Quarterly Journal / December 2013 My Forest Forest Department My For est

“Registered” under the Register of News papers for No. R.N. 13275 / 65 Vol. 49 No.4 MY FOREST Instructions to contributors on submission of articles for publication 1. My Forest Journal is published by Karnataka Forest Department with a view to disseminate knowledge related to forestry and allied disciplines like Agro-forestry, Botany, Ethno-botany, Conservation, Biodiversity, Wildlife, Medicinal plants etc. JOURNAL MANAGING COMMITTEE 2. The journal is headed by the Editor assisted by an Editorial Board consisting of editorial consultants and referees. 3. Preferences will be given to articles which either deal with new developments in research and methods of analysis which can evince interest in journal’s wide readership. The journal is not suitable medium of publication for articles dealing with Editor-in-chief Editors subjects to local interest. 4. The contributors of article must ensure that the article has not been previously published and is not in consideration for G.V. Sugur, IFS G.S. Kumar, IFS., Manjunath C. Tambakad, IFS, publication elsewhere. Article once published in My Forest journal should not be sent for publication in any other journal in future. Principal Addl. Principal Chief Conservator Chief Conservator 5. My Forest encourages wide range of articles like Research communication, Research articles, Scientific correspondence, Chief Conservator of Forests, of Forests Research, General articles, Review articles, Scientific news. Research notes, New findings etc. of Forests, HOFF, Research and Utilisation Bangalore - 560 076 6. Format Bangalore - 560 003. Bangalore - 560 076 All articles must contain abstract (150-200 words) which can highlight the importance of the article in a nutshell. Keywords: 5-6 keywords may be given. All articles based on experimental observations must contain: (1) Introduction Honorary Editor (2) Materials and method Dr. K. R. Keshava Murthy (3) Discussions Principal Investigator, Institute for Catchment Studies and Environmental Management (4) References Karnataka Association for Advancement of Science, Central College, Bangalore - 560 001. Shorter notes and comments upto 1000 words will also by considered for publication. Those who wish to submit the Phone : 22217659, 9448772670 E-mail : [email protected] comment on an article in the journal, in the first instance may contact the concerned author to enable the author to clarify any points of misunderstanding and also allow the author to submit a reply for publication in the journal. 7. Preparation of manuscript - Two copies of each article should be submitted and an abstract of 100-150 words must be provided. Diagrams should be on high-quality white paper and should normally be capable or reduction to one-third or one Annual Subscription Rates half of a page in the Journal, though the original should be two or three times larger. Diagrams and tables should be arranged, as far as possible, to go upright with figures and lettering horizontally. IIIustrations (photographs, diagrams, Office and Institutions Rs. 200/- charts etc.) are to be numbered in one consecutive series of Arabic numerals. Every manuscript should be accompanied by Individuals Rs. 100/- a CD containing the same article types preferably in Microsoft Word. 8. Tables should be numbered and referred to in text. Each table should be typed on a separate sheet of paper. The number of Postal Charges Extra tables/charts should not exceed five per articles. So also the number of photos should not exceed four. Karnataka Forest Officers Gratis 9. References References should not be from unpublished source. Author names should be arranged alphabetically. Reference Advertisement Rates : (The rates are liable to change WITHOUT NOTICE). quoting should be as follows: Papers Publishing the advertisement matter is strictly with the approval of the Managing Kushalappa K. A. (1988) Comparative-Biomass of Acacia auriculiformis and Leucaena Ieucocephala trees from moist Committee. . region in Karnataka. My Forest, 2:12-15. Books Soltis D.E. & Soltis P.S. (1990) Isozymes in Plant Biology, London: Chapman and Hall. Four Insertions Casual 10. All common/local names should suffixed with botanical/Zoological/Scientific names. Space (One Year) 11. All pages should be numbered (including pages containing the title, author names and affiliation, foot notes, absfac. (Per Insertion) acknowledgments, references, tables and figure captions). Full Page 1,500/- 400/- All views, comments, reviews, hypothesis, findings etc. of authors published in the journal reflect the view of authors and are not the official view of either the editors/editorial board of the My Forest journal or of the Karnataka State Forest Department. Half Page 1,000/- 275/- Quarter Page 925/- 12. The decisions of the editors to accept or reject the article for publication in the journal is final. The editors have the right to 250/- abridge/edit the articles. 2.5 cm Across 700/- 200/- 13. Those desirous of getting back the unpublished articles should send in self-addressed envelope with adequate postal stamps. While all care is taken to send the article the editors are not responsible for loss or damage to the article / annexure. Subscriptions, Advertisement matter and related enquiries to be sent to : The articles complete in all respects should be sent to : The Editor, MyForest and Chief Conservator of Forests, Research, The Editor 1st Cross, Arekere MICO Layout MyForest and Chief Conservator of Forests Research 1st Cross, Arekere-MICO Layout Doresanipalya Forest Campus, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore 560 076 Doresaniplaya, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore 560 076 Phone : 080-2658 7663 Phone : 080-2658 7663 My Forest

Abstracted by ‘Forestry Abstracts’ and ‘Forest Products Abstract’s at Commonwealth Forestry Bureau

Front & Back : Plantation of Pongamia pinnata Photo by :- Cover at Sulikere Research Station Indupriya .RRFO during 2010-11 of Bangalore Bangalore Research Range.

No. 04 DECEMBER - 2013 CONTENTS

Sl. No. Particulars Authors Page No.

01. Reliving the Past Glory of Wild G. Selva Kumar, IFS, 01-05 Elephant Capturing At Khabini, Mysooru.

02. Conservation Forestry and Wildlife Deepak Sharmha 06-13 Conservation in Karnataka. I.F.S. (Retd)

03. Growth Performance of Acrocarpus Mallesha, B.B & A.B. 14-17 fraxinifolius wight ET ARN. Divatar At Panchavalli, Mysore, Karnataka.

