Nathaniel Poole Jacob Massarelli Jesse Rellin Dr Hamilton Biology 110 4 November 2009 Dehang Debang Biosphere Reserve A biosphere reserve is a controlled conservation reserve created to protect the biological and cultural diversity of a region while promoting sustainable economic development Council 2009 Scientist will use these areas to research data on how man impacts the environment These sites will help preserve some of the worlds most wonderful creatures and areas The country of India has many biosphere reserves These biospheres are very important in preserving the wilderness of India India has thousands of plant and animal species scattered among the different states of India One of the most famous Biosphere reserves is the Dihang Dibang valley Biosphere reserve This site is also known by the name Dehang Debang These two names are interchangeable and differ from the different areas people are from Dihang Dibang is located in the district of West Siang Upper Siang and Dibang valley of Arunachal Pradesh Jupiter Infomedia 2009 The Dihang Dibang Biosphere reserve is roughly 5112 sq km Ringu 2009 The Biosphere is broken up into two parts The core zone are areas that are very protected for conserving biological diversity and are areas where non destructive research occurs Council 2009 The other areas are known as buffer zones These zones surround the core zones or are on the outskirts of the core zones Buffer zones are used for more intense ecological research and recreational purposes such as tourism Council 2009 Dihang Dibang consists of Upper and Lower Dibang Valley which has an area of 16 900 sq km Part of the reserve is located in the district of West Siang and Upper Siang Part of the core zone is located in this area and is roughly 4095 sq km and has a buffer zone of 1017 sq km in this area Ringu 2009 Arunachal Pradesh is part of the Eastern Himalayan Ranges located between 26 degree 28 to 29 degree 30 North latitudes and 91 degree 30 to 97 degree 30 East longitudes Department of Environment and Forest Government of Arunachal Pradesh 2005 Due to the area being very mountainous the reserve has received the nickname of The Land of the Dawnlit Mountains Ringu 2009 Due to the topography of the region climate conditions change in very short distances The Dihang Dibang valley has a hot and humid sub tropical climate in the southern part a cooler climate in the central areas and the inner and higher regions are an alpine type area Bhavan 2009 The Dihang Dibang reserve is said to be one of the only nature reserves in the world that is untouched by modern civilization Ringu 2009 There are no road systems that lead to this area at all The only way to get into the reserve is by foot entering in by the buffer zones There is however a very small population of people living in this area There number ranges to a little over 57 000 individuals These are native tribes consisting of the Adi Buddhist and Mishmi Indian Parliament 1986 Each tribe has several sub tribes that are scattered through the lands Ringu 2009 The little number of people in the area is mainly caused by the harsh terrain that they live in DihangDibang is filled with rivers and streams gorges and mountainous areas The largest of the rivers is the Dibang River which is locally called Taloh by the Idu Mishmis Indian Parliament 1986 There are many tributaries that flow into the Dibang River These tributaries such as Dri Mathun Ithun Ashupani and Emrah are where most of the tribes are Just like most other civilization they use the water as a main source of transportation Indian Parliament 1986 The Dibang Valley is 72 32 percent forest with 50 percent being very dense forests Indian Parliament 1986 DihangDebang Biosphere reserve has over eight forest and vegetation types within it There are areas of Sub tropical broad leafed Sub tropical Pine Temperate broad leafed Temperate conifer Subalpine woody shrub Alpine meadow Bamboo brakes and Grass lands Indian Parliament 1986 In having so many different types of vegetation forests there is a very wide biodiversity of plants and animals in this reserve There are roughly 500 species of plants that are used as medical plants Vihar Medical Plants 2008 These medical plants can range from anything such as tree leaves flowers flower leaves or even the roots Some of the medical plant species are Boch Vacha and Vayambu which are herbs used and traded as it is alleged as brain tonic coolant and drug for colic Vihar Medical Plants 2008 There are other uses of plants in this area Take for example Manjista is used to produce orange and red dye Other plants from this area can be used economical for areas in the world such as Aswagandha can be used to create shaded regions when planted Vihar Medical Plants 2008 Roots of plants have also been used by the natives in the area as medicine Atish and Aconite are two examples of plants in which the roots are used to create medicine Vihar Medical Plants 2008 Most of the plants found in this area are flowering plants Many of the flowers from this area have spread throughout the world as common flowers that are found in gardens For example orchids and Rhododendrons are very popular plants that originated in this area There are over 1500 species of flowering plants in this area Indian Parliament 1986 Orchids form a dominant group of plants with their attractive and unique blooms There are more than 600 species of orchids 52 species of rhododendron 18 species of hedychium 16 species of oak 18 species of canes and 45 species of bamboo Vihar Flora 2008 Other than having a great diversity of plants DihangDibang has a very diverse group of animals as well There are many different types of mammals in this area ranging from Tigers Leopards Spotted Linsang Common Mongoose Wild Dog Yellow Bellied Weasel Malay Tree shrew and the Common Otter Indian Parliament 1986 A few of the mammals in this area are unique They can not be found anywhere else in the world other than here or in a zoo Figure 1 Photograph by Mark W Moffett For example the Red Panda Ailurs fulgens is an endangered herbivore that can reach a body size of 20 to 26 inches with a tail that can reach up 12 to 20 inches They spend most of their time living in trees and eating fruits and leaves The red panda has been classified as a relative to both the giant panda and also to the raccoon Moffett 2009 Another unique animal to this are is the Binturong The name comes from the Malay name for bear cat Non like the