Botanical Survey of India (BSI)- Plant Discoveries 2020

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Botanical Survey of India- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: Environment- Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation.

The Botanical Survey of India, in its new publication Plant Discoveries 2020 has added 267 new taxa/ species to the country’s flora.
- The 267 new discoveries include 119 angiosperms; 3 pteridophytes; 5 bryophytes, 44 lichens; 57 fungi, 21 algae, and 18 microbes.
Total Plant diversity in India: With these new discoveries the latest estimate of plant diversity in India stands at 54,733 taxa.

Since 2012, a total number of 3,245 taxa of plants from different plant groups have been discovered from India.
- Most discoveries have been made from seed plants, with 1,199 (37%) taxa, followed by fungi 894 (27%).
Geographical distribution: 22% of the discoveries were made from the Western Ghats followed by Western Himalayas (15%), Eastern Himalayas (14%), and Northeast Ranges (12%).
- The West coast contributed 10% while East Coast contributed (9%) in total discoveries;
- The Eastern Ghats and South Deccan contribute 4% of each and
- Central Highland and North Deccan added 3% each.

Background: BSI was established in 1890 with the aim to explore plant resources of the country and to identify plants species with economic virtues.
About: Botanical Survey of India is the apex research organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEFCC).
- Headquarter: Kolkata, West Bengal.
- It also has nine regional circles
Mandate: BSI is responsible for carrying out taxonomic and floristic studies on wild plant resources of the country.

BSI has Floristic surveys of many of the Indian state and Union territories.
- Floristic survey of 68 protected areas, 26 sacred groves, 01 Ramsar site, 12 fragile ecosystems and 23 Tiger Reserves have been completed.
Towards fulfilling the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation target on ex-situ conservation, the department has 12 botanical gardens spread in different biogeographical zones of the country.
BSI has also developed a digital platform ‘Indian Plant Diversity Information System (IPDIS)’.