04. Growth performance of KHAYA B.G. Nayak and 18-21 SENEGALENSIS (DESR) A. Juss. Ramakrishna Hegade. In Thithimathi, Kodagu, Karnataka.

05. Strategies for conservation of NTFP B.K. Singh I.F.S. (Retd) 22-27 species as well as species palatable to wild animals.

06. Human-Elephant Conflict and its R. Uday Kumar I.F.S., 28-38 mitigation-The Karnataka Experience

07. Mass vegetative propagation of G. Selva Kumar, IFS, 39-53 Melia dubia

08. Likely Effect of provision of Monetary A.K. Garg, I.F.S., APCCF 54-56 incentives to contractors for Additional Extraction and Conversion of Pulpwood in K.F.D.C.

09. Biodiversity in Forestry and Practices Jagat Ram, I.F.S., CCF 57-61 in its Assessment. Sl. No. Particulars Authors Page No.

10. Variability for fruit, seed and Arun Kumar, A.N. Geeta 62-69 germination in Mesua ferrea - a Joshi, preliminary observation.

11. Assessment and Availability of Girish Chandra Pant 70-80 Traditionally Used Flora for curing diabetes in Rural Areas in Central Himalayam Region of India.

12. Influence of Insect Attractants, Dr. Krishna A 81-89 Micronutrients and Growth regulators application on seed Germination and Quality in Lucerne (Medicago Sativa I.)

13. Glimpses of Indian Wildlife Dr. B. Raghotham Rao 90-91 Desai, IFS (Retd)

14. Art of Indian Wildlife Management Dr. B. Raghotham Rao 92 Desai, IFS (Retd)

15. Life in the Jungle : Memoirs ofa Dr. B. Raghotham Rao 93-94 Forester Desai, IFS (Retd)

16. Why meddle with the calender of B.B. Mallesha, I.F.S., 95-96 event prescribed by nature? CF, Research, Madikeri.

17. "Mangrove ecosystem" ---- What a Dr. B. Raghotham Rao 97-98 layman ought to know Desai, IFS (Retd)

18. ªÉÃzÁ¢UÀ¼À°è ¥À«vÀæ ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼ÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¥À«vÀæ B.B. Mallesha, I.F.S., 99-100 ªÀ£ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ

Published by : THE KARNATAKA FOREST DEPARTMENT Printed by : Sri Bhairaweshwara Printers & Publishers Rajajinagar, Bangalore - 10 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.01-05 RELIVING THE PAST GLORY OF WILD ELEPHANT CAPTURING AT KHABINI, MYSURU. Abstract G. SELVAKUMAR IFS Khedda is a way of capturing wild elephants which was a popular event in the erstwhile princely state of Mysore. The article brings to light the importance of Khedda besides the strategies and methodologies which were followed during the process of Khedda. The articles also outlines the history of Khedda in Mysore and also contribution made by the then forest officers of the forest department. The paper provides some nostalgic photographs (courtesy : Life magazine) which brings sweet memories back.

The capturing of elephant in pens or Elephant. After repeated representa stockades is a known as Khedda and is -tions which were supported by his the most widely known method. The superiors, the Mysore Government in word Khedda is derived from the Hindi 1873 undertook to capture wild word khedna which in turn is derived elephants and he was put in charge. He form the Sanskrit 'Khet' which means to was successful in his second attempt in drive. In this method wild Elephants 1874 at a place called Kardihalli. In were literally driven into a pen or 1875 he was put in charge of the stockade. Elephant Catching establishment at Dhaka for a period nine months. On his The first person to try and capture return from Dhaka he perfected the Elephants in this way was , the khedda system in Mysore. He is said to father of , in the seventeenth have taken experienced elephant men century. He was unsuccessful and no from Dhaka who formed the main stay further attempts were made. The British of the operation .In time the Kuruba were the first to try again and an tribals and others learnt the art of attempt by Col. Pearson, a British Army elephant driving. officer in 1867 also resulted in failure. The next to try was another British The Mysore Khedda especially the officer, this time from the Canal or Kakanakote Kheddas were very Irrigation Department, named different from the Khedda. The G.P.Sanderson. He had no previous M y s o r e K h e d d a s w e r e l a r g e experience in capturing elephants. He undertakings which required a large w a s h o w e v e r i n t e r e s t e d a n d number of men and koonkis. Wild knowledgeable in the habits of wild Elephant herds had to be brought in

Addl. Principal Chief conservator of Forests (R & U) Bangalore. 01 My Forest December - 2013 from long distances and were moved in tied in bundles, about two feet thick to stages and held when necessary in cushion the fall of the animal. The position until the exact time when they mouth of the pit would be covered with a would be driven into the stockade in full criss- cross of split bamboo over which view of distinguished guests, the a layer of grass and leaves would be Maharaja of Mysore. This involved spread. The excavated earth would be months of planning and preparation and r e m o v e d t o a d i s t a n c e a n d large contingents of men and koonkis, camouflaged with the surroundings. as many as forty koonkis and a The pit would be inspected daily and thousand men would be used. The size once an animal was trapped the of the stockade would extend over five information would be relayed and acres. It was a very expensive koonkis would arrive to remove the operation. The unique feature of a captive at the earliest. Care was taken Kakankote khedda was the river drive to remove the captive within twenty four which was first designed and carried out hours. In case this was not possible, a by G.P.Sanderson in honour of The shelter would be constructed to protect the captive from the sun. Once caught. Grand Duke of Russia during his visit to water would be poured over the captive Mysore in 1891. In the river drive the to keep it cool, and drinking water would elephants were driven across the Kabini be provided via a bamboo tube. The river into the stockade and this. proved captive would be disturbed as little as to be a popular spectacle with special possible. Ropes would be used to visitors' gallery being set up to allow remove the captive from the pit and the people to witness the grand finale of a size of the noose would be calculated Kakankote khedda. on the basis that the neck of an elephant This is by far the most primitive is 7/8 th its height. A peg would be driven method of capturing wild elephants and t h r o u g h t h e r o p e t o p r e v e n t practiced widely in . Pits strangulation. Two or three logs would be placed across the top to allow men would be dug in areas frequented by move about. The noose would be kept elephants. The site for the pit had to be open with the aid of hooked sticks and a leveled. The pits were twelve feet white cloth dangled over the elephants square and twelve feet deep and head. When the elephant would try and tapering to nine feet at the bottom. reach for the cloth with its trunk. the Depending on the soil type some pits noose would be lowered over its head were as deep as fifteen feet. The bottom and around its neck. After noosing the of the pit would be lined with a' thick neck, one of the hind legs would be layer of brushwood about four to five secured. These ropes would be feet thick and with a top layer of grass fastened to koonkis and the pit would be 02 My Forest December - 2013 filled with bundles of wood and grass and the captive would scramble out. The captive was then marched in easy stages to the training area which was a corral of 12 feet square. Once secured in the enclosure all ropes would be removed and the animal would be treated kindly and given continuous attention which would eventually tame it. It was acknowledged that the captive elephants would be much better treated, cared for and looked after than anywhere else in the world.

