Introduction: Namdapha Tiger Reserve was declared in the year 1983 as the 15th Tiger Project of the country with a core area of 1985.245 Sq.Km and a buffer area of 245 Sq.Km. Thus the total area of the Reserve is 1985 Sq.Km. Namdapha is in fact the name of a river which originates from Daphabum (Dapha is the name of hill, Bum means peak of hill) and meets Noa-Dehing river. This river flows right across in a North-South direction of the National Park and hence the name Namdapha has been given.
Location: The area is bounded between the 27°23´N to 27°39´N latitude and 96°15´E to 96°58´E longitude. Namdapha National Park & Tiger Reserve is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The area covered by the Namdapha Tiger Reserve was originally a reserve forest. It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary under the Assam Forest Regulation 1891 on 2nd Oct.’1972. It was later declared a National Park on 12th May 1983, under Wildlife (Protection) Act1972. In the same year it was declared as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger Scheme of the Govt. of India on 15th March’1983.. Biogeographically, the area falls within the Eastern Himalayan (2D) biogeographic province of the Himalayas Biogeographic zone in the Indian Biogeographic Region which covers the Plaearctic Realm and the Indo-Malayan (Oriental) Realm (Rodgers and Power, 1988). It is located at the junction of the Indian Sub-Continent Biogeograhic region and the Indo-China Biogeographic Region (Dinerstein, E. et at 1997). As a result of this, extensive diversity of flora and fauna is observed in this belt. The Biomes recognised are evergreen Forests, Moist deciduous forests, sub-tropical forests, Temperate Forests and Alpine. The Namdapha protected area is wedged between Dapha Bum ridge of Mishmi Hills, of North Eastern Himalayas and Patkai Ranges.
Climate: The Namdapha Protected area being 27°N of equator, falls within the geographical sub-tropical zone and enjoys the sub-tropical climate. However, the climate of the area varies from place to place inside the Protected Area due to variation of altitude from 200 m to 4571m and the area also being the zone of heavy rainfall. The mountainous part of the area enjoy what is known as mountain type of climate while the low lying plains and valleys experience tropical climate. The seasons can be broadly classified into following types:
a. The Cold season from Dec. to Feb.
b. The pre-monsoon season from Mar. to May
c. The south west Monsoon season from June to September
d. The pos Monsoon season from Oct. to Nov.
Vegetation: The unique geographical position, varied topography, high annual precipitation spreading throughout the year have made this virgin forest very rich in floral diversity wherein not a single species can be termed as the dominant species of the area. The climate condition with favorable rainfall coupled with temperature gradients and high humidity makes the vegetation characteristic of tropical evergreen forests (Tropical Rain Forests) although the region is located 270N of geographical equator. The flora of Namdapha protected areas is exceptionally rich, dense and diverse in species composition. It supports several endemics that have evolved locally or have survived only because of protective natural barriers against the invaders. In the phytogeographical relationship and affinities, the flora of Namdapha Protected Area show greater affinities with Indo-Malayan flora, although it also harbors the plants of other part of India, neighbouring as well as far off countries along with its own flora. On the basis of survey carried out in parts of this Protected Area it is found that there are 73 species of lichens, 59 species of Bryophytes, 112 species of Heridophytes, 5 species of Gymnosperons and around 801 species of Angiosperms (Sharma et. Al 1990). These do not include the floral elements of temperate and alpine regions that has not been explored due to inaccessibility and lack of infrastructure.
Ethnobotany: The tribal population inhabiting the Changlang and Lohit districts which surround this protected area belong to different ethnic background and has very rich cultural traditions. With their ingenious skill and close association with plants growing over the wide ecological utilization of the plants in their surrounding forests. They use individual plant parts or combination of several plants or their parts in different proportions in their daily life. By and large they confine these knowledge to themselves as closed secrets handed over by generations to generations. However, they hesitate to disclose or share this information with others due to superstitious beliefs. Though no detailed ethno botanical studies and follow up pharmacological work have been undertaken in the area, the effective traditional ways and uses of different species in folklore, as supplementary food plants and in curing different ailments are well established. The ethobiology is related to the myths, beliefs, customs, rituals and life style of the tribal people. Some of these plants of ethno botanical importance are listed at annexure – III along with their uses.
Fauna: Namdapha PA is located at the junction of the Indian Sub-Continent Biogeography region and the Indo-China Biogeography Region (Dimerstein, E.et. al, 1997). Moreover, according to Kurup (1974) this belt is a faunal gateway through which the Indo-Chinese elements of the oriental as well as Palaearctic fauna could spread to India and colonize when the Indian Peninsula and Asiatic mass were linked through land mass. The most of the faunal dispersal has taken place through this gateway due to the natural barriers of the Thar desert in the West, the great oceans in the South and the high Himalayas in the North. As a result of this extensive diversity of fauna is observed from the fact that in every group along the evolutionary pathway, a large and diverse species complex exist in the area. The faunal group inhabiting soil, ground, litter, under stone, decaying woods and grasslands are 1285 species as below. Earthworms::10 species, Leeches::5 species, Insects::430 species, Butterflies & Moths::140 species, Fishes:: 76 species, Amphibians:: 25 species, Reptiles:: 50 species, Birds::453 species, Mammals::137 species.
