West side of Rajaji National park East side of Rajaji National park

Eastern Himalyas Mount Evrest

Ganga River

BB

Ramganga reservoir Jim corbett National park

Bhramaputra Plains

Agriculture fields 20km

500km

Shivalik Range

Rajaji National Park - Chilla Range Rishikesh city Chilla mountain range Ganga River Motichoor Mountain Range

AA Nanda devi National park Rajaji National park Jim corbet National park

CC

Kotdwara Mountain Range

Ramganga reservoir Ganga river

Chidiyapur forest range Agriculture fields 50km Source: Google Earth

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10km

Rajaji National Park

75km

Section CC

Rajaji National Park

Terai

Shivalik Range

Lesser Himalayas

Middle Himalayas

Greater Himalayas

40km

Section BB

Rajaji National Park

Terai

Section AA

Shivalik Range

Lesser Himalayas 10km

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INVESTIGATING FOREST AND ITS SYSTEMS

Forest type - 1 Sal Forest Shorea robusta Haldina cordifolia Getimage Mallotus philippenis Clerodendrum infortunatum Pogostemon amaranthoides Ageratum conyzoides

Forest type - 2 Khair-Sissoo Forest Dalbergia sissoo Acacia catechu Terminalia arjuna Holarrhena antidysenterica Emblica officinalis Lantana camara Sida cordifolia

Forest type - 3 Grassland Saccharum spontaneum Dendrocalamus strictus Andropogon micranthus Arundinella brasiliensis Cynodon dactylon Heteropogon contortus Pollinia hirtifolia Saccharum spontaneum

Forest type - 4 Moist Deciduous Celtis tetranda Carreya arborea Garuga gamblei Dibergia latifolia Vitex altissima

Grassland at lower elevation a

Plantations outside the w

Plantations on even a Mix of semi-evergreen, gr relatively smaller area. The evergreen forest can be found slope dropping from 1300m t river. The eastern slope con

Forest type - 5 Scrubland Acacia farnesiana Achryanthes aspera Adhatoda vasica Agrimonia sp.

Anaphalis araneosa Artemisia roxburghiana Asparagus adscendens Asparagus curilius Asparagus racemosus Barleria cristata

Along the so

At the

Legend Ridges Forest Boundary Rivers Source: Google Earth, Shiju Chakko, 2018 overlaid 44

Source: Google Earth

and Moist deciduous forests in the valleys

western side of the reserve boundary

and easily accessible terrain rassland and plantation in a moist deciduous and semion a very west facing steep to 300m till the tributary of nsists grasslands below and plantation above.

Riverine Forests Along the river tributaries

Sal Mixed Forest outhern slopes of Shivaliks

Agriculture foothills near settlements

River bed forest Pine / mix pine forest Mixed forest Himalayan moist Dry deciduous scrub Dry deciduous

Water body Degraded Forest Settlement Sal mixed moist Sal forest Riverine forest

Source: Google Earth

0km

5km 2km

18km

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CORRELATING HABITATS Great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) Great Hornbills is found in mainland Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. They are breeding residents in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. In India, they and several other hornbill species live in the Western Ghats mountain range and forests in both the northeaster and southern regions.

Diet Great hornbills are usually seen in small parties, with larger groups sometimes aggregating at fruit trees. A congregation of 150 to 200 birds has been recorded in southeaster Bhutan.In the wild, the great hornbill’s diet consists mainly of fruit. Figs are particularly important as a food source. Vitex altissima has been noted as another important food source. They are important dispersers of many forest tree species. They will also eat small mammals, birds, small reptiles and insects.

Habitat Great hornbills are arboreal and live mainly in wet, tall, evergreen forests. Old-growth trees that extend beyond the height of the canopy are preferred for nesting. The height of the tree and the presence of a natural cavity large enough to hold a female and her eggs are more important than the type of tree. The same nesting site is used year after year if possible. They are known to inhabit elevations of 600 to 2000 m.

In the subcontinent they are found in a few forest areas in the Western Ghats and in the forests along the Himalayas. Deforestation has reduced their range in many parts of India such as in the Rajaji National park. They appear to be dependent on large stretches of forest, unlike many of the smaller hornbills.

