STUDY ON KAZIRANGA PARK (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: New research has developed a modern analogue for pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) of Kaziranga National Park that can help in the interpretation of the past vegetation and climate in a region.

Study in Kaziranga National Park 

• About: Kaziranga National Park serves as a critical reserve for tropical species and facilitates gene reservoirs during glacial periods.
• Dataset: Scientists at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) created a modern analogue dataset for pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) from Kaziranga National Park.
• Usage: Modern pollen analogue being a prerequisite in this high precipitation tropical region for deciphering the past and future climatic scenario, the palaeo-ecological data would assist in better understanding the sustainable future projections in and around the national park.
• Significance: The research is the first holistic approach towards developing modern pollen and NPP analogue that would be an accurate reference tool for the past herbivory and ecological studies in the tropical region of northeast India.
• Study findings: Climate change is a dynamic process for the periodic vegetation shifts in a region. The extreme and unpredictable weather, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, is one of the prime drivers for the biodiversity loss in National Parks.

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve

• Location: Located at Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam.
• Flora: Tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests. 
• Fauna: One-horned rhinos; Elephant; Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo. It is the home of the world's most one-horned rhinos and has the second-highest number of Rhinos after Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in Assam.
• River: Located on the edge of Brahmaputra River and Diphlu River flows through the National Park.
• National Highway (NH): NH 37 passes through the National Park.
• Conservation Status Declared as:

oNational Park in 1974, UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Tiger Reserve in 2007 and Recognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International.