Flora of Ramgarh Crater, Baran, Rajasthan

by Dr. Satish Kumar Sharma | Aug 6, 2025 | Featured, Flora, Species

Flora Of Ramgarh Crater, Baran District, Rajasthan with Ethnobotanical Notes and Highlight on Related Issues

Dr. Satish Kumar Sharma

Assistant Conservator of Forests (Retd.)

14-15, Chakri Amba, Rampura Circle, Udaipur, Rajasthan

Anurag Bhatnagar

Dy. Conservator of Forests,

Wildlife Division, Kota, Rajasthan

Praveen Singh

Field Biologist,

Tiger Watch, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

Dr. Dharmendra Khandal

Conservation Biologist

Tiger Watch, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

Ramgarh crater is a prominent meteorite impact crater, located on the Vindhyan Plateau near Ramgarh village in Baran District, southeastern Rajasthan. Geologically significant, the crater spans a forested region, now managed under the jurisdiction of the Kishanganj Forest Range, Baran Forest Division. Earlier, this area was managed as a territorial forest but now has been declared as a Conservation Reserve by the Government of Rajasthan through notification F/4(12)/Forest/2017, dated March 3, 2023. The details of forest blocks and area is given below in the Table 1.

Table 1: Area details of Ramgarh Conservation Reserve.

S. No.	Forest Block	Forest Land Category	Area (ha)
1	Ramgarh	Protected Forest	1440.50
2	Kunji Suwans	Protected Forest	2368.34
	Total		3808.84

The area is important from history, culture, archeology, geology and forestry point of view. Historically, apex predators such as the tiger (Panthera tigris) and leopard (Panthera pardus) were once reported in the region, though they are now locally extinct.

Figure 1: View of the Dhonk (Anogeissus pendula) forest on eastern inner hill slope and Butea monosperma dominated forest in foothills (photo taken from ruins of the Bhand Deora).

The present-day mammalian fauna includes the Northern Plains Langur (Semnopithecus entellus), Indian Wild Pig (Sus scrofa), Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica), Grey Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii), Ruddy Mongoose (H. smithii), Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Golden Jackal (Canis aureus aureus), Indian Hare (Lepus nigricollis), Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica), House Shrew (Suncus murinus), Five-striped Squirrel (Funambulus pennantii), Indian Gerbil (Tatera indica), and Indian Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis). The area also supports a rich assemblage of avifauna, reptiles, butterflies, and moths.

Figure 2: A juvenile Bengal Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis) (photographed at the eastern bank of Pushkar Talab on July 15, 2025).

Ramgarh Crater is equally notable for its architectural and spiritual heritage. Noteworthy sites include the Ramgarh Fort, Bhand Deora temple complex, Harchand Ji Ki Chhatri, Annapurna and Krishnai Mata Ji Temples, Kachkaran Ki Baori, Brahm Chetan Kund, and Ramgarh Mata Temple. Several water bodies, such as Nola, Pushkar Talab (Pokhar), Bada Talab (Ramgarh Talab), and Mala Ki Talai, dot the crater landscape. According to oral histories, rulers of Kota State once frequented Mala Ki Talai for royal hunting expeditions (Dr. Madhusudan Vaishnaw, pers. comm., June 20, 2024).

Figure 3: View of Pushkar Talab as seen from the vantage point behind the ruins of the Bhand Deora Temple.

Significantly, Pushkar Talab within the Ramgarh Crater has been designated as one of the 44 ‘Notified Wetlands’ by the Government of Rajasthan, highlighting its ecological importance and hydrological value within the regional landscape.

The broader Hadoti region is relatively well-documented for its prehistoric rock art and unique geological specialties (Abbas, 2021; Nagar et al., 2017; Pandey et al., 2024). However, the Ramgarh Crater, despite its ecological and cultural significance, has received limited focused scientific attention (Aswathi et al., 2012). Floristic studies covering the broader Hadoti zone are available (Sharma, 2002), and a comprehensive overview of the vegetation across Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, and Baran districts is provided in “The Flora of Rajasthan” (Sharma, 2022). However, a dedicated botanical inventory specifically focused on the Ramgarh Crater remains absent.

Figure 4: Ruins of the Bhand Deora Shiva Temple. The upper section shows the remains of the sanctum (Garbhagriha); the bottom left displays the outer wall of the sanctum, while the bottom right depicts scattered architectural remnants lying behind the Garbhagriha.

To address this gap, extensive floristic surveys were conducted between 2023 and July 2025. These investigations aimed to document the floral diversity of the crater across different seasons and provide foundational data for future ecological and conservation assessments.

