Indu K. Murthy

Nontimber forest product extraction, utilization and valuation: a case study from the nilgiri biosphere reserve, southern India

We evaluated the diversity, social, and economic aspects of nontimber forest product (NTFP) collection in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), in southern India. The NBR is a region known for its floral andfaunal diversity, as well as an area with increasing human pressure. Fifty to 75% of the households (HH) in rural areas gather a diversity of forest products. Dominant NTFPs contributed 25–60% of the average annual per capita household income from NTFPs. The mean annual per capita household income from NTFPs ranges between Rs. 134 and Rs. 4955. The mean annual income per hectare ranges from Rs. 93 in the montane zone to Rs. 3780 in the moist deciduous. NTFPs contribute 15–50% of the annual per capita income of rural households. Ethnicity plays an important role in the collection of NTFPs and ethnic tribes derive a large proportion of their annual per capita income from NTFPs.

Carbon Sequestration Potential of Agroforestry Systems in India

Forestry has been recognized as a means to reduce CO2 emissions as well as enhancing carbon sinks. Forests are a large sink of carbon and their role in carbon cycles is well recognized. This paper reviews the role of agroforestry systems in carbon mitigation. Agroforestry provides a unique opportunity to combine the twin objectives of climate change adaptation and mitigation. It has the ability to enhance the resilience of the system for coping with the adverse impacts of climate change. Agroforestry systems offer important opportunities of creating synergies between both adaptation and mitigation actions. Various authors have carried out studies to estimate carbon stocks in different agroforestry systems in India. Agroforestry systems have the potential to provide significant mitigation options but they require proper management that influences the amount of carbon sequestered. The role of agroforestry practices in climate change mitigation in India can be realized to its full potential by overcoming various technical, financial and institutional barriers.

Joint forest management in India and its ecological impacts

Ecological impact of joint forest management (JFM) in India was assessed using the studies undertaken at national, state and forest division levels. It was found that there are very few studies that have specifically addressed the ecological aspects under JFM. The study noted that there are significant strides made in promoting JFM, but the program still needs to address a lot of inadequacies. Though it is estimated that little over 14 million ha of forests are brought under JFM, covering nearly 50 per cent of the open forests in India, how much of it has developed into good forests is not really known. It also needs to be noted that there are many lacunae in implementation of the program and there are also gaps in policies to promote JFM. The study noted that in four states, i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal, the recruitment was significant, amounting to 17 per cent of the regenerating individuals. In Karnataka, over 10 per cent of open forest has been brought under JFM, while a lot of wasteland could still be brought under JFM. The JFM plantations are dominated with exotic firewood species and low in timber and non‐timber species, resulting in lower biodiversity. Biomass growth rate was comparatively higher in JFM forests as compared to the national average. Other support activities to JFM indicated that various biomass conservation programs were initiated, installing a substantial number of energy saving and alternate energy devices. However, the study also notes that effectiveness of such support programs is not clearly known in terms of its functioning and biomass saved.

Evaluation studies of Joint Forest Management in India: social and institutional implications

A decade after initiating Joint Forest Management (JFM) in India, many states have conducted evaluations of the JFM program to address weaknesses, if any, during the process of implementation and to adopt strategies to implement the program effectively. The analysis indicates that evaluation was mostly donor driven and therefore only the donor concerns were highlighted in most reports. In this paper, we highlight the major issues raised by the reports reviewed. Tremendous progress has been made in terms of the number of Forest Protection Committees formed (nearly 62,900) since its inception. They cover an area of over 14 million ha. Apart from 53%; open forests that can be brought under JFM, there is a lot of cultivable wasteland that could be potentially included under JFM. Though JFM has been implemented and FPC formed, their functioning is a cause for concern. Various reports indicate that the number of FPCs functioning is very low and if FPCs are to be effective, a lot of effort is needed. Lack of community participation, ineffective leadership, lack of statutory institutional support, and tenurial security are the major concerns that need to be addressed to make JFM effective. Awareness among the community about their roles and responsibilities, and capacity building is another issue that needs strengthening. A lack of proper planning, management of village resources and community involvement in the process of planning are other gaps in of the JFM program. Inadequate participation of forest dependent communities in JFM, such as landless artisans and women, is a drawback in the JFM. Adequate measures to improve their participation and the means to improve their livelihood would give them a reason to help in the cause. However, the implementation of JFM has not achieved these goals to a sufficient degree. On the other hand, the womens credit cooperatives started as a part of JFM, to emancipate women from financial constraints have succeeded, indicating that, given the right environment, JFM still could succeed. The evaluation reports have shown a huge potential for generating employment in the JFM programme, which in turn will reduce seasonal migration of landless labour. However, the income generating activity in JFM has not improved to the expected level, perhaps due to the poor links between produce availability and market channels. Ultimately, JFM has a presence in the country and has spread throughout states at least in some pockets of India. To spread the concept effectively, the Government may want to adopt a strategy that is more efficient and involves less investment, as the external support is declining. Therefore, there is a need to undertake intensive analysis involving all stakeholders, NGOs and academics to develop an implementation strategy and create a proper environment for JFM to be implemented in a meaningful manner.

