Microclimate Change in the Darjeeling Himalayas

The Indian Himalayas comprising an area of 2,36,000 km². Darjeeling Himalaya comprises an area of 3149 km2 with 69.74% of forest cover. Darjeeling District population registered an increased of 1596% upto 2001 since1872. During 1872-1881 annual population growth rate was registered 7% due to several developmental activities i.e. road, rail, tea garden establishment, etc on forest lands. This paper describes the effect of forest conservation impact on improvement of rainy days nearby Wildlife Sanctuary and on reduction in number of rainy days having consequences of reduction in forest cover. Sharp decrease in number of rainy days has been registered near by Nepal border and near by forest fringe observatories due to over exploitation of forest cover. Declining in rainfall and increased in maximum temperature was observed on observatory under wet temperate zone. Variability of number of rainy days in the observatory improves in its number was observed less than the observatories showing decrease in number of rainy days. The present study indicates that Darjeeling Himalayas mostly faced decrease in number of rainy days other than sanctuary areas. Regaining of deteriorating microclimate (number of rainy days) of the 'queen of hills' can be restored by improvement of tree covers to the deteriorated forests and creating awareness among local people on sustainable management basis.