Kedarnath wild life sanctuary, by IndianWildlifeClub.com

Kedarnath wild life sanctuary, by IndianWildlifeClub.com

• 1.
  Take A Peepinto the Beautiful Kedar Valley It got devastated by recent floods Needs Healing A call to Join An Effort to Rebuild http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com
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  The sanctuary, establishedin 1972, lies in the upper catchment of the Alaknanda and Mandakini Rivers, which are major tributaries of Ganges. It is bordered by high mountain peaks, Kedarnath (6940m), Mandani (6193m) and Chaukhamba (7068m)
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  The Kedarnath WildlifeSanctuary is rich in biological diversity. The villagers are fully dependent on forest resources, especially ethno medicines
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  The conservation ofplant biodiversity in the Indian Himalayan region has become a major concern; the knowledge of indigenous uses of native plants needs to be studied before it gets extinct.
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  Musk Deer, HimalayanThar, Serow and Pheasants make Kedarnath sanctuary an area of immense national significance.
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  In the Himalayanregion, the soil formation is a comparatively rapid process, the damp, evergreen forests playing an important part in the generation and conservation of the soil cap. Given that the Himalayan range is geologically young and still rising, it makes th area vulnerable to erosion and instability.
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  The rivers andstreams of the sanctuary are perennial in nature due to thick forest cover and heavy precipitation. Vegetative cover slows the speed of falling rain and prevents soil erosion and gully formation — the precursors to landslides and floods.
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  Dense vegetation, byevapo-transpiration, also stops nearly 30-40 per cent of rainwater from falling to the ground, thereby significantly reducing run-off. Besides holding the soil together, forests and soil soak water from the rain, release it slowly and prevent water flowing as run-off.
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  The sanctuary hasa large number of temples located within its precincts. Kedarnath temple is the most historic of these and is visited by a over 6 lacs pilgrims a year during a window of 6 months. This temple dates to the 8th century. The entire 14 km route from Gauri Khund to Kedarnath temple passes through the sanctuary.
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  The sanctuary hasa musk deer breeding centre. Musk deer is valued for its glands , the secretion of which , is used in the perfume industry. Musk deer is highly endangered. There is also a high-altitude botanical field station established at Tungnath .
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  The sanctuary harboursextensive alpine meadows and several dense broad leaved oak mixed forest. A total of one hundred and fifty two species of ethno medicinal plants have been compiled.
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  After the flashfloods of 16th June, 2013, causing unimaginable loss to lives and property, it is time to rebuild. Waters rose above the Mandakini Bird Watchers Camp
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  All the photographsin this slide show except the one of Mandakini Magpie Bird Watcher’s Camp were taken in 2004, by Shashi Sharma. The photo of the Camp was taken by Mousree Ganguli just two days before the floods ravaged it, in June 2013. You can read a trip report on the camp at this link http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com/UserContent/Trip-Report- Details.aspx?rid=544 Let us make a beginning. Help Mr. Yashpal Negi rebuild the Magpie Birdwatchers camp.
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  Help rebuild MandakiniMagpie Bird Watchers’ Camp Send money to Yashpal Singh Negi Kakragad, PO Bhiri , Dist. Rudraprayag Uttarakhand 246419, India Mobile No. 09412909399 Bank Acctt. Detail SBI - Bhiri, Code - 9834, Acctt. No. 11442534733 Those who contribute more than Rs 1000/- may send in their name, email id , date and amount of credit to [email protected]. IndianWildlifeClub .com will send a high resolution copy of ‘ Morning Glory at Kedarnath” (first slide) to each one of them. http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com