By the end of the Second World War the demand for elephants slowly died down and with the decline in demand the elephant catching industry went into decline. In the mean time elephant was declared a protected animal and capturing them from the wild became illegal. Today elephant capture is used as tool to manage problem individuals and is carried out by the Forest Departments of various states. The days of the professional elephant capturer are over except in very rare sporadic cases.

It is befitting and appropriate at this juncture to remember and pay rich tributes to the following eminent Forest officers of past era who were instrumental in successful Khedda operations in Karnataka by their sincere involvement and deep commitment- Late Sri Balaiah, Late Sri Marappa. Late Sri Sham Iyengar, Late Sri Mohammed Ahmed, Late Sri D.J.Wesley, Late Sri Monappa & Late Sri Ganapathi. 03 My Forest December - 2013

04 My Forest December - 2013

My sincere acknowledgements to * Sri AC Laxman, Retd Secretary * Vikram Nanjappa FEE for valuable guidance and * Photos curtesy ...... Life Magazine for assisting in the identification of * Ravindra Act for sparing the photos the then KFD officers. from personal collection 05 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.06-13 CONSERVATION FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN KARNATAKA DEEPAK SHARMA IFS (Retd.) Abstract Conservation of tigers has been a concern among the wild life enthusiasts world over. Status of tigers in India 2014' report is a pleasant news which indicates a rise of 30% in numbers. In Karnataka it is heartening to know there is an increase of 35% in numbers. This paper reviews various aspects of tigers in India in general and Karnataka in particular. The measures taken by the Karnataka state forest department has been highlighted.

The Ministry of Environment and Institute of India, Dehradun, has used Forests, Government of India has state-of-the-art technology of double recently released a report titled 'Status sampling using camera traps. of Tigers in India, 2014' indicating that Although the accuracy of the the present estimated population of assessment and the procedure adopted tigers in the country is 2226, an for estimation have been criticized by increase of 30 per cent from 1706, some of the experts, the fact that the estimated during 2010. As regards the population of tiger has bounced back in State of Karnataka, the current the recent years has not been disputed. estimated population is 406, an A number of reasons are attributed to increase of 35 per cent from 300, the increase in the tiger population in the estimated during 2010. Karnataka has country. These include, effective also been reported to be having the implementation of the Project Tiger highest number of tigers among all the scheme, strict implementation of the States followed by Uttarakhand, Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and its Madhya Pradesh and others. The subsequent amendments, the pivotal present assessment, which is the third round of the country-level tiger role played by the NTCA, promulgation assessment after 2006 and 2010, and of the Forest (Conservation) Act of which was carried out under the 1980, effective implementation of a guidance of the National Tiger number of Centrally sponsored and Conservation Authority (NTCA), New State sponsored schemes related to Delhi in collaboration with the Wildlife forest and wildlife management,

