Forests of Uttarakhand: Diversity, Distribution, Use Pattern and Conservation
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FORESTS OF Uttarakhand: DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION, USE Pattern AND Conservation Vishwambhar Prasad Sati*1 and S. K. Bandooni2 1Department of Geography and Resource Management, School of Earth Sciences, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, India 2Department of Geography, S.B.S.E.C., University of Delhi, Delhi, India *Correspondence: [email protected] ABSTRACT The Uttarakhand Himalaya contains rich forest diversity. Forests are distributed along the altitudinal gradients from broad leaf deciduous forests to pine, mixed-oak, coniferous forests and alpine meadows. The rural people are largely dependent on them for their livelihoods and they have traditional practices to conserve forests. This paper aims to examine diversity, distribution, use pattern and conservation of forests in Uttarakhand. The study is based on data gathered from secondary sources and through participatory observation method. We have gathered time series data on vertical distribution of forests, district wise forest cover and change and forest land use, and analyzed them. Further, we have described use pattern and conservation of forest in Uttarakhand. Data show that a large geographical area of the Uttarakhand Himalaya (61.32%) is under forests. Forest diversity varies vertically and horizontally and area under forest is different from district to district. Forest plays a significant role in enhancing livelihoods, income and economy of the local people and the state, respectively. The study suggests that even forest cover is increasing in Uttarakhand, however we need to further conserve them sustainably. A sustainable use of forest resources will manifest rural economy more viable. Keywords: Forest diversity, Distribution pattern, Sustainable use, Conservation, Uttarakhand. (UEPPCB 2004). Uttarakhand’s forests are distributed along INTRODUCTION the altitudinal gradients vary from tropical to subtropical, Forests play an important role in sustaining life of both temperate and alpine. Broad leaf deciduous forests are found human and animal. It is a major life supporting resource and in the Tarai and Doon plains. Pine forest is densely and one amongst the major sources of livelihoods in mountainous extensively distributed above the valleys and mid-altitudes, region. Rural people of Uttarakhand are directly dependent mixed-oak forest lies in the temperate zone and conifer forest on forest resources (CEDAR 2010) for fuel-wood, fodder and lies in cold climate zone. Further, grasslands–subtropical, food and they practice community forestry, maintained by temperate and alpine are extensively found along these village community forest councils commonly known as Van gradients. Economic viability of these forests is substantial. Panchayat which was introduced in 1920 (Phartiyal et al., The local people conserve forest using traditional methods 2006). Forests not only provide fire-wood, fodder and wild which not only benefit carbon sequestration but also enable fruits, but also provide leaf litter for manuring crop fields restoration and conservation of forests, meadows and (Singh et al., 2004). In Uttarakhand, about 38% green feeds biodiversity together with local socio-economic upliftment are obtained from fodder trees and 31% fodder is obtained (Rao et al., 1999; Maikhuri et al., 1997; Saxena et al., from grasslands (Rawat et al., 2012). The marginal farmers 2001). Common property resources are community forests, rear livestock in the grasslands temperate and subtropical and pasturelands and water resource, which rural people use and gather fodder from tree leaves (Singh et al., 2009). Besides, conserve together (Joshi 2006). a variety of medicinal plants also grow in all the altitudinal The state of Uttarakhand is bestowed with rich and zones. diversified forest resources with their high economic viability. Uttarakhand state has 7,869 floral species (SFR 2005). In spite of being economically viable and a substantial option The plant diversity is so high from the valleys to the alpine of livelihoods of the rural people, the forests of Uttarakhand meadows (Kumari et al., 2009). It has eight forest types out are largely unused. It is because of the remoteness and of total 16 forest types existing in India (Champion et al., inaccessibility of forest areas. Further undulating and 1968). There are over 12000 Van Panchayats, which cover precipitous slopes hinders its more sustainable use. On the 15.1% area of the total forest area. Besides, out of the total other hand, forest fire, overgrazing, lopping of trees for fodder forest area, 69.2% forest is under forest department, 14.8% and firewood and removal of leaf and wood litters from the under civil forests and the rest belong to private forests forest floor, are the major anthropogenic activities, which ENVIS Bulletin Himalayan Ecology, Vol 26, 2018 21 are affecting plant diversity in the Uttarakhand Himalaya 0.66 in comparision to 0.9 in Europe and Nepal. In terms of (Malik et al., 2016). Forest fire is the major