Distribution of Bu Himalyas Source: indibiodiversity.org; Google earth

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River bed forest Pine / mix pine forest Mixed forest Himalayan moist Dry deciduous scrub Dry deciduous Water body Degraded Forest Settlement Sal mixed moist Sal forest Riverine forest

Lutrogale Buceros bicornis distribution 18km

Distribution of Buceros bicornis Habitat within the reserve

uceros bicornis Habitat within the western

Distribution of Buceros bicornis Habitat across the world 250km

5000km 47

CORRELATING HABITATS Smooth-coated otter | Lutrogale perspicillata

Wetlands

1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf forest ( Palain Reserved forest ) 2. Moist deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Jim corbett National park )

1. Tropical deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Rajaji National park ) 2. Semi evergreen forest ( Pilibhit Tiger reserv )

km

15km 7km

2km

r uteries m

1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf forest ( Palain Reserved forest ) 2. Moist deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Jim corbett National park )

1. Tropical deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Rajaji National park ) 2. Semi evergreen forest ( Pilibhit Tiger reserv ) 10km

Streams

0

10km

[Source - ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth]

1. Dry deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Bardiya National Park )

Semi ever green forest

Moist Deciduous forest

5km

1. Tropical deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Rajaji National park ) 2. Semi evergreen forest ( Pilibhit Tigerare reserv ) Smooth-coated Otters small, carnivorous

1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf forest ( Palain Reserved forest ) 2. Moist deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Jim corbett National park ) mammals.

Their occurrence relates

1. Dry deciduous semi evergreen 0 8km forest healthy( Bardiya National Park )

to ecosystems with clean waters and abundant prey. Smooth-coated otters impact aquatic ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth] Semi ever green forest Moist Deciduous forest Dry Deciduous forest vertebrate and invertebrate communities via predation. Smooth-coated otters are a PalearcSection Asia, EE’ 0 tic and Oriental species. They are found throughout much of southern from India eastward. There is also an isolated population found in the marshes of Iraq. Evidence shows that the range and population of smooth-coated otters is shrinking due to loss of habitat and 0 8km intensive trapping.

Ganga River

Habitat Semi ever green forest Dry Deciduous forest Smooth-coatedCC’otters are mostly found in lowlands, coastal mangrove forests, peat swamp Section EE’ 0 10km forests, freshwater wetlands, large forested rivers, lakes, and rice paddies. Although adapted for water, smooth-coated otters are equally comfortable on land and can travel long distances overland in search of suitable habitat. They shelter in shallow burrows and piles of rocks or driftwood. Some build permanent burrows near water with0 an 8km underwater entrance and a Ganga River Ram Ganga River 25kmAmerican 0 tunnel0that leads to a chamber above the high-water line, much like beaver.

[Source - ISRO bhuvan Co relating forest conditions with Rivers 25km Section AA’ Section BB’ https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/238427] Diet Smooth-coated otters were observed to forage on river banks among tree trunks. They feed Section EE’ 0 10km mainly on fish including Trichogaster, climbing gourami and catfish.

During the rice planting season, they also hunt rats in rice fields. Snakes, amphibians and insects constitute a small portion of their diet

ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth]

5km

k

10km

0

Section AA’ Moist Deciduous forest

[Source - ISRO bhuvan y.org/species/show/238427]

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Gangaforest Riverconditions with Rivers Co relating Section AA’

0

25km

Ram Ganga River Section BB’

10km

25km

Ram Ga

Section B

0

1

0

0

0

1

River bed forest Pine / mix pine forest Mixed forest Himalayan moist Dry deciduous scrub Dry deciduous Water body Degraded Forest Settlement Sal mixed moist Sal forest Riverine forest

Distribution of Lutrogale perspicillata Habitat within Rajaji reserve

18km

River otters are considered an indicator species and their presence is a hopeful sign of improving watershed conditions. These apex aquatic predators play an important role in ecosystem health, as they eat fish, crustaceans, invertebrates, birds, and amphibians.

Distribution of Lutrogale perspicillata Habitat within Indian plateau

Lutrogale perspicillata distribution 6000km 49

[Source - https://www.conservationindia.org/articles/riparian-forests-for-healthy-rivers]

THE RIPARIAN FOREST OF LOWER SHIVALIK Sal mixed Moist deciduous Riverine Forest, Scrub-land, Subtropical Pine Forest (Rajaji National Park)

To understand the interconnectivity and interdependency of forest and rivers on each other. To connect rich ecosystems occurring as islands in between rivers serving as stepping stones to various species of mammals and avifauna traveling through the region.