Former PCCF, Karnataka State Forest Dept. 06 My Forest December - 2013 successful voluntary relocation and Deciduous forests constitute the rehabilitation of people from some of the most ideal habitat for tiger because of interior forests, proactive participation the relative abundance of prey animals and collaboration by NGOs and expert (mostly herbivores), as favorable light groups with the State Forest conditions on the forest floor ensure Departments with their technical better availability of fodder. Ironically, expertise in wildlife management and these forests also harbour varieties of related matters. These have over the tree species yielding valuable timber. By years strengthened the hands of the and large, the deciduous forests also State Forest Departments in protecting, happen to be located relatively nearer to restoring and improving the forest human habitations. As a result, for ecosystems harboring tiger and other reasons as mentioned earlier, the wildlife. adverse effects of biotic interference were more severe in these forests and Forest ecosystem constitutes the resulted in dwindling of both tiger and its primary habitat for terrestrial wildlife. In prey population. Evergreen and semi- India most of the forests are state evergreen forests also constitute owned and are commonly known as secondary tiger habitat with lesser reserved forests or state forests. The animal density because of limited prey control and management of these base. forests are primarily with the State Attempts were made in the past to Forest Departments. Because of heavy protect tiger and its prey animals by exploitation in the past to meet various earmarking certain forest areas as types of requirements including war hunting reserve, game reserve or tiger supplies, many of our forests were reserve. These to an extent helped in heavily worked to a limit of degradation. conservation of the species. However, The forests have also faced heavy wildlife conservation in India got a big onslaught on account of clearings for phillip with the promulgation of the agriculture, human settlements, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. A large industries, development projects, etc. number of wildlife sanctuaries and Forest degradation naturally has had a national parks were notified or telling effect on the resident wildlife consolidated all over the country by population resulting in its dwindling or earmarking specific and potential extinction. In addition, hunting for wildlife habitats exclusively for the pleasure or as a measure to prevent purpose of wildlife conservation. The crop depredation / loss of life was quite flagship programme of Project Tiger common in the past. initiated by the Government of India 07 My Forest December - 2013 gave further boost to the conservation of level. An attempt is made in the tiger and its habitat. following paragraphs to recount these efforts and initiatives: It is a matter of achievement for Karnataka to have shown remarkable In the early 1980s the Karnataka progress in wildlife conservation as Forest Department shifted its focus of reflected in the recent report on tiger forest management from production estimation. Karnataka also has the forestry to conservation forestry. The largest number of wild elephants, with system of selling of forest coupes was an estimated population of about 6000 discontinued, clear-felling of natural animals. Concerted attempts at wildlife forest for regeneration was stopped, conservation in the State began, as in felling of natural green trees was the rest of the country, during the mid restricted and direct supply of raw 1970s. In addition to giving special material from forest to wood-based attention to the protected areas (a term industries was done away with. Working used to collectively denote a sanctuary, of the forests was limited to selection national park or project tiger area), the felling of mature trees carried out State Forest Department has, during departmentally or under departmental the last thirty-five years, progressively supervision. Even this system was reoriented its forest management eventually changed over to salvaging of initiatives to be more and more only dead and fallen trees. By the turn of conservation oriented. Recognizing the century, when the working plans of that wildlife conservation cannot be the territorial forest divisions were achieved in isolation without conserving the forest - the primary habitat of revised, it was ensured that removal of terrestrial wildlife - the Department has dead and fallen trees was carried out been able to bring about synergy only in the deciduous forests over a between forest management and cycle of ten years. Most of the wildlife conservation. The resurgence of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, wildlife in Karnataka has been possible as also deciduous forests on steep as a result of a number of initiatives slopes, were brought under rigid taken by the State Government at the protection. Protection from fire was policy level, by the State Forest given utmost priority. These measures Department at the strategy formulation resulted in gradual reduction of human and implementation level and above all interference in the forests leading to by the front line forest staff at the field their restoration and rejuvenation. 08 My Forest December - 2013

As regards management of the under sanctuaries, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and national parks certain peripheral areas. The wildlife of Karnataka, till the late 1980s these divisions were brought under the were for all practical purposes under exclusive control of wildlife officers who the direct control and supervision of managed the areas as per the the territorial forest divisions. The only prescriptions of management plan exception was the Project Tiger, specifically prepared for each protected Bandipur which was administered area. With the creation of these directly by the Field Director. There was divisions, wildlife conservation of the also a skeletal presence of the Wildlife protected areas got special attention w i n g u n d e r a f e w A s s i s t a n t both in terms of technical expertise and Conservators of Forests who carried additional funding. out certain conservation and Most of the protected areas in the development activities in the State are generally flanked or sanctuaries and national parks. They surrounded by reserved forests (RF) however did not have overall control which are under the control and over the areas. As the focus of forest management of the territorial wing of management in the territorial divisions the Forest Department. The reserved had by then become conservation forests constitute buffer or cushion oriented, the protected areas coming around the protected areas and provide under the general jurisdiction of the for free and unhindered movement of territorial divisions were managed more wildlife. In view of the present or less in line with wildlife management conservation oriented approach of the principles. Department in managing forests, the However, as the territorial officers management principles adopted in the were burdened with multifarious reserved forests now are almost similar responsibilities, the Department to the management principles adopted decided to constitute separate wildlife in the protected areas. This has divisions with the specific objective of resulted in restoration and improve -ment of the reserved forests as ideal managing the wildlife sanctuaries and wildlife habitat. national parks strictly as per the principles of wildlife management. During the last six -seven years, the During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Department has increased the a number of wildlife divisions were protected area network of the State created by carving out the areas coming either by adding more reserved forests 09 My Forest December - 2013 to the existing sanctuary / national park and co-ordinated handling by the staff or by notifying new sanctuaries. The of both the wings of the Department. To extent of protected area network, which achieve these ends, the wildlife and stood at about 6450 sq. km during territorial divisions have been brought 2008-09, has now expanded to about under the same controlling officer 9350 sq. km. This phenomenal (CCF) at the circle level. increase by about 45% in the extent of the protected areas has been very The Department has given very beneficial for the growth and high priority to protection of the forest development of wildlife, as it has been and wildlife areas. There was severe possible to interlink the protected areas shortage of field-level staff during the facilitating carefree movement of late 1990s because of general wildlife over a larger landscape. economy ban on recruitment. In order to strengthen the front line staff that forms While the protected areas have the backbone of forest protection, been expanded and interlinked by special permission was obtained for including some reserved forests as recruitment of field level functionaries indicated above, the focus of such as Forest Watchers, Forest management of the remaining adjacent Guards, Deputy Range Forest Officers reserved forests (not included in the (earlier known as Foresters) and Range protected area network) has also Forest Officers. Since 2002-03, the been reoriented so as to complement Department has recruited, trained and wildlife conservation. Fire protection, appointed more than 3500 field level soil and moisture Conservation, assisted natural regeneration, forestry personnel. The process of prevention of smuggling and poaching, recruitment for 550 posts is in progress. etc have been given utmost priority in The recruitment of these forestry these areas. As wild animals freely personnel is done by the Department roam about in the forests unaware of through a very strict and transparent the artificial boundary between process. It has been observed that protected areas and territorial forests, persons with much higher qualifications need was felt for convergence and co- than those prescribed for the posts ordination in management by the have joined the Department. This has wildlife and territorial wings of the improved the efficiency of the Forest Department. Instances of man- Department. The young and energetic animal conflict have also become quite young recruits have also been able to common nowadays requiring effective absorb the ICT initiatives of the 10 My Forest December - 2013

