Perspectives of Tribal Communities on NTFP Resource Use in a Global Hotspot: Implications for Adaptive Management

Tribal communities depend on a large variety of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for their diverse needs, which has attracted high interest in recent years in view of increasing rural incomes and stimulating the forest management. This study investigates forest dependent (NTFPs based) livelihood in an ethnically diverse area in Northeast India, a global hotspot. We addressed two research questions: (1) what is the diversity of NTFPs resources that communities extract from the forest reserves to supplement their home needs? and (2) what are the perceptions of communities about sustainable development of NTFPs resources? We recorded 343 plant species that were used to fulfill varied needs of five tribal communities. Of them, 32% species harvested for their leaves and 27% for fruits. Dependence on NTFPs was more at high mountains. The seasonal use of NTFPs revealed that 79% species collected during lean period. Community perception on use of NTFPs revealed that 11% species consumed most frequently and 53% commonly. It was interesting to note that community residents sell as many as 76 species in the local markets to earn cash. All households collect NTFPs for sustenance while 31-41% households involved in commercial collection of species, viz. Taxus wallichiana, Aconitum fletcherianum, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Swertia chirayita, Illicium griffithii, and Thalictrum foliolosum. There was a gradual decrease in use of NTFPs with young age because of high labour and availability of other options. The communities perceived that unscientific and excessive harvesting may threatened these species in near future. For adaptive management of NTFPs, communities suggested that capacity building on maximum allowable harvests and yield regulation measures, tenure improvement, domestication and plantations of selected species along with access to markets for NTFPs products will create better economic gains for communities at the same time it will lead to sustainable management of NTFPs.   Keywords: Northeast India; global hotspot; NTFPs; sustainable use; consumption pattern; enterprises; livelihoods; adaptive managemen

Perspectives of Tribal Communities on NTFP Resource Use in a Global Hotspot: Implications for Adaptive Management

Tribal communities depend on a large variety of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for their diverse needs, which has attracted high interest in recent years in view of increasing rural incomes and stimulating the forest management. This study investigates forest dependent (NTFPs based) livelihood in an ethnically diverse area in Northeast India, a global hotspot. We addressed two research questions: (1) what is the diversity of NTFPs resources that communities extract from the forest reserves to supplement their home needs? and (2) what are the perceptions of communities about sustainable development of NTFPs resources? We recorded 343 plant species that were used to fulfill varied needs of five tribal communities. Of them, 32% species harvested for their leaves and 27% for fruits. Dependence on NTFPs was more at high mountains. The seasonal use of NTFPs revealed that 79% species collected during lean period. Community perception on use of NTFPs revealed that 11% species consumed most frequently and 53% commonly. It was interesting to note that community residents sell as many as 76 species in the local markets to earn cash. All households collect NTFPs for sustenance while 31-41% households involved in commercial collection of species, viz. Taxus wallichiana, Aconitum fletcherianum, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Swertia chirayita, Illicium griffithii, and Thalictrum foliolosum. There was a gradual decrease in use of NTFPs with young age because of high labour and availability of other options. The communities perceived that unscientific and excessive harvesting may threatened these species in near future. For adaptive management of NTFPs, communities suggested that capacity building on maximum allowable harvests and yield regulation measures, tenure improvement, domestication and plantations of selected species along with access to markets for NTFPs products will create better economic gains for communities at the same time it will lead to sustainable management of NTFPs.   Keywords: Northeast India; global hotspot; NTFPs; sustainable use; consumption pattern; enterprises; livelihoods; adaptive managemen

Bamboo trade and future prospects in the Central Himalaya : A case study of the traditional artisans of Uttarakhand, India

In India bamboo is valuable in the rural livelihoods. However, despite improvement efforts the conditions of bamboo resources and traditional artisans have been deteriorating over the years. To improvise the socio-economic status of the artisans, different state governments are looking for information on the resource as well as artisans’ skills so that necessary amendments could be accomplished in government policies and programs to develop this sector as an important vehicle for rural development. This article is based on an investigation that was conducted in Uttarakhand state, India using questionnaires. We report on bamboo species being used, indigenous knowledge of articles made from bamboo, resource utilization patterns, and management status of bamboo in Uttarakhand state. The paper also discusses major bottlenecks of the trade along with the potential interventions that could be used to enhance bamboo-based livelihoods in the region

Unlocking nature's hidden treasure: Unveiling forest status, biomass and carbon wealth in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarakhand for climate change mitigation

