Similipal, a biosphere reserve in Eastern India, exemplifies the incredible diversity of our natural environment. The biosphere reserve derives its name from Simul, a red silk cotton tree found within the geographical boundaries of the Similipal Biosphere Reserve. This spectacular biosphere reserve spans over 2,750 square kilometres of floristic coverage and is known for having one of the region's dense dry deciduous forests. Its vast and diversified geography is home to a large variety of exotic flora and fauna, making it an important biodiversity hotspot. One of the major features of this biosphere reserve is that it is located within two biogeographical regions, one is the Chotanagpur area of the Deccan Peninsular Plateau, and the other is the Mahanadi east coast area of the Oriental Realm. Numerous scientific research and survey were carried out in the Similipal area, which gave credence to the fact that this area is home to many diverse species of plants, trees, animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, etc. Similipal, home to several rare forests and aquatic animals, is a nature reservoir and a thriving living environment for several indigenous communities of tribes that have survived for generations while preserving a balanced relationship with their surroundings. They thoroughly understand the forest's resources, which they have used sustainably to support their lifestyles. This delicate equilibrium between man and nature in Similipal is an excellent example of ecological coexistence. Several researches in several biosphere zones have identified transition, buffer, and core zones, each with distinct traits and ecological relevance. The uses of forest resources, by the tribes' traditional and sustainable practices, reflects that how these traditions help to preserve Similipal's rich biodiversity and is more than simply an investigation of its natural beauty; it also provides an insight into the cultural history and knowledge of its inhabitants. This book dives into Similipal's complicated web of life, illustrating the various ways in which indigenous communities, flora and flora coexist with mutualistic relationship for balance and benefit of the environment and the mankind. The book contains 12 chapters revealing the floral and faunal diversity within Similipal, their bioprospects and the traditional uses for tribal community. We hope that this book will create a greater appreciation for this unique biosphere reserve and the critical need of protecting such natural treasures for future generations.

The Book narrates with an extraodinary skill and erudition, many new and outstanding feature of the grave threats to the Asian Elephants cooped up in small forest blocks fragmentation of habitats with devastated corridors caused by human artefacts, encroachments, unbridled mining preventing their movement from one feeding ground to another, thus making them restive within small confinements. Enriched with tell tale photographs, the book seeks to enjoy the first distinction of projecting the rock engravings at the Hati-Gumpha (Elephant Cave) and other histotical sites, its visible presence in motifs in Orissan arts, and architecture.The book enjoys yet another distinction of projecting ground realities and practical experiences of the author, an elephant expert, instead of harping on theoretical assumptions thus making the book a prized possession of scholars, researchers, wildlife buffs, ecologists, environments, managers of PAs(Protected Areas) and Elephant Reserves. Many of the creative ideas in this masterpiece can help planners to spell out strategies to deal with man- elephant conflicts.

Forests are in decline, and the threats these outposts of nature face—including deforestation, degradation, and fragmentation—are the result of human culture. Or are they? This volume calls these assumptions into question, revealing forests’ past, present, and future conditions to be the joint products of a host of natural and cultural forces. Moreover, in many cases the coalescence of these forces—from local ecologies to competing knowledge systems—has masked a significant contemporary trend of woodland resurgence, even in the forests of the tropics. Focusing on the history and current use of woodlands from India to the Amazon, The Social Lives of Forests attempts to build a coherent view of forests sited at the nexus of nature, culture, and development. With chapters covering the effects of human activities on succession patterns in now-protected Costa Rican forests; the intersection of gender and knowledge in African shea nut tree markets; and even the unexpectedly rich urban woodlands of Chicago, this book explores forests as places of significant human action, with complex institutions, ecologies, and economies that have transformed these landscapes in the past and continue to shape them today. From rain forests to timber farms, the face of forests—how we define, understand, and maintain them—is changing.

In parts of Korea and China, moon bears, black but for the crescent-shaped patch of white on their chests, are captured in the wild and brought to "bear farms" where they are imprisoned in squeeze cages, and a steel catheter is inserted into their gall bladders. The dripping bile is collected as a cure for ailments ranging from an upset stomach to skin burns. The bear may live as long as fifteen years in this state. Rhinos are being illegally poached for their horns, as are tigers for their bones, thought to improve virility. Booming economies and growing wealth in parts of Asia are increasing demand for these precious medicinals. Already endangered species are being sacrificed for temporary treatments for nausea and erectile dysfunction. Richard Ellis, one of the world's foremost experts in wildlife extinction, brings his alarm to the pages of Tiger Bone & Rhino Horn, in the hope that through an exposure of this drug trade, something can be done to save the animals most direly threatened. Trade in animal parts for traditional Chinese medicine is a leading cause of species endangerment in Asia, and poaching is increasing at an alarming rate. Most of traditional Chinese medicine relies on herbs and other plants, and is not a cause for concern. Ellis illuminates those aspects of traditional medicine, but as wildlife habitats are shrinking for the hunted large species, the situation is becoming ever more critical. One hundred years ago, there were probably 100,000 tigers in India, South China, Sumatra, Bali, Java, and the Russian Far East. The South Chinese, Caspian, Balinese, and Javan species are extinct. There are now fewer than 5,000 tigers in all of India, and the numbers are dropping fast. There are five species of rhinoceros--three in Asia and two in Africa--and all have been hunted to near extinction so their horns can be ground into powder, not for aphrodisiacs, as commonly thought, but for ailments ranging from arthritis to depression. In 1930, there were 80,000 black rhinos in Africa. Now there are fewer than 2,500. Tigers, bears, and rhinos are not the only animals pursued for the sake of alleviating human ills--the list includes musk deer, sharks, saiga antelope, seahorses, porcupines, monkeys, beavers, and sea lions--but the dwindling numbers of those rare species call us to attention. Ellis tells us what has been done successfully, and contemplates what can and must be done to save these animals or, sadly, our children will witness the extinction of tigers, rhinos, and moon bears in their lifetime.