Abstract: Beels or wetlands are considered as ecotonal habitats with rich biota which serves humanity in various aspects of livelihood. However, human encroachment, pollutions, and unsystematic fishing practices as well as poaching of avian species which are dependent on those wetlands poses significant threats to the wetland ecosystem. The current review work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the biodiversity of Diplai Beel focusing on diversity of flora and fauna and the ecological significance of the wetland. The present paper provides an overview of rich flora and fauna of the wetland including 67 fish species, 27 species of aquatic insects, 99 bird species, 33 species of macrophytes, 7 phytoplankton species, 9 species of reptiles and 9 species of amphibians. This paper also highlights the immediate requirements for integrated wetland management strategies, habitat restoration and community-based conservation initiatives to sustain the ecological integrity of Diplai Beel. There is an urgent need of conservation, protection and management as this wetland is unscientifically used by the surrounding local people. Cutting of the forest area for agricultural practices in the catchment area by shrinking water area and converting fresh water ecosystem into commercial fisheries by local authorities, unwanted use of pesticides for cultivations, unsustainable collection of edible water plants for selling in the markets, cleaning of minor hydrophytes by fishing nets etc, are creating ecological imbalance in Diplai Beel. These are the collective effects showing variation in the water qualities of Diplai Beel. Field Surveys and Secondary data collection were conducted to document species richness and habitat conditions. Preliminary findings indicate the presence of diverse flora and fauna including fishes, zooplanktons, phytoplankton, reptiles, amphibians, aquatic flora, different avian species etc.
Key words: Aquatic fauna, BTR, biodiversity, Diplai beel, floral diversity, wetlands

Abstract: Present study deals with the standing tree biomass and carbon stock of natural forests in Nainital, district of Kumaun Himalaya. Uttarakhand the 27th state of the India is located between 28º43-31º27 N latitude and 77º34-81º02 E longitudes. Forests in the region of Uttarakhand are mainly composed of three dominated tree species such as Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) in lower elevation (400-1200m), pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg. in mid elevation(1200-1800m) and Oak (Quercus spp.) in higher elevation (1400-2700m), which indicates that the forest tree composition changes with the change in altitude and climate in the region. Vegetation analysis was carried out by using quadrat method in each selected forest sites. The tree species were analyzed by using quadrat size 10mx10m in each study forest site. In each tree species were measured at 1.37m. The ecological parameters like tree density, abundance, basal area and IVI of trees estimated in each study forest site. The ecological parameters like tree density, abundance, basal area and IVI of trees estimated in each forest site as followed by Misra (1968). The tree density ranged from 424–796 ind.ha⁻¹. The total basal area of trees ranged between 40.41–49.42 m² ha⁻¹. The estimation of biomass was carried out using the allometric equation for each tree component. The biomass and carbon stock of the trees ranged from 135.43–513.20 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 64.33–243.77 t ha⁻¹yr⁻¹.Based on the findings it can be concluded that vegetation structure, biomass and carbon stock of natural forest need the certain management inputs for their better conservation and development.
Key words:  Biomass, basal area, carbon stock, Kumaun Himalaya, tree density

Abstract: A toponym is a place name given to any specific location or to any geographical features like city, town, hill, river etc. This study examines the toponymy of five revenue circles of Kokrajhar district (BTR), Assam, focusing on how local flora and fauna have influenced village and town names. An official village directory, primary and secondary sources was used to collect data on plant- and animal-based toponyms. A total of 197 place names were identified, out of which as 65 of them were derived from plant and animal species. Among plant-based names, 46 species across 21 families were documented. These species, mainly native and dominant, have ethnobotanical importance and are traditionally used for timber, handicrafts, furniture, musical instruments, medicinal, and cultural purposes. Trees constitute the majority (25 species) of plant-based toponyms, followed by shrubs (9 species) herbs (7species), and single species of aquatic plant, climber, and liana. Animalbased names represented 16 species from 11 families, with 17 villages named after aquatic animals such as fish and crabs, and others after land animals like roosters (3 villages) and horses (3 villages). Linguistic analysis showed that over 53% of place names were derived from the Bodo language, indicating a strong indigenous influence, followed by Assamese (30%) and other regional languages. More than 40% of lexical items overlap across languages, reflecting shared traditional ecological knowledge and cultural exchange. The study highlights the integral role of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge systems in shaping the cultural landscape through toponymy.
Key words:  Biodiversity, Bodo language, Ethnobiology, Toponymy

