Manoj Jain

Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Whichever superlative description you apply to the Himalayas, the 3,000 kilometers-long mountain range with peaks more than 8,000 meters high, won’t be enough to capture its grandeur. Spectacular... awesome ... majestic ... breathtaking ... stunning ... magnificent .... None of these adjectives does justice to these mountains known as ‘the roof of the world’. Little wonder that local people revere them as sacred, the home of the gods, the abode of the Supreme Soul, and that travelers come from all over the world.
Some of Asia’s greatest rivers spring to life in the Himalayas – the Ganges, Yangtze and Brahmaputra among them. The peaks, foothills and plains are host to species such as the elusive snow leopard, the Bengal tiger, red panda, black bear, bearded vulture ... and perhaps even a yeti or two. And now we at World Wildlife Fund (WWF) can add to that list. Our recent report reveals that no fewer than 244 plants, 16 amphibians, 16 reptiles, 14 fish, two birds, two mammals and at least 60 invertebrates have been discovered by scientists in the Himalayas over the past 10 years. The Himalayan range is home to some 12,000 species of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and freshwater fish. The number of new species discovered – and investigated and verified by WWF – in the eastern Himalayas between 1998 and 2008 equates to 35 finds every year. ‘They remind us that despite our advances in knowledge, we can still be surprised,’ says our conservation adviser, Mark Wright. ‘If ever you needed a reminder of what we’re striving to protect, discoveries like these have the power to do just that.’
Among the latest discoveries are a bright green frog which uses its long, red, webbed feet to glide through the air; three species of scorpion, one of which is the first scorpion to be found in Nepal; and there’s the miniature muntjac or leaf deer. At just over half a meter tall, this is the world’s smallest deer species. Equally extraordinary is the Namcha Barwa  Canyon. ‘Most people are blissfully unaware of this gorge,’ says Mark. ‘Yet it’s 250 kilometers long and, in places, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. When a couple of Chinese scientists ventured into it recently, they discovered a new ultramarine blue plant that not only flowers throughout the year but also changes colour according to the air temperature. Other plant discoveries include a pure white orchid and a 15-metre-high palm tree.’
Our study focused on the eastern Himalayas – an area that amazingly spans five countries and a wide range of temperatures. Nature doesn’t respect boundaries and working together on environmental issues is therefore vital. The Himalayas are likely to be hard hit by the effects of climate change. Many regions have their own microclimates and already we’re seeing significant changes. Some species of wildlife and vegetation are moving up hillsides, and seasonal rainfall has become less predictable, which can sometimes result in extreme conditions, ranging from drought to flooding, and uncertainty for farmers. Many communities in the Himalayas still live in isolation, and they remain deeply dependent on the resources nature provides.
Other issues which need discussion and agreement between the governments of the countries affected are cross-border trade in wildlife, timber felling and the harvesting of medicinal plants. Critically, we want to ensure that 50,000 square kilometers of forests, grasslands and wetlands are protected and well connected. This will help to save globally threatened species, such as the Asian elephant and the rhino, whose populations we constantly monitor. And we’ll continue to help local communities to live in harmony with their natural surroundings. With that secured, it’s surely only a matter of time before the Himalayas will reveal yet more secrets.

Q. What is the specialty of the ultramarine blue plant?