Jharkhand, aka the Land of Forests, is fast reaching withering heights.

Unplanned urbanisation and reckless deforestation are not just killing, but wiping out species after species of plants in the Chotanagpur Plateau region, particularly in Ranchi and Latehar.

If cognisance is taken of a botanical alert sounded by Ranchi University (RU), a few angiosperms or flowering plants have already become extinct in the region, while several pteridophytes or vascular plants like ferns have been pushed to the brink.

According to eminent botanist and former principal of Doranda College Ram Pravesh, the startling revelation came to the fore when RU students found it difficult tracking certain plants in and around the district, the samples of which were meticulously preserved by their seniors in herbariums.

“Several pteridophytes are endangered and some are on the verge of extinction in Chotanagpur Plateau. Earlier, specimens of ferns like Ophioglossum gramineum and Adiantum philippense were easily found on Morabadi grounds. These are lost now,” the retired professor said.

It may be recalled that in 2001-02, more than hundred trees were felled in Morabadi to make way for roads. This perhaps resulted in the disappearance of Ophioglossum and Adiantum. For, ferns mostly grow under tree shades.

Pravesh further said that a particular medicinal plant belonging to Apiaceae family — mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems like parsley — has gone extinct.

“Ligusticum alboalatum has vanished from Latehar, categorically Netarhat area. The medicinal plant was recorded by H.H. Haines in his book, The Botany of Bihar and Orissa, which was published in three volumes in the early 20th century. The Red Data Book of Indian Plants has confirmed that the plant was not seen after 1940,” the former professor said.

Both Ranchi and Latehar are significant geographical patches from the flora point of view because three important rivers originate from these two districts. “Damodar and Koel originate from Latehar and Subernarekha originates from Ranchi. The soil along their banks has special characteristics to sustain different known and unknown plant families. But, extinction at this rate eliminates scope of further research,” Pravesh pointed out.

Why is Jharkhand’s botanical reserve depleting so fast?

“Unmindful urbanisation and industrialisation is the root cause. Vanishing flora is affecting the climate too. Earlier, Ranchi always had pleasant summers and bearable winters.”

Javed Ahmed, botanist and former principal of Marwari College, echoed Pravesh. “Netarhat, Ranchi, Gumla and Simdega were once known to be homes of pteridophytes owing to lush green forests and good climate, which created natural shades. But now, they are heat-cursed.”

Ahmed added that extinction of species was going unnoticed for years because fear of Maoists was keeping taxonomists away from forests. “If properly tracked, many more species will be found missing. But, we are unable to maintain proper records because of Left-wing extremism.”

Citing more reasons behind the extinction of plant species, Paramjit Singh, the director of Botanical Survey of India (Howrah), pointed to Charles Darwin’s survival-of-the-fittest theory. “Several species are possibly unable to adapt to the state’s changing ambience.” Singh said there was an immediate need to list existing botanical species and scout for ways to preserve the endangered ones.

Jharkhand’s principal chief conservator of forests A.K. Malhotra admitted the concerns were justified, but cited limited human resource for not being able to prepare a list. The department also has no concrete strategy to preserve endangered species.

Shekhar, an RU researcher, said that since February this year, he was looking for certain ferns that were found in Morabadi in 1985. His search goes on as Jharkhand readies to have its own red data book for plants.