Dihang Debang Biosphere Reserve, Anini, Arunachal Pradesh India

The Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve is one of the few nature preserves around the world which are untouched from the modern civilization. Non of the parts of the BR is approachable by road and has to be approached on foot only. The huge gorges and the innumerable streams make it impossible to use animal transport. The health care and educational system are rudimentary. Other than the traditional agriculture, there is no any significant source of income generation. In short, it is a very difficult place to live in which is one of the deciding factor of having a very sparse population.

The Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve has quite rich natural vegetation. The vegetation in this reserve varies according to habitat. Altitude is one of the major factors in determining plant growth, as the altitude of the Reserve varies from approximately 500 to 6000 meters (with associated temperatures and rainfall variability). Apart from altitude, there are also some other factors in determining the plant growth, including the varying soils and differing exposures. Some of the major microhabitats in this Reserve include the snow peaks (with algae in the snow and lichens on exposed rocks), glacial lakes, forest ponds, stream edge habitat, etc. The Reserve represents more than 8 forest or vegetation types like the Sub-Tropical Broad Leafed, Sub-Tropical Pine, Temperate Broad Leafed, Temperate Conifer, Sub-Alpine Woody Shrub, Alpine Meadow, Bamboo Brakes, and Grass Lands.

The Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve constitutes a part of one of the "Biodiversity Hot Spots" in the world. The reserve is home to approximately more than 1500 species of flowering plants. The area is also possible to be the centre of origin for some common crop plants like Banana. Apart from that, several NTFP and economic plant groups can also be found here that include the medicinal, aromatic, timber, fodder and fuel plants. The most common ornamental plants found in this reserve include the Orchids, Rhododendrons and Primulas. The reserve is home to the rare Orchid, Vanda stangeana, along with over 50 species of Rhododendrons. The area also provides shelter for saprophytes like Monotropa uniflora, Epipogium spp., and Gastrodia sp; and the Parasitic plants like Balanophora sp., Boescheckia sp., Galeola sp., etc. Apart from these, some plants belonging to the "primitive" families are also seen here. These plants include Mangletia gaveana, Magnolia campbellii, Schizandra neglecta, Holbelia latifolia, and various species of Ranunculus, etc. Some of the very rare and endangered plant species found in the Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve include the Cyathea sp., Angiopteris sp., Livingstonia sp., Coptees teeta and Amenototaxus sp., etc. 

 The Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve is actually a steep terrain, combined with difficult weather as well as the lack of communication. Only about 10,000 people live in this huge area, and they are primarily from the Tribal communities like Adi, Buddhist and Mishmi. There are also ten sub-Tribes reside within the reserve, including the Pasis, Padams, Karkos, Pangis, Simongs, Ashings, Tangams, Komkars, Millangs, Dalbings, Membas, Khambas, and Idu Mishmis. On the whole, the Biosphere Reserve is almost totally forested with villages and cultivations located on the lower slopes and terraces edging the major rivers systems. In some parts of the reserve, the forest appears as a continuous swath from the sub-tropics to the cold of the tree line. Apart from that, a large area of the Reserve also lies at elevations above the tree line and this area features a very special array of plants and animals. The Reserve exhibits a wonderful extent of sub-tropical forest.