D e p a r t m e n t m o r e e ff e c t i v e l y. However, the habitations within Bhadra Karnataka is the first State in the tiger reserve, Kudremukh national park, country to have recruited a Special Anshi-Dandeli tiger reserve are Tiger Protection Force (STPF) as per primarily small revenue pockets the guidelines of the NTCA. The (private holdings) within the protected services of this force are being utilized areas inhabited mostly by non-tribal with very good results in the protection people. activities in Bandipur, Nagarahole and About one third of the tribal families BRT Project Tiger areas. from Nagarahole tiger reserve have Karnataka has set up a very already been rehabilitated outside the extensive network of anti-poaching reserve by providing facilities as per the camps / forest protection camps in the rehabilitation package of the NTCA. In Project Tiger areas, sanctuaries, respect of Bhadra tiger reserve, most of national parks and vulnerable reserved the families residing deep inside the forests. These camps, located at reserve have been rehabilitated. More convenient and vantage points, mostly than a hundred families have relocated employ tribal and other youths from the from Kudremukh national park and neighboring villages or hamlets and relocation of about forty families from they patrol designated forest areas on Anshi-Dandeli tiger reserve is being daily basis. These camps have been finalized. very effective in controlling poaching and smuggling besides preventing The beneficial effects of relocation forest fires during the fire season. of people from inside a protected area have been amply demonstrated in the With regard to rehabilitation of Bhadra tiger reserve where the forest people residing inside the protected ecosystem has shown signs of areas, the State Government's policy tremendous recovery. The private has been to encourage only voluntary holdings, mostly paddy fields, which relocation. Facilities for rehabilitation have been abandoned, have gradually are provided to those who wish to come turned into grasslands and it is a out on their free will. There are two common sight now to find large herds of types of habitations within the protected herbivores grazing in these open lands. areas: the habitations inside The number of tiger has also increased Nagarahole and BRT tiger reserves are in the reserve. The relocated people by forest dwelling tribal people. have also been greatly benefitted 11 My Forest December - 2013 because of easy access to facilities the park authorities or in vehicles such as education, health care, owned by M/s Jungle Lodges and improved agriculture, civic amenities, Resorts Ltd, a State Government etc. Undertaking.

E v e n t h o u g h t h e F o r e s t In order to ensure free movement of Department is fully convinced that wildlife within the protected areas, relocation of people from inside the movement of vehicles along highways protected areas is beneficial to both or public roads passing through people and forests, it has adopted a protected areas is regulated by c a u t i o u s a p p r o a c h t o w a r d s establishing checking gates at entry rehabilitation and moved forward only and exit points. Speed breakers or in cases where people have shown rumble strips have been provided at willingness to relocate. In respect of frequent intervals along these roads to tribals, rights have now been conferred slow down the speed of vehicles to on the people as per the provisions of avoid injury or death of animals while the Forest Rights Act. crossing the roads. Night traffic along The Forest Department has the highways passing through Bandipur adopted a guarded and conservative and Nagarahole tiger reserves has approach towards eco-tourism in the been stopped. wildlife areas including the tiger The above measures have helped reserves to ensure least disturbance to the wildlife habitats and to preserve the Department to protect and manage their tranquility and serenity. The extent the forests including the protected of tourism zone within each tiger areas very effectively. Funding for reserve has been kept below the NTCA various activities, which was difficult to prescribed limit of 20 per cent of the come by in the earlier days, has area of the reserve. Number of tourist improved considerably during the vehicles permitted to enter for safari is recent years because of new and strictly monitored and kept within the innovative schemes, flexible budgetary carrying capacity of the reserve as mechanisms, creation of local level prescribed by the NTCA. Private funds, etc. The Department has been vehicles or vehicles owned by private able to enlist the support and co- resorts are not allowed to ply within the operation of a number of expert groups reserves. Tourists are ferried into the a n d N G O s s u c h a s N a t u r e reserves for safari either in vehicles of Conservation Foundation, Wildlife 12 My Forest December - 2013

Conservation Society, Wildlife First, Above all, the credit for the remarkable Wildlife SOS, Wildlife Conservation rejuvenation of forests and resurgence Trust, Wildlife Trust of India, Voice for of wildlife must go to the field level front Wildlife and many others in carrying out line staff who have toiled very hard day various tasks and activities directly or and night, at times against heavy odds indirectly related to protection and and risking their own lives, and despite management of forests and wildlife. numerous constraints and problems.

