Exploration of Homegardens as Important Lichen Conservation Areas in Dargakona Village of Southern Assam, Northeast India

Homegardens create a forest like multistorey structure with different vertical and horizontal layers and it has a characteristic pattern of species diversity. The present paper throws light on the importance of homegardens as a significant lichen refuge. The study explored a lichen diversity of 44 species with a representation of 17 genera and 9 families. Graphidaceae is the dominant family followed by Pyrenulaceae and Arthoniaceae. Graphis and Pyrenula are found to be the dominant genera representing about 40% of total species richness. It is observed that the homegardens are shelters to about 15% of lichens, which have restricted distribution (endemic) in the eastern Himalayan region. The traditional wisdom along with ecological knowledge of the local people in maintaining homegardens in northeastern region seems to be helping in conserving the genetic heritage of wild lichen species of the eastern Himalayan region. This becomes more important in the wake of wanton destruction of forests and hence lichens growing there.