Assessment of faunal diversity of forests surrounding Dabhil village in Sawantwadi taluka, Sindhudurg, M.S., India

Forests are among the most bio-diverse ecosystems on Earth, playing a pivotal role as habitats for an array of flora and fauna. Their complex structure, comprising various canopy layers, understory vegetation, and diverse microhabitats, offers niches and resources crucial for the survival and proliferation of countless species commonly referred to as biodiversity. Despite the valuable ecosystem services provided by forests, the present era is marked by a widespread and pervasive occurrence of deforestation, primarily propelled by infrastructural projects like dams and highways. This extensive deforestation engenders various environmental problems, underscoring the pressing need for scientific interventions and sustainable practices to address these challenges and ensure the continued well-being of our planet. The present study focuses on the assessment of faunal diversity within the forests surrounding the Dabhil Mauli River in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. The bio-diversity survey was conducted, revealing a high species richness. Systematic direct field observations were employed to evaluate the present state of the forests, emphasizing ecological dynamics, biodiversity metrics, and inter-species interactions. The study documented a total of 145 species of fauna, including 70 species of birds, 8 species of mammals, 52 species of butterflies and moths, 5 species of dragonflies and damselflies, 5 species of spiders, and 5 species of reptiles.