The bio diversity of the region is fast declining due to various reasons. The centre is committed to biodiversity- led poverty reduction with a pro-nature, pro-poor, pro-women and pro-livelihood motto.
While 1750 landraces of rice have been recorded to be available in the Jeypore tract 40 years back, an explorative survey conducted by MSSRF during 1995-96 could locate only 324 landraces in the area. In the farmers’ field as well as in the centre 141 landraces of rice are presently grown and participatory varietal selection has been made on some of the popular ones. Cultivation of Kalajeera, a non basmati scented long duration landrace, was up scaled using pure seeds developed through participatory pure line selection. On farm conservation of three nutritious millets viz; finger millet, little millet and Italian (foxtail) millet was taken up in six tribal villages.
The germ plasm collection at the Jeypore centre consists of land races of rice (141), millets (18), pulses (9), vegetables (27), jatropha (389) as well as yams and tubers (46). Conservation of land races and local varieties is interlocked with production of quality seeds as well as strengthening of traditional seed distribution system. The seed fairs conducted in the villages are major events promoting exchange of seeds of various crops held by communities in villages far and near. As a part of the initiatives in recognizing farmers’conservation efforts, submission of application to Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) for registration of 32 landraces as farmers’ variety was facilitated.
A survey of 10 sacred groves revealed the richness of flora and fauna preserved in them traditionally for the past hundreds of years. In compliance with the CBD norms, People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBR) have been prepared in 10 gram panchayats under Jeypore, Kundra and Boipariguda blocks and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC), comprising of 73 members have been formed in these villages.
Medicinal Plants:
Nine ex-situ conservation gardens have been established for conservation of medicinal plants used by nine major ethnic groups of the region namely Bhatra, Bhumia, Bonda, Gadaba, Gond, Kandha, Koya, Paroja and Saora for their primary healthcare. These gardens are maintained by the traditional healthcare practitioners and traditional birth attendants of the respective community.
A total of 374 species of medicinal plants are conserved in the garden, of which 129 are tree species, 94 are shrubs, 41 are climbers, 102 are herbs and 6 are others (orchids, grasses, ferns etc). The model also has gardens for invasive alien species, women’s medicinal plants, orchids, Eastern ghat- RET species, exotic plants, wild food species, home herbal plants and one sacred groove model. There is a plot to demonstrate cultivation of 24 commercially cultivated medicinal plants prioritised by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB).
Large scale cultivation of three medicinal plant species (Rauvolfia serpentine, Piper longum and Withania somnifera) has also been taken up. Campaigns on herbal based preventive medicine for malaria are conducted for its wider adaptation. 14 commonly used medicinal plants are maintained in 374 tribal households under the home herbal garden programme. Planting materials of those medicinal plants, which are in great demand, are made available through the planting material production facility at the centre. A Tribal Healers’ Association with members from Bhumia, Paroja and Bonda communities is in place to suggest changing requirements and exchange ideas and materials from time to time.
As a part of its mandate, MSSRF has been promoting deeper understanding among students on the importance of our environment, biodiversity, biotechnology and their relation to everyday life through 9 DNA Clubs (Department of Biotechnology Natural Awareness Clubs), in 9 districts.
Eastern Ghat Mapping:
A holistic quantitative assessment of the geographic distribution and mapping of plant resources of Eastern Ghats was carried out in Odisha state. 446 grids covering 7 south-western districts of Odisha viz: Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada were covered for inventorisation of plant species. 585 plant species were recorded from these grids. Out of these 163 are trees, 138 are shrubs, 174 are herbs, 66 are climbers and 44 are ferns, grasses, orchids and others. Three RET species namely Gnetum ula, Albizia thompsonii, and Stemona tuberosa, and three endemic species namely Selaginella nairii, Stemona tuberose and Themeda saxicola were recorded from the grids. 240 herbarium specimens of important species were prepared and 120 digital fliers have been developed containing the photographs and description of important plant species.