Table 2: Dicot flora of Ramgarh crater

S.N.	Family	Latin name of plant	H*	Location	Status	Remark
1	Annonaceae	Annona squamosa	S	Near eastern bank of Pushkar Talab	Less common	Growing in patches
2	Monispermaceae	Cissampelos pareira	TS	Growing among bushes	Relatively common
		Tinospora cordifolia	CS	Climbing on Prosopis juliflora	Relatively common	Hanging assimilatory roots are visible here and there
		Cocculus hirsutus	SS	Growing among bushes	Relatively common
3	Nymphoeaceae	Nymphoea nauchali	H	Bada talab and Puskar Talab	Common
4	Nelumbonaceae	Nelumbo nucifera	H	Bada Talab	Common	Growing towards shore area
5	Papaveraceae	Argemone mexicana	H	Downstream of Bada Talab	Common
6	Capparaceae	Capparis decidua	S/ST	Dotted everywhere in open well drained pockets	Common
		C. sepiaria	SS	Dotted everywhere	Common
		Crateva odansonii	T	Foot hills	Rare
7	Flacourtiaceae	Flacourtia indica	S/ST	Dotted	Less common
8	Malvaceae	Abutilon indicum	US	Dotted	Less common
		Hibiscus caesius	H	Dotted among bushes	Relatively common	Become visible after monsoon season when it flowers
		H. micranthus	S	Dotted	Less common
9	Sterculiaceae	Sterculia urens	T	Upper reaches of the hills	Rare
10	Tiliaceae	Corchorus aestuans	H	Near Bada Talab	Less common
		C. capsularis	H	Near Bada Talab	Less common
		C tridens	H	Near Bada Talab	Less common
		Grewia flavescens	S	Growing below the Anogeissus pendula crop	Less common
		G. tenax	S	A bush of stony area	Less common
11	Oxalidaceae	Oxalis corniculate	H	Edges of both the water bodies	Abundant
12	Rutaceae	Aegle marmelos	T	Seen in valley area	Less common
13	Simaroubaceae	Ailanthus excelsa	T	On the way to Ramgarh Mata temple	Rare	Visible from distance owing to large sized leaves
14	Balanitaceae	Balanites aegyptiaca	T	Soil erosion prone compact areas	Common	A species which suckers profusely
15	Burseraceae	Boswellia serrata	T	Upper reaches	Less common
16	Meliaceae	Azadirachta indica	T	Growing among bushes near Goshala	Less common
		Melia azedarach	T	Near Goshala	Rare
17	Rhamnaceae	Ziziphus glabrata	T	Dotted	Less common
		Z. mauritiana	T	Dotted	Less common
		Z. nummularia	S	Dotted along the road	Less common
		Z. xylophyrus		Dotted on hill slopes	Less common
18	Vitaceae	Cayratia carnosa	C	Climbing straight on the thick-stemmed trees like Madhuca indica	Common	A rainy season plant. Starts appearing before onset of monsoon. It perennates through its beaded or moniliform roots
19	Sapindaceae	Cardiospermum helicacabum	C	Among bushes	Common	A rainy season plant
20	Anacardiaceae	Lannea coromadelica	T	Present from upper reaches to foothills.	Common	Also seen growing on ancient buildings of temples and fort.
		Mangifera indica	T	Eastern edge of Pushkar Talab and near Goshala	Grow in groves
21	Moringaceae	Moringa oleifera	T	Dotted	Less common
22	Fabaceae	Abrus precatorius	TH	Among bushes	Common
		Alysicarpus vaginalis	H	Growing as ground flora	Common
		Butea monosperma	T	Foot hills	Abundant	Growing as 5/E₅^– Butea Forest in the area.
		Clitoria ternatea	TH	Growing among the bushes near spillover of Bada Talab	Less common
		Crotalaria medicagenia	H	Open areas	Common	A rainy season plant
		Desmodinm triflorum	H	Creeping here and there on the ground floor	Common
		Galactia tenuiflora	TH	Among bushes near Bhand Deora and eastern bank of Pushkar Talab	Relatively common
		Indigofera linifolia	H	Quite visible during monsoon and post monsoon period	Common
		I. linnaei	H	Quite visible during monsoon and post monsoon period	Common
		Mucuna prurita	TH	Visible during monsoon and post monsoon period	Common
		Rhynchosia minima	TH	Among bushes	Common
		Tephrosia villosa	US	During rainy season becomes visible in open areas	Less common
		T. purpurea	H	During rainy season becomes visible in open areas	Less common
23	Caesalpiniaceae	Bauhinia racemosa	T	On the way to Ramgarh Mata temple and near eastern bank of Pushkar Talabs	Rare
		Cassia fistula	T	Near eastern bank of Pushkar Talabs	Rare
		Cassia pumila	H	Open areas	Less common
		Cassia sophera / Senna sophera	S	Near eastern Ghat of Pushkar Talab. Growing under the shade of Madhuca indica	Less common	Grow in patches
		Cassia tora/ Senna tora	H	Grow in open area	Common
		C. uniflora/ Senna uniflora	H	Open area	Common	This species is spreading at fasti pace
		Tamarindus indica	T	Near eastern edge of Pushkar talab	Rare
24	Mimosaceae	Acacia catechu	T	Hill slopes	Common
		A. leucophloea	T	Hill slopes (where degradation is prevailing) and foot hills. Visible along the sides of whole road net work	Common
		A. nilotica indica	T	Foothills and road side ditches	Less common
		Dichrostachys cinerea	S	Foothills and lower slopes	Less common
		Mimosa himalayna	S	Road sides	Less common
		Prosopis juliflora	T	Whole valley and foot hills are badly affected	Abundant
25	Combretaceae	Anogeissus pendula / Terminalia pendula	T	A dominant species luxuriantly growing on hill slopes and foot-hills.	Abundant	Making 5/E₁and 5/E/DS₁ forest types on hill slopes and stoney foot hills
26	Myrtaceae	Syzygium cumini	T	Near Goshala	Rare
27	Onagraceae	Ludwigia adscendens	H	Bada Talab	Less common
28	Trapaceae	Trapa natans	H	Pushkar and Bada Talab waters	Common
29	Cucurbitaceae	Cucumis melo var. agrestis	C	On the walls of Bhand Deora	Less common	Rainy season plant
		Diplocyclos palmatus	H	Among bushes	Common during rainy season	Rainy season plant
		Luffa acutangula	C	Among bushes	Less common	Rainy season plant
		L. echinata	C	Among bushes	Common	Rainy season plant
		Momordica charantia	C	Among bushes	Common	Rainy season plant
		M. dioica	C	Among bushes	Less common	A dioicous plant of rainy season. Start appearing before on set of monsoons through the underground tubers
		Trichosanthes cucumeriana	C	Among bushes	Abundant	Rainy season plant
30	Cactaceae	Opuntia elatior	S	On the way to Bhand Deora	Less common	Havily naturalize in many pockets of Baran district
31	Aizoaceae	Trianthema portulacastrum	H	Quite visible during rainy season in open areas	Common
32	Rubiaceae	Borreria articularis	H	Visible during rainy season on forest floor	Common
		B. pusila	H	Visible during rainy season on forest floor	Less common
		Mitraguna parvifolia	T	Hill slopes and foot hills	Less common
33	Asteraceae	Ageratum conyzoides	H	Bordering area of Pushkar Talab and Bada Talab	Common
		A haustonianum	H	Bordering area of Pushkar Talab and Bada Talab	Less common
		Bidens biternata	H	Open areas and old buildings	Common
		Caesulia axillaris	H	Bordering Bada Talab	Less common
		Echinops eclinatus	H	Near Bhand Deora and at many places along the road	Less common
		Eclipta prostorey	H	Bordering Bada Talab	Less common
		Parthenium hysterophorus	H	Occupying open places	Abundant
		Tridax procumbens	H	Open areas and road side	Abundant
		Vernonia cineria	H	Open areas	Less common
		Xanthium strumarium	H	Road sides	Common
34	Sapotaceae	Madhuca indica	T	Present near the eastern shore of Pushkar Talab	Growing singly and in groves
		Manilkara hexandra	T	Few trees dotted in the area	Rare
35	Ebenaceae	Diospyros cordifolia	T	Dotted in foot hills	Less common
		D. melanoxylon	T	Doted in foot hills & lower hill slopes	Less common
36	Apocynaceae	Carissa spinarum	S	Near Bhand Deora	Rare
		Catharanthus pasillus	H	Grow in open areas during rainy season	Common
		Wrightia tinctoria	T	Hill slopes	Rare
37	Asclepiadacace	Calotropis procera	S	Open area along the road	Less common
		Oxystelma secamone	TH	Downstream of Bada Talab	Less common
		Pergularia daemia	TU	Among bushes	Less common
		Wattakaka volubilis	TS	Dotted	Rare	Climbing on trees
38	Priplocaceae	Cryptostegia grandiflora	SS	Down stream of the Bada Talab	Rare
		Hemidesmus indicus	SU	Dotted here and there on the forest floor	Rare
39	Ehretiaceae	Cordia dichotoma	T	Near eastern edge of Pushkar Talab	Less common
		Ehretia laevis	T	Dotted	Less common
40	Convolvulaceae	Evolvulus alsinoides	H	Open areas	Less common
		E. nummularius	H	Bordering both water bodies	common
		Ipomoea carnea ssp. fistulosa	S	Eastern shore of Bada Talab	Common
		I. dichora	TH	Dotted among the bushes during rainy season	Common
		I. nil	TH	Can be seen among the bushes during rainy season	Common
		I. obscura	TH	Grow among bushes during rainy season	Common
		I. pes-tigridis	TH	Grow among bushes during rainy season	Common
		Merramia emarginata	H	Bordering shore zone of both the water bodies	Common
		Rivea hypoaraterifornis	CH	Growing among the bushes	Less common
41	Cascutaceae	Cuscuta chinensis	H	A parasite on herbs and shrubs	Less common
		C. reflexa	H	Near Bhand Deora	Less common
42	Solanaceae	Datur innoxia	S	Near Bhand Deora	Less common
		D. stramonium	H	Near Bhand Deora	Rare
		Solanum xanthocarpum	H	Along the road leading to Ramgarh Mata temple	Less common
43	Scrophulariaceae	Bacopa monnieri	H	Edges of both the ponds	Common
		Lindenbergia muraria	H	Fort wall	Less common
		Verbascum chinense	H	Walls of Bhand deora	Less common
44	Bignoniaceae	Oroxylum indicum	T	Seen 2 trees and their many suckers in Shobhagpura village towards southern outskirts of the crater	Rare (?) (This species is included here on the authority of the local villagers)	Villagers were of opinion that the seeds were brought from crater area and sown in the agriculture field. Locally the species is called Muwasa
45	Pedaliaceae	Sesamum mulayanum	H	Can be seen during rains in open areas	Common
46	Martyniaceae	Martynia annua	H	Grow in patches in open area	Less common	Being grazing hardy plan remain undamaged and all the fruits drop below the mother plant after maturation. All fallen seeds germinate during next rain making a clump
47	Acanthaceae	Aahatoda zeylanica	S	Making extensive thickets in foothill zone	Abundant	A grazing hardy species occupying most of foot hill area
		Barleria prionits	US	Seen along the road sides	Less common
		Elytraria aculis	H	Common under Capparis sepiaria and Anogeissus pendula	Very common
		Indoneesiella echioides	H	Seen on the walls of Bhand devra	Less Common	Grow on the walls as ruderal species. Also grow in rocky areas. Remains visible only during monsoon season
		Justicia procumbens	H	Quite visible during rains	Common
		Peristrophe paniculata	H	Quite visible during rains	Abundant
48	Verbenaceae	Lantana camara	S	Invasive in the foot hill zone	Common
		Phyla nodiflora	H	Banks of both the water bodies	Less common
49	Lamiaceae	Leucos aspera	H	Open area during rainy season	Less common
50	Nyctaginaceae	Boerhavia diffusa	H	Open grassy patches	Common
51	Amaranthaceae	Achyranthes aspera	H	Affected whole foothills. Also growing as ruderal species	Abundant
		Digera muricata	H	Grassy patches during rains	Less common
		Pupalia lappacea	H	Grow among bushes during rains	Less common
52	Chenopodiaceae	Chenopodium murale	H	Grow in moist areas during winter	Less common
53	Polygonaceae	Polygonum glabrum	H	Wet edges of both the ponds	Less common
		P. plebeium	H	Drying edges of both the ponds	Less common
		Rumex dentatus	H	Grow in moist areas during the winter	Common
54	Euphorbiaceae	Baliospermum montanum	H	Below the Mahuwa and mango trees	Less common
		Chrozophora rottleri	H	Drying bed of the ponds	Less common
		Euphorbia hirta	H	Dotted	Common
		E. heyneana	H	Dotted	Common
		Jatropha gossypifolia	S	near Goshala	Less common
		Kirganelia reticulata	SS	Moist-shady places at periphery of both the ponds	Less common
		Phyllanthus fraternus	H	seen grown on Bhand Deora during rains	Less common
		Ricinus communis	ST	Seen near eastern shore of Puskar Talab	Rare
		Securinega leucopyrus	S	Foot hills	Less common
55	Ulmaceae	Holoptelea integrifolia	T	Dotted	Less common
56	Moraceae	Ficus benghalensis	T	Eastern shore of Pushkar Talab. Seen growing as epiphyte also	Less common
		F. hispida	S	Growing in shady wet localities	less common
		F. racemosa	T	growing near eastern shore of Pushkar Talab	rare
		F. religiosa	T	Dotted. Seen growing as epiphyte also	less common
		F. virens	T	seen growing as epiphyte	rare

