Indian silks are categorized according to the type of silkworm from which they are produced. The variances in silk are caused by both organisms (insect species and eco-races) and host food plant species. It is fascinating to realize that there is a highly particular insect-host food plant relationship, i.e., the insect species is not capable of surviving on any host food plant; rather, it is quite selective, since it can only utilize the leaf of certain of the plant species as food.
The cocoon of the silk bug Bombax mori produces the most well-known silk. It feeds on the Mulberry tree species Morus ulba, which also reproduces efficiently by vegetative propagation. Even in homes, the leaves of this plant are given to the larvae of the silk insect; as a result, this is the only form of silk developed through household agriculture. It is worth noting that the size of a fully developed silkworm and the cocoon it produces varies from species to species of silkworm. The silkworm and cocoon size of the domestic cultivation species Bombax mori are substantially smaller than those of the Tasar silkworm species Antheraea mylitta, the host food plant of which is Arjun, Asan, and Sakhua forest trees.
Tasar silk is distinct in that it is indigenous and derived from the moth Antheraea mylitta, which feeds on the trees in the wild woods, hence the name “wild silk.” The Tasar silkworm insect (Antheraea mylitta) produces cocoons on the food plants Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Asan (Terminalia tomentosa), and Sal or Sakhua (Shorea robusta) in the forests of Jharkhand state, primarily in the Kolhan and South Chotanagpur divisions, providing additional income and livelihood to tribals and other local people. However, as the human population grows and development activities expand, forest lands are shrinking. The uncontrolled cutting of trees, particularly Tasar food plants, is slowly reducing the silkworm population. This has a negative impact not only on the livelihood possibilities of cocoon collectors and producers, but it is also contributing to the extinction of eco-races of both food plants and insects. As a result, it harms the livelihoods of those involved in the sector, such as yarn spinners, textile weavers and craftsmen, garment designers, and producers.
Kuchai Tasar, an organic Tasar produced mostly in the Seraikela-Kharsanwa region of south Jharkhand state, is becoming increasingly popular on the worldwide market. To meet expanding yarn, textile, and clothing objectives, there is an urgent need to include and educate the local populace as well as government workers to protect both food plants and the Tasar silkworm.
Conservation is about more than simply averting extinctions; it is also about restoring or recovering species populations to prior levels and preventing other species from getting into such a precarious condition in the first place. Although each species occupies the same domain, they each have their own set of ecological requirements that set them apart. Historically, habitat loss has been a role in species reduction. However, the management of existing ecosystems is equally vital. Restoring and preserving habitat is not always enough to reintroduce species to regions where they have been lost. India is a mega-biodiversity country, with a vast array of microbial, plant, and animal species, with an estimated 4,00,000 yet undocumented.
To acquire more organic Tasar cocoons, actions must be done to expand the population of their habitat trees, both in natural forests and in and around villages. Species conservation cannot be achieved in isolation from habitat protection. Conservation of biodiversity requires a focus on creating jobs for local people who rely on forest resources.
The local community must be ensured of their livelihood and nourishment to actively participate and support biodiversity protection. Thus, bio-conservation of food plants, as well as non-food plants (for the survival of forest species) and the Tasar silkworm, is required for the long-term livelihood of cocoon growers and collectors, as well as garment manufacturers that use this exquisite silk thread. In reality, a bio-conservation management plan is urgently needed to ensure the continued success of this vital business.