Geological domination of valleys by Ganga river.

0km 3km 1km 0km

15km 7km

2km

10km

21km

10km

2km

[Source - Arch GIS, google earth] 1km

5km

0km 3km 1km

Forest diversity varies vertically and horizontally and area under forest is dominated by Ganga river.

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0km

15km 7km

2km

[Source - Arch GIS, google earth] 1km

5km

River bed forest Pine / mix pine forest Mixed forest Himalayan moist Tributery of Ganga river

Dry deciduous scrub Dry deciduous Sal forest Riverine forest

Water body Degraded Forest Settlement Sal mixed moist

0km 3km 1km 0km

15km

[Source - ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth] 7km

2km

1km

10km 5km

1km

Ganga river 53

Vegetation and Valleys map

River Pine / Mixed Hima Dry d Dry d Wate Degra Settle Sal m Sal fo River

moist deciduo

Ganga rive

0km 3km 1km 0km

15km 7km

2km

10km

1km

5km

10km

[Source - ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth] Section A-A’

A-A’

B-B’

moist deciduo

0km 3km 1km 0km

7km 2km

1km

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15km

10km 5km

10km

[Source - ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth] Section B-B’

r bed forest / mix pine forest d forest alayan moist deciduous scrub deciduous er body aded Forest ement mixed moist orest rine forest

ous forest

er

ous forest

Bundal River tributary moist deciduous forest Grassland

Semi evergreen forest

moist deciduous forest

Semi evergreen forest

18km

Song River tributary Grassland

River island

Semi evergreen forest

moist deciduous forest

1km 55

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1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf forest ( Palain Reserved forest ) 2. Moist deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Jim corbett National park )

1. Tropical deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Rajaji National park ) 2. Semi evergreen forest ( Pilibhit Tiger reserv )

1. Dry deciduous s forest ( Bardiya National

Animals eating 1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf 1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf 1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf 1. Moist deciduous 1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf deciduous plants 1. Tropical semi ever-Broad leaf forest forest forest 1. Tropical deciduous us semi ever-( Palain green forest forest Reserved forest forest )semi ever( Palain Reserved forest ) Palain Reserved forestReserved ) green (deciduous forest ( Sal Palain Reserved forestevergreen ) Palain forest ) Moist deciduous Mix Sal riverine Moist deciduous Mix1. riverine Dry deciduous semi 1. Dry deciduous s ( Rajaji National park ) Dry deciduous Moist semi( evergreen 2. Moist deciduous semi evergreen ciduous semi2.evergreen Moist deciduous Mix deciduous Sal riverineMix semi evergreensemi 2.National Moist deciduous semideciduous evergreensemi evergreen2. Moist 1.

Moist Sal riverine M Dry deciduous semi evergreen ( Rajaji park ) deciduous semi evergreen 1.

Dry deciduous evergreen 1.forest k ) 2.

Moist forest forest forestRoots taking 2. Semi evergreen forest forest forest forest forest fo forest forest forest 2.

Semi evergreen forest forest forest orest forest ( Rajaji national park ) ( Rajaji national ( )Bardiya Park ) National Trees ( BardiyaWater ( Pilibhitpark Tiger reserv()National National park ) ( Jim corbett National park ) otter National Park( Jim ) corbett ( Rajaji national park ) national Bardiya National Park ) (R Routine of smooth coated ( Jim corbett National park ) ( Rajaji park ) ( Bardiya National Park ) ( Pilibhit Tiger reserv ) ( Jim corbett National park ) ( Bardiya National Park ) v) ( Jim corbett National park ) 1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf [Source - ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth] Semi ever green forest Moist Deciduous forest Dry Deciduous forest 1.

Tropical deciduous semi everforest 10km 0 Roots taking green forest ( Palain Reserved forest ) water 1. Dry deciduous s ( Rajaji National park ) 2. Moist deciduous semi evergreen forest 2. Semi evergreen forest forest ( Bardiya National ( Pilibhit Tiger reserv ) ( Jim corbett National park ) Forest Floo 0

Wetlands

[Source forest - ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth] Moist Deciduous Semi ever green Dry forest Deciduous forest 1.

