A GUIDE TO – WALKING TRAIL AT EASTERN HIMALYAN BOTANIC ARK

Since 2005, Balipara Foundation has taken over the stewardship of 22 acres of land around the heritage home stay bungalows which makeup Wild Mahseer. This has resulted in a haven for the rich biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayas. The Eastern Himalayan Botanical Ark is a first of its kind in the Eastern Himalayas. Inaugurated on November 11, 2016 by Prof. Peter H. Raven, Missouri Botanical Garden, Dr. Kamal Bawa, University of Massachusetts Boston, and Prof. Xu Jianchu, Kunming Institute of Botany, the Botanic Ark seeks to become the centre for preservation and restoration of the biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayas through education, experimentation, and research The Botanic Ark located in the Sonitpur district of Assam, India plays host to a rich sampling of Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity. Visitors to the Botanic Ark can experience the natural wealth of the Eastern Himalayas through interactive nature walks where they experience the thriving and threatened biodiversity of the region and 10 thematic sections to learn about the importance of conservation of this flora and fauna. The Botanic Ark also offers Nature based experiential learning courses through the NaturenomicsTM School. This unique learning experience offers courses for a variety of participants and audiences, from children aged 5 to adults, professionals and even planning to introduce corporate training courses. The Botanic Ark also offers Nature based experiential learning courses through the NaturenomicsTM School. This unique learning experience offers courses for a variety of participants and audiences, from children aged 5 to adults, professionals and even planning to introduce corporate training courses. These courses offer students the opportunity not just to learn about the latest advances in science but also to learn from the local communities who have had the benefit of learning through wealth of knowledge earned through experiences over generations The NaturenomicsTM Bazaar hosts WUYA and Saneki two local businesses which encourage local artists and artisans to create handcrafted products which are available for purchase on site. WUYA also offers workshops in weaving and organic dyeing for visitors to participate in. Visitors can experience all of this while staying in residence at Wild Mahseer, named for the one of the toughest game fish in the world, Wild Mahseer is a unique heritage stay for visitors to experience watchful and data filled tourism while staying within the bio-diverse haven of the Eastern Himalayan Botanic Ark. This biodiversity has been tended to with care over the years and allowed to flourish through the passion and knowledge of the local botanists

Tips for your safety and enjoyment

•Stay on the path

•Wear shoes

•Take nothing but photographs

•Use mosquito repellent cream

•Be as quite as possible

•Don’t smoke

•Enjoy the majesty and ambience of

the forest

Distance: 1000m Time Taken: 2 hour (depending on guests choice tour could make short) OPENING HOURS 7.00am – 4.00 pm (October – April) 7.00am– 5.00pm (May – September) ADMISSION FEES – •No fees for children upto 8 years •Rs 300/- per person •Rs 150/- for students above 8 years (by showing IDENTITY CARD) Monday closed for maintainenece. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT TICKET COUNTER. (We will appreciate 24 hour prior contact through mail/phone from the actual date of visit to the Botanic Ark)

HOW TO GET TO EASTERN HIMALYAN BOTANIC ARK BY CAR – 220km from Guwahati Airport to Eastern Himalayan Botanic Ark via NH 27, 192.8km via NH 15. 18km from Tezpur Airport to Eastern Himalayan Botanic Ark. BY TRAIN- Guwahati railway station Rangapara Junction 20km 12km Dekagaon station Eastern Himalayan Botanic Ark

CONTACT ADDRESS : Balipara Division Addabarie Tea Estate Sonitpur Dist . Balipara, Lokra Assam 784102. Email id: gautam.baruah@baliparafoundation.com gita.dutta@baliparafoundation.com mansi.parikh@baliparafoundation.com Contact no. +917578007660

SPOTLIGHTS �Secondary forest regeneration experimental plot displaying self sustaining competency of plants.

�Well marked trails and total 19 stoppage

�Heaven of supporting 100,000+ plant individuals of 300 species, 52+ butterfly species, 40+ birds’ species, 13+ snake species and 50+

insects species.

�Naturenomics school is a teaching learning education programme based on the principles of NaturenomicsTM . People of all age

group are welcome to perticipate in Naturenomics TM School.

�NaturenomicsTM store is An approach to support the local weavers and farmers to produce more organic and natural products

�Ethnic museum is a way to display and conserve the traditional equipment of the communities.

To know about more please log in to www.baliparafoundation.com

A GUIDE TO – WALKING TRAIL AT EASTERN HIMALYAN BOTANIC ARK

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1. BMBUSETUM 2. NATURENOMICSTM SCHOOL 3. EX-SITUPLANT CONSERVATION SITE

