Nazir A. Pala

Ecosystem Services in Sacr ed Natural Sites (SNSs) of Uttarakhand: A Preliminary Survey

Abstract The present work was carried with the aim to document the Sacred Natural Sites in both Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand to access their major ecosystem services benefiting at both regional levels to local inhabitants and globally benefiting environment. The Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) included sacred forests, sacred groves, sacred bugyals and water bodies. A total of 130 SNS were found during the present study located in different areas of Uttarakhand. The surveyed SNS included 55 groves, 44 forests, 24 meadows/bugyals/Kharks and 6 water bodies. With respect to the range of ecosystem services offered by the SNS about 24 percent share goes to the cultural services and 32 percent each for supporting and provisioning services whereas 12 percent services are of regulatory in nature.

Carbon stock estimation for tree species of Sem Mukhem sacred forest in Garhwal Himalaya, India

Carbon stock estimation was conducted in tree species of Sem Mukhem sacred forest in district Tehri of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. This forest is dedicated to Nagraj Devta and is dominated by tree species, including Quercus floribunda, Quercus semecarpifolia and Rhododendron arboreum. The highest values of below ground biomass density, total biomass density and total carbon density were (34.81±1.68) Mg·ha−1, (168.26±9.04) Mg·ha−1 and (84.13±4.18) Mg·ha−1 for Pinus wallichiana. Overall values of total biomass density and total carbon density calculated were 1549.704 Mg·ha−1 and 774.77 Mg·ha−1 respectively. Total value of growing stock volume density for all species was 732.56 m3·ha−1 and ranged from (144.97±11.98) m3·ha−1 for Pinus wallichiana to (7.78±1.78) m3·ha−1 for Benthamidia capitata.

Temporal variations in carbon stock of Pinus roxburghii Sargent forests of Himachal Pradesh, India

The present study was conducted in Solan Forest Division of Himachal Pradesh covering an area of about 57,158 ha. The aim was to estimate and assess the temporal change in carbon stock of the Chil Working Circle, in two forest ranges of the Division, Solan and Dharampur, over the period of 1956–2011. The inventory data of the working plans of Solan Forest Division from 1956–1957, 1984–1985 and 2002–2003 were used in the present study while field data for biomass estimation was collected for the year 2011. The results showed a declining trend in carbon stock over 1956–1984 period, however, an increasing trend over 1984–2002 was observed, which showed a further increase for the period 2002–2011. These fluctuating trends in the forest carbon stock can be related to increasing anthropogenic pressure on forests and the subsequent introduction of a ban on green felling envisaging efficient forest management, both of which affect the forest carbon pool significantly.

Tree Regeneration Status of Sacred and Protected Landscapes in Garhwal Himalaya, India

Global and national recognition of Garhwal Himalaya as sacred and protected land has not spurred conservationists to investigate these sacred and protected forests and recognize their importance at large scales. Little is known about the role of sacred conserved forests in influencing the regeneration of species in Garhwal Himalaya. In the present study we investigated the regeneration status of tree species in five sacred and protected forests of Garhwal Himalaya. Seedling and sapling density was used as an indicator of regeneration status of present species. A total of 47 species of trees were recorded from five sacred and protected forests, among which only 7 species showed either good or fair regeneration in all the five sites, whereas a majority (17 species) showed either poor or no regeneration. The dominant species were Quercus spp., Rhododendron arboreum, Myrica esculenta, and Lyonia ovalifolia. Sapling density ranged from 8.84 to 15.2 saplings/100 m2 and seedling density ranged from 11.36 to 18.74 seedlings/100 m2 in different study sites. Our study showed the regeneration status of lesser (auxiliary) species in the forests was low as compared to dominant ones. Girth class distribution of individuals showed a reverse J-shaped curve for all the species at all the sites.

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.

Diversity and regeneration status of Sarkot Van Panchyat in Garhwal Himalaya, India

We investigated the floristic composition, phytosociological and regeneration status of Sarkot Van Panchyat (community forest) in Chamoli district of Garhwal Himalaya. A total of 52 plant species of 46 genera and 26 families were recorded, which included 12 trees, 18 shrubs and 22 herb species. Quercus leucotrichophora was dominant tree species in sapling and seedling layers, followed by Lyonia ovalifolia and Rhododendron arboreum. Out of 12 tree species, 7 species in seedling stage and 8 species in sapling stage were recorded in the study area. The 44.41% species in the study area showed good regeneration status, 16.66% species were fairly regenerating, and 8.33% species showed poor regeneration status, while 33% species were not regenerating. Number of individuals from lower girth classes (0–10 cm and 10–30 cm) showed decreasing trend with the increase in size of girth class. Shannon index (H) for trees, shrubs and herbs was recorded as 1.82, 2.24 and 2.41 respectively. Simpsons index (CD) was recorded as 0.21, 0.12 and 0.12 for trees, shrubs and herbs respectively. The forest should be divided into compartments for better management purpose and each compartment should be closed for five years to assist regeneration and enrichment planting may also be carried out for sustainable management.

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.

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.

Variation of stem density and vegetation carbon pool in subtropical forests of Northwestern Himalaya

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted in five forest types of subtropical zone in the Northwestern Himalaya, India. Three forest stands of 0.1 ha were laid down in each forest type to study the variation in vegetation carbon pool, stem density, and ecosystem carbon density. The stem density in the present study ranged from (483 to 417 trees ha−1) and stem biomass from (262.40 to 39.97 tha−1). Highest carbon storage (209.95 t ha−1) was recorded in dry Shiwalik sal forest followed by Himalayan chir forest > chir pine plantation > lower Shiwalik pine forest > northern mixed dry deciduous forest. Maximum tree above ground biomass is observed in dry Shiwalik sal forests (301.78 t ha−1), followed by upper Himalayan chir pine forests (194 t ha−1) and lower in Shiwalik pine forests (138.73 t ha−1). The relationship with stem volume showed the maximum adjusted r2 (0.873), followed by total density (0.55) and average DBH (0.528). The regression equation of different parameters with shrub biomass showed highest r2 (0.812) and relationship between ecosystem carbon with other parameters of different forest types, where cubic function with stem volume showed highest r2 value of 0.873 through cubic functions. Our results suggest that biomass and carbon stocks in these subtropical forests vary greatly with forest type and species density. This variation among forests can be used as a tool for carbon credit claims under ongoing international conventions and protocols.

Homegardens: Drops to Sustainability

Homegardening is an ancient and widespread practice of deliberate mixing of field crops, herbs and shrubs with trees and livestock within the compound of a house, popular in regions with either high or low human population densities in developing and developed countries. They reflect the wisdom of traditional culture and ecological knowledge that have evolved over the years. The gardens resemble the structure of natural ecosystems, i.e. they create a forest-like multi-storey canopy structure on a land marginal to field production and labour marginal to major household economic activities. Multiple environmental and ecological benefits are realized from homegardens in terms of ecologically friendly approaches for food production improving food security and enhancing economic growth along with biodiversity and natural resources conservation. As homegardens are time-tested local strategies that are widely adopted and practiced in various circumstances by local communities with limited resources and institutional support, they can be a part of agriculture and food production systems in many developing countries and are widely used as a remedy to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in the face of a food crisis particularly in a climate change world.