Tropical deciduous semi everous0Earth] forest 10km Riverine forest gle Moist Deciduous Dry Deciduous Semi ever green forest forest Moist Deciduous forest forest Moist Deciduous forest Dry Deciduous forest

10km

0

1. Tropical deciduous semi evergreen[Source forest-0ISRO bhuvan, 8km Google Earth] 8km 0 ( Rajaji National park0) 2. Semi evergreen forest ( Pilibhit Tiger reserv )

green forest EE’ ( Rajaji National parkSection ) 2. Semi evergreen forest ( Pilibhit Tiger ) 1.reserv Moist deciduous Broad leaf forest Riverbed Semi ever green( Palain forest Reserved forest 0) 2km 0 8km evergreen 8km 2. Moist deciduous semi Gangaforest River Section (AA’ Jim corbett National park )

8km

1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf Moist Deciduous forest Riverine forest forest Riverine Dry Deciduous forestforest Routine of Termite ( Palain Reserved forest ) 10kmevergreen 0 2. Moist deciduous semi forest ( Jim corbett National park )

Riverine forest

Dry Deciduous forest Riv

1. Dry deciduous s forest ( Bardiya National

0 8km Moist Deciduous forest

Dry0 Deciduous 2km forest 0 2k M

Rice puddles 1. Dry deciduous semi evergreen Ram Ganga River 0 25km forest ( Bardiya NationalSection Park )BB’

fo (R

CC’ 0

Section EE’

0 10km10km 10km 0 Section EE’

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Section EE’ 0

10km

0 10km

0 10km

10km 0

10km

0 00

10km 8km 10km

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10km

0

10km 0

1

Seasonal Swamps 0

m

CC’Earth] gle

10km

[Source - ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth]

Semi ever green forest

Moist Deciduous forest

[Source bhuvan Ram River Gangaforest Riverconditions 25km - ISRO Kosi RiverGanga 0 0 25km 0 Co relating with Rivers Section EE’ Ganga River 25km Ganga River 0 25km Ram Ganga River 0 0 Ram25km https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/238427] Section Section CC’ BB’Section BB’ Section AA’ Section AA’ Section BB’ Semi ever green forest

Dry Deciduous forest

Kosi River0 25km 0 25km 25km River 0 River 25km 0 10km Ram Ganga 0 Kosi 25km Section BB’

Section CC’ Section CC’

Swamps

Moist Deciduous forest

Ganga River

Section EE’ [Source - ISRO bhuvan https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/238427]

0

25km

Kosi 0River 2 Section CC’

Section CC’

0

Ri

8km 25km

Section AA’

m

25km

Dry Deciduous forest 0

CC’ [Source - ISRO bhuvan m O bhuvan https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/238427] Rivers Co relating forest conditions with Rivers onditions with Rivers /238427]

Ram Ganga River 0 Kosi RiverBB’ Section

Ram Ganga River Section BB’

0

8km

0

10km

Co relating forest conditions Section EE’with Rivers

Section EE’

Gangaforest Riverconditions with Rivers Co relating Section AA’

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10km

0

25km

0

Ram Ganga River

10km

Section BB’

CC’

m

Ganga River

0

25km

Section AA’

[Source - ISRO bhuvan https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/238427]

Ram Ganga River Section BB’

0

25km

Kosi River Section CC’

Co relating forest conditions with Rivers

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Sections along the River

AA

Section AA

BB

Section BB

S

CC

2km Summer 58

Winter

Monsoon

Section CC Night

flood plains with jamun tree islands Day

Evening

Dense forest on higher altitude

The line indicates the referenced values towards the habitat area of otters , coinciding with the riverine forest 10m

10m

Syzygium cumini

18m

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SEASONAL CHANGES IN RIVER FLOOD PLAIN

PRE-MONSOON RIVER PLAINS Mangrove like forest edge on riparian edge of these islands

