A comprehensive ecological study of the Kiriburu - Meghahatuburu Iron Ore Mine area of Jharkhand, India

Biodiversity rich Saranda Forest consist of Moist Deciduous and Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest. It is scattered in the state of Jharkhand. Saranda is mostly dominated by ShoreaTerminalia-Adina series of plants. The Importance Value Index (IVI) states the fact that Saranda is a Sal (Shorea robusta) dominated forest. Indian Elephants frequently migrate in between Dalma and Saranda forest. The KiriburuMeghahatuburu Iron ore mining area is a border town between Jharkhand and Odisha. The whole area (820 sqkm) is mined by various iron and steel companies and governed by SAIL. The Kiriburu-Meghahatuburu and its adjacent areas are located on this natural migration pathway of Asiatic elephants (Elephas maximus) in eastern India. This study focuses on the ecological impact of mining on the KiriburuMeghahatuburu area and its surrounding biodiversity.