Promotion and conservation of native flora and fauna in newly established agro-biodiversity park in Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad

Deccan plateau region in India is unique because of its varied geography and great diversity in its natural ecosystem that is immensely rich in agricultural diversity including wild plant biodiversity and various farms of faunal diversity. The Deccan plateau region of Hyderabad in particular is highly overexploited by several anthropogenic activities resulting in loss of life supporting resources, biodiversity gene pool and nature's self-sustaining and ameliorating capabilities. First of its kind in India, the Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad established the agro-biodiversity park in August 2008 over an area of 150 acres in the university campus. The park site is naturally spread with hillocks, boulders, undulated terrain with sloppy lands covered with natural jungle scrub with native herbs, shrubs, climbers and tree species. In the park a natural water tank is spread over 75 acres including surrounding wet ecosystem. The main aim of agro-biodiversity park is to preserve, conserve and maintain the rich flora and fauna present in Deccan plateau region of Hyderabad. At initial stage, with minimum disturbance, the exotic species such as Parthenium hysterophorous, Lantana camara and Prosopis juliflora, already present in the vicinity, were removed as these are considered dangerous invasive alien species, which adversely affect the native biodiversity and prevent forest regeneration. After removing these alien species, several block plantations of teak and mahuva dominated plant community with 70 per cent of teak and mahuva and remaining 30 per cent with forest mixed tree species were developed. In addition, separate generic blocks were also developed viz palm garden, medicinal tree garden and mixed forest tree garden. Besides these, a Ficus species diversity block was also developed. As a part of other activities, water ponds and water bodies were also created as a source of water for all resident and migratory bio-creatures for promotion of faunal genetic resources. In all, 24 species of insects, 5 of fish, 8 of reptiles were recorded in the park. Out of 120 species of butterflies present in Andhra Pradesh, 56 were recorded in the park. The species of birds have increased from 35 to 162 within two years.