By H H Mohrmen
The North East (NE) region of the country has always been portrayed as poor, backward, and neglected; hence, there is a need for special consideration to support the region. The region has never been projected as one that has something to contribute to the betterment of the country or the world at large. Its leaders are also to be blamed for always approaching the central government with a begging bowl for special treatment with special budget allocations. The debate was always along these lines that the region needs special consideration, but for what reason.
This year, the allegation was that the budget allocation for the region is peanuts, but we have a different take on this matter. Our argument is that the NE should be given special consideration not because of our weaknesses but because of our strengths. The NE should be considered for what it has, not for what it does not have to offer. Our strength is exemplary not only for the country but for the world. The region has what the world needs the most. The question is, what does the North East have that other parts of the country or even the world do not have?
The state on the easternmost edge of the country is Arunachal Pradesh, also known as “the land of the dawn-lit mountains.” The state has a large part of its area under forest cover. According to the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, the forest cover in Arunachal Pradesh was estimated at 66,430.67 sq km (India State of Forest Report 2021). The flora and fauna of Arunachal Pradesh comprise over 5,000 varieties of plants, more than 500 varieties of fauna, and over 650 bird species. Arunachal Pradesh is primarily known for its orchids, with over 500 distinct species. Its rich biodiversity is confirmed by the fact that until this year, the scientific community continues to discover new species from the state.
Assam, also called the gateway to the North East, has a forest cover of 29,237 sq km, making the forest and tree cover in the state 37.27% of the geographical area. Assam has 193 species of mammals, including 10 species of primates, more than 820 species and subspecies of birds, 185 species of fish, 405 species of butterflies, 115 species of reptiles, 46 species of amphibians, and 39 species of snails. Assam is also famous for its one-horn rhinoceros and national parks.
The forest and tree cover of Manipur is 77.20% of the state’s total geographical area. The state animal of Manipur, the Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii), is an endemic and endangered subspecies of Eld’s deer found only in Manipur. Its original natural habitat is the floating marshy grasslands of the Keibul Lamjao National Park, located in the southern parts of Loktak Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in South Asia. Manipur has rich wildlife, ranging from big carnivores to micro-fauna, including tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, black panthers, Malayan sun bears, and Himalayan black bears. Migratory elephants have also been reported in some parts of the state. It is an important home for endangered and endemic primates such as the Hoolock gibbon, stump-tailed macaque, Assamese macaque, and pig-tailed macaque. Manipur is also home to six species of hornbills and four species of pheasants. The state falls in the East-Asian migratory flyway of the Amur falcon and many other migratory birds. Other important wild animals found in Manipur forests include the slow loris, pangolin, Himalayan yellow-throated marten, monitor lizards, hog deer, hog badger, and binturong.
Mizoram hosts numerous species of birds, wildlife, and flora. Mammal species observed in Mizoram forests include the slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), the state animal red serow (Capricornis rubidus), goral (Nemorhaedus goral), tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), and sun bear (Helarctos malayanus). The state is also home to many reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. The forest cover in the state is 18,186 sq km, which is 86.27% of the state’s geographical area. Mizoram is a habitat for eight species of primates such as the Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus), Phayre’s leaf monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei), stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides), pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina), Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis), rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), and slow loris (Nycticebus coucang).
About half of Tripura’s land area is under forest cover and the forest cover in the State is 7,725.59 sq km which is 73.68 % of the State’s geographical area. There are also large tracts of bamboo, some species of which are believed to be endemic to the state. Animal life includes tigers, leopards, elephants, jackals, wild dogs, wild boars, serows (goat-like mammals), and various species of wild cattle, including gayals and other types of gaurs. According to a survey in 1989–90, Tripura hosts 90 land mammal species from 65 genera and 10 orders, including species such as the elephant (Elephas maximus), bear (Melursus ursinus), binturong (Arctictis binturong), wild dog (Cuon alpinus), porcupine (Artherurus assamensis), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), sambar (Cervus unicolor), wild boar (Sus scrofa), gaur (Bos gaurus), leopard (Panthera pardus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), and many species of small cats and primates. Out of 15 free-ranging primates in India, seven are found in Tripura; this is the highest number of primate species found in any Indian state. The wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is now extinct. There are nearly 300 species of birds in the state.
Nagaland is home to a rich variety of natural, cultural, and environmental resources. The state has a recorded forest area (RFA) of 8,623 sq km, which is 52.01% of its geographical area. There are about 71 bamboo species, 12 cane species, 41 allied species, 346 lichens, and 103 Red Data Plants. The faunal diversity includes about 67 common wild animals, 519 bird species, 149 fish species, and numerous reptiles and amphibians. Nagaland is known as the “falcon capital of the world” thanks to the hundreds of thousands of Amur falcons that stop at Doyang Reservoir to feast on flying termites on their way from China and Siberia to Africa each year. Nagaland is home to 396 species of orchids, belonging to 92 genera, of which 54 have horticultural and medicinal economic importance.
The state of Sikkim has a large recorded forest land area covering 82.31% of its geographical area. Reserve Forest, Khasmal, and Gorucharan are the three categories of forests in the state. Sikkim’s orchids are world-famous, with the state having 556 species of them. Sikkim has 150 mammal species, including the Bharal, clouded leopard, fishing cat, golden cat, Himalayan tahr, leopard cat, lesser or red panda, marbled cat, musk deer, Nayan or Great Tibetan Sheep, pangolin, snow leopard, spotted linsang, Tibetan fox, Tibetan gazelle, Tibetan wild ass, tiger, and Tibetan wolf. It has 552 bird species, including the black-necked crane (migratory), blood pheasant, lammergeier, large falcon, monal pheasant, peafowl, pheasant, and snow partridge. The state has 590 species of butterflies and moths, many of which are endangered. The forests of the state shelter more than 3,500 flowering plants, 352 orchids, 40 bamboo species, and about 800 medicinal plants. The state is part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot of the world.
Meghalaya has a forest cover of 17,321 sq Km which 73.23% of the state geographical area as on 2006. It is said that about 50% of the total number of mammals found in the entire Indian subcontinent can also be found in Meghalaya and its adjoining states in the North-East. Mammals such as Tupaia, Rhizomys, Cannomys, Chiropodomys, and Micromys occur only in Meghalaya and its adjacent areas. Some of the most interesting animals found in Meghalaya are the Hoolock gibbon, the only tailless ape in India, golden cat, leopard cat, jungle cat, large Indian civet, binturong or bear cat, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, and pangolin.
The NE region is not rich in terms of activities that can contribute to the economy of the nation. In fact, the resources that the region has are best left untapped, but its richness lies elsewhere. It has not only a rich presence of biodiversity but large part of the region is still under forest cover.
The India State of Forests Report (ISFR) 2021 revealed that the north-eastern states have a total forest cover of 169,521 sq km, out of their total geographical area of 262,179 sq km. The average area under forest cover in all the states of the North East is above 70%.The region deserves special consideration because it still holds a very large collection of biodiversity, more than any other part of the country. The NE region needs to be rewarded by the country and the world at large for its ability to protect and preserve its forests and the environment. The region should be rewarded for the carbon that its forests can sequester, which is the region’s gift to the World.