GEOSPATIAL MONITORING OF THREATENED MEDICINAL ORCHID, Malaxis muscifera (Lindl.) Kuntze IN UTTARAKHA

If nothing is known about the distribution of species, extensive field survey and monitoring of threatened species habitats is prohibitively expensive. Malaxis muscifera is a vulnerable medicinal orchid from Astavarga that grows between 2500 and 3700 metres in the Himalayan alpine area. Its population reduction is attributed to increased habitat loss and overexploitation from the wild. In the alpine region of Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya, the current communication aimed to examine its availability and prospective habitat appropriateness for in-situ conservation and long-term monitoring. Species availability in alpine meadows was assessed using intensive field surveys and the Rapid Mapping Exercise (RME) technique. By combining numerous climatic and physiographic characteristics, the MaxEnt computer software was utilised to anticipate the species' possible global range. The findings show that M.muscifera's potential habitat is higher in alpine grassy slopes, meadows, and next to tree line. About 296 km2 of the total vegetated area of 7116 km2 in the alpine region is extremely favourable, 659 km2 is less suitable, and the rest is unsuitable for the species. The highest density (2.5 individuals/m2) was found in the Panwalikantha and Kunwari pass meadows, while the lowest density (0.6 individuals/m2) was found in the Martoli area. Land usage and land cover were the most important factors in determining its dispersion. This method could be useful in determining the prospective distribution region, particularly in high-probability locations, and in planning land use management in and around existing populations. It would also aid in the discovery of new populations, the selection of priority survey locations, and the creation of a conservation priority zone/resource management zone with a focus on species ecological boundaries.

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