New growth forest

Grassland

River

POST MONSOON RIVER PLAINS

Annual floods carry slit in from the river

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River islan

Cassia fistula Butea monosperma Terminalia arjuna Moist deciduousMix MixSal Salriverine riverine Moist deciduous Acacia catechu forest forest Rajajinational nationalpark park)strictus ) ( (Rajaji Dendrocalamus Bombax ceiba Moist Moistdeciduous deciduousMix MixSal Salriverine riverine forest chizgum forest cumini ( (Rajaji national park ) Rajaji national park ) Emblica officinalis Bauhienia variegata Ziziphus mauritiana Casearia tomentosa Riverineforest forest AegleRiverine Marmelos

km 5km

nd

Rivers Rivers

Animalseating eating Animals plants plants Animals Animals Trees Trees

Routineofofsmooth smoothcoated coatedotter otter Routine

Rootstaking taking Roots Animals eating Water Water Animals eating plants plants

Rootstaking taking Roots Roots water water Rootstaking taking Water Water

Trees Trees

Routine Routineofofsmooth smoothcoated coatedotter otter

Rivers Rivers

Understory Understory plants plants

Understory Understory Airand and organic Air organic plants plants materials materials

Tributaries Tributaries Rootstaking taking Roots water water

ForestFloor Floor Forest Roots Rootstaking taking water water Forest ForestFloor Floor

Roots Rootstaking taking water water Air Airand andorganic organic Soil Soil materials materials

Tributaries Tributaries Stream Stream

Stream Stream

RoutineofofTermite Termite Routine Soil Soil

Riverine Riverineforest forest

0km km

km 0km 25km km

seasonal change in same place

Animals Animals

KosiRiver River Kosi

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2km 2km

00 00

2km 2km 10km 10km

00 00

10km 10km 25km 25km

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25km 25km

Routine RoutineofofTermite Termite

SectionCC’ CC’ Section

Kosi KosiRiver River

Section SectionCC’ CC’

SectionEE’ EE’ Section

00

7m 7m

Section SectionEE’ EE’

00

7m 7m

River

Grassland

New growth forest

Annual floods high tide Annual floods low tide

10m 61

SEASONAL CHANGES IN RIVER FLOOD PLAIN

PRE - MONSOON

Terrace plain

Riparian Edge

POST MONSOON flood plain of once in a year flood plain of once in a 10 years

62

oogle Earth]

SRO bhuvan ow/238427]

1. Tropical deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Rajaji National park ) 2. Semi evergreen forest ( Pilibhit Tiger reserv )

1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf forest ( Palain Reserved forest ) 2. Moist deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Jim corbett National park )

1. Dry deciduous semi evergreen forest ( Bardiya National Park )

Semi ever green forest

Moist Deciduous forest

Dry Deciduous forest

Section EE’

1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf forest ( Palain Reserved forest ) 2. Moist deciduous semi evergreen Ganga River forest Section AA’ ( Jim corbett National park )

0

8km

0

10km

Malollotus philippinensis Cassia fistula Dalbergia sissoo Shorea robusta Butea monosperma Terminalia arjuna Moist deciduous Mix Sal riverine Acacia catechu forest ( Rajaji national park ) Dendrocalamus strictus Bombax ceiba Ougeinia Oojeinensis Ehretia laevis Emblica officinalis Bauhienia variegata Ziziphus mauritiana Casearia tomentosa Riverine forest Aegle Marmelos Anaphalis araneosa Artemisia roxburghiana Asparagus adscendens 0 Asparagus curilius

0

1. Dry deciduous0 semi25km evergreenRam Ganga River forest Section BB’ ( Bardiya National Park )

Moist deciduous Mix Sal riverine 0 forest ( Rajaji national park )

Dry Deciduous forest

Riverine forest

10km

Kosi River

25km

0

10km

0

25km

Section CC’

Trees

Routine of smooth coated otter

Co relating forest conditions with Rivers

Moist Deciduous forest

0

8km

0

10km

0

25km

streams

Section BB’

2km

0

10km

0

25km

Riparian Edge

0

Ram Ganga River

Routine of Termite

0

0

10km

25km

Kosi River

2km

Section CC’

Section EE’

10m 63

FOREST FRESHWATER PUDDLES

POST MONSOON TIDE PRE MONSOON TIDE

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Tropical deciduous semi everen forest ajaji National park ) Semi evergreen forest libhit Tiger reserv )

1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf forest 1. Tropical deciduous semi ever( Palain Reserved forest ) green forest 2. Moist deciduous semi evergreen ( Rajaji National park ) forest 2. Semi evergreen ( Jim forest corbett National park ) ( Pilibhit Tiger reserv )

mi ever green forest Source - ISRO bhuvan, Google Earth]

