Impact of overgrazing and documentation of wild fodder plants used by Gujjar and Bakerwal Tribes of district Rajouri (J&K), India

The present study aims to documents the wild plants used as fodder by Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes and their impact of utilization and overgrazing in the forests of district Rajouri (J&K), India. During the study period two blocks which were densely inhabited by Gujjar and Bakkerwal tribes were selected (Nowshera and Budhal) and frequent field trips were also made on other blocks of the district where the tribal people may reached. A total of 63 plants species were reported from the study area belong to 33 families and 51 genera, of all these 63 species, 22 were trees, 11 were shrubs and 30 were herbs. During the study it was observed that, due overgrazing, lopping, and cutting of forest plants in large scale by the tribes and local inhabitants for the expansion of agricultural lands and local settlements outside and inside of the forests and the number of livestock reported much more than the carrying capacity of forest, which resulted into the threatening of some plant species. It is also observed that some species like Pinus wallichiana and Cedrus deodara were not be reported in the area due to their commercial utilization and overgrazing purposes, and also due to their more litter fall which is not good for the growth of ground flora. The tribes sometimes also employ forest fire for better fodder, which leads to great loss to the regeneration of forest plants

Some lesser known fiber yielding weeds used by Gujjar and Bekarwal tribes of District Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir

The present communication pertains to some lesser known fiber yielding weeds used by Gujjar and Bekarwal tribe of district Rajouri (J&K). The study was based on extensive and intensive field surveys conducted in 6 blocks of district Rajouri i.e. Budhal, Rajouri, Thanamandi, Manjakote, Nowshera and Sunderbani. Three sites were selected in each block which was densely inhabited by Gujjar and Bekarwal tribe to document traditional knowledge on fiber yielding weeds. The botanical names of the reported weed species with family, local names and part used have been documented in the present work. During the study period a total of 17 fiber yielding weeds belonging to 2 monocot and 8 Dicot families were reported. Out of total 10 angiospermic families of fiber yielding weeds, the predominance was shown by family Malvaceae having 6 weed species followed by family Tiliaceae and Urticaceae each representing 2 fiber yielding weeds. The study would not only help in documenting the traditional knowledge, it would also help in removal and management of weed species and in promoting growth of major crops

Species diversity in two different forest of Siwalik Range in J&K Himalaya, India

The present study deals with the species diversity of two identified forest i.e., mixed broad leaved forest (Forest type-1) and pine forest (Forest type-2) of Shiwalik range in J&K Himalaya. Ten plots of 10×10 m were randomly established in the forest for the determination of species diversity and other vegetation parameter ranging from 500-1200m asl. Acacia modesta was the dominant species of forest type-1 followed by Mallotus philippensis, Cassia fistula, etc. Pinus roxburghii was the dominant tree species of forest type-2 but also shows some sort of dominancy in forest type-1. Shrubs and herbs diversity and density was shown decreased with pine dominating forest. It was also observed that the studied forest was unstable and degraded, and will be vanished if not maintained properly