Dihang Dibang Biosphere Reserve constitutes an area of 5112 Sq. Km in the district
of
West Siang, Upper Siang and Dibang valley of Arunachal Pradesh. This Biosphere
Reserve
forms a part of one of the world’s “Bio-Diversity Hot spots”. An area of 4095 Sq.km
constitutes the core zone and 1017 Sq.km makes the buffer zone of Biosphere Reserve.
Considerable territory in the BR lies at elevations above the tree line and this
area
features a very special array of plants and animals. Two of the most exciting facts
relating to the forest here is that, it has natural vegetation stretching in an
unbroken
sequence from the tropics to the mountain tundra. Secondly, the BR exhibits a
wonderful
extent of sub-tropical forest and it is the last stronghold for many Himalayan
species
dependent on this forest type.
Possibly this site may be the center of origin for some crop plants such as the
banana.
Many NTFP and economic plants groups like medicinal, aromatic, timber, fodder and
fuel
plants occurs here. There is a rich representation of orchids, Rhododendrons and
Primulas. The rare orchid, Vanda strangeana, lives here as do over 50 species of
rhododendrons.
One of the most unusual ungulates of the eastern Himalayas and Western Chinese
mountains, the Takin, occurs here in small herds that range from 2500 to 4000m.
Other
mammals include Bison, Serow, Himalayan Black Bear, Sloth bear, Indian Wild dog, Red
fox, Deer, Assamese Macaque, Squirrel, Civet, Wild Boar, etc.