Moist Deciduous forest Semi ever green forest

0

Section EE’

Ganga River Section AA’

Dry Deciduous forest Moist Deciduous forest

0 Section EE’

10km

0

25km

Moist deciduous Mix Sal riverine forest of smooth coated otter ( Rajaji national park Routine )

Riverine forest Dry Deciduous forest

Riverine forest

8km

0

0

8km

0

10km

0

25km

0

Section AA’

0

Ram Ganga River Section BB’

relating forest conditions with Rivers

10km

0

0

Ram Ganga River Section BB’

Ganga River

[Source - ISRO bhuvan odiversity.org/species/show/238427]

Shorea robusta Haldina cordifolia Getimage 1. Moist deciduous Broad leaf Mallotus philippenis forest ( Palain Reserved forest ) Moist deciduous Mix Sal riverine 1. Dry deciduous semi evergreen infortunatum Clerodendrum 1. Dry deciduous semi evergreen 2. Moist deciduous forest forestsemi evergreen forest forest ( Rajaji national park ) ( Bardiya National Park ) Pogostemon amaranthoides ( Bardiya National Park ) ( Jim corbett National park ) Ageratum conyzoides

25km

0

0

25km

Ro

2km

0

2km

0

10km

0

25km

10km

10km

Kosi River Section CC’

Routine of Termite

Tre Ro

25km

Kosi River Section CC’

Section EE’

Co relating forest conditions with Rivers

Section E

Decomposed material on stream bottom Blooms of algea

1m 65

[Source - https://round.glass/sustain/conservation/smooth-coated-otter-unexpected-visitor-goas/]

WHAT OTTERS WANT

Sal mixed Moist deciduous Riverine Forest, Scrub-land, Subtropical Pine Forest (Rajaji National Park)

Smooth-coated otters are found in areas where freshwater is plentiful, preferring shallow and placid waters wetlands and seasonal swamps, rivers and lakes in lower shiwalik hills. if we move with otters in different seasons we will discover different habitats over seasons.

Key plan

River plains Saccharum spontaneum Dendrocalamus strictus Andropogon micranthus Arundinella brasiliensis Cynodon dactylon Heteropogon contortus Pollinia hirtifolia Saccharum spontaneum Scrubland Acacia farnesiana Achryanthes aspera Adhatoda vasica Agrimonia sp.

Anaphalis araneosa Artemisia roxburghiana Asparagus adscendens Asparagus curilius Asparagus racemosus Barleria cristata

m

10km

3km 68

[Source - ArcGIS]

jamun tree islands on river plains biodiversity

[Source - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=LP8dgtvkSwc&t=1s&ab_channel=GRAVODRONE]

River plains biodiversity

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Riverplains Saccharum spontaneum Dendrocalamus strictus Andropogon micranthus Arundinella brasiliensis Cynodon dactylon Heteropogon contortus Pollinia hirtifolia Saccharum spontaneum Celtis tetranda Carreya arborea Garuga gamblei Dibergia latifolia

Key plan

Scrubland Acacia farnesiana Achryanthes aspera Adhatoda vasica Agrimonia sp.

Anaphalis araneosa Artemisia roxburghiana Asparagus adscendens Asparagus curilius Asparagus racemosus Barleria cristata

m

10km

3km 70

[Source - ArcGIS]

Grasslands near river plains

[Source - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=LP8dgtvkSwc&t=1s&ab_channel=GRAVODRONE]

Grasslands near river plains biodiversity

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Key plan

Sal Forest Shorea robusta Haldina cordifolia Getimage Mallotus philippenis Clerodendrum infortunatum Pogostemon amaranthoides Ageratum conyzoides Moist Deciduous Celtis tetranda Carreya arborea Garuga gamblei Dibergia latifolia Vitex altissima

m

10km

3km 72

[Source - ArcGIS]

Khair-Sissoo Forest Dalbergia sissoo Acacia catechu Terminalia arjuna Holarrhena antidysenterica Emblica officinalis Lantana camara Sida cordifolia

[Source - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=LP8dgtvkSwc&t=1s&ab_channel=GRAVODRONE]

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[Source - https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ water-tankers-to-feed-waterholes-in-uttarakhand-national-park-1401291]

INDICATOR OF HABITATS Sal mixed Moist deciduous Riverine Forest, Scrubland, Subtropical Pine Forest (Rajaji National Park)

Smooth coated otter is considered a suitable indicator of forest’s health, being sensitive to any deterioration that occurs along the food chain. Being at the top of the food chain, otters are among the first species to disappear when their environment is contaminated by pollutants. Otters indicates home to more than half of all known species worldwide. similarly, if we look closely at the habitats with otters, we can find many indicators that decode the richness of the systems & the riparian forest.

