Buransh early bloom in Uttarakhand raises concerns

The early blooming trend has been observed among various flower species in the hills of Uttarakhand, notably the rhododendron (commonly known as buransh). Rhododendrons, renowned for their refreshing flower juice, are flowering well ahead of their usual schedule, causing concern among scientists and experts. Scientists and environmentalists warn that such changes in flora and fauna behaviour could signify long-term detrimental effects of climate change on the region.

People typically find Rhododendron, a small red flower popularly called 'burhans', at higher altitudes and they peak their blooming in March-April once the temperature settles around 15-20 degrees Celsius. Rhododendron landscapes such as Chaurangi Khal in Uttarkashi and Jakholi in Rudraprayag have witnessed this premature blooming phenomenon, prompting worries among locals and researchers alike.

Hot weather makes flowers early

Observations over the past few years have shown early blooming in January, but this marks the first time that the flowers have bloomed in December. Experts believe that climate change and erratic weather patterns are responsible for the early blooming, and they suggest it might push the species towards the treeline (the line or altitude above which no trees grow).

Prof S.S. Maurya, Botany Teacher said, "In the last few years, we have observed that Buransh flowers are blooming early. We believe the main reason for this is the effects of global warming." The concentration of greenhouse gases is increasing. This is leading to an increase in the temperature of our environment because of which the behaviour of flora and fauna is changing. One of them is the early blooming of Buransh flowers.”

This early bloom is concerning for several reasons. Firstly, it disrupts the ecological balance of the region, affecting the timing of pollination and interactions between plant and animal species. Secondly, it may impact local livelihoods that rely on the seasonal cycles of flora and fauna. Furthermore, it serves as a visible indicator of the broader climate crisis facing the Himalayan region.

Previous studies have also highlighted the changing climate patterns in the Himalayas. Research conducted over the past decade has shown a consistent increase in temperatures and alterations in precipitation patterns. Additionally, the delayed onset of snowfall in the current year further underscores the impact of global warming on the region's ecosystems.

“The overall trend is moving towards summers (warmer climate). Scientists have expressed concern at this. Global warming is coming and is now being seen in different aspects of the environment. The early blooming of Buransh is a matter of concern” MC Pande, Environmentalist said.

Changing western disturbance

The weather is changing the wind that brings the rain and snow to the mountains. The wind is called the western disturbance. It comes from the west and crosses many seas and lands. It picks up water and drops it on the mountains. The water helps the plants and animals to live. It also gives water to the people who live in the mountains and the plains.

The western disturbance is important for the winter weather in India. But not many people have studied it. A study in 2017 said that there is not much research on why the western disturbance changes every year.

Some studies have shown that the western disturbance is becoming less frequent and weaker in the winter. A study in 2015 looked at the data from 1977 to 2007 in Himachal Pradesh. It found that the number of western disturbances and the amount of rain and snow have gone down in the winter.

Another study in 2015 said that the temperature in the western Himalayas has gone up since the 1950s. It said that this is because of the warming in the Tibetan Plateau. The Tibetan Plateau is a big and high land near the Himalayas. The warming there makes the temperature difference between the Himalayas and the other lands bigger. This makes the western disturbance stronger and more variable.

How is weather changing Buransh flowers?

The Buransh flowers usually bloom in the spring. This is when the weather is warm and sunny. This is also when the bees and birds come to visit them. The bees and birds help the flowers to make seeds. The seeds help the flowers to make more plants.

But now the weather is changing. The winter is getting shorter and warmer. The spring is coming earlier and hotter. The summer is getting longer and drier. The autumn is getting later and wetter. The seasons are not the same as before.

Hukum Singh is a person who studies the plants. He works at a place called FRI in Doon and told TOI, “The main reason for the early flowers is the higher temperature. The weather is changing and making the mountains warmer. A big group of people who study the weather said this in their report".

He added, "The northern mountains are warmer than the western mountains. Maybe that is why Uttarakhand, which is in the northern mountains, is seeing early flowers because of the higher temperature.”

He also said that the early flowers will affect not only the plants but also the animals. He added, “The early flowers will change many things for the animals like butterflies, bees, bugs and birds. They need the flowers for food and making babies".

Hukum Singh further added, "If the butterflies and bees come for food in March and April and find no flowers on the trees, then they will be sick and have no babies. Or they might go to another place for food. So we need to study all these small things to see the big picture of how the weather is changing the early flowers in the northern mountains.”

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