13 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.14-17 GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF ACROCARPUS FRAXINIFOLIUS WIGHT. & ARN. AT PANCHAVALLI, MYSORE, KARNATAKA MALLESHA,B.B*, A.* A.B.DIVATAR**, B.G.NAYAK** AND RAMAKRISHNA HEGDE** Abstract Acrocarpus fraxinifolius Wight & Arn. is one of the important fast growing tree species grown in the region. Owing to fast growth and timber value the species is being cultivated in coffee estates as a shade tree. The present study was carried out to assess the growth performance of the species after five years of planting. Wood volume produced was 0.414m31ha and mean annual increment was 0.082m31halyr at the age of 5 years. 1. Introduction : wet evergreen and southern tropical semi-evergreen forests in the sub types Acrocarpus fraxinifolius Wight & Arn. West coast tropical evergreen forest (pink Cedar) of the family Fabaceae is a (IA/C4) and west coast Semi evergreen fast-growing tree. which can reach 30- forests(2A/C2) respectively as 60 m in height. The straight trunk has distinguished by Champion and Seth spurs and the round crown is composed (1968). It is a moderate light demander of rising. branches. The leaves are in the early stages; it prefers some bipinnate, about 30 cm long with 3-4 shade and heavy weeding as opening compound leaflets and consisting of 5-6 of canopy is considered harmful for elliptical, lance like leaflets 7-10 cm long regeneration. The wood of Pink Cedar and arranged in pairs. The leaves are is hard and strong. Because it physically bright red when young, giving the tree resembles Ash and walnut woods, it is its characteristic appearance. It is used as a substitute for these two naturally found in certain patches in the species. The wood is used in the of southern India and is construction of houses and in the fairly abundant in Kodagu, Nilgiris and manufacture of plywood, furniture and South Kanara. The species is being packing cases. In spite of all its uses raised as a high shade tree in coffee and importance the information on plantations and has good growth growth performance is lacking in the potential in coffee estates (Natha region. Hence, the study was et.al.,2011) and in Cardamom conducted to assess the growth plantations (Radhakrishnan et al., performance in the region. 2010). It is a tree of southern tropical * Conservator of Forests, Research Circle, Madikeri, Kodagu. ** College of Forestry, Ponnampet (University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga) 14 My Forest December - 2013 2. Material and methods: iii. Girth at Breast Height: Girth at breast height (GBH) was taken using 2.1. Experimental details: The study measuring tape and expressed in was carried out at Panchavalli research centimeter. station, Thithimathi Research Range of Karnataka Forest Department under iv. Clear bole length: Clear bole length Madikeri Research circle. The area has (CBL) was measured from ground level a red loamy soil with moderate depth. up to the point where stem forming The plantation of A. fraxinifolius was branches arise by using Ravi multi established during the year 2009-10 on meter and expressed in meter. an area which was previously planted v. Crown Width: Crown Width (CW) with Eucalyptus. The area was clear was measured in two directions felled and stumps were uprooted during perpendicular to each other by holding site preparation. Seedlings of 100 cm the tape coinciding the last tip of the height were planted during monsoon branches. Average of the two was taken with a spacing of 6 m x 6 m in pits with and expressed in meter. dimension 75cm x75cmx75cm. Cultural vi. Yield attributes: Based on the operations like weeding and cleaning growth traits following yield attributes of were carried out in August- September different tree species were derived for initial three years. a. Basal area (m2/ha): Basal area of 2.2 Growth assessment: Observation tree individual in the plot was calculated was made after five years of planting on and summed up to get basal area of the growth performance of the plantation sample plot. Further it was used to by adopting total enumeration of the estimate per hectare basis. stand. The following important parameters were assessed. The data (GBH)2 Basal area (m2/tree) = was further used to estimate yield 4 parameters. 2 Basal area of trees in the plot Basal area (m /ha) = x10000 i. Survival rate: Observation on total area of the plot number of plants in the plot was taken 3 b. Volume (m /ha): Volume of to estimate the survival rate which is the individual tree in the plot was summed ratio of plants alive to total plants up and further it was used to estimate planted at the time of planting and expressed in percentage. the volume per hectare basis. 3 Volume (m /tree) = Basal area x Height x Form factor ii. Total Height: The total height of tree Volume (m3/plot) = Volume of individual trees in the polt was measured using Ravi multi meter 3 Volume of trees in the plot and expressed in meter. Volume (m /ha) = x10000 Area of the plot 15 My Forest December - 2013 b. Mean annual increment (m3/ha): which was slightly less than 50 per cent Mean annual increment was calculated of the total height. Average crown width using the formula in the plantation was 1.11 m indicating Total volume of the crop (m3/ha) that the canopy closure was taken after MAI = Age of the crop in years five years of planting. It is sensible to mention that in such situations the 3. Results and discussion: effective utilization of the space need to be made by adopting inter cultivation or Mean of growth traits of A.fraxinifolius mixed species plantation model. Mean after five years of planting is presented stand parameters of Acrocarpus in Table 1. The species had survival fraxinifolius is presented in Table 2. percentage of 83.58 which is Average Basal area of the stand was comparatively good and it indicates the 3 suitability of the species for establishing 0.346 m /ha and average volume was 3 plantations in the region. Average 0.414m /ha. Plantation had a poor height of trees was 2.32 m and average growth with a mean annual increment of GBH was 13.65 cm. The average 0.082m3/ha/yr. Generally, a tree species diameter growth of the trees in the which attains MAl of 10 m3/ha/year is plantation is 4.34 cm and annual considered as fast growing and in the growth in diameter at breast height present case the MAl is less than which would be 0.87 cm. Average annual could be due to the fact that the sever diameter growth of the species in the incidence of insect pests especially coffee estates of neighbouring Kodagu during of September to November district was found to be 1.25 cm (Nath et which is the active growing season in al., 2011) which could be ascribable to the region. It is also important to the prevailing conducive conditions and mention that the plantation was management practices in the coffee maintained for the initial three years estates. It is pertinent to mention that the average height and GBH produced which would not have been adequate to by the species in the site is reduce competition for growth comparatively less and more than half resources between trees and weeds or of the trees in the stand were having other unwanted vegetation. relatively poor growth could be due to defoliators attack and the trees which Acknowledgement were not having infestation had Authors are thankful to the officers and generally good growth. Since it is an field staff of Madikeri, Research circle important tree species for plywood industries clear bole length is very and the students of final year important, trees in the plantation had B.Sc.(Forestry), College of Forestry, relatively good clear bole (1.10 m) Ponnampet for their help in collection and processing of field data. 16 My Forest December - 2013 Table 1. Average growth parameters of Acrocarpus fraxinifolius Sl. No. Parameter Average + SD 1 Survival rate (%) 83.56 2 Height (m) 2.32 + 1.4 3 GBH (cm) 13.65 + 7.6 4 Clear Bole Length (m) 1.10 + 0.64 5 Crown width (m) 1.11 + 0.74

Table 2. Mean stand parameters of Acrocarpus fraxinifolius Sl. No. Parameter Mean 1 Basal Area (m2/ha) 0.346 2 Volume (m3/ha) 0.414 3 MAI (m3/ha/yr) 0.082

References Radhakrishnan V V, Madhusoodanan K J, Mohanan K V. 2010. Champion, H G and Seth, S K. 1968. Shade trees and shade A Revised Survey of management in cardamom. Forest Types of India, Journal of Non Timber Govt. of India Press, New Forest Products 17(4): Delhi, 404 p. 433-435. Nath C D, Pelissier R, Ramesh B R, Garcia C. 20 II. Promoting native trees in shade coffee plantations of southern India: Comparison of growth rates with the exotic Grevillea robusta. Agroforestry Systems 83: 107-19.