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ANNEXTURE

Park History Rajaji National Park is situated in the state of Uttarakhand, now known as Uttarakhand. The picturesque beauty and rich biodiversity of the park serve as its major attractions for both nature lovers as well as wildlife enthusiasts. In the year 1983, Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary of Uttaranchal was merged with Motichur and Chilla wildlife sanctuaries and made into Rajaji National Park. The park has been named after Late Sri C. Rajgopalachari (also known as Rajaji), a famous freedom fighter and first governor general of India . Rajaji National Park of India spreads over an area of 820.42 sq km and is open to visitors only from Mid-November to Mid-June.

Park Location Rajaji National Park is situated along the hills and foothills of Shiwalik ranges in the Himalayan foothills and represent the Shiwalik eco-system. Combining three sanctuaries, namely Chilla, Motichur and Rajaji - Rajaji National Park is spread over the Pauri Garwal, Dehradun and Saharanpur districts of Uttarakhand. The Motichur and Rajaji sanctuaries are contiguous, and are separated from the Chilla Sanctuary to the south-east by the Ganges River and the Chilla River.

Motichur and Rajaji wildlife sanctuaries lie to the north and south of the Siwalik Ridge and are dissected by many ravines carrying water which descend from the main ridge, becoming broad pebble/boulder filled streams in the plains. These streams remain dry for most of the year but become raging torrents during the monsoon. The area is covered with diverse forest types ranging from semi-evergreen to deciduous and from mixed broad-leaved to terai grassland and has been classified as Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest type. Lofty strands of sal dominate in many parts.

Rajaji is home to avian species which are found in forested foothills and in open grassland. It’s location in a transition zone between temperate western Himalaya and central Himalaya enhances the species diversity and consequently the viewing prospects. Rajaji’s checklist has about 400 birds species and includes good birds like Greater Scaup, White-naped Woodpecker, Great Hornbill, Black-bellied Tern, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Black-necked Stork, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Scaly Thrush, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Pale-footed Bush Warbler, Tytler’s Leaf Warbler, Green Avadavat and Reed Bunting.

Birding in Rajaji can be: i) around the various forest rest houses, ii) on the 26 Km forest drive at Chilla across grassland and mixed forests, iii) along the Phanduwala - Kansrao - Motichur trail. This 40 km trail goes through undisturbed stretches of dense forest. The Suswa river runs parallel to these three connecting forest ranges and marks the northern boundary of the park. A jungle road connects these ranges from Asarori to Motichur via Phanduwala and Kansrao. Approaches to this route can be from the Asarori gate opposite Karvapani gate on the SH-DD highway from where Phanduwala is about 10 km. An alternative route is from Ramgarh gate near Clemet Town. This road goes through the Mathurawala swamps along Suswa river to reach Phanduwala.

[Source -https://rajajinationalpark.co.in/1.about.htm]

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0km 3km 1km 0km

1.Great Himalayas 2. Lesser Himalayas 3. Shiwaliks

15km 7km

2km

10km

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1000km [Source -https://en-in.topographic-map.com/maps/s85w/Rajaji-National-Park/]

0km 3km 1km 0km

15km 7km

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10km 5km

[Source -https://rajajinationalpark.co.in/1.about.htm]

30km

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ANNEXTURE

Topo sheet

[source-http://www.surveyofindia.gov.in/pages/display/189-download-open-series-maps(osm)] 80

