Maltidhari College, Naubatpur, Patna is a rural area constituent college of Patliputra University, Patna in the

state of Bihar. The college has maintained high standards in relation to ecological perspective. Google Earth

data of last 15 years prior to 2022 shows that changes in campus has not disturbed the biodiversity and number

of trees. Efforts to improve plant diversity include establishment of different gardens with various purposes

tree. To our surprise the campus also has few species of plants which are in various categories of risk of

extinction such as critically endangered, Endangered, Threatened and Vulnerable as per IUCN red list data. It

also has species of trees whose global trend of population is decreasing as per IUCN Red List Data. In campus

these plants have Shannon’s diversity index of 2.91 and Simpson’s diversity index of 0.88. This college

presents an ideal example of development with ecological preservation. Number of trees have increased from

11 in 2012 to 322 in 2022. Collective tree plantation programme of 2016 caused the increase the number of

trees from 27 in 2017 to 255 in 2018.

Existence of all forms of life in a particular area is called biodiversity. It is supported by different kinds of

ecosystems where many types of food chains and food webs are formed. It helps in improving the richness and

Even for agriculture it has a role in the increase of stability of arthropod community across all trophic levels

for both herbivore and predatory types primarily due to plant productivity and plant community stability along

with availability of consistent food and habitat resources to arthropod food webs(Haddad et al. 2011). Different

components of food chains and food webs interact with non-living matter such as sunlight, CO

(Hilligsøe et al.

2011), water (Zhao et al. 2019)(KISHI et al. 2005) and soil (Sprunger et al. 2019). An intricate balance is

important between the living and non-living components of the ecosystem as disturbance in one of the

components affects the other(Kumar and Karthika 2020). A robust biodiversity is necessary for the existence of

an ecosystem since it minimises threats to the healthy ecosystem.(Schwartz et al. 2000). Conserving the

biodiversity at each level saves our planet which helps in improved health for human beings(Schwartz et al.

of any educational institution. Maltidhari college in Naubatpur has been categorised as rural area college but

due to good connectivity with Patna (Capital city of state of Bihar in India) effects of urbanisation can be

easily felt here due to ease of connectivity caused by construction of 8 lane highway (SH-78) crossing east to

west, NH-98 crossing North to South, a new road parallel to the canal and an earlier constructed canal road.

negatively affect natural vegetation, net primary productivity and natural biomass (Chen et al. 2003) together

with creating an increase in noise (Yusoff and Ishak) as well as deterioration of air quality (Giunta 2020).

Maltidhari college has robust ecosystem where many different kinds of plants and animals are present. It was

established in 1956 and lots of changes has occurred since then. Here we have tried to study progression of tree

plantation in the campus over 15 years of time. Our previous work has already done a detailed study on the

threatened species has been noted at Botanic Garden of Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh,

India which is conserving 150 endemic and threatened species (Madhusudhana Reddy and Nagendra

protected Polish plant species by creating awareness in wide public along with students, teachers and school

children (Kirpluk and Podstolski 2015). In Bangladesh among the tree species campus flora of chittagong

university, includes 13% as Vulnerable, 4% as Endangered and 3% as Critically Endangered (Akter et al.

2022) . Common diversity indices of species richness like Shannon's diversity (H) and Simpson's diversity (D)

have been used in many diversity related studies (Eshaghi Rad et al. 2009; Morris et al. 2014).

identification of plants. Died trees were excluded from survey. High-definition camera was used to take the

photographs of plants present in the college in full sunlight of Noon.

in spite of large-scale development in civil work which was carried out in study period. The survey site has

been divided to Sides of roads, Parking area, Examination department, Arts block, Golden Jubilee Hall,

Physics Department, Science block, sides of playground, Area behind Girl’s hostel and five established

gardens.

Singh who donated land for the college. Total Number of trees present there at the time of survey was 9.

Gandhi Naitik Sthal- This is latest established garden in the college campus. The garden is planted with

aesthetic plants. Total Number of trees present there at the time of survey was 36.

Sundar Lal Bahuguna Fal Udyan- This garden has fruit bearing plants which have economic values. Total

Number of trees present there at the time of survey was 41.

Botanical Garden- Mainly trees for timber production has been planted here. Total Number of trees present

there at the time of survey was 11.

Thus total number of trees present in all the gardens together is 116. The area behind the girl’s hostel, sides of

playgrounds, backyards of buildings and sides of roads have been used for providing space for trees for

remaining 206 trees (Figure-5a). Leaving the fruit garden the total area of remaining four garden is 2083.88 m

types of animals also survive here due to availability of food and shelter. Analysis of collected data, shows that

there exists approximately 60 species of plants that includes trees, herbs and shrubs. Among these 24 species

are endemic while 34 species are under threatened categories as declared by IUCN red list. Other than these,

the number of species in the college premise with medicinal, economic and ornamental values are 44,42 and

25 respectively. In Rishi Bagh Bhatt Ayurvedic Udyan, So far 40 species including herbaceous species are

conserved while in Sundar Lal Bahuguna Fal Udyan 40 species are found namely Mango, Guava,

Pomegranate, Fig, Gooseberry, Wood apple, Cherry, Sapodilla, Coconut, Star fruit, Lemon, Lychee, Neem and

Among the planted plants, most plants are bearing broad leaves which not only overcome the vehicular

pollution loads i.e. consume hazardous gases and prevent suspended particulate matter but also provide

adequate shade and hiding place for breeding of fauna.

among which Tectona grandis is present in highest number with 96 followed by Wodyetia bifurcate with 29

and Cassia fistula with 26 trees. A total of 51 species of trees were identified. The details of species of trees

with their number can be found in Table-1. A calculation of Shannon’s Diversity index revealed a value of 2.91

which can be considered as moderate level of tree diversity in the campus. There is a total of 8 number of

species of trees whose number crosses 10. Calculating Simpson’s Diversity index gives the value of 0.88

which indicates very high tree species diversity and also means that campus is dominated by many species

Table 1- Table shows the Species of trees present in the college campus with respective numbers.

college campus are from diverse categories which are mentioned in IUCN red list data. Roystonea regia with

two trees in the college campus is categorised as Critically Endangered, Tectona grandis with highest number

in campus is categorised as Endangered species. Wodyetia bifurcate is considered as lower risk while Aegle

marmelos and Commiphora madagascariensis has been categorised as near threatened as per IUCN Red List

Indian rosewood (Sisam) and teak (Sagaun) had been planted. Thus, total number of plant species had

be alive out of 35 trees which were planted (Figure-5d).

Baghbhatt Ayurvedic garden was done on 19.08.2017. 40 medicinal plants were planted in the garden. After

the establishment of the Malti Pusp Vatika (flower garden) it was surrounded on all four sides by making ward.

170 trees planted under collective tree plantation programme most of them were live and growing (Figure-6D).

Figure-5- Google Images of year 2022, 2007, 2010 and 2011. Figure of year 2022 shows the location of all the

gardens in the college. Yellow line indicates outline and white line gardens of the college.