Plant diversity and conservation status of Nanda Devi National Park and comparison with highland National Parks of the Indian Himalayan Region

Abstract

This paper addresses the plant diversity and conservation status of Nanda Devi National Park (NDNP) and compares these with the Valley of Flowers National Park (VOFNP) and Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP). In the NDNP, 490 species belonging to 281 genera and 89 families of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms have been recorded. Maximum species were represented in the family Rosaceae, genus Saxifraga, altitude zone (3800 m) and alpine pasture/slopes habitat. Twenty-eight families were monotypic. 73% of species were native, 2% were endemic and 34% species were near endemic. Eight species have been recorded in the Red Data Book of Indian Plants and 37 species categorized as Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable and Low Risk Near Threatened using IUCN criteria. The comparisons of diversity, nativeness, endemism and rarity of the species of NDNP with VOFNP and GHNP indicated that the species diversity was lowest in the NDNP. However, the richness of native and rare endangered species was higher. The richness of endemic species of NDNP was higher than in the GHNP, but lower than in the VOFNP. Monitoring of plant diversity including populations of rare endangered and endemic species is suggested for the effective management of these National Parks.