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BIBLIOGRAPHY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 86

https://bhuvan-app1.nrsc.gov.in/plantation/plantation.php https://dataviewer.iirs.gov.in/ https://bhuvan-app1.nrsc.gov.in/plantation/plantation.php https://bis.iirs.gov.in/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvQm6kpiAnA&ab_channel=UNICCanberra https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/parts-of-uttar-pradesh-uttarakhand-go-dry-to-quench-delhi-s-thirst/ story-M1GcEsbkBdlSVjs39GKMpM.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UI9VyyOaoY&t=184s&ab_channel=rajajitigerreserve https://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=29.885304&lon=78.438950&z=11&m=w https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343018103_Rajaji_Tiger_Reserve_-A_Natural_Conservatory_of_ Shivalik_Biodiversity_in_Northern_India_The_ground_level_perspectives_and_Socio-economic_status https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-2558-7_15 https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/17178 https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8443/jspui/pdfToThesis.jsp?toHandle=https://shodhganga.inflibnet. ac.in/handle/10603/17178&toFile=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/17178/14/14_ chapter%206.pdf https://www.tucson.ars.ag.gov/isco/isco12/VolumeIII/SoilResourceConservationTechnology.pdf https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/07/9/siwalik-erosion/ https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/2/3/370 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP8dgtvkSwc&ab_channel=GRAVODRONE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8jOcYEtyc0&t=1s&ab_channel=AmitSengupta https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/238427 https://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/priority_species/threatened_species/smooth_coated_ otter/#:~:text=Habitat%20and%20Distribution&text=Smooth%2Dcoated%20otters%20are%20 found,%2C%20lakes%2C%20and%20rice%20paddies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db6upadP4TM&ab_channel=ShantanuKuveskar https://www.worldwildlife.org/biomes/tropical-and-subtropical-moist-broadleaf-forests http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/forestry/what.htm https://study.com/academy/lesson/smooth-coated-otter-habitat-adaptations-facts.html https://forestsnews.cifor.org/49010/linking-trees-and-water?fnl= https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/rivers-and-streams-life-in-flowing-water23587918/#:~:text=Streams%20at%20this%20point%20are,by%20turbulent%20flow%20in%20 riffles.&text=With%20less https://wti.org.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/pub_making_way.pdf https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/439-river-ecosystems https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327550211_Soil_Conservation_in_the_Shivaliks https://www.stateofindiasbirds.in/species/grehor1/ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Buceros_bicornis/ https://bhuvan-app1.nrsc.gov.in/thematic/thematic/index.php https://bhuvan-app1.nrsc.gov.in/moef/index.php# https://www.inditales.com/rajaji-national-park-chilla-safari/ https://www.rajajitigerreserve.org.in/rajaji-national-park.php https://haridwar.nic.in/history/ http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/8831/1/Factors_determining_habitat_choice_of_the.pdf https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Factors-determining-habitat-choice-of-the-otter%2C-in-ShenoyVarma/d2c34a61afd7f2a9663b018c3aed77328c0501b7 http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?useExisting=1 https://soinakshe.uk.gov.in/Errorpage.aspx https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/ http://animalia.bio/asian-elephant https://rajajinationalpark.co.in/checklist-birds-of-rajaji.htm

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303780504_Mammalian_fauna_of_Rajaji_National_Park_ India_A_review_on_ecological_observations_and_checklist • https://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/rajaji-national-park-in-uttarakhand-a-tiger-reserve-is-divided-byinfrastructure-projects-6755611.html • Ross and Magnusson, 1990 • IUCN- Gharial Book-01-03-17.cdr • Fauna of Corbett National Park • https://ebird.org/species/rorpa • http://www.surveyofindia.gov.in/pages/display/189-download-openseries maps(osm) • https://bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in/bhuvan_links.php • https://www.corbettnationalpark.in/ • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Corbett_National_Park • https://en-in.topographic-map.com/maps/gmyj/Uttarakhand/ • http://www.ecoindia.com/flora/trees/sal-tree.html • https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/55311/11/11_ • chapter%202.pdf • https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/214132/9/total%20 • thesis.pdf • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/216275949_An_assessment_ • of_ecosystem_services_of_Corbett_Tiger_Reserve_India • https://rajaji-nationalpark.co.in/birds-rajaji-national-park-gallery.html#:~:text=Leafbird%20Chloropsis%20 aurifrons.-,Hornbills,to%20three%20species%20of%20hornbill.

• https://rajaji-nationalpark.co.in/eco-tourism-rajaji-national-park.html • https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/create-animal-migration-map/ • https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grehor1/cur/introduction

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