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Ganga River Corridor: 747 Plant Species Documented
26 Sep
Summary
- Nearly 2,500 km of the Ganga river corridor were studied.
- West Bengal showed the highest plant diversity, Uttarakhand the lowest.
- 81% of documented plant species along the Ganga were native.
A basin-wide assessment of the Ganga river corridor, spanning nearly 2,500 km from Gangotri to Diamond Harbour, has revealed an impressive diversity of plant life, with 747 species documented. The study, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), found that Asteraceae, primarily herbs, represented the largest family at 50%, followed by grasses (Poaceae) and legumes (Fabaceae).
Findings presented at WII's 37th Annual Research Seminar indicated that West Bengal recorded the highest plant diversity, while Uttarakhand had the lowest. Of the total species identified, 81% were native, with non-native species observed spreading from temperate to lower zones. Researchers divided the basin into Upper, Middle, and Lower Ganga zones for detailed analysis.
The study noted that vegetation density generally decreased further from the riverbanks, largely attributed to human interference, agriculture, and land-use policies. Herbaceous vegetation dominated all three sections of the river corridor. The research provides a crucial baseline understanding of the Ganga's ecological health and its rich botanical composition.
