Climate change in North East: Arunachal’s Seijosa shows connect between shifting patterns, declining biodiversity

Context

• Climate change plays out slightly different than usual — and strongly — in vulnerable areas such as a biodiversity-rich forest. Seijosa circle in Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke-Kessang district has been witnessing such impacts for the past decade-and-a-half.

What is Seijosa?

• Seijosa is one of the five administrative divisions of the district.
• It lies on the eastern end of the scenic Pakke Tiger Reserve forest and south of the Papum reserve forest of the Khellong forest division.

Impacts

• There has been a shift in the behaviour of animals and birds
• Change in temperatures and rainfall patterns
• Loss of forest cover near the Saibun natural salt water lake has changed the migratory route of the elephants

What are the reasons behind the change?

• Climate change
• Anthropogenic activities
• Forest loss
• Illegal activities