Guarding the Khasi Holly: An Assam Conservationist’s Mission to Save a Rare Tree
High in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya grows a tree that carries millions of years of evolutionary history the Khasi Holly Ilex khasiana Towering up to meters evergreen and graceful this species is not just rare it is one of the world s most evolutionarily distinct plants Yet today it is on the edge of extinction Classified as Critically Endangered for more than two decades the Khasi Holly s population has been shrinking fast due to habitat loss deforestation and human pressure Despite its status scientific knowledge about the species remains surprisingly scarce Its distribution is poorly mapped its population trends largely unknown and the full scale of threats it faces under-studied Into this gap steps Raktima Basumatary a young conservationist from Assam who has dedicated herself to giving this species a fighting chance A Daughter of the Northeast Takes ChargeRaktima Basumatary is not new to the forests of India
