Latest news with #Cedrusdeodara
India.com
12-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Feels Like A Fairytale: 7 Breathtaking Plants And Animals Found Only In Shimla
Shimla stands as the capital city of Himachal Pradesh located within the Himalayas' embrace and it becomes famous through its combination of natural beauty and colonial ambiance and moderate weather conditions. Shimla preserves diverse forms of wildlife together with unique plants found exclusively within this geographical location. The position between the Himalayas and multiple ecological zones has created an area with high numbers of species found only in this region. This text provides seven essential points regarding the unique floral and fauna species that occur specifically in the Shimla region. 1. Deodar Trees The Deodar tree (Cedrus deodara) ranks as the signature tree species which naturally grows throughout the Shimla region. Local residents call this magnificent coniferous species 'Devdar' which stands as a divine symbol of Himalayan timber growth. The trees grow best between elevations of 1,500 to 3,200 meters where they support the ecological equilibrium of the regional environment. Through their protective cover of Deodar forests wildlife unites with the trees to conserve the water cycle and safeguard the land from soil depletion. These trees face imminent threat because urbanization together with deforestation continues to reduce their numbers which makes conservation activities essential to protect them. 2. Himalayan Monal Himachal Pradesh chose the Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) or Impeyan Pheasant as its state bird to represent the diverse birdlife across Shimla territory. The male Monal reveals its iridescent colors featuring green, blue, copper combinations whereas the female uses muted colors for survival purposes. This bird species can be found in forests and alpine meadows that extend from 2,100 meters up to 4,500 meters in elevation. Monals need strong protective measures to survive because poaching combined with habitat reduction puts their existence at risk. 3. Blue Poppy The Blue Poppy (Meconopsis aculeata) exists as an exceptionally beautiful and elusive plant which grows in the mountainous regions that extend from Shimla. During snowmelt you can observe the summer-flowering plant which displays remarkable blue petals against the mountainous background. The Blue Poppy needs to grow above an altitude of 3,500 meters while depending on precise climatic requirements for survival. Bothered by the artistic allure and scarce nature of this plant both botanists and nature fans express keen interest toward it. Climate change threatens the ongoing existence of the plant population. 4. Western Tragopan Among the bird species unique to Shimla stands the Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus). Scientists list the 'King of Birds' or 'Jujurana' pheasant as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of its natural name meaning 'crowned leader'. The red-colored facial skin combined with black head and dotted feathers indicate sexual maturity in males whereas females remain less visible in appearance. Western Tragopans make their home in the high-altitude forests consisting of oaks and rhododendrons that stretch from 2,400 to 3,600 meters high. Protection measures at the Great Himalayan National Park near Shimla along with other designated areas actively work to defend their decreasing numbers. 5. Rhododendrons Rhododendrons are fundamental elements of the Shimla environment because the area hosts Rhododendron arboreum and Rhododendron campanulatum species among others. During spring the hills become ornamented by pink, red and white floral displays of rhododendron shrubs. The animal species find Rhododendron forests essential for habitat while these forests enhance the region's biodiversity. The valuable ecosystems are endangered by uncontrolled logging activities and land-use modifications yet require sustainable management to protect them. 6. Snow Leopard exists as an enigmatic creature which inhabits the mountainous region. Even though it is an extremely rare occurrence in the higher regions of Shimla district the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) makes occasional appearances. Natural selection has completely prepared this secretive cat species for living amid the challenging mountain landscape through its dense coat combined with large feet and long tail meant for improved balance. These cats mainly feed on ibex and blue sheep yet continue to struggle because humans occupy their habitats while their population suffers decline. Local area conservation projects together with patrolling teams in protected zones serve to safeguard these species. 7. Brahma Kamal According to Hindu beliefs Brahma Kamal (Saussurea obvallata) stands as both a mystical and scarce flower with religious value. Every year during the monsoon season the Brahma Kamal appears at its natural location where people consider it to carry spiritual importance. The nocturnal Brahma Kamal flower grows above 4000 meters in height and releases faint scents that local people associate with spiritual purity and divine nature. Because of its restricted existence together with slow pace of reproduction the Brahma Kamal faces extreme vulnerability to environmental destruction along with destructive harvesting. The ethereal species needs both public awareness initiatives and legal safeguards to safeguard its survival. Conclusion The combination of unique geographical features and diverse ecosystems in Shimla Protects a collection of uncommon natural species that only exist in this specific location. The varieties of life which exist in the region including substantial Deodar trees alongside colorful Himalayan Monals as well as vulnerable Blue Poppy and secretive Snow Leopards make up a biodiverse habitat that is tremendously beautiful but also extremely sensitive. These species add immense value to ecological wealth yet they endure multiple perils from human use and climate change effects. Survival of these species depends on immediate combined conservation efforts with strict regulations together with strong public awareness campaigns. The preservation of these natural wonders guarantees both heritage protection for Shimla and the establishment of sustainable human-nature coexistent environments.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Two men killed by falling trees during Storm Éowyn
