32 medicinal plants on verge of extinction in Jhajjar: Survey

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, November 30

As many as 32 rare species of angiospermic plants found in the Matanhel forest area are on the verge of extinction posing a serious threat to the biodiversity, reveals a survey report prepared by a team of scientists led by Dr Saurabh Panday from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, recently. The plants are used as medicines for the treatment of cancer, respiratory and cardiac diseases, ulcer, liver and kidney infections. The report will soon be submitted to the state government for further action to protect these plants.

Overexploitation of natural resources

Overexploitation of natural resources, urbanisation, habitat loss, extreme hunting, pollution and climate change are the main reasons responsible for pushing these 32 rare plants on the path of extinction. Dr Saurabh Panday, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

3 butterfly species may be wiped out

Three prominent species of butterfly — blue argus, danaus chrysippus and papillo pollutes — too are close to extinction because of destruction of their milkweed habitats, urbanisation, use of insecticides and climate change. Dr Kavita Saini, entomologist &,member, survey team

“Overexploitation of natural resources, urbanisation, habitat loss, extreme hunting, pollution and climate change are the main reasons responsible for pushing these 32 rare plants on the path of extinction. These plants include indigofera cordifolia, physalis angulata, senna occidentalis, senegalia catechu, Tinospora cordifolia and Sida Cordifolia etc.,” said Dr Panday who is also the former principal investigator at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi.

He maintained leaves, stem, roots, seed and barks of all these 32 species belonging to 21 families had been used for medicine purposes since ancient times. There was an urgent need to take vital steps for their protection as well as for dealing with climate changes that was not good for the ecosystem and biodiversity, he added.

Dr Kavita Saini, entomologist, and prominent member of the survey team said “The threat to biodiversity not only affects the flora and fauna but also the environmental conditions. Butterflies are considered a bio-indicator of the ecosystem but our survey has found that three prominent species of butterfly — blue argus, danaus chrysippus and papillo pollutes — too are close to extinction because of destruction of their milkweed habitats as urbanisation, use of insecticides and climate change.”