In a bid to conserve the indigenous orchid species, which are on the verge of extinction, a group of botanists and orchid enthusiasts has embarked on a mission at Silapathar in Northern Assam’s Dhemaji district.
They assembled at Silapathar Science College on Saturday evening and formed an organization–Orchid Society of Assam–to achieve the task.
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The society has constituted two tier committees including Core committee and Executive committee to conduct the society activities.
The executive committee of the society is led by Dr Jitu Gogoi from Silapathar and Ankur Raj Gogoi from Golaghat as its president and general secretary respectively.
The functionaries of the society said that their effort is to conserve the indigenous orchid species found in the natural vegetation in Assam bordering Northeastern states with analysis of their economic values.
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“Our society is all set to conduct a systematic survey on the orchid species found in Assam and conserve these in natural forests vegetation. We will also spread awareness among the people on economic importance of orchids and mobilze them for its commercial cultivation,” said Khyonjeet Gogoi, an orchid expert.
Gogoi, who is the founder of Orchid Society of Eastern Himalaya and life member of Orchid Society of India, foresees that commercial orchid cultivation can boost the rural economy of Assam as these has medicinal and ornamental values.
A 35-member group of the Orchid Society activists led by Silapathar Science College Principal Dr Ranjeet Saikia on Sunday visited Poba Reserve Forest (RF) located at Jonai in easternmost Dhemaji, conducted field study on orchid diversity.
They also conducted jungle trekking in the RF and studied on its diverse ecosystems. The botanists during their visit discovered some rare and endangered species of orchids in the RF.
One of the ground orchids -Corimbolcis Viridifolia, which is found on Karbi Anglong hills and adjacent areas of Assam, has not so far reported from north Assam area and bordering Siang region of Arunachal Pradesh.
Reportedly, many individuals of Dhemaji district have developed mini courtyard orchid garden thereby preserving many rare species of epiphytic orchids.