BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIAThe Botanical Survey of India (BSI), a premiere research organization under Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Govt. of India, is engaged in documentation and conservation of wild plant resources of the country through field survey and taxonomic research. It was established on 13th February, 1890 with the basic objective to explore the plant resources of the country and to identify the plant species of economic virtues. Sir George King, who was the then Superintendent of Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta (now Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden), became the first Director of BSI and was thus holding the dual charges of Garden as well as Herbarium. Many renowned naturalists and botanists from Botanical Survey made valuable contributions to the knowledge of country’s flora since its inception. After the retirement of Mr. C.C. Calder, the last Director of Botanical Survey in 1939, it remained quiescent till 1953. Govt. of India appointed Dr. E.K. Janaki Ammal as Officer on Special Duty on 14th October, 1952 to prepare a reorganization plan of the Botanical Survey of India for the much needed inventory of the country’s rich floral resources. The reorganization plan was approved by Govt. of India on 29th March, 1954 with the following objectives: • • • To undertake intensive floristic surveys and collect accurate and detailed information on the occurrence, distribution, ecology and economic utility of plants in the country To collect, identify and distribute the materials which may be of use to the educational and research institutions and To act as custodian of authentic collections in well planned herbaria and to document the plant resources in the form of Local, District, State and National Floras. During successive plan periods, the functional role of the Survey was further expanded to include various new areas such as inventorying of endemic, rare and threatened plant species; evolving conservation strategies; studies on fragile ecosystems and protected areas like Sanctuaries, National Parks and Biosphere Reserves; conservation, multiplication and maintenance of germplasm of endemic and threatened species, wild ornamentals and other plant genetic resources in botanic gardens and orchidaria; ethno-botanical studies and development of national database on herbarium specimens and live collections. The present set up: The Botanical Survey of India has its Headquarters at Kolkata with Pharmacognosy, Cryptogamy, Ecology, Plant Chemistry, Flora Cell, Palynology, Library, Publication Unit, & Technical Section located at Kolkata/Howrah. Besides four other units of the Survey, viz., AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah, Central National Herbarium, Howrah, Central Botanical Laboratory, Howrah and the Industrial Section, Indian Museum, Kolkata. In addition, the Survey has 11 Regional Centers in different bio-geographical regions of the country: 1. Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong covers states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mamipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. 2. 3. Western Regional Centre, Pune covers states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka Southern Regional Centre, Coimbatore covers states of Tamilnadu, Kerala, Pondicherry and UT of Laccadive Islands 4. Northern Regional Centre, Dehradun covers states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh ( UT) 5. Central Regional Centre, Allahabad covers states of UttarPradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. 6. Arid Zone Regional Centre, Jodhpur covers states of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Daman, Diu (UT) 7. 8. 9. Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair has jurisdiction of the entire bay islands. Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, Itanagar covers Arunachal Pradesh. Sikkim Himalayan Regional Centre, Gangtok covers Sikkim Himalayas 10. Botanic Garden of Indian Republic, Noida covers National Capital Region and 11. Deccan Regional Centre, Hyderabad covers Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. In the year 1987, the aims and objectives of the department were reviewed and prioritized under ‘Primary’ and ‘Secondary’ objectives. These objectives were further streamlined in view of the recommendations made by successive Programme/Research Advisory Committees as well as the ‘National Seminar on the Role of BSI and ZSI in the Next Millennium’, organized by MoEF in 1999. As such the current objectives of the Survey are as under: The primary objectives: • Exploration, inventorying and documentation of phytodiversity (including non-flowering plants) in general and protected areas, hotspots, fragile ecosystems and sacred groves in particular; publication of National, State and District Floras; • Identification of species rich areas and Red list species for conservation; ex situ conservation of critically threatened taxa in botanical gardens; • Survey and documentation of traditional knowledge (ethno-botany) associated with plants and • Develop a National database of Indian plants, including herbarium specimens, live specimens, botanical paintings and illustrations. The secondary objectives: • Revisionary/Monographic studies on selected plant groups; • Qualitative analysis of nutritive value of ethno-foods and other economically useful species; • Capacity building in plant taxonomy through refresher courses and post M.Sc. certificate course; • Environment Impact Assessment of areas assigned to BSI for study; • Develop and maintain Botanical Gardens, Museum and Herbaria and • Preparation of Seed, Pollen and Spore Atlas of Indian Plants. The Survey is currently engaged in following activities to achieve these objectives: • Survey and exploration of plants, especially in fragile ecosystems and protected areas, including Antarctica, • Documentation of plant diversity at national, regional, state, district and ecosystem level, Documentation of indigenous knowledge of plant resources • Maintaining national botanical collections and museum exhibits centrally at Central National Herbarium, Howrah and Indian Museum, Industrial Museum, Kolkata and all its Centre Offices located in different regions of India. • Cultivation, multiplication and ex situ conservation of threatened, endemic and economically important species, • Pharmacognostic studies on species listed in Schedule VI of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) & Negative List of Export (PN-47), • Capacity building in taxonomy, • Environmental awareness and education, • Environmental Impact Assessment on flora (wherever specifically asked by the administrative ministry), • Digitization of herbarium specimens, • Advisory services in the field of identification, distribution, status and ex situ conservation of plant species, • Dissemination of scientific information related to different aspect of Indian flora through hard copy publications of Floras, Journals and other thematic publications. • Specific Initiatives with Relevance to CBD: Over the years, the functional role of the Survey was further expanded. After the ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD: 1994), Enactment of Biological Diversity Act (2002) and Biological Diversity Rules (2004), BSI has become an important institution as its mandate has direct relevance to Articles 6 (Conservation), 7 (Identification & Monitoring), 9 (Ex situ conservation), 12 (Research & Training), 13 (Public education & Awareness), 17 (Exchange of Information) and 18 (Technical & Scientific Cooperation) of CBD. DIRECTORS OF BSI AFTER REORGANISATION IN 1954 Dr. H. Santapau (5 Dec 1903 – 13 Jan 1970) Dr. J. C. Sengupta (12 December 1900 – 21 January 1969) Dr. H. Santapau (5 Dec. 1903 – 13 Jan 1970) Dr. S. K. Mukherjee Dr. K. Subramaniam Dr. S K. Jain (23.6.1925) Dr. M. P. Nayar (27.1.1932) Dr. B. D. Sharma(5.7.1935) Dr. P. K. Hajra(28.1.1940) Dr. N. P. Singh (15.8.1941) Dr. M. Sanjappa (1.1.1951) Dr Paramjit Singh (15 Sept 1958) 1954 –1955 1955 – 1961 1961 – 1968 1968 – 1971 1971 – 1973 1978 –1984 1984 –1990 1990 –1993 1993 –1998 1999 –2001 2001 - 2010 2011 – Salient Achievements during Last Five Years During the 11th five year plan, about 245 field/exploration/live plant collection/EIA study tours were undertaken by different Regional centres and Head quarter units of BSI covering Western Himalaya [Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand]; Eastern Himalaya [Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh]; North–East India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura); Arid–semi Arid areas (Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan); Gangetic Plains (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal); Deccan Peninsula (Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu); East Coast [Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu]; Western Ghats (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu), Islands [Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep]. Important areas explored for flowering plants include the States / Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Ferrargunj and Madhuban forest areas of South Andamans, Little Nicobar), Assam (Chukrasila, Burachapori & Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary, Pabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary), Arunachal Pradesh (Kurum Kumey, Anjaw & West Siang districts, Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Dihang Dibang Biosphere Reserve, Papumpare district), Delhi & its environ, Goa (Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Madei-Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary and Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary), Gujarat (Bhavnagar, Patan, Rajkot, Sabakantha-Himmatnagar & Amreli districts), Jammu & Kashmir (Masartal, Binakhal, Kandikhal, Chandrabani, Cold desert areas of North Western Himalayas including Leh & Pin Valley), Jharkhand (Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Koderma Wildlife Sanctuary and Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary), Karnataka (Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary), Kerala (Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki, Chitteri hills, Mangroves area), Manipur, Meghalaya (East and West Garo Hills districts), Mizoram (Aizawl & Kolasib districts, Dampa Tiger Reserve, Pualreng Wildlife Sanctuary), Nagaland (Dzuko Valley Wildlife Sanctuary), Rajasthan (Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary), Sikkim (Kyangnolsa Alpine Sanctuary, Tendong Reserve Forest, Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, Fumbonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, catchment area of Tsango lake, Khechepelori Lake, Meimanchu Lake), Tamil Nadu (Satyamangalam Forests, Vellingiri, Siruvani, Annaikatti hills, Mukkurthi National Park, Javadi hills), Uttarakhand (Govind Pashu Vihar National Park, SiyanGad- Khaga Glacier Valley, Sukhi-Jhala, Dharali-Sattaland, Chamoli, Banganga Wetland of Haridwar district), Uttar Pradesh (Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary, Katerniyaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, Bakhira Bird Sanctuary, Mainpuri, Etawah, Etah, Agra & Kanpur districts) and West Bengal (Buxa National Park, Gorumara National Park, Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Howrah, North 24 Parganas including East Kolkata Wetlands-Ramsar site). Besides, exploration tours for survey of lower groups were also undertaken in connection with the projects viz., Algal Flora of Tamil Nadu (East Coast), Madhya Pradesh (Govindsagar, Halili, Mod dam, Upper Lake); Bryoflora of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (South Andamans), Mizoram; Lichen Flora of Sikkim; Pteridophytic Flora of South Sikkim; Fungal (Mushrooms) flora of Sikkim (West). During the field/ exploration/collection tours, more than 21,325 specimens have been collected including lower groups of plants viz. Algae, Fungi, Lichens, Bryophytes and Pteridophytes; of which about 11,888 specimens belonging to 3027 species were identified by different circles and units of Botanical Survey of India. New Discoveries: Since reorganization of BSI in 1954, the scientists of BSI have discovered 01 new family, 36 new genera, and 1033 new species, subspecies and varieties. • Documentation of traditional knowledge of plants from some districts of Orissa: During recent years, tours have been undertaken to various districts viz., Sundergarh, Keonjhar district, Phulbani, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj, Jharsaguda, Angul, Bolangir, Gajapati and Kandhamal (medicinal, food, fodder, veterinary) by the scientists of Central Botanical Laboratory, BSI, Howrah and ethno botanical uses of c. 1000 species were recorded. • Ex situ Conservation: In all 54 threatened, 42 medicinal/ economically important and 73 ornamental plant species have been introduced for acclimatization and multiplication in the in Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah, Botanic Garden of Indian Republic, NOIDA and in the Associated Botanic