Flora and fauna of jammu and kashmir.pptx

Flora and fauna of jammu and kashmir by: Joseph Sabu, Jansher debu, rahul Jerath, amrit dang and raghav chawla

Flora and fauna of Jammu and Kashmir

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has quite a rich variety of plant life which helps the people and animals to depend for their daily needs such as food, medicine, fuel, fiber, etc for people; and food and habitat for both wild and domestic animals.

The fauna of Jammu and Kashmir is varied due to its unique location and climatic condition. About 16% of the Indian mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects are present in this state. And also it is home to number to species that are listed as endangered like the Hangul, Snow Leopard and many more. The main tourist attractions of here is due to the fauna of the state.

Collage of the flora and fauna of Jammu and KashmirFlora Cradled in the lap of the Himalayas, the state of Jammu and Kashmir is particularly rich in flora due to the wide variations in topography.

Undoubtedly the most important of the trees found in Kashmir is the Chinar which is grown throughout the length and breadth of the valley, and the most important plant grown is the saffron plant. At the higher altitudes there are birch, rhododendron, Berbers and a large number of herbal plants; while in the mountainous region of the state, it is covered densely with deodar, fir and pine.

3Locally called "The Booune in the Kashmiri language, the Chinar tree holds a special place in the Kashmiri civilization which is almost found in every village of the valley. Chinar is a gigantic sized tree whose scientific name is platanus orientalis.It grows up to a height of 25 meters and a girth exceeding 50 feet in certain cases.This tree with largest circumference of 60 feet is located at a village named Chattergam in central Kashmir.

The Chinar TreeThe Pine TreeWith its scientific name as genus pinus, the pine trees are an evergreen coniferous tree which has dense branches and long dark needle like leaves. In recent years these trees are becoming very popular because they are used in ornaments etc by the cashmeres.This evergreen conifer tree can thrive in full sun and poor soil. The soft dark green needles of the tree are 6-10 inches long and these are arranged in bundles of three. With this also the cones of the tree are 3 to 5 inches long. This tree is grown both urban and rural areas.

The Saffron PlantThere are only two places in the world where Saffron grows, and in India, Jammu and Kashmir is one of those places where it grows.Crocus sativus, or the saffron plant is very small and its flower is the only part which is seen above the ground. The blooming time of this flower is autumn. Saffron has a unique sweet smell and is used in dyeing and cooking. The orange stigmas of the saffron flower are harvested as these are used as a flavoring and coloring agent in various recipes.

Fauna

Dachigam National ParkA Beautiful reserve, the national park stretches across an area of 141 square kilometers, with abundance of the most scenic natural beauty; the variation in its altitude is vast, ranging from 5500 ft to 14000 ft above the sea level. Thus, it is very clearly marked into an upper and lower region.The park has been a protected area since 1910 and its name literally means 'ten villages', which stands for the number of villages that were relocated for its formation. It was finally declared a National Park in the year 1981.

Initially created to ensure clean drinking water supply for the city of Srinagar, it now houses many rare species within its premises including Hangul, Kashmir Stag etc, and other than that there includes Leopards, tigers, Himalayan Gray Langurs, Leopard Cats, Himalayan Black Bear, Cinnamon Sparrows, Black Bulbuls, Monal Pheasants, Golden Orioles and many more.

Dachigam National Park

Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve

Located 48km from Srinagar, Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve occupies an area of 180 sq km. The Reserve is the natural habitat for its Himalayan musk deer, red fox, black & brown bear; but mainly it is a paradise for bird watchersThe best season for bird viewing is the months of March to May, and for animal sighting it is from September to March.

The best season for bird viewing is the months of March to May, and for animal sighting it is from September to March.If one wants to explore the reserve It is important to dress in camouflage colors, such as khaki, green, etc.

Gulmarg Biosphere ReserveJOSEPH SABU, JANSHER DEBU, RAHUL JEARATH, RAGHAV CHOWLA, AMRIT DANGTHANK YOU