Beauty of the Biodiversity rich valley Paddar

Paddar valley famous for one of the world’s purest and highest Sapphire mine is situated at the extreme south-east corner of district Kishtwar. The valley touches its border with Pangai valley of Himachal Pradesh, Zanskar valley of Ladakh and Marwah-Wadwan valley. The lowest altitude of the Paddar valley is 1700 meters asl at the base of rivers Chandrabhaga and Bhotnallah whereas many of the mountain peaks are more than 5000 meters asl in height. Thus the lower altitude areas of the valley are occupied with temperate vegetation whereas the higher altitude areas consist of sub-alpine vegetation and alpine pasturelands. Due to the diversity of climate there is also a rich diversity in flora and fauna. More than half of the area in Paddar valley has no connectivity with roads, electricity.  Thus the lifestyle of the people is still traditional depending mostly on the Biodiversity of the area to fulfill most of their daily needs. Many plant species are used by the locals for edible, commercial, medicinal, religious and other daily life purposes.

            The plant diversity of the valley consists of about 50 species of trees, 50 species of shrubs and more than 300 species of herbs. The lower altitudes are dominated by broadleaf Oak species (Quercus baloot), which is being heavily impacted by the locals for its use as fuel wood and fodder. Other associated tree species are Alder (Alnus nitida), Maples (Acer species), Elm (Ulmus wallichiana), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Poplars (Populus species) Horse chestnut (Aesculus indica), Willows (Salix species) etc. Many temperate cultivated fruit species like Apple (Malus domestica), Apricot (Prunus armeniaca), Sweet cherry (Prunus avium), Allo Bukhara (Prunus bokhariensis), Wild cherry (Prunus ceriosoiodes), Plums (Prunus domestica), Peach (Prunus persica), Pomegranate (Punica granatum), Pear (Pyrus communis) are present in the valley. Some of the wild fruit species are Bird Cherry (Prunus cornuta), Kanth (Pyrus pashia), (Sorbus lanata), Hawthorn (Crataegus songarica), Quince (Cydonia vulgaris), Hackberry (Celtis australis), Wild fig (Ficus palmate) which have edible as well as commercial importance for the locals. The Wallnut (Jugalans regia), Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) and Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana) are a big source of income for many people. Various coniferous species of the area are Deodar (Cedrus deodara), Kail (Pinus wallichiana), Spruce (Picea simithiana), Fir (Abies pindrow), and Himalayan yew (Taxus baccata). At the tree line Birch (Betula utilis) trees are found. Deodar and Birch trees are heavily impacted by locals for construction of traditional houses of Paddar valley.

            Many plants species of medicinal importance are a source of earning for some local Hakims and traders of these plants. Various species are Himalayan yew (Taxus wallichiana), Kala zeera (Bonium persicum), Picrorhiza (Picrorhiza kurrooa), Patish (Aconitum heterophyllum), Dischorea (Dioscorea deltoidea), Kuth (Saussurea costus), Kasturi kamal (Saussurea gossypiphora),  Artemisia (Artemisia meritima), Wild Thyme (Thymus serphyllum), Himalayan Arnebia (Arnebia benthamii), Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis aculeata), Dandelion (Traxacum officinale), Hourse mint (Mentha longifolia), Himalayan May Apple (Podophyllum hexandrum),  Indian Rhubarb (Rheum webbianum), Spiked Rhubarb (Rheum spiciforme), Jatamansi (Valeriana jatamansi), Himalayan Bergenia (Bergenia stracheyi) etc. Rhododendron species are also used for their medicinal importance.

Some plant species like Gugal Dhoop (Jurinea macrocephala), Juniper (Juniperus communis), Shangel (Skimmia anquetilia) etc. are used for religious purposes in the homes and temples. Shrub species like Witch hazel (Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana), Desmodium elegans, Indegofera heterantha, Lonicera quinquelocularis, Spiraea canescens etc. are used by the locals for various craftworks and formation of agricultural implements. Other comman shrubs of the valley are Viburnum species, Rhus wallichi, Lyonia ovalifolia, Rabdosia rugosa, Astragalus species, Berberis species, Cotoneaster species, Dephne oleoides, Sorbaria tomentosa, Zizyphus oxyphylla etc. Shrubs of the alpine pastures consist of Junipers, Rhododendrons, Salix, etc. Various fungi growing on the trees and in the litter of coniferous forests are also used by the locals for edible purposes. Guchi (Morchella esculentum) is one of the major sources of earning for major portion of the local population.

            The carnivorous mammalian fauna found in the forests of the valley includes Leopard (Panthera pardus), Brown bear (Ursus arctos), Black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus), Jackal (Canis aureus), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) etc. Snow Lepord (Uncia uncia) is also found on the glaciers near the Zanskar border. Various wild herbivores of the valley are Musk dear (Moschus moschiferus), Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex), Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus). Rhesus monkey (Maccaca mulata) and Comman Langoor (Presbytus entellus) are also common in the valley. Avian fauna includes birds like House sparrow (Passer domesticus), Chukar (Alectoris chukar), Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceous), House Crow (Corvus splendens), Wild crow (Corvus species), Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Himalayan snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis) etc.

 Although there is a rich diversity of flora and fauna in the Paddar valley but increased population, unchecked hunting and commercialization of forest minor products have increased the threats to the rich Biodiversity. The anthropogenic disturbances in the form of timber extraction, fuel wood, fodder, grazing, trade of forest minor products have reduced the population of many ecologically important species. The unchecked felling of deodar and Oak trees has also reduced the density of the trees in the forests. The regeneration of the plants has also reduced due to the above factors. Thus there is requirement of timely management of the forests and proper management policy with the involvement of locals can help in the conservation of the Biodiversity.