Two people were killed by falling trees during the record-breaking gusts of Storm Éowyn, which also damaged property and led to widespread power cuts across the UK and Ireland. The deaths were confirmed as the Met Office issued more wind and rain weather warnings, which are in place until Tuesday. On Sunday, Police Scotland said a 19-year-old was killed when his car was struck by a tree in East Ayrshire on Friday morning. He was treated in hospital in Glasgow but died the following day. The incident happened while an amber warning was in place, three hours before it became a rare red warning. The Scottish first minister, John Swinney, offered his condolences in a statement on X: 'This is tragic and heartbreaking news. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of the man who has died.' A man who was killed in Ireland was named as 20-year-old Kacper Dudek. Dudek, who was born in Poland but brought up in Lifford, County Donegal, had been travelling home from work early on Friday when a tree struck his car. He reportedly had been carrying out a U-turn after coming across a road accident when Storm Éowyn uprooted a tree that crushed his car. Éowyn was one of the strongest storms in a generation, with record-breaking wind speeds that brought widespread travel problems, power cuts and significant damage to infrastructure. At its height, the storm left more than 1 million people without power as hurricane-strength gusts battered Ireland and the UK. The strongest gust, of 114mph (183km/h), was recorded in Mace Head, County Galway, while a gust of 100mph was recorded at Drumalbin in South Lanarkshire. While the authorities attempted to clean up after Éowyn, the Met Office issued new warnings for wind and rain across the UK as Storm Herminia neared Spain. A gust of 82mph was recorded on Sunday morning in Predannack, south Cornwall, with a warning of more disruption until early on Tuesday. More than 400,000 properties across the UK and Ireland were still without power as a result of Éowyn. In Northern Ireland about 101,000 households and businesses were without power, while the figure in Scotland was 20,000. The Republic of Ireland's electricity supplier said about 300,000 properties had no power and that it could take until Friday to restore it to everyone. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh said the storm had caused 'severe damage' to its gardens: 'At Edinburgh, 15 trees have been lost – either uprooted or damaged beyond recovery. This includes the garden's tallest tree, the 29-metre Cedrus deodara, planted in 1859.' The wind speeds were the highest Ireland had experienced in about 80 years and also caused a wind turbine in County Galway to snap in two. At the storm's peak, about 30% of properties in Northern Ireland had lost power, and on Sunday morning, NIE Networks said approximately 101,000 customers remained without electricity. Derek Hynes, the managing director of the energy transmission company, said it estimated it would take 10 days to restore power to everyone. 'We are still visiting locations where damage has been caused and are working on the faults that will get power back to the highest possible numbers of homes and businesses,' he said. On Sunday, six separate Met Office yellow weather warnings were in place for wind and rain, covering southern England, the Midlands, Wales, parts of northern England, south-west Scotland and all of Northern Ireland. Four yellow warnings for wind and rain on Monday are in place across Wales and large parts of England, and a wind warning is in place for southern England and parts of Wales on Tuesday. The warnings have been prompted by Storm Herminia, named by meteorological authorities in Spain, where it is expected to hit hardest. Forecasters said it would bring winds speeds of 50-60mph quite widely in the UK and up to 80mph near coasts in some places. The Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: 'It's going to be wet and windy over the next few days in southern parts of the UK in particular. But from Tuesday onwards, I'm expecting it generally to stay fairly changeable, [with] some showers at times and quite windy, but not as disruptive as it has been. I think, overall, probably warnings are less likely from Tuesday onwards.'
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Storm Éowyn causes 'severe damage' at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Storm Éowyn has caused "severe damage" at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, it has been revealed. Approximately 15 trees have been lost – either uprooted or damaged beyond recovery - at the popular tourist attraction, including the Garden's tallest tree, the 29-metre Cedrus deodara, planted in 1859. A further 27 trees have been heavily damaged, and more than 100 panes of glass have been lost from the glasshouses. 🚨 We're sad to announce that #StormÉowyn has caused severe damage across our Gardens. At #Edinburgh, 15 trees have been lost – either uprooted or damaged beyond recovery. This includes the Garden's tallest tree, the 29-metre Cedrus deodara, planted in 1859 👇 — Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (@TheBotanics) January 26, 2025 A spokesperson for the Garden said: "The Garden is back open today, however you will see areas of damage. We'll provide updates on our other Gardens, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan, when we can." One of the world's leading botanic gardens, The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is home to one of the largest and richest plant collections on Earth. Established in 1760 as a medicinal plant or 'physic' garden at Holyrood, the Garden moved twice within Edinburgh until in 1820 it arrived at its present site in Inverleith. It is home to over 13,500 plant species and over 128,000 plants from more than 150 countries, including one of the largest collections of Chinese plants outside China.
