BIODIVERSITY CLUB
SALIPUR AUTONOMOUS COLLEGE, SALIPUR. ODISHA. 754202
ABOUT THE CLUB
Odisha's unique location in Peninsular India has blessed it with an interesting assemblage of floral and faunal diversity. With an unindented coastline of nearly 480 km, drained by several large and perennial rivers, altitudinal variation from sea level up to 5000 feet above MSL, varied geography and the confluence of two major biogeographic provinces of India–the Eastern Ghats and Chhotanagpur Plateau–make Odisha a rich biodiversity repository. The state has an area of 1, 55,707 sq km, of which 4.52 % is very dense forest, 13. 67 % is moderately dense forest, 14.13 % comprises open forest and 2.84 % is scrub forest. Of the state’s total geographical area, 32.33 % is covered with forests. This works out to be about 7.21 % of the India’s total forest area (FSI, 2013). These forests vary widely depending on their location but may be broadly classed as moist deciduous, dry deciduous, scrub forest, mangrove forests and patches of semi evergreen forests, especially along the perennial streams and at high altitude areas receiving heavy rainfall. Smaller niche habitats such as savannah, xerophytic habitats, etc also exist as do large wetlands and marshlands. Moist deciduous Sal forest is by far the most dominating in terms of area and expanse across the state. As per Champion and Seth (1968) and Panigrahi (1983b), the vegetation of Odisha comes under four types: (i) Odisha Semi-evergreen forests (ii) Tropical moist deciduous forests (iii) Tropical dry-deciduous forests and (iv) Littoral and Tidal swamp forests.
Biogeographically, the state falls in three zones: Deccan Peninsula (Chotanagpur and Eastern Highlands), Lower Gangetic Plain and East Coast as per classification by Rodgers et al (2002). Meher-Homji (2001) has recognised three phytogeographic regions in the state, i.e., Deccan Plateau, Eastern Ghats and the Coastal Plains. The state is underlain largely by Precambrian rocks. The geological formations reflect a complex of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks with alluvial and coastal alluvial plains, each giving rise to distinct soil type which range from alluvial (coastal and riverine types) to lateritic and black cotton.
Vegetation in the Eastern Ghats ranges from moist deciduous type in the north to dry deciduous type in the south. These forests are composed of tropical, subtropical and temperate elements along with evergreen types which occur at high elevations
Salipur Autonomous College aims to bring together people having interest in flora and fauna and who enjoy being with nature, for the conservation of biological biodiversity. 'Biodiversity' refers to the various forms of life on earth. It can be related to an open home of different species (plants, animals, insects, birds, micro-organisms) forming a network among themselves. Optimum geographical and climatic conditions encourage rich species diversity. However, development activities by human race have led to extensive clearance of forests, expansion of agricultural land, filling up of wetlands leading to ecological imbalance. This has resulted in loss of biodiversity, in particular and severe alteration of evolutionary process of ecosystem and environment, in general. Salipur Autonomous College Biodiversity Club (SACBC) is a activity club of the departments of Botany and Zoology, which aims to bring together people having interest in flora and fauna, and who simply enjoy being outdoors with nature by exploring the rich diversity of this region, documenting it and working towards its conservation.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CLUB ARE:
1. To generate checklist of flora and fauna of Salipur Autonomous College campus;
2. To sensitize campus dwellers and the local people regarding importance of biodiversity conservation;
3. To imbibe interest in nature and importance of biodiversity conservation in the minds of children inside and outside the campus;
4. To create a 'clean and green consciousness' among students through various innovative methods and initiatives;
5. To undertake conservation activities, without hindering development activities, in and around the campus.
6. To collaborate with national and international conservation agencies for biodiversity conservation of the region.
7. In association with Odisha Biodiversity Board conduct biodiversity studies.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
Biodiversity Club will have the following organisational structure:
Patron: Principal, Salipur Autonomous College
Co-ordinator: Dr. Swati Panda, H. O. D. Zoology
Co-Coordinator: Mrs. Jayanti Bala Parija, H. O. D. Botany
Executive Committee: Faculty members of Botany and Zoology with student representatives of the departments.
One member from Odisha Biodiversity Board and One member from Local Community.