Table 3: Monocot flora of Ramgarh crater

S.no.	Family	Latin name of plant	H*	Location	Status	Remark
1	Hydrocharitaceae	Hydrilla verticillate	H	Pushkar Talab & Bada Talab	Common
2	Dioscoreaceae	Dioscorea bulbifera	TH	Dotted. Visible during rainy season.	Rare
3	Liliaceae	Asparagus racemosus	SU	Dotted among bushes	Common
3	Liliaceae	Urginea indica	H	Dotted in well drained areas	Less common
4	Commelianceae	Commehina benghalensis	H	Common during rainy season on the ground and buildings	Common
4	Commelianceae	C. forskalaei	H	Common during rainy season	Common
5	Arecaceae	Phoenix sylvestris	T	Eastern shore of Pushkar Talab	Less common
6	Lemnaceae	Lemna perpusilla	H	Pushar Talab & Bada Talab	Less common
		Spirodela poiyrhiza	H	Pushar Talab & Bada Talab	Common
		Wolffia microscopica	H	Pushar Talab & Bada Talab	Common
7	Potamogetonaceae	Potamogeton pectinatus	H	Pushar Talab & Bada Talab	Less common
8	Crperaceae	Cyperus triceps	H	Growing with grasses	Less common
8	Crperaceae	Fimbristylis falcata	H	Edges of both the ponds	Less common
9	Poaceae	Apluda mutica	H	Among bushes and below the trees	Abundant
		Aristida adscensionis	H	Open compact soil zone	Common
		Arthraxon lanceolatus	H	Under Mahuwa trees near eastern edge of Pushkar Talab	Less common
		A. lancifolius	H	Under Mahuwa trees near eastern edge of Pushkar Talab under Mahuwa trees	Less common
		Bothriochloa pertusa	H	Growing among bushes	Less common
		Brachiaria ramosa	H	Open areas	Common
		B. raptans	H	Open areas	Common
		Choris dolichostachya	H	On the walls of Bhand Deora and stony substratum below the Dhok trees	Rare
		C. virgata	H	Open areas and among bushes	Less common
		Chrysopogon fulvas	H	Stony-rocky terrain of hill slopes	Less common
		Cynodon dactylon	H	Moist open areas and banks of streams towards foothills	Abundant
		Dactylocteninum aegyptium	H	Open area	Abundant
		Dendrocalamus strictus	S	Upper reaches of southern inner slope	Less common	Growing making small patches (5/E9 Dry Bamboo brakes)
		Dicanthium annulatum	H	Growing among the bushes	Less common
		Echinachloa colona	H	Edges of both the water bodies	Less common
		Eragrostiella bifaria	H	Open stony patches	Less common
		E. japonica	H	Open stony patches	Less common
		Heteropogon contortus	H	Areas having better soil thickness	Less common
		Melanocenchris jacquemonti	H	Compact open area suffering from erosion	Less common
		Oplismenus burmannii	H	Shady places under Mahuwa and Mango groves	Common
		Oropetium thomaeum	H	Rocky areas covered by thin layer of the soil	Less common
		Oryza rufipogon	H	Ditches along the road leading to crater	Less common
		Pennisetum orientale	H	Among busses of foothills	Less common
		Phalaris minor	H	Wet patches	Less common	A winter season grass
		Sehima nervosum	H	Among the bushes	Less common
		Setaria verticillata	H	Shady places under Mahuwa and Mango groves	Less common
		Sporobolus diander	H	Compact open patches	Less common
		S. ioclados	H	Compact open patches	Less common
		Tetrapogon tenelus	H	Degraded compact patches	Less common
		Vetiveria zizanioides	H	Low lying areas	Less common

