Alpine pastures
Also called: Alpine meadows, Bugyals · Topic: Natural Vegetation and Forests of India · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Natural Vegetation"
Meaning
Alpine pastures are grasslands high in the Himalayas, above the tree line (the height above which trees cannot grow). They lie above the alpine forest belt of silver fir, juniper, birch and rhododendron. Herders such as the Gujjars, Bakarwals, Bhotiyas and Gaddis use them for transhumance: they move their herds up to these pastures in summer and back down to the valleys in winter. In Uttarakhand these pastures are called bugyals. Today, heavy trekking and grazing put them under stress.
Example
Bedni Bugyal and Ali Bugyal in Uttarakhand are well-known alpine meadows. Herders graze animals there in summer, and trekkers cross them.
Don't confuse with
- Temperate grasslands: these grow lower down, at about 2,225-3,048 m, alongside blue pine and spruce forest. They are below the tree line, not above it.