4. COMMUNITY FISHERY 5. RAIN TREE PATCH 6. AQUATIC PLANT CONSERVATION SITE

7. VERMICOMPOST UNIT 8. AGROFORESTRY 9. NURSERY

10. MEDICINAL PLANT GARDEN 11. ORCHIDARIUM & FERN HOUSE 12. HERBARIUM & SEED BANK

13. TIMBER PATCH 14. WASTE CLUSTER UNIT 15. NATURENOMICSTM BAZAR

16. BAMBOO EXPERIMENTAL PLOT 17. SECONDARY FOREST REGENERATION EXPERIMENTAL PLOT

18. BUTTERFLY ATTRACTING PLANTS 19. BIRDS ATTRACTING PLANTS

WHAT YOU CAN SEE ON THIS TRAIL

1.BAMBOOSETUM - Bamboo means a garden having a collection of bamboo plants. EHBA Bamboosetum contains most important bamboo species like East Indian brown bamboo( Bambusa tulda its local name is Jati baah) and Dragon bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus its local assamese name is KaKo Baah) etc. 2.NATURENOMICSTM SCHOOL- The NaturenomicsTM School will offer a series on short (1 day and 1 week), and long term (10 week) certification courses in various principles of Naturenomics. 3. EX-SITU CONSERVATION SITE - Ex-situ conservation is a process of protecting an species, variety or breed, of plant or outside of its natural habitat .Some important representatives are Teak (Tectonic grandis locally known as Segun ), Red cotton tree( Bombax ceiba, locally known as Shimolu) and many more. 4.COMMUNITY FISHERY – Collection of fresh water fish sourced and maintain and consumed by community people. 5.RAIN TREE PATCH – Along with large numbers of rain trees this patch contain some important species like arrowhead vine etc. 6.AQUATIC PLANT CONSERVATION SITE – Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments only here you can see: Different lily,Tora (Alpinia nigra) etc. 7.VERMICOMPOST UNIT (vermi-compost) is the product of the composting process using various species of worms, usually red wiggles, white wormis, and other earthworms, to create a heterogenous mixture, of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast . 8.AGROFORESTRY – Agroforestry is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops.This area contains important species such as Chilli (Capsicum chinense, locally known as Bhutjolokia), paddy fields (seasonal). 9. NURSERY – At EHBA Nursery set up for propagation of threatened, endemic and economically important plant species like Ritha (Sapindus mukorosii) Lipstick tree (Bixa orellana, locally known as Senduri). etc. 10..MEDICINAL PLANT GARDEN : EHBA medicinal plant garden contains most important species Bone settler (Cissus quadrangularis locally known as Harjura), Guduchi (Tinospara condifolia, Amar lota) and many more.

11.ORCHIDARIUM AND FERNHOUSE : Showcasing different species of orchids and ferns. EHBA orchidarium contains: Foxtail (Rhynchostylis retusa, locally known as Kopouphul), Aloe-leafed Cymbielium (Cymbidium aloifolium locally known as mota kopouful)) etc. 12.HERBARIUM AND SEED BANK : Herbarium is a collection of plants that have been systematically arranged and labeled, often for scientific use. 13.TIMBER YIELDING PATCH: EHBA timber yielding plant contains both economically and ecologically important tree like Sal (Shorea robusta) ,Titasopa (Magnolia champaca) and many more. 14.WASTE CLUSTER UNIT: A set up to set an example of waste management 15.NATURENOMICSTM BAZAAR: Naturenomics Bazaar is site for the display of organic dyed ethnic cloths and ethnic fishing and cultivation equipment in ethnic museum. 16.BAMBOO EXPERIMENTAL PLOT: Bamboo, one of the fastest-growing plants on earth with reported growth rates of 250 cm in 24 hours due to its unique rhizome dependent system. In 2013, a total of 50 bamboo saplings produced through tissue culture techniques were planted in the bamboo experiment site covering an area of 500m2. Among that 50 sapling, 30 were belonging to B. tulda which is locally known as Jaati baah and 20 belonging to B. balcooa which is locally known as Bhuluka baah. 17.SECONDARY FOREST REGENERATION EXPERIMENTAL PLOT (STORY BEHIND PARKING LOT TO WILD HABITAT): A secondary forest (or second-growth forest) is a forest or woodland area which has re-grown after a timber harvest, until a long enough periods has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident. In 2007, 15 random plant species were introduced in this plot. After that the plot was left without any human interference and at present supports 50 different plant species by its own way. 18.BUTTERFLY SIGHTING SITE: The plants in this area attract most of the butterflies in EHBA that make the place so interesting for butterfly watching, one example of a plant is Sunhemp ( Crotolaria juncea, locally known as Jhunjunia) and more 19.BIRD WATCHING SITE: This particular area is selected for maximum number of birds sighting in early morning and afternoon.

A GUIDE TO – WALKING TRAIL AT EASTERN HIMALYAN BOTANIC ARK

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FOREST ANIMALS:

Eastern Himalyan Botanic Ark is not just a botanical wonder but also a habitat of many tropical animals and insects 1. BIRDS This place is a haven for 60+ bird species Most of the species are common, some are seasonal and some are sudden visitors. The gathering and chuckling of these birds make the place very alive throughout the day. The most frequentely spotted birds are Black hooded oriole(Oriolus xanthornus Local name is Xokhiyoti),), Black rumped flameback(Dinopium benghalense locally known as Kathkhuli) 2. BUTERFLIES AND INSECTS This is another twig of EHBA, that put make the trail more amusing. We have 52+ species of butterflies and 50+ insects. You will find Glassy tiger (Parantica aglea) ,Common tiger (Danaus genutia) , Blue tailed damselfly and red ant etc. frequently 3. REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS This is also a pitiful area for many tetrapod animals most commonly among reptiles are Banded krait( Bungarus fasciatus) , Calotes versicolor etc. and amphibians includes Hylarana leptoglossa( Cope’s Assam Frog), Microhyla ornata (Ornate narrow- mouthed frog) and many more. 4. MAMMALS As per the area of the ark, it is lucky enough to support 2-3 species of mammals ,Common Indian monkey (Maccaque assamensis) ,Indian grey Mongoose and this the best place to observe all kinds of their behaviour. 5. PISCES The community fishery pond in EHBA consists of many species of fish and the most common are Magur (Clarius batricus), Climbing perch (Anabus testudineus locally known as Kawai), Greeb snake head, (Channa punctatus locally known as Goroi) and many more.

A GUIDE TO – WALKING TRAIL AT EASTERN HIMALYAN BOTANIC ARK