* Habit

Tree: T= Tree (Tall, medium sized), ST= Small tree/ Under tree

Shrub: S= Shrub, TS = Twining shrub, CS= Climbing shrub, SS= Scandent shrub/ Straggling shrub, TU= Twining undershrub, SU=Scandent undershrub, US= Undershrub,

Herb: H= Herb, TH= Twining herb, C= Climber

Figure 5: View of the Shiva temple as seen from the surrounding ruins at Ramgarh Crater.

Summary:

A total of 197 vascular plant species belonging to 65 families and 156 genera were documented during floristic surveys conducted between 2023 and July 2025. summary of the various taxa recorded during the present study is depicted below:

Table 4: Summary of Taxa

S. No.	Class	No. of Families	No. of Genera	No. of Species
1	Dicotyledons	56	119	154
2	Monocotyledons	9	37	43
	Total	65	156	197

Figure 6: Variations in Dhonk (Anogeissus pendula) forest growth forms observed at Ramgarh Crater.

Main Forest Types:

Many forest types are confined to Ramgarh crater. Tropical dry deciduous forests are prevailing in the area. The biggest forest type of the area is 5/E₁– Anogeissus forest which is present on inner and outer slopes of the crater ring. Due to heavy anthropogenic pressure, degradation is seen on the slopes, especially towards outer slopes and 5/E₁– forest has converted into 5/E/DS₁–Anogeissus scrub at places. The 5/E₅– Butea forests is present in the ‘bowl’ of the hilly ring. Once 5/E₉– Dry Bamboo brakes were prominent in the area but due to anthropogenic pressure, bamboo forest is under pressure. Still a beautiful patch of bamboo forest is present towards the upper reaches of inner face (northern aspect) in southern direction between Krishnayan Mata Ji and Brhamchaten Kund. This is not a pure patch of Dendrocalamius strictus but it is growing inter mixed with Anogeissus pendula (Terminalia pendula). Northern aspect remains more moist than southern aspect. Due to this moisture difference, northern aspect of southern part of the ring is supporting luxuriant bamboo growth.

Various storeyfication (stratification) patterns are observed across different forest types and localities within this region. The vertical structure of the forest near the eastern shore of Pushkar Talab, particularly near the Pucca Ghat area, is characterized by the following stratification pattern:

Table 5: Storeyfication in Butea dominated foothill forest.

Storey	Species composition
I- Top storey trees	Madhuca indica, Mengifera indica, Phoenix sylvestries, Butea monosperma, Tamarindus indica
II- Under storey trees	Diospyros cordifolia, Cassia fistula, Prosopis juliflora, Ehretia laevis, Flacourtia indica
IIa- Bamboo	Absent
III- Shrubs	Capparis sepiaria, Cassia sophera, Annona squamosa, Lantana camra, Dichrostachys cineria, Mimosa himalayana, Carissa spinarum, Adhatoda zeylanica, Kirganelia reticulata, Ficus hispida
IVa- Herbs	Sida acuta, Oxalis corniculate, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Desmodium triflorum, Cassia tora, C. uniflora, Tridax procumbens, Achyranthes aspera, Baliospermum montana,
IVb – Grasses	Apluda mutica, Arthraxon lanceolatus, A. lancifolius, Oplismenus burmannii, Seteria verticillate,
V – Climbers	Cocculus hirsutus, Cayratia carnosa, Cardiospermum helicacabum, Abrus precatorius, Galactia tenuiflora, Rhynchosia minima, Diplocyclos palmatus, Luffa acutangula, Dioscorea bulbifera

Density, species diversity, and vertical stratification are more pronounced in the lower zones, where deeper soils and better moisture availability create favourable conditions for vegetation growth, as indicated in Table 5. In contrast, the upper zones, characterized by shallower soils and limited moisture, exhibit comparatively lower species diversity and simpler forest structure. This pattern is particularly evident in the bamboo-dominated forest located in the upper hill slopes, as detailed in Table 6.

Table 6: Vegetation stratification in Bamboo forests on the upper hill reaches

Storey	Species composition
I & II Storey trees	Anogeissus pandula, Lannea coromandelica, Acacia catechu, Wrightia tinctoria, Ehretia laevis,
IIa- Bamboo	Dendrocalamus strictus
III- Shrubs	Grewia flavesens, Ziziphus xylopyrus, Securinega leucopirus,
IVa- Herbs	Hibiscus caesius, Elatraria acaulis, Indoneesiella echioides, Achyranthes aspera
IVb – Grasses	Apluda mutica, Chloris dolichostachya, Chrysopogon fulvus, Eragrostiella biferia, Heteropogon contortus
V – Climber	Asparagus racemohus

Ethnobotanical notes:

The Ramgarh Crater region historically supported a diverse range of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Sahariya, the local tribals were more dependent on this resource for their livelihood. In earlier times, the Butea monosperma-dominated forests were a major source of foliage used to make biodegradable leaf plates (pattals) and bowls (daunas). With the advent of disposable plastic and paper alternatives, this traditional practice has significantly declined. Butea flowers were also collected seasonally for their cultural and medicinal significance.

Even today, Cassia tora seeds and tuberous roots of Asparagus racemosus are harvested during the post-monsoon season by Sahariyas and other local (landless) residents and sold in regional markets, particularly in Shyopur Mandi (Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border), where demand for NTFPs remains high.

Bamboo was an important natural product of forest which was harvested by Sahariyas to prepare various handicraft items, especially to make different types of baskets. People say, that during ancient time, thick bamboo growth was present in the foothill but now this forest has disappeared in a large chunk of land and area has been occupied by Prosopis juliflora. Local “Basseda” Community is well known in basketry activities. Before the ‘era of Liquified Petroleum Gas’, fuel wood for cooking was collected by local tribals and other community from the crater forests.

