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)
2
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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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. 22
0m
4m 1.5m
15m 7m
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Section through ganga river bed. 24
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4m 2m
20m 10m
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Section through valley and 2nd order stream. 26
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
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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. 52
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’
0
Section EE’ 0
10km
0 10km
0 10km
10km 0
10km
0 00
10km 8km 10km
0
10km
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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’
0
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
59
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
60
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
00
2km 2km
00 00
2km 2km 10km 10km
00 00
10km 10km 25km 25km
00
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
64
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
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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
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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
1km
5km
1000km [Source -https://en-in.topographic-map.com/maps/s85w/Rajaji-National-Park/]
0km 3km 1km 0km
15km 7km
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1km
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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