Biodiversity Heritage site at Piulong, Tamei TD- Block

Dr. Paochunbou *

Buning - Tamenglong - The Natural Paradise :: Pix - Gaikhamdim Marangmei

"Buning" otherwise known in original as Piulong. "Little Scotland" is situated within the most backward Tamei TD - Block of Tamenglong District. An old man told a story that in early 1923, one British officer paid a visit to this Buning Village and had named it as Little Scotland. Prairies and prairies growing on the gently sloping site interspersed between little hillocks, sparkling ponds and lakes, the early morning mist revealing just enough to make the sight seem almost ethereal, a romantic pretty picturesque. This site has been officially declared by the government of Manipur as "Buning wildlife sanctuary".

This small valley is situated on a mountain peak spreading about 115.80 sq-kms and is located in the north – eastern corner of the district at a fairly high altitude of around 2824 meters above the sea level. This valley based village is climatically cool; blessed with snows in the winter and the valley is cool throughout the year. In the village, there are many medicinal plants of high value, such as, Pitcher plant (Monkey cup) and its Botanical name is Nepenthes mirabilis and Paris polyphylla Smith and many others. Apart from the fact that Piulong is a breathtakingly beautiful valley, the warm and friendly demeanor of the villagers certainly added to the charm and any visit would be most pleasant and memorable.

Diabetes and cancer can be cured by the extract of Pitcher plant and the plant has been clinically proved as curative in diabetes and in cancer. Even in developed western countries, no Institute, Council, University, Center or Firm had ever identified or manufactured any medicine under any system curative for diabetes.

It is essential to promote of eco- tourism of the biodiversity rich areas like Piulong , Zailad( Zeliad) and Tharon Cave in the District of Tamenglong. Due to poverty having no alternative income generating activity, the villagers have resorted to exploit costly plant called Paris Polyphylla Smith , and the villagers took the raw rhizomes to sell at Imphal at low price. Over exploitation will certainly lead to the extinction unless an alternative livelihood measure is adopted at the village.

Quite interestingly, a plant identified by botanists as "Trichopus Zeylanicus" is found growing in the Buning thick forest. This particular plant is also found in the Agasthyar hills of Kerala where Kani tribals used to eat the winged fruits and the Kani men munched the miracle fruits and remained energetic without food for many days. This can be hidden treasure of Manipur.

There exists 20 to 30 tiny natural mounts on every avenue with the different dimension each measuring about 8430sq.mts. or more endowed with different variety of plants , herbs and shrubs in separate sites situated on the peak valley which attract the tourists the most . The enviably located valley still retains on un-paralleled romance of their environment. In the extreme western of the village, ranges lie, ridge upon ridge, etched upon the south – western horizon. A man who pays a visit to this lovely valley never gets satisfied unless he pays a visit again at least twice or thrice.

In the heart of the valley, there are gentle river, steams and brooklets running as tributaries and finally all tributaries join in Agaki – river at the precipice and this has formed a stupendous waterfall which is quite visible from the approach road to this village on I.T. Road. This peak valley is 1 km uphill from the main road.

Winter season started from the month of November, numerous wild- fowls and horn bills of different varieties are visible which have added heritage value. What is the unique about this peak valley? All tourists and even common men, scholars enjoy the matchless natural scenery and ponder over the wonderful prairies and the meadows in the midst of the surrounding rainforests. There is a long-felt need to undertake effective conservation measures for protection of rare, endemic endangered and threatened species.

A foot-print marked on the big flat stone which is presumed to be of the Ruler of Manipur is still visible even today. An old retired teacher of Langmei village told a thrilling story that the Ruler of Manipur came in search of location to build a palace at this peak valley and took a refuge at this peak valley for a few months and he wanted to build a splendid mansion, a palace but he could not trace a rare bird (known as partridge, a brown bird with a round body and a short tail) at this valley which is of immense importance in the expansion of the palace mythologically.

Pitcher plant is purely an endemic species and it is growing here near the natural Lake and it is not grown in other places except in Jantia hill in Meghalaya .If tissue-culture is initiated, there is a good immense scope to multiply the seedlings to grow in this particular land. If tissue-culture is possible, there remains an inexhaustible wealth of the people.

The Village needs to invite expert scientists to conduct ethnobiology expedition to verify the plant species and to study the situation to expand the site and skill training is also required to conduct at the village level. Any biopiracy should be stopped.

The Manipur State Biodiversity Board had also identified the Buning as one of the Biodiversity heritage sites in Manipur. There is an imperative need to draw the attention of the expert scholars and the scientists to study about the scope to conserve the fauna and flora, value based medicinal endemic species, for the benefits of the people and to encourage the local community for the management and conservation of the heritage site for future prosperity.