Once, this area was well known for its Acacia catechu forests. Khirwa community of Hathiyadeh and Karvary villages used to extract Katha (Cutch) from Khair trees and used to trade in Madhya Pradesh. This practice, once economically significant, is now extinct.

Another traditional use involved the harvesting of Adhatoda zeylanica stems and branches, which were dried and used under terracotta roof tiles (khaprel) in rural Kuccha homes. This practice unintentionally regulated the growth of this hardy shrub. As modern roofing materials have replaced clay tiles, unchecked growth of Adhatoda has been observed in many patches.

Oral histories also report that several ‘Panwadi’ (betel leaf cultivation units) were historically active near the ponds within the crater. However, betel leaf production has now ceased entirely.

Acknowledgements:

We thank Sh. R.K. Khairwa, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests; Sh. Aporva Shrivastava, IFS, Dy. CF.; Sh. Anil Yadav, RFS, Dy. CF.; Sh. Deepak Kumar Gautam, Forest Range Officer and Sh. Deepak Sharma, Forest Range Officer for assistance and support during the course of study.

References:

Abbas, R. (2021): Exploring the rock art of Chambal basin. IIRNS publication LLP.
Aswathi, J., R.C. Saranya, J. Shania, D. Padamkaur & K.S. Sajin Kumar (2012): Impact origin for Ramgarh structure, India. New. insights from Petrography, Geochemistry and Geochronology. AGU Fall meeting held in Chicago IL, 12-16 December.
Nagar, P., Tanrkar, P. & V. Agrawal, (2017) : Geology and sedimentary structure is in lower Bhander sandstone of Bijoliya area Rajasthan. Indian J. of Applied Research 7 (9) : 517-520.
Pandey, L., V. Agrawal, G. Singhvi & H. Sen (2024). Prehistoric rock paintings- Hadoti plateau (Rajasthan). Himanshu publications Udaipur & New Delhi. Pp. 1-117
Sharma N. (2002): The flora of Rajasthan. Aavishkar Publishers, Distributors, Jaipur. Pp. 1-280.
Crawford, A.  (1972). India’s Ramgarh structure: A meteorite impact crater? Nature, 237, 96.
Master, S., & Pandit, M.  (1999). New evidence for an impact origin of the Ramgarh structure, Rajasthan, India. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 34(4), 79.
Kenkmann, T., Reimold, W. , & Misra, S. (2020). India’s confirmed impact structures: Origin and importance. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 55(7), 1459–1476.
Ray, D., et al. (2020). Petrographic and geochemical evidence for the impact origin of Ramgarh Crater, India (zircon U–Pb geochronology, shock features). ScienceDirect / Journal, ~2022.
Pandit, M. , & Master, S. (2021). The Ramgarh terrestrial impact structure: a geo‑heritage candidate. Geoheritage, 13:81.
Misra, S., Srivastava, P. , Ghosh, S., Das, A. K., & Ray, D. (2023). An alternative view on size and impact history of Ramgarh Crater, India: evidence from high‑resolution remote sensing and gravity data. Journal of Earth System Science, 132(78).
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Outlook Traveller (2025). Ramgarh Crater in Rajasthan: biodiversity, wetlands, arsenic saline‑alkaline lakes, tourism potential.
Sharma, B.  et al. (1996). Flora of India, Series 4: Fabaceae. Botanical Survey of India. (contextual regional floristic baseline)
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MENAR: An Ordinary Village Pond to an Important Bird Area Site and Beyond

by Dr. Satish Kumar Sharma | Dec 16, 2023 | Conservation Initiatives, Conservation Issues

A few years back Menar was not so known in the area as it is known today. Menar is a small village on the Udaipur – Chittorgarh National Highway (NH 76), 50km away from Udaipur City. It is a Menaria Brahmin-dominated village. This village is well known for its cultural legacy. Two beautiful water bodies are present in this village nearly 1 km apart from each other which have created a new history in recent years. The small-sized waterbody is present towards the northwest outskirts of the village, called Braham Talab. A giant Lord Shiva statue is present on the embankment of this pond in a sitting posture. Another big-sized pond called Dhand Talab is present towards the southern end of the village near Menar – Bhinder Road. Both the ponds have beautiful earthen embankments. Many old, aged mango trees (Mangifera indica) are present on each embankment. A big-sized colony of a Megabat species, the Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) is present among the Mango trees of Braham Talab.

Menar is known to protect its wetlands and avifauna. Village people are very pro-nature. They have been conserving their wetlands and birds since ancient times. Forest Department, Rajasthan started celebrating the “Udaipur Bird Festival” in 2014. Every year the birders participating in the Udaipur Bird Festival, reach Menar wetlands for bird watching. Local media also played a vital role in highlighting the conservation ethos and practices of the local community to protect their wetlands and avifauna. In 2016, the Bombay Natural History Society and BirdLife International notified both ‘Menar Ponds’ as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Presently, Rajasthan has 31 Important Bird Areas and Menar is one of them. More than 100 species are known from Menar village ponds and surrounding habitats. Many Critically Endangered, Vulnerable and Near Threatened species are known from waterbodies and surrounding terrestrial habitats as shown below:

Category	Common English name of the bird	Latin name
Critical Endangered	White-rumped Vulture	Gyps bengalensis
Endangered	Egyptian Vulture	Neophron percnopterus
Vulnerable	Sarus Crane	Grus antigone
	Indian Skimmer	Rhynchops albicollis
	White-naped Tit	Parus nuchalis
Near Threatened	Oriental Darter	Anhinga melanogaster
	Spot-billed Pelican	Pelecanus philippensis
	Painted Stork	Mycteria leucocephala
	Black-necked Stork	Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
	Lesser Flamingo	Phoeniconaiaf minor
	Ferruginous Duck	Aythya nyroca
	Black-tailed Godwit	Limosa limosa
	Black-headed Ibis	Threskiornis melanocephala
	Great Thick-knee	Esacus recurvirostris
	River Tern	Sterna aurantia
	European Roller	Coracias garrulus
	Alexandrine Parakeet	Psittacula eupatria

A journey from an ordinary village pond to an important bird area:

During the last one-decade, Menar became an important birding destination not only in Rajasthan but in India as well. Gradually, this small village is also establishing its shining presence on the world birding map. So far, many honours and titles have been credited to the account of this bird village. A few of them are as follows:

S. no.	Year	Event
1.	2014	First Udaipur Bird Fair birders team reached for bird watching. From 2014 to 2023 birders participating in the Udaipur Bird Festival are regularly visiting the Menar Wetland complex.
2.	2016	Menar became an IBA site.
3.	2021	A bird fair was celebrated on December 14, 2021, by the Rajasthan Patrika at IBA Menar.
4.	2023	Menar Village was awarded the “Best Tourism Village 2023” in the silver category by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The audience award is given to the film “Wings of Hope: A Bustling Village and Their Bird Friends” by “The UN World Wildlife Day Film Showcase”. This film is related to the wetland and bird conservation legacy of Menar village. Menar village wetlands were declared as a notified “wetland” by the Government of Rajasthan.

