Biodiversity of Deosai National Park

Deosai the 2nd highest Plateau on the earth is situated on western Himalayas of Northern Pakistan spread over 3000 sq Km. Being 2nd highest plateau and falling on transitional belt between moist and dry temperate zones, it harbors world unique biodiversity. Lower stretches of the plateau start from 10, 000 ft from sea level and go up to about 14000 ft from sea level. Floral diversity is very unique less information is available due to no indepth research on both floral diversity. Most of the floral species are of medicinal value. Some of the species can be endemic to this particular region as its position is entirely different from surrounding and adjoining areas. Like flora diversity its faunal diversity is also unique. The plateau has been declared as National Park in 1993 by government of Pakistan and flagship species is Brown Bear ( Arsus arctus) considered to be not more than 40 individuals in the entire country. Golden marmot is among dominant species of mammals along with Ibex, wolf, lynx, snow leopard, Himalayan Snow cock, while among fish, Snow trout is considered to be endemic to this piece of land although no in-depth studies of biodiversity have been carried out on this important plateau.

Author(s): Manzoor Qureshi

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