In the context of present climate change concerns, the quantification of forest biomass and the comprehension of carbon stock distribution within protected areas are of paramount importance for exact carbon budgeting and the development of effective forest management strategies. This study conducted comprehensive field assessments with the primary objective of quantifying tree biomass and carbon stocks, as well as assessing structural attributes of forest stands. These assessments involved the meticulous collection of ground-based data encompassing various structural attributes, including circumference at breast height (CBH), stem height, basal area, stem density, frequency, girth class by utilizing a simple random sampling methodology. The results of this study unveiled substantial variations in all tree structural attributes across different forest stands along altitudinal gradients. Notably, species richness, tree density and species diversity exhibited an upward trend with increasing altitude. The maximum tree species richness (25) and tree density (1068 ± 102.2 individuals ha−1) were recorded at stand-IV, situated between 2200 to 2400 m, however, stand-I exhibited the maximum basal area. The highest aboveground, belowground, total biomass, and carbon stock was estimated in the stand-IV, with values of 279.12 ± 17.56 Mg ha−1, 65.58±11.20 Mg ha−1, 344.70 ± 20.66 Mg ha−1, and 163.73 ± 10.33 Mg ha−1, respectively. The study further revealed a positive correlation between elevation and species richness, biomass, and carbon stock. Additionally, it demonstrated positive correlations between total biomass and carbon stock with species richness, total basal area, and tree density. These findings convey immediate significance for the development and implementation of climate change mitigation policies and practices, particularly within the context of protected areas in the Himalayan landscape

Vegetação campestre do sul do Brasil: dinâmica de espécies à exclusão do gado Grassland vegetation in Southern Brazil: dynamics of species in cattle excluded areas

O presente estudo objetivou avaliar modificações ocorridas na vegetação em uma área de campo natural, após oito anos sem influência de pastoreio. A área situa-se na Estação Experimental Agronômica da UFRGS, no município de Eldorado do Sul, RS, onde foram realizadas amostragens em 1984 e 1992. Dezesseis unidades amostrais permanentes de 0,25 m² foram utilizadas para verificar a presença e o valor de cobertura das espécies, pela escala de Daubenmire. São apresentados os valores de freqüência e cobertura absolutas (FA e CA, respectivamente) das espécies de Gramineae, Compositae, Rubiaceae, Leguminosae, Umbelliferae e Cyperaceae nos levantamentos de 1984 e 1992. O trabalho evidenciou a relação entre a forma biológica das espécies predominantes e os estados pastejado ou excluído. Em Gramineae, espécies rasteiras, estoloníferas ou rizomatosas (Paspalum notatum, Axonopus affinis e outras), características da área pastejada, foram substituídas por plantas de hábito cespitoso (Andropogon lateralis, Elyonurus candidus e outras), capazes de sombrear e sobrepujar as de baixo porte. Espécies de compostas e rubiáceas, de um modo geral, apresentaram uma redução em FA e pouca alteração em CA. As leguminosas apresentaram principalmente um aumento em FA, mantendo a CA praticamente constante. As umbelíferas destacaram-se pelo aumento da CA em metade de suas espécies. Ocorreu o surgimento de 25 e o desaparecimento de 42 espécies em 1992.<br>The aim of this study was to evaluate modifications after eight years without grazing in a native grassland area, located at the Estação Experimental Agronômica - UFRGS, in Eldorado do Sul, RS. Vegetation surveys were done in 1984 and 1992. Sixteen permanent sample quadrats (0.25 m²) were established and presence of species and cover-abundance values according to the Daubenmire scale were recorded. Absolute frequencies and cover values (AF and AC, respectively) in 1984 and 1992 are presented for Gramineae, Compositae, Rubiaceae, Leguminosae, Umbelliferae and Cyperaceae species. The study showed the relation between the growth forms of the most abundant species and the grazed and ungrazed situations. Creeping, stoloniferous and rhizomatous species of Gramineae (Paspalum notatum, Axonopus affinis and others) were conspicuous when the area was under grazing, being replaced by tussock-type plants (Andropogon lateralis, Elyonurus candidus and others) able to dominate and shade out small understory herbs, when excluded. Compositae and Rubiaceae species showed a reduction in AF and few changes in AC. Leguminosae species had an increase in AF, presenting almost constant values for AC. Half of the Umbelliferae species presented an increase in AC in the second survey. Twenty five species appeared and 42 vanished in 1992