Beyond Important Bird Area:

Now Forest Department, Rajasthan is trying to make the Menar wetland complex a Ramsar Site. The required proposal has been prepared by the department. Hopefully, soon one more feather will be in the turban of Menar village.

Impact of Menar conservation legacy:

Menar has become a conservation model in Rajasthan. Many wetlands like Nagawali, Badwai, Kishan Kareri, Kheroda, Ramakheda, Puthiyan, Rundeda, Bhinder, Roma Talab (Mangalwad), Menpuria, Bhatewar, Bhupalsagar etc. which are present in the vicinity of Menar village are now on the way to become new “Menars” in southern Rajasthan. There is a competition in various villages to protect their wetlands like the people of Menar are doing. The conservation ethos of the people of Menar Village is now inspiring many villages of southern Rajasthan to protect and conserve their village wetlands and the aquatic fauna and flora present there.

Local youth earn their livelihood through birding (Photo: Umesh Menaria).

A stone at Bhupalsagar, dated back May 05, 1937, tells the story of wetland and bird conservation in the Mewar region (Photo: Author).

शीध्र व शानदार हरियाली की चाह में मरती देशज जैव विविधता

by Dr. Satish Kumar Sharma | Dec 16, 2023 | Conservation Issues, Hindi

आजकल हर आदमी को जल्दी से जल्दी, सघन, सदाबहार व आकर्षक हरियाली चाहिए। आम आदमी से लेकर स्वंयसेवी संस्थाऐं, नगरपालिका, नगर परिषद्, वनविभाग व अन्य सभी विभागों की यही चाह है। यह चाह तब और प्रबल और आवश्यक हो जाती है जब सोशियल मीड़िया, प्रिन्ट मीड़िया, पर्यावरण प्रेमी व कई अन्य ऐजेन्सिया यह कहने लग जाती हैं कि धन बहुत खर्च हुआ है लेकिन हरियाली कहा है? एक दूसरे पर आरोप-प्रत्यारोप लगते हैं। अनावश्यक खर्च व बेईमानी करने के आरोप भी लगते हैं। सफाईया पेश होती हैं लेकिन शक बने रहते हैं। जांच के सिलसिले भी चलते हैं।

हाल यह है कि लोग रेगिस्तान, शहर, गाँव, पहाड़ आदि हर जगह को वैसा ही हरा-भरा देखना चाहते है जैसा केरल है! जैसा उत्तर-पूर्व भारत है!

क्या राजस्थान में ऐसा संभव है?

जहाँ वर्षा कम है, वर्षाकाल छोटा है, वर्षा के दिन कम है, पौधों का वृद्विकाल छोटा है, मौसम की बेरूखी को सहन करने हेतु वनस्पतियों में सुसुप्त अवस्था में जाने की अन्तर्निहीत अनुवांशिकी है, सर्दी तो सर्दी गर्मी की हवा भी जहा शुष्क हो, वास्पोत्सर्जन दर अधिक हो, जहाँ ट्यूबवेल सिंचित कृषि ने भूमि की ऊपरी पर्तो में नमी की उपलब्धता को घटाया हो, वहा क्या सदाबहार वनस्पतियों की हर जगह हरियाली संभव है?

हमारी चाह कुछ भी हो लेकिन प्रकृति हर जगह उस वनस्पति विविधता को ही रोपती है जो वहाँ जैसी मिट्टी, वर्षा, भूमि की नमी, ताप एवं अन्य परिस्थितियाँ हैं उनमें जीवित बच सके। चाहे वह फिर कांटेदार वनस्पति हो या पतझड़ी या सदाबहार। प्रकृति मनुष्य की चाह की बजाय स्थानीय जलवायु एवं वहाँ कि पारिस्थितिकी को घ्यान में रखकर ही घास व वन उगाती है। यही कारण है कि केरल के वन राजस्थान में नहीं उग सकते और राजस्थान के केरल में नहीं। यदि राजस्थान में केरल जैसी हरियाली की सोच में बाहर से लाकर विदेशी मूल की प्रजातियों को लगायेगें तो भले ही कुछ दिनों के लिये अच्छी हरियाली व सुन्दरता नजर आये लेकिन इन्हें इस स्थिति में रखने की लागत सिंचाई व दूसरे कार्यो के रूप में अधिक आयेगी। जिस दिन उनको सिंचाई व अन्य देखभाल से वंचित किया जायेगा, उनमें से अधिकांश प्रजातियाँ मरने लगेगी।

आज आकर्षक हरियाली लाने के दबाव के नीचे दबी शहरी व कस्बों की संस्थाऐं, उद्यानों, पार्को, रोड़ किनारे, डिवाइड़र, कार्यालयों आदि जगह विदेशी मूल की वनस्पतियों को बेहिचक लगाने लगी है। शहर स्थित जलाश्यों के किनारें एवं अन्दर स्थित टापूओं पर भी यही सिलसिला जारी है। लोग अपने आलीशान घरों व होटलों में भी विदेशी प्रजातियों को चाव से लगाते हैं। पिछले 20 साल में यह प्रवृति काफी बढ़ी है।

क्या ऐसा कर हम स्थानीय इकोलाॅजी से छेड़छाड़ करने का प्रयास नहीं कर रहे हैं?

क्या कम लागत में स्थानीय जलवायु में पनपने वाली देशी प्रजातिया बेकार हैं?

विदेशी प्रजातियों पर घ्यान केन्द्रित होने से देशी प्रजातियों को बढ़ावा नहीं मिलेगा तो हमारी स्थानीय जैव विविधता क्या नहीं घटेगी?

स्मरण रहे, विदेशी प्रजातियों के मुकाबले देशज प्रजातिया कम देखभाल व कम खर्चे में ही पनप जाती हैं। विपरीत परिस्थितियों में उनके बचे रहने की प्रबल संभावना रहती है। उनसे स्थानीय इकोलाॅजी में कोई बदलाव की संभावना भी नहीं रहती है। खतरा यह भी है कि किसी विदेशी प्रजाति को यदि स्थानीय परिस्थितियां रास आ गई एवं दुर्धटनावश या असावधानी में प्राकृतिक वनों व दूसरें पारिस्थितिकी तंत्रों में वह पहुंच गई या जानबूझ कर पहुंचा दी गई एवं यदि वह आक्रमणकारी (invasive) सिद्व हो गई तो स्थानीय जैव विविधता, वन एवं चारागाहों को भारी नुकसान होगा।

हम लेन्टाना कमारा, प्रोसोपिस जूलीफ्लोरा, कोनोकारपस इरेक्टस, हिप्टिस सुवियोलेन्स, केशिया टोरा, केशिया यूनिफ्लोरा आदि से हो रहे नुकसान को सालों से देख रहे हैं। आज जिन विदेशी प्रजातियों को लापरवाही से लगाया जा रहा है, भविष्य में उनका व्यवहार देशज प्रजातियों के साथ क्या रहेगा कोई नहीं जानता।

