BARIPADA: Rare medicinal plants are fast vanishing from the Similipal reserve forest in Mayurbhanj. Some of these plants include Satabari, Anantamula, Patalgaruda, Harida, Bahada, Aonla, Poja and Ashoka. Several other varieties are on the verge of extinction due to lack of conservation measures.As per reports, about 35 to 40 per cent of the plants have vanished from the reserve forest spread over 2,271.78 sq km area in the last 10 years. Head of department of Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation in North Odisha University (NOU) Sustidhar Rout said so far nearly 300 varieties of medicinal plants have been spotted inside the protected forest.Rout is doing extensive research on the plant species of Similipal under a fellowship from the Ministry of Forest and Environment. “The exact number could be more as many areas are yet to be surveyed. We did research only in 34 components of nearly 220 inside the reserve forest,” he said. The researcher said the State Government is at present encouraging the conservation of medicinal plants and as part of it, a patch of 200 hectares at Hatikote under Baripada forest division has been identified and conservation research is on. Sources said the flora and fauna in Similipal has drastically reduced due to Maoist activities and lack of protection and conservation measures. Some important herbal species like Rauvolfia Serpeafina, Glorisa Serperba, Gnetum Ula, Orosylum indicum and Pteropus Marscepium are threatened due to rapid deforestation. Official sources said the government has roped in 18 tribes like Santhal, Kulho, Bathudi, Khadia and Mankidia for conservation of plants. They have been made aware of the negative implications of unscientific collection and use of herbs and roots of different plants.
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