Barak Bhuban wildlife sanctuary

Context:

Recently, the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) eastern bench in Kolkata has ordered a stay on road construction work inside the Barak Bhuban wildlife sanctuary in Assam’s Cachar district.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location:
  • Found within Assam’s Barak Valley, which also includes the Borail Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Nestled between the Barak and Sonai rivers.
  • Named after the Barak River, the second-largest river in Northeast India.
  • Spans across Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj districts.
• Fauna:
  • Acts as a vital habitat for a variety of wildlife species.
  • Home to eight species of primates, including the slow loris, rhesus macaque, and hoolock gibbon.
  • The sanctuary also provides refuge for the king cobra.

Key Information about Barak Valley:

• Geographical Location:
  • Situated in the southern region of Assam.
  • Named after the Barak River, the largest river of the valley and second largest in Northeast India.
• Borders:
  • The valley shares borders with several states:
    • Meghalaya to the north.
    • Manipur to the east.
    • Tripura and Mizoram to the south.
  • Additionally, it is bordered by Bangladesh to the south.
• Biodiversity Hotspot:
  • The valley is part of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot.
• Land Usage:
  • Approximately 4.8% of the valley’s geographical area is covered by tea plantations.
  • Many hill areas are used for home gardens or designated as reserve forests.
• Vegetation:
  • The valley is characterized by tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, and tropical deciduous forests.
  • Rainforests are found in the northern and southeastern parts of the valley.
• Climate:
  • The region experiences a subtropical, warm, and humid climate.

-Source: Indian Express