हमारी स्थानीय परिस्थितयों में पनपने वाले नीम, बरगद, विषतेन्दु, तेन्दु, रायण, सहजना, सेमल, मोजाल, उम्बिया, खजूर, मोलश्री (बकूल), लिसोड़ा, गोंदी, मीठाजाल, खाराजाल, फराश, शहतूत, खेजड़ी, अरणी, लम्पाण, रोहण, जंगली करौंदा, जीवापूता, इमली, इन्द्रधौक, वाहीवरणा, महुआ, पाखड़, पिम्परी, जामुन, कठ जामुन, आल, लेण्ड़िया, रोहिड़ा, पलाश, पीला पलाश, देशी आम, दहमन, जमरासी, मावाबेर, फालसा, कचनार, जंगली गधा पलाश, कुसुम, कैथ, बिन्नास, कढीनीम, मीढ़ोल, तल्ला आदि ऐसी प्रजातियाँ है जिनमें अधिकांश शुष्क जलवायु में भी सदाबहार एवं अद्र्वसदाबहार बने रहने की प्रवृत्ति है। कुछ प्रजातियाँ बहुत सुन्दर फूल भी देती है। देशज होने के कारण वे पर्यावरण के लिये भी सुरक्षित है अतः दीर्धकालीन सोच को घ्यान में रखते हुए देशज प्रजातियों को लगाना, बचाना ज्यादा उचित होगा।

आओ जैव वैज्ञानिक रेकार्ड बनायें

by Dr. Satish Kumar Sharma | Sep 15, 2022 | Hindi, Uncategorised

विज्ञान से सरोकार रखने वाले लोग प्रकृति में जब भी घूमते हैं या अवलोकन करते हैं तो वे प्रेक्षण लेते रहते हैं। ये प्रेक्षण वीडियों, सेल्फी, फोटो, आंकडों, संस्मरण, नोट, चित्र या आरेख के रूप में या किसी भी अन्य रूप में हो सकते हैं।

जो लोग गंभीर अध्ययन – अनुसंधान करना चाहते हैं, वे गिने-चुने कुछ प्रेक्षणों तक सिमित नहीं रहते बल्कि प्रयास कर एक ही विषय पर पर्याप्त प्रेक्षण लेने की कोशिश करते हैं। जितने प्रेक्षण अधिक होते हैं, निष्कर्ष उतने ही सही निकलते हैं। कम प्रेक्षणों का भी अपना एक महत्तव है। कई बार तो एक प्रेक्षण भी महत्वपूर्ण हो जाता है लेकिन जहाँ तक संभव हो पर्याप्त प्रेक्षण लेने का प्रयास करना चाहिये। कई बार घटनायें इतनी दुर्लभ रहती हैं कि हमें एक ही विषय पर अधिक प्रेक्षण नहीं मिल पाते । ऐसी स्थिति में एक प्रेक्षण भी महत्तवपूर्ण हो जाता है।

प्रेक्षण अलिखित या लिखित हो सकते हैं। अच्छा रहे प्रेक्षण लिखित ही रहने ताकि उनकी सत्यता पर आँच न आये। प्रकृति प्रेमियों के पास एक छोटी डायरी व एक पैन हमेशा पास रहना चाहिये ताकि प्रेक्षण को संपूर्णता में सही-सही अंकित किया जा सके। जब प्रेक्षण अच्छी संख्या में उपलब्घ जावें तो, उन्हें एक लेख के रूप में किसी न्यूजलेटर या जर्नल में प्रकाशित करना चाहिये। यदि जर्नल पीयर व्यू प्रकृति का है तो उत्तम। पीयर व्यू प्रकृति का नहीं होने वाले जर्नलों में लेखक या अनुसंधानकर्ता (प्रेक्षण संग्रहकर्ता) द्वारा की गई गलतियों का निवाराण ढंग से नहीं हो पाता है । यदि जर्नल पीयर व्यू प्रकृति का है तो प्रकाशन से पूर्व लेख रिव्यू करने वाले 1-3 विषय विशेषज्ञों के पास जाता हैं तथा लेख की तकनीकी गलतियों से लेकर व्याकरण तक की त्रुटियाँ ठीक की जाती हैं तब जाकर लेख प्रकाशित होता है। पीयर व्यू नहीं करने वाले जर्नल में अध्ययनकर्ता की गलती को हांलाकि संम्पादक ठीक करने का प्रयास करते हैं फिर भी कई बार आपेक्षित सुधार नहीं हो पाता है तथा कुछ त्रुटियाँ रह जाती हैं।

वैसे देखा जाये तो जो प्रेक्षण एक लेख के रूप में वैज्ञानिक साहित्य में प्रकाशित हो जाते हैं वे ही वैज्ञानिक रेकार्ड बनते हैं तथा आगे अनुसंधानकर्ता या लेखक उनको सन्दर्भ के रूप में अपने लेखों में जगह देते हैं। लेकिन जो प्रेक्षण, तथ्य, फोटो आदि जर्नलों में प्रकाशित नहीं हो पाते, वे वैज्ञानिक साहित्य का हिस्सा बनने से वंचित रह जाते हैं। यदि कोई प्रेक्षण, तथ्य या फोटो किसी स्थानीय अखबार में भी प्रकाशित होते हैं तो भी वे विज्ञान का सन्दर्भ नहीं बन पाते हैं।

आजकल कई अच्छे एवं होनहार प्रकृति प्रेमी छायाकार, प्रकृति प्रेक्षक, प्रकृति अन्वेषक तरह-तरह की वनस्पति व प्राणि प्रजातियों को ढूंढते रहते हैं तथा उनसे हम सभी से अवगत कराने हेतु अखबारों में समाचार प्रकाशित करते हैं व कुछ फेसबुक पर व विभिन्न ग्रुपों में अपनी सामग्री साझा करते रहते हैं। कभी-कभी तो बहुत ही अचरज जनक चीजे व बिल्कुल नये तथ्य भी सामने आते है। चूँकि इनमें उचित ढंग से वैज्ञानिक दस्तावेजीकरण का अभाव रहता है अतः ये अद्भुत चीजे समय के साथ अक्सर खो जाती हैं तथा स्थानीय कुछ लोगों के अलावा बाहरी दुनियाँ को उन अचरज जनक चीजों का कुछ पता ही नहीं चलता । वैज्ञानिक अन्वेषण – लेखन कार्य करने वाले अद्येताओं के लिए ये अद्भुत तथ्य सन्दर्भ भी नहीं बन पाते हैं। ऐसे ही तथ्य जब कोई दूसरा व्यक्ति ढूंढ कर उचित वैज्ञानिक प्रक्रिया का पालन कर दस्तावेजीकरण कर उन्हें रेकार्ड पर लाता है तो प्रथम व्यक्ति असहज हो जाता है तथा अपने कार्य की ‘‘चोरी’’ होने तक का आरोप लगाता है तथा वह कई बार अपनी असहजता को अनेक माध्यमों पर प्रकट भी करता है। यह असहजता कई बार मोबाईल ग्रुपों में देखने को मिलती है। कई बार तो कटु शब्दों का उपयोग भी लोग कर डालते हैं। इससे ग्रुप सदस्यों का सौहार्द बिगडने की भी नौबत बन जाती है।

