Lichen diversity in coal mining affected areas of Makum coalfield, Magherita, Assam

Abstract

The coal mining industry in Assam was started by the British in 1884. Coal mining activities are considered hazardous to the sustenance of biodiversity of the region, which is under Eastern Himalayan province, the richest bio-geographical province of the Himalayan zone and also falls in one of the mega biodiversity hotspots of the world. Makum Coalfield of North Eastern Coalfields in Margherita of Tinsukia district of Assam was surveyed and lichen diversity of different sites was studied. Sites with active mining had very low diversity of lichens. Reclamation sites have an intermediate number of lichen species; rocks were under the process of lichenization. Reserve forests near the mining sites had maximum lichen diversity; understorey plants were abundant with follicolous lichens.