17 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.18-21 GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF KHAYA SENEGALENSIS (DESR) A. JUSS. IN THITHIMATHI, KODAGU, KARNATAKA MALLESHA,B.B*, A.* A.B.DIVATAR**, B.G.NAYAK** AND RAMAKRISHNA HEGDE** Abstract Khaya seneflalensis (Desr.) A.Juss. is one of the fast growing tree species from Africa. Growth performance of the species in block plantation was analyzed after 11 years of planting at Thithimathi under Thithimathi Research Range of Madikeri Research Circle, Kodagu. The species recorded an average height growth of 10.01 m and GBH growth of 47.27 cm with wood volume of 15.43 m3/ha and MAl of 1.40 m3/ha/yr after 11 years. 1. Introduction : It is also very resistant to flooding and can be considered for planting on Khaya senegalensis (Desr) A Juss. swampy soils. Moderately shade African mahogany belonging to the tolerant. Except where selectively family Meliaceae is one of the fast removed by logging, dry-zone African growing tree species native to Africa mahogany remains a dominant species has been introduced Asia and Australia. in most of its range (Orwa et al., 2009 ). It is a deciduous to evergreen tree, 15- The wood density ranges from 0.6 to 30 m tall attaining 1.0 m in diameter, 0.85, depending on locality. The with a clean bole to 8-16 m, buttresses sapwood is pinkish-tan in colour and the not prominent or absent; bark dark grey, heartwood an attractive dark red- with small, thin, reddish-tinged scales; brown. It is moderately resistant to slash dark pink to bright crimson, fungi, insects and termites. The wood is exuding a red sap. In its native, K. used for furniture, high-class joinery, senegalensis occurs in riverine forests trim and boat building. The wood is also and is scattered within the higher- used locally for railroad ties, flooring, rainfall savannah woodlands. In moister turnery and veneer. Because of its areas, K. senegalensis is found on decorative appearance, the wood of K. uplands, but it is restricted to riparian senegalensis is a very popular timber in habitats or stream bottoms that extend West Africa (Vogt, 2005). In spite all its into the savannah in the drier portions of utilitarian value the information on the the range. During the 1st year, the growth performance under our situation seedling develops a strong, deep is lacking. Hence, the study on growth taproot, which makes it the most performance of the species in our drought hardy of all the Khaya species. situation was carried out during 2014.

* Conservator of Forests, Research Circle, Madikeri, Kodagu. ** College of Forestry, Ponnampet (University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga) 18 My Forest December - 2013 2. Materials and methods: branches arise by using Ravi multi meter and expressed in meter. 2.1. Location: The study was carried out at established species trial v. Crown Width: Crown Width (CW) experimental plot at Majiigehalla under Thithimathi Research Range, in was measured in two directions of Karnataka. The site perpendicular to each other by holding has moderate slope with clayey loam the tape coinciding the last tip of the soil with medium depth. branches. Average of the two was taken 2.2 Field planting and maintenance: and expressed in meter. One year old seedlings raised at vi. Yield attributes: Based on the nursery were planted in pits with spacing 5 m x5 m spacing in 0.50 ha growth traits following yield attributes of area during 2003-04. The area was different tree species were derived fenced with barbed wire and regular a. Basal area (m2/ha): Basal area of tree weeding and other cultural operations were carried out for initial three years. individual in the plot was calculated and summed up to get basal area of the 2.3. Collection of observation: Total sample plot. Further it was used to enumeration of the trees in the area was estimate per hectare basis. done. Observation on following (GBH)2 parameters were taken after II years of Basal area (m2/ha) = planting. 4 Basal area of trees in the Plot Basal area (m2/ha) = X 10000 i. Survival rate: Observation on total Area of the plot number of plants alive in the plot was 3 taken to estimate the survival rate which b. Volume (m /ha): Volume of is the ratio of plants alive to total plants individual tree in the plot was summed planted at the time of planting and up and further it was used to estimate expressed in percentage. the volume per hectare basis.

3 ii. Total Height: The total height of tree Volume (m /tree) = Basal area x Height x Form factor was measured using Ravi multi meter Volume (m3/plot) = Volume of individual trees in the polt and expressed in meter. 3 Volume of trees in the plot Volume (m /ha) = x10000 iii. Girth at Breast Height: Girth at Area of the plot breast height (GBH) was taken using 3 measuring tape and expressed in c. Mean annual increment (m /ha): centimeter. Mean annual increment was calculated using the formula iv. Clear bole length: Clear bole length 3 Total volume of the crop (m /ha) (CBL) was measured from ground level MAI = Age of the crop in years up to the point where stem forming

19 My Forest December - 2013 3. Results and discussion: girth class distribution of trees in the Mean of growth traits of Khaya stand has been depicted in Fig.1. It senegalensis after 11 years of planting indicated that the trees belonging to 30- is presented in Table 1. Overall survival 45 cm were found to be more followed rate was found to be 64.7 per cent in ,an by trees of 45-60 cm girth classes. area which had pressure from both Clear Bole length is one of the domestic and wild animals. The survival important parameter in considering a rate could be considered as moderate species for large Timber and in the to good and it could be inferred that the present study it is revealed that the species could be introduced to the area trees recorded an average Clear Bole by considering other ecological Length of 7.03 m indicating the that the considerations. Average height of trees trees had 70 per cent of the total height was 10.01 m and average GSH 47.27 as clear bole implied that the tree could cm and clear bole length is 4.03 m. It produce large clear timber which is one implied that the tree had an average of the most desirable trait to be height increment of 0.90 m per annum considered for large scale plantation which indicated that the species is fast programme for timber production. After growing in its initial period of growth. 11 years of planting, average crown The average GBH increment in the width of trees was 3.10 m which implied species was around 4.30 cm per annum that the crowns of trees were which can be compared with the growth overlapping which would necessitate of many other exotics in the region. The thinning in due course of time.