वे लोग जो अपने नवीन वैज्ञानिक तथ्यों को अखबार या फसेबुक तक सीमित रखते हैं उनको चाहिये की वे अपनी सामग्री को उचित ढंग से दस्तावेजीकरण कर सर्वप्रथम किसी न्यूजलेटर, अनुसंधान जर्नल, रिसर्च प्रोजेक्ट, वैज्ञानिक पुस्तक आदि का हिस्सा बनायें ताकि वह आमजन से लेकर वैज्ञानिक शोध-अध्ययन से जुडी संस्थाओं एवं व्यक्तियों तक पहुंच जाये। निसंदेह अब किसी भी सृजनकर्ता की सामग्री एक वैज्ञानिक रेकार्ड के रूप में दर्ज रहेगी तथा उनका लेख भी उनके नाम से ही दर्ज रहेगा। उचित वैज्ञानिक प्रारूप में प्रकाशित हो जाने के बाद किसी भी जानकारी को यदि मौखिक वार्तालाप, अखबार, फेसबुक आदि का हिस्सा बनाया जाये तो उनके लेख/श्रेय के चोरी होने का खतरा नहीं रहता। ऐसा करने से विज्ञान साहित्य तो सजृन होगा ही, सृजनकर्ता भी ंआंनदित एंव गौरवान्वित अनुभव करेंगे। साथ ही उनके श्रम, समय व धन का सदुपयोग हो सकेगा। मैं यहां यह भी सलाह देना चाहूंगा कि लिखने से पहले उस विषय पर पूर्व प्रकाशित वैज्ञानिक साहित्य को अच्छी तरह पढना व समझना चाहिए ताकि बात-बात में यह कहना की ‘‘यह पहली-पहली बार’’ देखा गया है या इससे पहले ‘‘किसी ने नहीं देखा’’ जैसे शब्दों का प्रयोग नहीं हो ।

वेडर्स ऑफ द इंडियन सबकॉन्टीनैन्ट: भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप के परिप्रक्ष में एक बेहतरीन सन्दर्भ ग्रन्थ

by Dr. Satish Kumar Sharma | Jun 4, 2022 | Fauna, Hindi, Species

जलाशयों के किनारे-किनारे, जल रेखा व कीचड़युक्त आवास को पसंद करने वाले पक्षियों को ‘‘वेडर्स’’ नाम से जाना जाता है। इस वर्ग के पक्षी तैरते नहीं हैं बल्कि पानी के किनारे-किनारे या कुछ दूर पानी या कीचड़ में चलते हुये ही भोजन ढूंढते हैं। इस वर्ग के कुछ पक्षी पानी के अन्दर उगे पौधों की पत्तियों या दूसरी तैरती हुई वस्तुओं पर भी चलकर अपना भोजन ढंूढ लेते हैं। इस वर्ग में स्नाइप, जकाना, ऑयस्टरकैचर, प्लोवर, लैपविंग, वुडकॉक, गौडविट करलेव, विमब्रेल, रैडशैंक, ग्रीनशैंक, सेन्डपाइपर, टैटलर, टर्नस्टोन, डॉविचर, सैन्डरलिंग, स्टिन्ट, रफ, आइबिसबिल, स्टिल्ट, एवोसेट, फैलारोप, थिक-नी, करसर एवं प्रेटिनकॉल शामिल हैं।

इस वर्ग के अनेक पक्षियों को सही-सही पहचानना कई वर्ष तक पक्षी अवलोकन करने के बाद भी कठिन लगता है। प्रायः कई पक्षियों के अच्छे क्लोज अप फोटो खींच लेने के बाद फोटो को तसल्लीपूर्वक देखने पर भी पहचान में संशय बना रहता है। वेडर वर्ग के देशान्तर गमन कर सर्दी में हमारे जलाशयों पर पहुंचने वाले पक्षियों को भी पहचानने में कठिनाई बनी रहती है।

इस कठिनाई को दूर करने का सराहनीय प्रयास भारत के जाने-माने पक्षीविद श्री हरकीरत सिंह संघा ने किया है। विशेष बात यह है कि श्री संघा राजस्थान के निवासी हैं। उन्होने जो स्तुतियोग्य पुस्तक प्रकाशित की है उसका विवरण निम्न है:-

पुस्तक का नाम :- वेडर्स ऑफ द इंडियन सब-कॉन्टीनेन्ट ( Waders of the Indian subcontinent )
भाषा :- अंग्रेजी
पृष्ठ संख्या :- XVI + 520
प्रकाशन वर्ष :- 2021
प्रकाशक :- लेखक स्वयं (विष्व प्रकृति निधि-भारत के आंषिक सहयोग से)
मूल्य :-3500.00 रूपये
मंगाने का पता :- श्री हरकीरत सिंह संघा, बी-27, गौतम मार्ग, हनुमान नगर,
जयपुर-302021, भारत

इस संदर्भ ग्रन्थ में 84 प्रजातियो के वेडर वर्ग के पक्षियों का विस्तृत विवरण प्रस्तुत किया है। प्रत्येक प्रजाति के स्थानीय नाम, पुराने नाम, वितरण, फील्ड में पहचानने हेतु विशेष गुणों की जानकारी, शारीरिक नाप, आवास, स्वभाव, भोजन, प्रजनन, गमन, संरक्षण स्थिति आदि की विस्तृत, आद्यतन एवं प्रमाणिक जानकारी प्रस्तुत की गई है। पुस्तक में 450 रंगीन फोटो, 540 पेन्टिंग, उपमहाद्वीप में वितरण को स्पष्टता से प्रदर्शित करने वाले रंगीन मैप आदि प्रचुरता से दिये गये हैं। इतनी सामग्री को एक ही जगह सहज उपलब्धता से हम फील्ड में वेडर्स को अच्छी तरह पहचान सकते हैं। इस पुस्तक की छपाई अच्छी है एवं कागज भी उत्तम क्वालिटी का प्रयोग किया गया है। कवर पेज आकर्षक व विषय को सार्थक करता है। कुल मिलाकर यह ग्रन्थ गागर में सागर है।

यह पुस्तक भारत, बांगलादेश, भूटान, मालद्वीप, नेपाल, पाकिस्तान, श्रीलंका एवं चांगोस, जो कि भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप के देश हैं, सभी के लिये समान रूप से उपयोगी है।

यह पुस्तक पठनीय व संग्रहणीय है। इसे सहजता से फील्ड में उपयोग किया जा सकता है। यह पुस्तक हर पक्षी अवलोकक के लिये बहुत ही उपयोगी फील्ड गाइड तो है ही, शोधार्थियों व अध्यापकों हेतु भी अत्यंत उपयोगी संदर्भ है।

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