Gardens of different Regional Centres of BSI during last 5 years. Recent Publications: Flowering Plants of India – Dicotyledons Vol. 1 (Acanthaceae-Avicenniaceae; 2009); Indian Lichens – An Annotated Checklist (2010); Flora of Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh vol. 2 (2008); Materials for the Flora of Arunachal Pradesh Vol. II (Asteraceae-Ceratophyllaceae; 2008) & Vol III [Hydrocharitaceae-Poaceae; 2009]; Flora of Tamil Nadu-Grasses (2009); Flora of Pin Valley National Park, Himachal Pradesh (2009); Hepaticeae and Anthoceroteae of Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh (2009); Meliolales of India, Vol. 2 (2008); Oil Yielding Plants (2008); Floral Diversity of Tiger Reserves of India (2009); Plants of Indian Botanic Garden (2007). Plant Discoveries 2007 (publ. 2008), 2008 (publ. 2009), 2009 (publ. 2010) & 2010 (publ. 2011) have appeared during this period. Fifty Four volumes of the Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India (renamed as Nelumbo from vol. 51) have been published till 2012. Hindi publications such as Vanaspatiyan per Ashrita Andaman Ke Adim Janajati Jarawa (2007); Yeh Paryavaran Hamara Hai (2007); Vanaspati Anveshan 2009; Vanaspati Anveshan 2010; Vanaspati Vani 22 volumes so far (2012). Besides Bengali publications viz., Paschim Banglar Udvid vol. 5 (2008) and vol. 6 (2008) have been published. Mushrooms of Sikkim: I: Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (2009); Ferns and Fern-allies of Sikkim: A Pictorial Handbook – Part-I. and Crotalaria in India (2008). The ENVIS Centre on Floral Diversity of BSI have brought out ENVIS Newsletter in 17 volumes so far (2012). It has also published four books viz., Bibliography and Abstract of Papers on Flora of West Bengal (2008), Bibliography and Abstract of Papers on Flora of North East India (2009), Bibliography and Abstracts of Papers on Flora of West Bengal-II (2010) and Bibliography and Abstracts of Papers on Flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (2011) recently. • • • BSI Publications: Flora of India Flora of India Series 1 Fascicles . Flora of India Series 2 State Flora Flora of India Series 3 District Flora Flora of India Series 4 : : : : 10 vols. (1– 5, 12, 13, 23 & Two Introductory Volumes) 24 fascicles (Fascicle 25 is in press) 41 volumes of 25 State Flora 34 volumes of 26 District Flora : 4 volumes Red Data Book of Indian Plants, 145 titles dealing with various thematic topics related to Indian flora. : More than 125 titles Miscellaneous Periodicals/Journals Bulletin Botanical Survey of India Records of the BSI Plant Conservation Bulletin : : : 54 volumes 22 volumes 5 volumes - ENVIS News letter Vanaspati Vani (Hindi) Parijat (Hindi) Publicity Materials : : : : 17 volumes 22 volumes 5 volumes Brochures/Handouts BOTANIC GARDENS UNDER BSI Name 1. AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden 2. Central Regional Centre 3. Southern Regional Centre 4. Eastern Regional Centre (Shillong) 5. Western Regional Centre 6. Northern Regional Centre Mundhwa (Pune) Pauri 17.8 ha 1974 14 ha 1975 National Gymnosperms collection Khirsu Dehradun 7. Arunachal Regional Centre Sankie View 8 ha 2 ha 48 ha 30 ha 1975 1994 1984 1980 Partly Nature Res Partly Nature Reserve Nature Reserve Howrah Area Established in 110 ha 1787 3 ha 1960 Partly Nature Res Allahabad Yercaud Barapani 18.6 ha 1964 10.4 ha 1966 8. Andaman & Nicobar R/Centre Dhanikheri 9. Sikkim Himalayan Regl. Centre Gangtok 10. Arid Zone Regl. Centre Jodhpur 11. BGIR Noida 1.5 ha 1989 4 ha 80 ha 2002 1994 Herbarium Holdings in BSI Name of BSI Herbarium Acronym Total Holdings Types Central National Herbarium, Howrah Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong Southern Regional Centre, Coimbatore Western Regional Centre, Pune Northern Regional Centre, Dehra Dun Industrial Section, Indian Museum, Kolkata Central Regional Centre, Allahabad Andaman Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair Arid Zone Regional Centre, Jodhpur Sikkim Himalayan Regional Centre, Gangtok . Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, Itanagar Botanic Garden of Indian Republic, NOIDA Deccan Regional Centre, Hyderabad TOTAL CAL ASSAM MH BSI BSD BSIS BSA PBL BSJO BSHC ARUN BGIR DCH 20,50,000 2,71,000 2,75,000 1,70,000 1,21,500 70,000 69,000 22,000 24,800 40,000 13,500 4,500 10,000 31,39300 15,000 509 2750 571 140 120 28 100 18 22 22 — — 19280