Climate change threatens Kaliabor’s biodiversity, several varieties of fiddlehead fern (Dhekia) disappear

The impact of climate change is increasingly being felt in Kaliabor, with several varieties of fiddlehead fern, locally known as Dhekia, reportedly disappearing from the region’s biodiversity, according to a study by academic and researcher Chiranjeev Bezbaruah.

The study points to rising global temperatures and abnormal changes in climatic conditions as major factors affecting the region’s plant diversity. The changing climate is making the natural environment increasingly hostile to several plant species, threatening their survival and distribution.

According to Bezbaruah’s research, several varieties of Dhekia that were earlier found in different parts of Kaliabor are no longer present, indicating a gradual loss of plant diversity in the region.

The study also highlights the role of human activities in accelerating environmental degradation. Indiscriminate mining and excavation in the hills and plains, along with the destruction of forest cover, have reduced the region’s green cover and natural habitats.

The continuous shrinking of forested and green areas has further intensified the pressure on local biodiversity, the study noted.

Climate change, coupled with habitat destruction, can significantly alter the conditions required for plants to grow and reproduce. Changes in temperature, rainfall patterns and soil and moisture conditions can affect the distribution of plant species and eventually lead to their disappearance from particular habitats.

The disappearance of several Dhekia varieties from Kaliabor has raised concerns over the broader impact of environmental changes on the region’s biodiversity.