A total of 21 species of rare and precious trees of the forests of Jharkhand are now in the list of endangered species. The Botanical Survey of India has declared these species of trees as rare, endangered and threatened. In its report, the organisation has said that the condition has come up due to large scale of deforestation going on in the State.
‘Now also, if we don’t start conserving forest then the identity of Jharkhand would be in danger’, they have said in this report. Jharkhand is well known for its forests having rich variety of trees so once these trees got vanished it will be difficult to grow them again. The species of trees which are in danger zone are namely Sal, Salai, Kullu, Ashok, Nirmali, Palash, Nagkeshar, Rodi, Khirni, Panda, Galgal, Beeja, Gular, Gudmar, Kalihari and Kujri. Some of these species are still found in the forest of Ichak, Katkamsandi, Vishnugarh and Hazaribagh. These species have been identified by Hari Shankar lal and Satya Prakash, researchers in Institute of Forest Productivity.
Harishankar said that these trees are full of medicinal values and are very
beneficial. Nirmali is used as an anti allergic medicine. Kujri is helpful in curing heart diseases and joint pain. The medicine for mouth ulcer is prepared from Galgal. Natural colours are made by Adku.
Senior teachers of Botany Department of Vinoba Bhave University and scientists say that it is taxonomists who are capable of identifying the trees and in conserving these endangered species. The study of taxonomy is not available in any university of Jharkhand nowadays as a special paper in M.Sc though this branch of bioscience has a huge scope and great field to work.