Abstract: In many parts of the world, tribal people’s traditional diets frequently include a variety of wild edible plants. Northeast India is renowned for its tribal area, where the local tribes rely on natural resources to meet their nutritional needs. The Baksa district is one of the 35 districts of Assam State, Northeastern India, that are part of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The Bodo tribe and other communities make up the majority of the population. Some wild plants have long been used as food and medicine by the Bodo people of this area. The purpose of this study is to record the traditional knowledge of the Baksa District’s Bodo tribe regarding the use of edible wild vegetables. A survey was carried out at a few chosen area of Baksa district. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather ethno botanical data from local elders, vegetable dealers and herbalists. 52 wild vegetable species in all, representing 34 families and 28 genera were found and documented. Findings reveal that several of the recorded species possess ethno medicinal value and are traditionally used for treating ailments like anemia, piles, gynecological problems, diabetic, fever, cough, hypertension etc. However, increasing modernization, habitat loss, large exploitation and generational disconnect pose a serious threat to the preservation of this indigenous knowledge. In order to improve their economic standing and ensure sustainable management in the near future, this survey highlights the critical necessity to conserve wild edible plant species and cultivate them on a wide scale.
Key words: Baksa, edible plants, ethnobotany, vegetables, tribal, wild

Abstract: This study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of Agnihotra (Havan ), an ancient Vedic ritual involving the combustion of medicinal plants, against pathogenic aeromicroflora in the Kumaun Himalayan region of India. Specifically, it examined the impact of aromatic smoke on airborne fungal spores and bacteria, while assessing seasonal variations across five distinct periods: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter, and spring. Experiments were conducted in both indoor and outdoor settings at the Department of Botany. Microbial samples were collected using two types of culture media (i) PDA for fungi and (ii) Nutrient Agar (NA) for bacteria under three conditions: (i) control (before Agnihotra ), (ii) during Agnihotra (exposed to medicinal smoke) and (iii) immediately after Agnihotra . All petri dishes were incubated at 25±1°C to promote optimal microbial growth. The results revealed 14 distinct fungal species. Notably, some pathogenic species were completely absent in the smoke-exposed samples. These results indicate that the volatile compounds released during Agnihotra possess potent antimicrobial properties capable of suppressing a broad spectrum of airborne microorganisms, including several known human pathogens. Seasonal analysis confirmed the consistency of this antimicrobial effect throughout the year, although the degree of efficacy varied with environmental conditions. This study provides scientific validation for the antimicrobial potential of Agnihotra smoke, signifying its applicability in modern microbial control strategies. Such eco-friendly and culturally rooted practices hold promise for use in healthcare facilities, agricultural environments, and other settings where airborne pathogen reduction is critical.
Key words:  Aero-microflora, Agnihotra, culture media, Impact of medicinal smoke.

Abstract: The diversity of bird species in the city is one of the indicators of the health of that ecosystem. Towns have been developing rapidly in District Headquarter towns of BTR. The avian community and especially the bird diversity have been the subject of interest for many researchers. The diversity and distribution of birds in urban areas of the BTR towns has not been studied yet. We surveyed District Headquarter towns of BTR — Kokrajhar, Kajalgaon, Mushalpur, Tamulpur and Udalguri from April 2022 to June 2024 to know the avifaunal diversity and seasonal occurrence of bird species in different urban habitats. The point count method was used which involved counting the individuals of each bird species for 5 minutes within a 30 metre radius inside a 500×500 square metre grid map. Grids were selected using stratified random sampling based on habitat proportions. Ninety-four bird species belonging to forty-four families and 74 genus were recorded. We recorded highest bird species (37) in the sub-urban areas. The overall Shannon-Wiener diversity index of urban birds in BTR District Headquarter towns was 3.84. There were significant differences in avifaunal diversity among five districts headquarter towns across all the seasons. However, seasonal bird diversity showed no significant differences across land-use zones in each district, except in the residential areas of Kajalgaon and Udalguri.
Key words:  Bird Diversity, Bodoland Territorial Region, Point count, Seasons, Urban.