Ukhrul: When it comes to conservation efforts in Manipur, the Sangai deer and the Loktak Lake appear regularly at the top, and some would argue rightly so. The battle between urban expansion and preserving nature is never-ending in the Imphal Valley and understandably so. But does this mean conservation becomes easier in places where land is plenty, and people are willing to save nature’s bounty? As the example of Shirui Lily shows, perhaps not.
A week ago, just as the rest of the country was dealing with perhaps the worst heatwave in recent memories, experts and journalists supported by the district administration embarked on a one-day expedition at Shirui Peak (Shirui Kashong) at Shirui village. Reason? Studying the state flower amid the growing concern of climate change, and what they learnt does not make one optimistic.
Shirui Lily, also popularly known as Kashong Timrawon, has seen an improvement in the flower population. This year, however, most plants are shorter and bear only one or two flowers.
RS Wungkhan, DIO of Ukhrul, said the joint initiative aimed to provide first-hand knowledge to journalists and the general public at large on the growing concern of the ecosystem of Shirui Peak, located at Shirui village, around 18 km from Ukhrul town and about 100 km from Imphal.
Besides the Peak being known for rich flora and fauna, Shirui Kashong also attracts ornithologists and lepidopterists.
The team began the trek at 5:30 am from the foothills of the Shirui peak, which lies at an altitude of 2,835 meters above sea level and navigated through the moderately challenging route, including a series of steep stairs at the beginning. The trek almost took two and a half hours for the team before reaching Shongrei, the highest part of the peak and the natural habitat of Shirui Lily.
Shorter plants, lesser flowers
While venturing into the beauty and fauna of the Shirui Peak, the team found that the maximum Shirui lilies (Lilium Mackliniae) were blooming on the western and northern slopes of the Shirui Peak (Kashong). Most lily plants were found to be growing shorter than normal in the previous years.
Moreover, the height of the most lily plants was between 1 and 1.2 feet and the tallest was 3 feet and nine inches with seven flowers, although some buds were already withered.
According to locals, Shirui Lily sprouts in early March, and the peak blooming period is between May 15-25. The flowering period lasts longer with sufficient water and regular rain.
However, when the journalists visited the peak on May 26, most lilies were already either withered or lost their sheen, which the team suspected was due to early rainfall or a shortened cycle of flower life.
Shirui locals had dug out trenches along the western slope to prevent the invasion of Maram, a bamboo-like plant with a thick-root system, to Shirui Lily. However, the surrounding of the peak was seen densely covered by Maram, posing a threat to the inhabitation of the lily.
While interacting, one villager elder, after the team descended from the Peak, shared that the rapid growth of Maram at Shirui Peak is fast diminishing the available area and its habitat for lily growth.
Ban of Jhum practices hurting Shirui Lily
He further informed that the villagers used the annual traditional control burning method on the peak to control the invasion of Maram, however, after it was restricted, the bamboo-like plant with an extensive root system spread thick and wide, causing the natural habitat of Shirui Lily.
According to Yaomeikan Shangh, president of the Shirui Youth Club, the burning of the peak by using the traditional control burning method does not affect the Shirui Lily as its roots remained underneath the soil during the period.
After much study and research, it was found that the most effective tool with the available resources to fight against the invasive Maram was the practice of controlled fire, said the Shirui youth leader.
Besides the natural process of regeneration, the Club also collected the Lily seeds and replanted them during the spring season.
“We witnessed an increase in the number of lily flowers blooming this time and we are in the process of population study and soil testing of the peak,” said Shangh.
He also opined that the lesser number of visitors since last year after the crisis hit Manipur has also been attributed to the increase in the population of Shirui Lily. And there are fewer trails of waste left in the peak by visitors and they become more responsible, he added.
Meanwhile, according to Dr T Brajakumar, director of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Shirui Lily is a climate-sensitive flower and due to the changing climate pattern, the biodiversity of the Shirui Peak is also changing. It may climb to a higher altitude since the lilies live in a colder climate and this is one of the scientific perceptions, he said.
Notably, the journalist’s team also witnessed the weather at the peak differed with strong winds and cloudy at the highest peak while the remaining slopes of the peak received direct sunlight.
He further informed that as per the scientific observation due to the less moisture in the soil and its surrounding atmosphere of Shirui peak, the population of the Shirui Lily has gone down in the last four to five years back, as per the scientific observation.
“However, this year, we could observe some improvement in the growth of Shirui Lily. This is likely due to the early rainfall and on the other hand due to the intervention from the concerned department,” Brajakumar said to EastMojo on the phone.
He further shared that due to the change of atmosphere, temperature, humidity conditions, and moisture enhancement at Shirui Peak, the bamboo-like plant is rapidly growing while the lilies are growing in the higher range which has cold biodiversity.
“The wind direction and its speed are very important for the Shirui Lily to survive and if we want to protect the Lily, we must also focus on the neighbouring villages like Sihai Khunou, Sihai Khullen, Khangkhui, Phangrei range to enhance the water spring management,” said Brajakumar.
Highlighting that once there is water recharge at the peak and its surroundings, he said that the soil moistening will automatically enhance and the growth of Shirui Lily will be improved.
He also disclosed that the department is mulling constructing ponds wherever it is possible as well as rejuvenating the existing ponds so that it could benefit the protection of Shirui Lily and improve water resources.
The department has also engaged four research scholars from the Ukhrul district to conduct field exposure at Shirui Peak under the State Expert Appraisal Committee.
They are monitoring soil sampling, population density assessment, and assessment of biodiversity, including the characteristics of the bamboo and other interventions of the plants, he said.
Besides the conservation and preservation of Shirui Peak and its habitat, the department is planning to provide climate-resilient agriculture plants while engaging the local women folk of the Shirui village. For now, however, Shirui Lily, much like the rest of Manipur, seems to be in distress.
The article was written under the joint initiative of Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, Media Resource Centre, Government of Manipur and Ukhrul District Working Journalist Association.
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