The book "Biodiversity of Gujarat Forest Trees" was released in the city on Thursday. Co-authored by late botanist Gunavant Oza and MS University (MSU) lecturer in Botany, Kishore Rajput, the book carries ample botanical details, which claims to help people of Gujarat know about the forest wealth of the state.
Elaborating on the state's forest flora, the authors said that despite the situation of forest cover being better in Gujarat than the neighbouring states, it is important to conserve their habitat. The book aims at acquainting common people of the rich flora in the state. According to Rajput, Gujarat has three forest zones: North Gujarat forests, South Gujarat forests of Dang and Pavagadh forests in the central Gujarat.
Further sharing his experience, Rajput said, "The main forest zones in the state have varying atmosphere. South Gujarat has more rainfall, but low temperature, which is favourable for the moist deciduous forests. The Saurashtra area is mostly scrubland, suitable for thorny and xerophytic plant species. However, Pavagadh in the Panchmahals district lies in the centre where mixed habitat is found." It is important to conserve the flora in Pavagadh. The mushrooming quarries and rising tourist activities in past decade has disturbed the plant cover here.
The book incorporates local names of 257 important plant species and images of barks of 27 important plants. Rajput, said, "The book is a result of regular guidance and inputs from Oza. The book is due for translation in Gujarati and more than 50 per cent of the translation work is complete. After Oza passed away, the translation was left incomplete. Now, we are trying to complete the translation."
Courtesy : Expressindia.com
Elaborating on the state's forest flora, the authors said that despite the situation of forest cover being better in Gujarat than the neighbouring states, it is important to conserve their habitat. The book aims at acquainting common people of the rich flora in the state. According to Rajput, Gujarat has three forest zones: North Gujarat forests, South Gujarat forests of Dang and Pavagadh forests in the central Gujarat.
Further sharing his experience, Rajput said, "The main forest zones in the state have varying atmosphere. South Gujarat has more rainfall, but low temperature, which is favourable for the moist deciduous forests. The Saurashtra area is mostly scrubland, suitable for thorny and xerophytic plant species. However, Pavagadh in the Panchmahals district lies in the centre where mixed habitat is found." It is important to conserve the flora in Pavagadh. The mushrooming quarries and rising tourist activities in past decade has disturbed the plant cover here.
The book incorporates local names of 257 important plant species and images of barks of 27 important plants. Rajput, said, "The book is a result of regular guidance and inputs from Oza. The book is due for translation in Gujarati and more than 50 per cent of the translation work is complete. After Oza passed away, the translation was left incomplete. Now, we are trying to complete the translation."
Courtesy : Expressindia.com