Gopal Shukla

Deforestation: Causes, Effects and Control Strategies

The year 2011 is ‘The International Year of Forests’. This designation has generated momentum bringing greater attention to the forests worldwide. Forests cover almost a third of the earth’s land surface providing many environmental benefits including a major role in the hydrologic cycle, soil conservation, prevention of climate change and preservation of biodiversity (Sheram, 1993). Forest resources can provide long-term national economic benefits. For example, at least 145 countries of the world are currently involved in wood production (Anon., 1994a). Sufficient evidence is available that the whole world is facing an environmental crisis on account of heavy deforestation. For years remorseless destruction of forests has been going on and we have not been able to comprehend the dimension until recently. Nobody knows exactly how much of the world’s rainforests have already been destroyed and continue to be razed each year. Data is often imprecise and subject to differing interpretations. However, it is obvious that the area of tropical rainforest is diminishing and the rate of tropical rain forest destruction is escalating worldwide, despite increased environmental activism and awareness.

Climate change perceptions and response strategies of forest fringe communities in Indian Eastern Himalaya

AbstractThe study documented perception of forest fringe community of Chilapata reserve forest in West Bengal, India, from September 2013 to May 2015 through questionnaire-based personal in-depth interviews involving 400 respondents and group discussions. Adaptation strategies used by the community in response to impact of climate change were also documented. Majority of the respondents were farmers with marginal land holding. Almost all the respondents perceived the phenomena of climate change. The overall perception of the community toward change in temperature-related events and precipitation is high with average perception score of 0.74, while it is medium for change in regularity of climate events with score of 0.51. In spite of such perceptions, the community had low average livelihood impact perception score of 0.23. Considering the adaptation strategies based on knowledge–adoption index, the adaptation in response to climate change is at medium level with average mean score of 0.63. A total of 17 coping options were identified. Pre-monsoon dry seeding, agroforestry, crop rotation, short duration crop varieties and use of organic products were popular. The study recommend a need for scientists, government and non-government agents and other stakeholders to support efforts by farmers to adapt to effects of climate change through technological, policy and financial interventions with an aim of improving livelihoods and food security.

Indigenous uses of ethnomedicinal plants among forest-dependent communities of Northern Bengal, India

BackgroundTraditional knowledge on ethnomedicinal plant is slowly eroding. The exploration, identification and documentation on utilization of ethnobotanic resources are essential for restoration and preservation of ethnomedicinal knowledge about the plants and conservation of these species for greater interest of human society.MethodsThe study was conducted at fringe areas of Chilapatta Reserve Forest in the foothills of the eastern sub-Himalayan mountain belts of West Bengal, India, from December 2014 to May 2016. Purposive sampling method was used for selection of area. From this area which is inhabited by aboriginal community of Indo-Mongoloid origin, 400 respondents including traditional medicinal practitioners were selected randomly for personal interview schedule through open-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire covered aspects like plant species used as ethnomedicines, plant parts used, procedure for dosage and therapy.ResultsA total number of 140 ethnomedicinal species was documented, in which the tree species (55) dominated the lists followed by herbs (39) and shrubs (30). Among these total planted species used for ethnomedicinal purposes, 52 species were planted, 62 species growing wild or collected from the forest for use and 26 species were both wild and planted. The present study documented 61 more planted species as compared to 17 planted species documented in an ethnomedicinal study a decade ago. The documented species were used to treat 58 human diseases/ailments including nine species used to eight diseases/ailments of domestic animals. Stomach-related problems were treated by maximum number of plants (40 species) followed by cuts and wounds with 27 plant species and least with one species each for 17 diseases or ailments. Maximum number of 12 diseases/ailments was cured by Melia azedarach followed by Centella asiatica and Rauvolfia serpentina which were used to cure 11 diseases/ailments each.ConclusionsThe list of 140 plant species indicates that the Chilapatta Reserve Forest and its fringe areas are rich in biodiversity of ethnobotanical plant species. Rauvolfia serpentina were the most valuable species in terms of its maximal use with higher use value. The documentation of 78 species maintained in the home gardens indicates the community consciousness on the conservation values of these ethnobotanical species. The communities should be encouraged with improved cultivation techniques of commercially viable ethnobotanical species through capacity building, timely policy intervention along with strong market linkage. This will ensure income generation and livelihood improvement and ultimate conservation of these species.

Value Addition of Non-timber Forest Products: Prospects, Constraints, and Mitigation

NTFPs are primary or supplemental source of livelihood mainly in the poor and developing nations. NTFPs contribute significantly to forest economy of developed and industrialized nations also. NTFPs can be processed or value added into consumer-oriented products. They have commercial importance and can contribute to the economic development of a region or a nation. Commercialization or value addition of NTFPs is now promoted as an approach to rural development especially in tropical forest areas. Unfortunately, commercialization of NTFPs has exploited and deprived the collectors. The chapter describes the prospects, constraints, and strategies to overcome these constraints of NTFP development and its value addition. The successful NTFP commercialization will be transparent, equitable, and sustainable which will have a positive impact on poverty reduction, gender equality, resource access, tenure, and management which demands aggressive policy interventions. The effective policy interventions can improve the stake of all stakeholders involved in NTFP from collection to value addition and ultimately improve collection, value addition, income, and livelihood without sacrificing the principles of sustainable forest conservation.

Plant diversity at Chilapatta reserve forest of Terai Duars in sub-humid tropical foothills of Indian eastern Himalayas

From March 2007 to March 2009 we quantified plant diversity at Chilapatta Reserve Forest in Terai Duars in the Indian eastern Himalayas. We sampled stratified random nested quadrats. Species richness was 311, representing 167 genera and 81 families. The species diversity index and concentration of dominance of the forest were 2.20 and 0.0072, respectively. Shannon-Wiener index and evenness indices were 4.77 and 1.44, respectively. The Importance Value Index (IVI) of species ranged from 0.13 to 37.94. The estimated diversity indices indicated heterogeneity of the forest in its composition, structure, function and dynamics. Rich forest plant diversity supports the need for continued conservation of tropical forests.