Mangrove Area Assessment in India: Implications of Loss of Mangroves

Mangroves are extremely important bio-resources which are crucial to coastal environment. Mangroves are declining rapidly as they are getting degraded for agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, urban development and over-exploitation. India lost 40% of its mangrove area during the last century. Hence, it is highly necessary to assess the status and trends of mangroves in India. We have assessed the trends of mangrove area in India during 1987-2013 and found that the mean annual change during the period is 24.25 ± 82.57 km2. Most of the states are experiencing an increase in area except Andhra Pradesh (-5.95 ± 15.70 km2) and Andaman and Nicobar (-3.41 ± 52.32 km2). The present review is focused on assessing the status and trends of mangrove area in India including the causes of loss and its restoration and traditional conservation. Implications of loss of mangroves have been discussed with respect to exposure to cyclones, hurricanes and sea water intrusion, tsunami and climate change. Effective governance structures, better planning for rehabilitation of degraded mangroves, education and awareness building in local communities are needed to conserve, protect and restore the valuable mangrove wetland ecosystems. Further, mitigation and adaptation to climate change aspects are considered.

Land use dynamics in select village ecosystems of southern India: drivers and implications

Knowledge of recent changes in land use, driving forces and implications of changes in the context of sustainable development is limited. This study analyses the changes in spatial patterns of land use including crop diversity, the drivers and implications of changes in 11 village ecosystems of southern India. Data obtained from existing maps, land survey, participatory survey and field measurements were integrated to quantify changes. Land-use dynamics at the village ecosystems level are highly interlinked to the livelihoods and anthropogenic forces as well as natural causes leading to major changes. Among the trends observed, urban influence was a major driver causing large area changes, natural causes being less significant. Other drivers included rainfall deficit, human population increase and management decisions. The impacts of changes were both short- and long-term. Implications and trade-offs were linked to the extent of land, type of change and dependence of the communities for livelihood and provisional services.

Forest protection and regeneration under joint forest planning and management in Eastern Plains and Western Ghats of Karnataka, India

Joint forest management in Karnataka, India was initiated in the Western Ghats and Eastern Plains. In Western Ghats, multispecies model was adopted, while in Eastern Plains 13 silvicultural models were adopted, of which assisted natural regeneration accounted for 43% of the plantation area that had rootstock. In addition, pre-JFPM plantations raised under social forestry were also included under JFM area in Eastern Plains. An ecological study showed that plantation approach in the Western Ghats and pre-JFPM model of Eastern Plains are comparable with high biomass and lower species diversity, and the Eastern Plains JFM areas are characterised by higher biodiversity index, lesser tree density, above ground biomass and mean annual increments.

Options for Forest Management for Coping with Climate Change in South Asia

Projected climate change will adversely impact distribution and diversity of forests in South Asia. It may also lead to increase in vulnerability to pests and pathogens including risks of forest dieback. While there may be short-term increase in biomass production because of the CO2 fertilization effect, eventually climate change will reduce NPP. Thus, there is a strong need for identification of adaptation strategies to minimize risks of forest fragmentation. Research priorities include development of dynamic vegetation models, and initiation of long-term experiments. Identification of appropriate policies is essential to minimize the adverse impacts of climate change on forest production.

Experience of Participatory Forest Management in India: Lessons for Governance and Institutional Arrangements Under REDD+

Murthy et al. provide a historical background to forest management in India and how this should inform an inclusive Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) strategy for India. The chapter shows that India’s attempts at adopting community participation in forestry such as its Joint Forest Management programme have not been as successful as it could be. India’s REDD+ strategy would therefore need to have more effective participatory mechanisms, which are also flexible enough to integrate existing community forestry initiatives. The chapter also assesses REDD+ pilot programmes in India to deduce lessons that would strengthen India’s REDD+ strategy. The chapter provides recommendations not only for the success of REDD+ but also for the success of India’s various national programmes to increase forest cover and reduce its carbon emissions.

Implications of Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Product Flows and Forest Dependent Communities in the Western Ghats, India

Abstract The tropical wet evergreen, tropical semi evergreen and moist deciduous forest types are projected to be impacted by climate change. In the Western Ghats region, a biodiversity hotspot, evergreen forests including semi evergreen account for 30% of the forest area and according to climate change impact model projections, nearly a third of these forest types are likely to undergo vegetation type change. Similarly, tropical moist deciduous forests which account for about 28% of the forest area are likely to experience change in about 20% of the area. Thus climate change could adversely impact forest biodiversity and product flow to the forest dependent households and communities in Uttara Kannada district of the Western Ghats. This study analyses the distribution of non-timber forest product yielding tree species through a network of twelve 1-ha permanent plots established in the district. Further, the extent of dependence of communities on forests is ascertained through questionnaire surveys. On an average 21% and 28% of the tree species in evergreen and deciduous forest types, respectively are, non-timber forest product yielding tree species, indicating potential high levels of supply of products to communities. Community dependence on non-timber forest products is significant, and it contributes to Rs. 1199 and Rs. 3561/household in the evergreen and deciduous zones, respectively. Given that the bulk of the forest grids in Uttara Kannada district are projected to undergo change, bulk of the species which provide multiple forest products are projected to experience die back and even mortality. Incorporation of climate change projections and impacts in forest planning and management is necessary to enable forest ecosystems to enhance resilience.Key Words: climate change, non-timber forest products, yield, tropical forests, Western Ghats