Diversity of Vascular Plants of Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim and its Conservation

Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve (KBR), the virgin pockets of the forests, in the Sikkim Himalaya, was known earlier as National Park since 1977 covering 1,784 km². It is now increased to 2619.92 km² and declared as biosphere reserve in 2000 (7^th February) to conserve the unique biodiversity of the area. It lies between 27°15'-27°57' North latitude and 88°02'-88°40' East longitude. The core zone is 1784 km² and the biffer zone is 835.92 km² under four sectors as Buffer Zone I-IV. The vascular plant diversity of KBR is remarkable having 1580 vascular plants distributed as pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms 106, 11 and 1,463 species respectively. As a result of the last six years study 6 new taxa have been described, two species discovered as new record, one for the state and one for the country and two new combinations have been made based on the collected specimens from the reserve. Floristically it belongs to temperate and alpine forest, then subtropical enriched with major components of herbs then shrubs and trees. This reserve has 22 endemic and 22 rare and threatened plants besides large number of horticultural elements. The other important accounts are 8 major timber yielding plants; 104 ethnomedicinal interest; 45 edible; 25 fodder; 6 dye yielding; 8 fiber yielding; 8 poisonous; 4 used as source of aromatic odour.