Visual qualitative description of a humid tropical foothill forest in Indian eastern Himalayas

Understanding plant community characteristics is essential for analysing phyto-diversity. This is a basic prerequisite for understanding the structural and functional attributes specific to a location to enable better landscape management. A study was conducted from April 2007 to March 2009 at Chilapatta Reserve Forest in the humid tropical foothills of the Indian eastern Himalayas to obtain comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the plant community based on visual observations of qualitative characteristics. A total of 311 species of plants were recorded which were represented by 167 genera and 81 families. All the shrubs, herbs, climbers and lianas were observed to be evergreen, whereas trees were mostly deciduous. A total of 165 species were either much less present or less frequent. All the climber and liana species were found growing singly while all the fern species were growing in colonies. Unlike tree species, shrubs were found dominantly growing in colonies. Medium/small leaves dominated the forest. Among the tree species, 71.86% were growing intermixed. Tree stratum was dominated by medium height species. Tree species like Tectona grandis, Shorea robusta, Albizia spp., Swetenia mahogany, Gmelina arborea, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Bombax ceiba and Terminalia tomentosa were dominant in terms of solar radiation interception without any interference because they occupied the top most layer of the tree stratum/canopy. The forest is dense with no barren areas in its canopy cover intercepting more than 80% PAR. The study indicates not only rich diversity of the plant community but also heterogeneity in its composition and structure.

Fern diversity and biomass at Chilapatta reserve forest of West Bengal Terai Duars in sub-humid tropical foothills of Indian eastern Himalayas

We documented the status of fern diversity, biomass and carbon accumulation at Chilapatta Reserve Forest in Cooch Behar Wildlife Division, West Bengal. Stratified random nested quadrat sampling was adopted for analyzing the qualitative and quantitative characters. Nineteen fern species were recorded, of which two are yet to be identified. Identified species were of eight families and nine genera. Highest and lowest frequency recorded were 25.44 and 0.19 while relative frequency varied from 3.16 to 12.25. Fern density ranged from 93 to 13,403 individuals ·ha−1. Most of the species were widely distributed. IVI values ranged from 7.54 to 37.45. The above ground portion of ferns accumulated the major portion of biomass and carbon.

Impact of Front Line Demonstrations on Yield Enhancement of Ginger (var. Majauley) in Tribal Reserve Biosphere of Sikkim Himalaya

Abstract Ginger is a very popular and important crop in Sikkim but due to improper adoption of practices of cultivation in Dzongu, North Sikkim, its productivity is far below the average productivity of the state. Considering the scope of improvement in productivity through the recommended technologies, 40 front line demonstrations were conducted by ICAR, Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong under National Agricultural Innovation Project, component III during 2007-2010 in five different villages’ farmers’ fields. Farmers’ practices prevailing in the region were treated as control for comparison with recommended practice like no mother rhizome removal and application of leaf mulch for controlling soft rot in ginger. Yield of ginger increased by 44.22 per cent (for recommended practice) over control. An average net profit of Rs. 2,55,258 was recorded in recommended practice wherein it was Rs.1,31,677 in farmer’s practice. Benefit: Cost ratio varied from 5.75 - 5.90 under demonstrations while it was 3.54 - 3.75 for control. Front line demonstration of recommended technology revealed that yield potential and net income from ginger cultivation can be enhanced to greater extent.

Contribution of NTFPs on livelihood of forest-fringe communities in Jaldapara National Park, India

ABSTRACT We expected that the indigenous communities of Jaldapara National Park depend on the non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and there would be a relationship between socioeconomic variables and their dependency on NTFPs. The study also documented the gap between prices of NTFP items at the household level and in local markets. Multistage sampling procedures were applied with a sample size of 205. The data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Chi-Square (χ2) test. Insignificant values of Chi-Square (χ2) test reveal that there is no association or relationship of NTFP dependency with the socioeconomic and demographic variables of the respondents. The communities do rely on NTFPs for their daily, sociocultural, and cash requirements and assure a safety net during scarcity. There is a variable contribution of NTFPs to total monthly household income (1–70%). We documented 43 species of NTFPs sold either as raw or as processed form. The NTFPs sold were in the form of twigs, shoot, fruit, seed, leaves, mushroom, and fish. A wide gap exists between the price realized by the community from the sale of NTFPs and those sold in the local markets. This calls for institutional intervention for capacity building and empowering the community for processing or value addition and market intelligence.

Fuelwood extraction by indigenous, rural and urban poors do not risk trees and forest: a case study from Jharkhand, India

During the past few decades, India has experienced many changes in its energy consumption pattern both in qualitative and quantitative terms.1 This is mainly due to rising population growth and increase of economic and developmental activity. The household sectors is one of the largest users of energy in India, accounting for about 30 % of final energy consumption (excluding energy used for transport) reflecting the importance of the sector in total national energy scenario.2 The pattern of household energy consumption represents the status of welfare as well as the stage of economic development. International Energy Agency predicts that population growth will render 2.7million people relying on plant base energy forms in the year 2030.1 The rural and urban poor population mainly depend on plant biomass resources (cow dung, crop residue, fuel wood) as compared to hydrocarbons to fulfill their daily energy needs.3 Fuel wood extracted from forest is one of the most important sources of energy in the developing and under developed countries.4–7 Much of the fuel wood is now also being obtained from trees outside from forest, such as bush fellow, scrub, dead trees, pruning and lopping.