Bhubaneswar, Nov. 14: The dense forest of Khandadhar, which is named after its famed waterfall, is spread over an area of 62sqkm bordering Sundargarh and Keonjhar districts in the north-western part of the state.

While the region falls under Bonai forest division, it lies between south-east of Bonai and Suakanthi in Keonjhar with its tropical dry deciduous forests rich in sal.

The entrance from its Sundargarh district end is more frequented by visitors, which passes through small places like Lahunipada and Lalei Chhak.

While Lahunipada is about 65km from the steel township, Rourkela, Lalei Chhak is nearly 30 km from Lahunipada. So, a tourist has to travel about 95 km from Rourkela to have the beautiful view of the waterfall and its surrounding.

Even those interested in observing the lifestyle of the tribals and especially primitive tribal groups can watch the Paudi Bhuyan community, which has a population of about 3,000 around Khandadhar.

Near Khandadhar there are two facilities for tourists to stay. While one is an inspection bungalow of the public works department, another one belongs to the Paudi Bhuyan Development Agency. However, both lack facilities and tourists are more interested to have day-time tours.

Increasing Maoists activities in the area have also affected the prospects of staying over night. Known for its rich reserve of iron ore, Khandadhar consists of forests, waterfalls, eight major perennial streams and one of the major elephant corridors (connecting Saranda in Jharkhand and Bhamragarh in Chhattisgarh).

Twenty-three villages under five gram panchayats of Bonai forest division depends on the natural resources of Khandadhar to meet their livelihood. While temperature varies between 12 to 37 degree Celsius, the region receives 1,403 mm rainfall annually. There is no off-season for tourists.

Most visitors frequent the area during the winter months. They visit the region for picnic and sight-seeing.

The lush green forests of Khandadhar act as a transitional zone between the flora and fauna of Deccan peninsula and northern India, making the region an ecological estuary of genetic diversities, which provide livelihood to thousands of communities residing in and around the hills.

The dense forest of Khandadhar support several rare, endangered and endemic flora and fauna of socio-economic and ecological importance. However, till recently, there was no systematic study of the flora and fauna of the region.

Divisional forest officer (DFO) Arun Kumar Mishra said: “Khandadhar is one of the largest falls of the state and its beauty attracts tourists from neighbouring states. Besides the waterfall, one can look around for 30 species of butterflies.

Sighting wild animals right near the fall may not be possible, but one can find barking deer, snakes, different species of birds and elephants in the nearby forests. Old reports talk about the presence of tigers, but the recent tiger census could not even find leopards. We have taken the help of a young group of biologists to conduct a biodiversity survey of the region and the preliminary survey has been documented so far. Thus, our future action plan will include publication of a detailed report on the biodiversity wealth of Khandadhar, maintaining the sacred groves or traditional dense patches of forests with local deities and welfare of the Paudi Bhuyan PTG.”

The DFO added: “When funds will be there, then we would think about development of the surroundings of the fall with the involvement of the local people,’’ the DFO added.

A group of ecologists from Vasundhara studied the flora and fauna of Khandadhar and found that due to anthropogenic activities, large blocks of contiguous forests along with its rich biodiversity were being reduced to remnant patches of secondary habitats, affecting ecology and biodiversity.

The ecologist have stated in their report: : “The discovery of several species of flora such as bryophytes, lichens, orchids and fauna like invertebrates, butterflies and snakes, including limbless lizard (Sepsophis), from the hills have drawn the attention of scientifics for further exploration and discovery of taxonomic novelties.’’

On the other hand, the area is considered as large repository of minerals like iron ore, bauxites and quartz and they are now posing threats for the biodiversity. More than 75 species of wild plants were identified during a preliminary field visit comprising many herbs, shrubs and tree species.

The ethno-botanical application of 44 plant species were also documented, which includes 18 species used for medicinal purpose, 12 as edible alternatives and 14 for other purposes by the PTGs which needs to be conserved for sustainable development.

Ecologist Prasad Dash said “major medicinal plant species like asparagus racemosus, celastrus paniculata, chlorophytum arundinaceum, costus speciosus, curculigo orchioides, curcuma angustifolia, gloriosa superba, gymnema sylvestre, plumbago zeylanica, rubia cordifolia and tinospora cordifolia were harvested in bulk for preparation of medicine by the PTGs. Unsustainable collection of above medicinal plants has placed them in threatened and vulnerable categories in Orissa’s Conservation Assessment and Management Plan.

“Out of 32 plant species identified for conservation, cultivation and sustainable commercial exploitation by the National Medicinal Plants Board under the ministry of health and family welfare, at least 10 species are available in the Khandadhar forests. So these plants need special attention and their habitat needs to be protected.

In total, 400 species of plants are available which includes 351 species of angiosperms, 24 species of orchids, 15 species of bryophytes, six species of fungi and four species of lichens. Similarly, the faunal diversity includes 22 species of mammals, 75 species of birds, 19 species of amphibians, 19 species of lizards and 25 species of snakes,’’ the report said.

Animals like giant squirrels, flying squirrels sloth bear, barking deer are also found here. Similarly, bat population in Khandadhar is an asset forf the whole ecosystem.

Several species of birds like Indian grey hornbills, coppersmith barbet, golden oriole, Eurasian oriole, Moorhens, Indian rollers, parakeets, magpie robins, crimson birds, golden backed woodpeckers are the common feature of the forests.

Butterflies such as banded peacock, common crow, peacock pansy, plain tiger, tawny coaster, white tiger, yellow, common grass yellow, mottled emigrant and blue pansy are commonly available.

“In the prevailing situation, conservation of plant resources is very important, as many of these plants, for example asparagus recemosus and pothus scandens have been reduced to a greater extent. Therefore, sustainable utilisation of medicinal plants is need of the hour,’’

Dash added.“Khandadhar is also treated as a hub for rock honey as it provides a huge range of habitat for both rock and tree honey. Sustainable honey harvesting involves the local harvesters and its marketing through value addition would be another area to reduce dependency on forest.

Community mobilisation and creating awareness on sustainable harvesting of plant parts among the local people of the surrounding villages must be done at priority level,’’ said a retired state government official, who served in Bonai sub-division in the early ’80s.