disturbance for pine and oak forests, genetic diversity is also less. forests expansion although used for the growth of grasses in grazing land (Kumar et al., 2005). Mounting population Data collection and analysis pressure on forests has depleted a substantial forest cover, This study was carried out employing qualitative approach. which is resulted in landslides and flashfloods. This has led Data on forest diversity, distribution and use pattern were threatening for species and many of them are on the verge of collected from secondary sources and through participatory extinction (Ram et al., 2004). observation method. The Forest Survey of India data of The main objective of conducting this study was to 2015 and Land Use Statistics, the Ministry of Agriculture, examine diversity, distribution, economic viability, use Government of India (GOI) data of 2001 and 2015 were pattern and conservation of forests of Uttarakhand. It further gathered appropriately. These data are related with vertical studied that how the abundant forest resources can be used distribution of forests, district wise forest cover/change, area sustainably so that the fragile landscape can be restored and under tree species and forest land use. I visited the entire the rural people can harness forest products to carry their Uttarakhand Himalaya several times to study diversity, livelihoods sustainably. distribution and use pattern of forest and compare them with the data of secondary sources. Further, the gathered data were METHODOLOGY analyzed qualitatively and supported by suitable graphs. THE STUDY AREA The Uttarakhand Himalaya having 53,483 km2 geographical RESULTS area, stretches between 28o43’ N-31o28’ N and 77o 34’ E- Forest diversity and distribution 81o03’ E (Fig. 1). Out of its total area, 93% is mountainous Diversity and distribution of forest species in Uttarakhand mainland, of which, 19% area is under permanent snow Himalaya vary according to the altitudinal gradient (Sati cover, glaciers and steep slopes. Due to physical constraints, 2006), from <500 m to >4,000 m (Table 1). Floral diversity trees cannot grow in these locations. Uttarakhand can be is the lowest in pine forest whereas it is the highest in mixed- divided mainly into four physiographic zones–the Greater oak forest. Tropical deciduous forest and coniferous forest have Himalaya, Middle Himalaya, Shivalik ranges and Doon and substantial floral diversity. In mixed oak forest, dominating Tarai regions. Climate varies from sub-tropical to temperate species are oak itself Tilonj, Kafal, Bhamore, Dal Chini and and frigid cold with temperature ranging from sub-zero to Burans. In pine forest, pine is single species and it does not 43oC. Average annual rainfall is 1550mm. The recorded allow other trees to grow. There are a number of species of forest area stands for 34,662 km2, which is 61.43% (MOA same genera in coniferous forest among them dominating 2012) of its geographical area. Of which reserve forest species are deodar, fir, spruce and Ringal (small bamboo). constitutes 71.08%, protected forest 28.51% and unclassified Tropical forests such as Sal and Shisham are widely distributed forest covers only 0.41% area. Per capita forest cover is 0.248 in Tarai, Doon valley and Shivalik regions (<300 m). Other ha. It shares 3.15% of India’s forest area. A study carried out tree species in this region are Khair, Semal, Kanju, Sissoo and by the Forest Research Institute Dehradun (FRI 2015) states Haldu. Bushes and shrubs are also found in this region. Total that Uttarakhand has less genetic diversity of Deodar as it is area under these forests is about 2,826 km2. Forests distributed between 300 and 1100m are characterised by mixed tropical forests with bushes and scrubs. These forests occupy 4,018 km2 areas. Pine forests are densely distributed between 1,100 and 1,800 m and possessed 10024 km2 areas. Mixed oak forests are found between 1800 and 2800 m with high biodiversity. Coniferous forests are found between 2800 and 3400m and beyond of it, vast alpine pasturelands are found (Fig. 2 & 3). Fig. 2. Graphic representation of vertical distribution of forests in Fig. 1. Map showing location of the Uttarakhand Himalaya Uttarakhand 22 ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology Area under Tree Species Figure 4 shows that the Himalayan dry and moist temperate forests have the highest area i.e. 39.02% followed by pine with 29.61% and tropical dry and moist deciduous forests (26.25%). Area under alpine dry and moist scrub is 4.98 and plantation forest covers 2.7%. Fig. 3. [A] Tropical broadleaf deciduous forests in the Rajaji National Park near Dehradun [B] Subtropical pine forests in Jaharikhal, Pauri [C] Mixed oak forests and coniferous forests in the Kedarnath Valley [D] Alpine Meadows in the Kedarnath Valley Fig. 4. Area under tree species (Source: SFRI 2015) The highest forest area (41.35%) is found between 1000 and 2000m followed by forest lies between 2000 and 3000m (23.18%). Forest area between 500m and 1000m is 16.57% while the lowest forest area (0.08%) is found under >4000m. Forest area <500 m is 11.56% whereas 7.14% forest is found between 3000 and 4000m.