MAJULI (T) FOREST DIVISION

A Forest Range Office under Social Forestry wing was established in 1985 in Majuli to raise plantation along the roads, embankments and in the Sandbars (locally known as Chapori). This Range is under the control of Golaghat Forest Division of Social Forestry wing. Prior to creation of Majuli (T) Forest Division, the Majuli area was under the territorial jurisdiction of Jorhat Forest Division and under the division a Forest Beat Office at Garamur, Majuli was functioning. The works of the Beat Office was mostly confined to anti-depredation activities in Majuli. After declaration of Majuli as district in 2016, as desired by the Govt. of Assam, Forest department had notified a Forest Division at Majuli on 20-05-2017 upgrading the Beat Office to a Range. The HQ of the Majuli division will be at Rongachahi. It extends its jurisdiction to whole of Majuli district. Two Ranges had been proposed under the division. The Divisional Office is now functioning at Garamur temporarily.

There is no protected forest in Majuli. Till now, the forest department in Majuli had raised 745 ha plantations in the Chapories apart from raising trees along roadsides under Majuli. A REDD++ project is underway in Majuli which will be implemented under DFO, Social Forestry Golaghat division. Majuli had been declared as a Carbon Neutral district by Govt. of Assam.

Mission

Our mission is to protect and improve the environment, to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the district, to preserve and add new dimensions to the rich heritage of our composite culture, to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures. It also encompasses opening up the forestry sector for income and employment generation among our people while conserving the priceless biodiversity of the State.

Objectives

1. Conservation of Flora and Fauna vis-à-vis bio-diversity.
2. Help reducing man- animal conflict
3. Raise plantation and nurseries
4. Distribute seedlings free of cost from Social Forestry Nurseries.
5. Collect revenue and deposit in Govt. exchequer by selling forest produces and minor minerals.
6. Control illegal collection of forest produces and minor minerals
7. Rescue and rehabilitate wildlife.
8. Organise awareness camps/meetings on conservation of flora, fauna and bio-diversity.

Sand bars in Majuli:-

There are 33 sandbars or Chapories in Majuli district as on date. These are 1. Dubali Chapori, 2. Gopal Chapori includes Kankan Chapori, 3. Chagoli Chapori, 4. Lason Chapori, 5. Dhanai Chapori, 6. Banoria Chapori, 7. Bahir Marangia Chapori (includes Sataikur), 8. Salmora grazing Chinatoli Chapori, 9. Dakhinpat Kumar Chapori, 10. Jugunidhari Chapori, 11. Bhakat Chapori, 12. Masua Chapori, 13. Pogola Chapori,14. Borola Chapori, 15. Kerela Chapori, 16. Kartik Chapori, 17. Kareng Chapori, 18. Nigoni Chapori, 19. Bhekeli Chapori, 20. Burha Chapori, 21. Hikoli Chapori, 22. Kath Chapori, 23, Dhodang Chapori, 24 Chorai Chapori, 25. Kangsha Chapori, 26. Ayodhya Chapori, 27. Kerker Chapori, 28. Misamora Chapori, 29. Gopal Chuk gaon Chapori, 30. Charighoria Chapori, 31. Kanai Chapori, 32. Major Chapori, 33. Sadhu Chapori. Apart from these some more small sandbars can be seen. Some of these sand bars or Chapories have fertile land which is encroached for habitations and cultivation. Some of the Sandbars or Chapories are free from encroachments and those can be taken up for raising plantations.

Wetlands

The wetlands of Majuli form an integral part of river Brahmaputra. These are rich in diverse aquatic and avian bio-forms with immense ecological, floral and faunal values. The wetlands are locally known as Beel or Dubi. These are natural depressions and abandoned channels of river Brahmaputra including its feeder rivers. Some wetlands are man-made. These water bodies are associated with pioneer plants, floating vegetations and trees which form an ideal food and habitat of numerous migratory and resident birds. There are more than 140 such beels and dubies in Majuli. Beds of some of the beels and dubies got swelled up perhaps as a result of agricultural practice done on the inner fringes of the beels and to some extent for regular flood. Large no. of birds (both resident and migratory) used to come to these beels during winter season which indicate the good health of these beels and dubies but during last year the number was considerably low. This may be because, a number of embankments had been constructed around Majuli so that no flood water can enter and due to absence of the flooding activities in the last two years, the healths of the wetlands are suffering. These wetlands also harbor turtles, reptiles, fishes, insects and aquatic plants and other life forms.

Wildlife:-

Majuli has a varied diversity of faunal species. It includes mammals, reptiles, birds, other animals, fishes, butterflies and insects etc. A herd of about 80 elephant come to Majuli every year and stays from May/June to November/December. This herd migrates from Kaziranga and move up to Larua Mouza in Dibrugarh district and returns in the same path. Rhinos do strays from Kaziranga National Park towards Majuli every year during winter. There are grass lands in Majuli and forms an extended habitat for the Rhinos. Different spp of lagumes are cultivated in the sand bars during winter. These lagumes are good source of food for the Rhinos. Royal Bengal tigers do come to the large Chapories in Majuli adjoining Kaziranga. There are about six different species of Tortoise found in Majuli. Totoya Owdubi is an area famous for such Tortoise. Fresh water dolphin is seen in River Brahmaputra and Subonsiri within Majuli district. Movement of motorized boats/ferries disturbs the habitat of these Dolphins. Large varieties of Butterflies are seen all around Majuli. Till now no proper survey has been conducted to find out the diversity of butterflies in Majuli. Orchids are not uncommon. A survey was conducted by Gogoi, Khyanjit of Doomdooma in 2005-06 when he recorded 37 orchid spp. in Majuli. Majuli is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and falls under A1, A2, A4iii IBA category (Final code IN395). More than 225 species of birds can be seen in Majuli. {An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird populations. The program was developed and sites are identified by Bird Life International}

Flora of Majuli:-

Majuli had been very rich in floral species diversity. Species viz. Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo), Khokon (Duabanga grandiflora), Kuhir( Bridelia retusa), Simul (Bombex ceiba) and Ajar (Lagerstromia flos-reginae), Hijol (Baringtonia acutangala), Kotahi Jamuk (Syzygium caryophylifolia), Bhelkor (Trewia nudiflora), Helos (Antidesma acuminata), Pachotia( Vitex negundo), Bet (Calamus spp were the common plant species in Majuli. Talauma hodgesonii (Borhamthuri), Litsea cubeba (Mejankori), and Kuhir (Bridelia retusa), ones found in abundant are not seen in Majuli which need reintroduction. In the swamp forests; Pani kadam (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Bher (Salix tetraspermum) Dimaru (Ficus indica), Uriam (Bischofia javanica) Saura (Streblus asper) Nol (Arundo donax), Ikora (Erianthus elephantinus), Khagori (Phragmites karka), Tora (Alpinia allughas), Pani hingori( Trapa bispinosa), Sessore( Scirpus kysoor), Helochi( Alternanthera aquatica), Nikori (Euryle ferox), Bhet phul (Nymphaea carpensis), Padum( Nelumbo nucifera, N. lutea,) Dolghah (Panicum paludosum, P. humitorum), Erali( Leersia hexandra), Jhao bon( Tamarix dioica) Bogori( Zizyphus oenoplia) etc are common. Grasses viz. Nol (Arundo donax), Khagori( Phragmites karka), Ikora( Erianthus elephantinus), Kahua ( Saccharum spontaneum), Sonkher( Imperata cylendrica)) are also found in abundance in the Sand bars in Majuli. Some of the plants (Herbs, shrubs and trees) found in Majuli.