Biodiversity conservation and natural resources in North East India

Northeast States of India is blessed with a wide range of physiographic and ecoclimatic conditions

and the geographical ‘gateway’ for much of India’s endemic flora as well as fauna. This region

represents an important part of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, one of the 25 global

biodiversity hotspots recognized currently. This article stressed the need to conservation of

biodiversity and natural resources in northeast states with special reference to Manipur. The

known biodiversity of Manipur includes 4000 angiosperm plants, 430 medicinal plants, 34 species

of edible fungi, 500 orchids, 54 species of bamboo, 40 endemic rice cultivars, 160 fish species, 21

migratory aquatic birds and a multitude of low and high altitude butterflies. The most endangered

species of this state viz. Cervus eldi eldi and Lilium macklinae sealy are in deplorable condition and

their protection and conservation initiatives/measures should be of prime concern.

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