majority of area (58 %) are under tropical climatic zone, followed by subtropical
(23 %), alpine (10 %), and temperate (9 %) zones. NDVI distribution in different
climatic zones is shown in Fig. 4.
5 Challenges to Conserve Biodiversity and Climate
Change Mitigation of Northeast Region
The exceptional biodiversity in Northeastern region is mainly due to the multiple
biogeographic origins and its location at the juncture of two continental plates. It is
in an ecotone represented by flora and fauna of both Asian continental shelf and the
Indian plate having the Gondwana origin (Roy et al. 2012). The climatic variability
associated with the vast, complex, and steep topography is another reason which
offers variety of biodiversity in diverse habitats of the region. The region is subject
to tremendous threat of landslide, flood, earthquake, as well as human disturbances
including roads, agricultural development, forestry activities, deforestation, and
energy development which may lead to the loss of biodiversity of different
endangered and endemic species of flora and fauna. The threats to biodiversity
arising from climate change are likely to be very acute in Northeast region because
of ecological fragility, economic marginality, and richness of threatened and
endemic species. The vulnerability is very high mainly for ecologically delicate
species like lichens, orchids, and insectivorous plants which occupy highly specific
and narrow niches.
Fig. 3 Spatial distribution of (a) NDVI and (b) Cartosat-I Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of
Northeast India
Biodiversity Status and Climate Change Scenario in Northeast India
115
(23 %), alpine (10 %), and temperate (9 %) zones. NDVI distribution in different
climatic zones is shown in Fig. 4.
5 Challenges to Conserve Biodiversity and Climate
Change Mitigation of Northeast Region
The exceptional biodiversity in Northeastern region is mainly due to the multiple
biogeographic origins and its location at the juncture of two continental plates. It is
in an ecotone represented by flora and fauna of both Asian continental shelf and the
Indian plate having the Gondwana origin (Roy et al. 2012). The climatic variability
associated with the vast, complex, and steep topography is another reason which
offers variety of biodiversity in diverse habitats of the region. The region is subject
to tremendous threat of landslide, flood, earthquake, as well as human disturbances
including roads, agricultural development, forestry activities, deforestation, and
energy development which may lead to the loss of biodiversity of different
endangered and endemic species of flora and fauna. The threats to biodiversity
arising from climate change are likely to be very acute in Northeast region because
of ecological fragility, economic marginality, and richness of threatened and
endemic species. The vulnerability is very high mainly for ecologically delicate
species like lichens, orchids, and insectivorous plants which occupy highly specific
and narrow niches.
Fig. 3 Spatial distribution of (a) NDVI and (b) Cartosat-I Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of
Northeast India
Biodiversity Status and Climate Change Scenario in Northeast India
115