Forest around Mulkarkha Lake under Kalimpong Range, West Bengal Supporting Biodiversity and Cardamom Cultivation

Mulkarkha Lake is located at the Himalayan foothills under Kalimpong Forest Range, Darjeeling district of West Bengal, few kilometer from Rhenock, Sikkim. This natural lake is surrounded by remote villages amidst dense forest consisting of trees like Himalayan pine, Himalayan fir, Japanese red-cedar, teak and others which are mostly common in rain forests. The forest is the home to a diverse kinds of birds, such as, yellow billed blue magpie, green magpie, rufous-winged fulvetta, green-tailed sunbird, blue whistling thrush, striated laughing thrush, white-throated laughing thrush, grey bushchat, verditer flycatcher, common rosefinch, scimitar-babbler and others. Mammals like Himalayan black bear, leopard and barking deer are also reported by the villagers. The lake and surrounding forest are protected by local people as it remains a part of native religious belief. The water body is dominated by ornamental fishes like gold fish, koi and other carps which are popular among aquarists. Fishing or hunting is not allowed in the lake. According to the local people the lake serves as indirect water source but direct use of water is strictly prohibited. Dry leaves and fallen parts of the forest trees also serve as primary as well as secondary energy sources to meet the need of daily life of the villagers. However, forest floor is the major source of decomposed leaves which are used as manure in cardamom cultivation that constitutes the major source of livelihood besides tourism among the locals. The use of leaves as manure and economics of cardamom cultivation by the villagers in the hill slopes adjacent to their respective residences is highlighted in this paper.