Table 1. Average growth parameters of Khaya senegalensis Sl. No. Parameter Mean + SD 1 Survival rate (%) 64.70 2 Height (m) 10.01 + 3.13 3 GBH (cm) 47.27 + 18.27 4 Clear Bole Length (m) 7.03 + 2.5 5 Crown width (m) 3.1 + 1.3

Mean stand parameters of Khaya Increment of the stand was 1.40 senegalensis, is presented in Table 2. m3/ha/yr. In general, the average annual Average Basal area of the stand was increment of the species is slightly 4.11 m2/ha and average volume was higher than the MAl of our forests which 15.43 m3/ha. The mean Annual is around 1.36 m3/ha/year (Pachouri 20 My Forest December - 2013

Girth at Breast Height (cm) Fig. 1. Girth class distribution of trees in the stand and Mehrotra,2002). The growth assessing the impact of the species on performance of the species in the area the environment need to be carried out is considerably good in the site. before recommending the species for However, some more efforts on the region.

Table : 2 Mean stand parameters of Khaya senegalensis

Sl. No. Parameter Mean + SD 1 Basal Area (m2/ha) 4.11 2 Volume (m3/ha) 15.43 3 MAI (m3/ha/yr) 1.40

Acknowledgment guide version 4.0 doi. http:// www.worldagroforestrv.org Authors are thankful to the officers and /sites /treedbs/treedatabases.asp field staff of Madikeri, Research circle and the students of final year Pachauri, R.K. and Mehrotra, P. 2002. B.Sc.(Forestry), College of Forestry, Vision 2020: Sustainability of Ponnampet for their help in collection India's Material Resources. India Vision 2020. Planning and processing of field data. Commission of India

References Vogt K. 1995. A field guide to the identification, propagation and Orwa C, A Mutua, Kindt R, Jamnadass uses of common trees and R, S A n t h o n y . 2 0 0 9 . shrubs of dry land Sudan. SOS Agroforestree Database:a Sahel International (UK). tree reference and selection

21 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.22-27 STRATEGIES FOR CONSERVATION OF NTFP SPECIES AS WELL AS SPECIES PALATABLE TO WILD ANIMALS. B.K. SINGH IFS (RETD) Abstract The article based on field observations and consultation with experts by author discusses and raises concern about the status of NTFP species and also the species palatable to wild animals. Besides narrating about various NTFP species along with their uses the article reveals the strategies of in the wild life areas in different parts of Karnataka.

Over exploitation and faulty & Steering Committee for the project took destructive methods of harvest of all aspects into consideration and some of the trees, herbs and shrubs decided to develop protocol for six species in forests as well as in the species namely Saraca asoca, wildlife areas, over the decades has Asparagus racemosus, Decalepis posed a threat to their regeneration. hamiltonii, Gymnema sylvestre, The revival of many threatened C o s c i n i u m f e n e s t r a t u m a n d medicinal plant species are covered in Commiphora wightii at this seed centre. different projects implemented in the Further, 250 ha each in the jurisdiction state with the collaboration of of Shirgunji Village Forest Committee Foundation for Revitalisation of Local (VFC) (Katgal Range of Honnavar Health Traditions (FRLHT). My field division) and Elimane VFC (Megarvalli experiences with some of these species Range of Shivamogga division) were in different project areas are narrated as laid, where harvest of medicinal plants below: and other Minor Forest Produces was UNDP funded Country Cooperation implemented by VFC members Framework (CCF-II) Project on themselves. Intervention by FRLHT has "National Programme on Promoting resulted in up gradation of knowledge Conservation of Medicinal Plants and and skill of VFC members in relation to Traditional Knowledge for enhancing harvest, weighing, processing, health and livelihood security" was documentation, value addition, bargain implemented in Dharawada, Honnavar with traders, price fixing etc. While and Shivamogga divisions of the State. Elimane VFC focused on species such A seed centre was established at Batnal as Ailanthus malabarica, Myristica in Dharawada division. State level malabarica and piper nigrum. Sirgunji

Retired PCCF & Head of Forest Force, Karnataka 22 My Forest December - 2013

VFC focused on species such as Similarly after the intervention of the Mammea suriga, Salacia chinensis and project, Vateria indica fruits are not Embelia, tsjeriam-cottam plucked before September. Only 50% of fallen fruits that have broken outer coat During visit to these places, it was and with red pulp are collected and the observed that VFC members, part of the remaining seeds are left for task force, have become Taxonomists regeneration. and Botanists. They have brought in several improvements in methods of Salacia chinensis (Yekanayakna harvest. All premature and destructive beru) whose roots are used in diabetes methods of harvest have been given up. were found to be harvested by digging Value addition is done on the scientific the roots from all over the place. Now basis and prices with the traders are the project has brought improvement bargained collectively. and task force members dig out only a In Shivamogga division, I found that portion of lateral roots and cover it with leaves of Cinnamomum malabathrum the soil for further root development. and Cinnamomum sulphuratum were 50% of lateral roots at a difference of plucked from the trees in the period minimum 6 inches from main root are starting from December onwards. cut. Also roots are extracted from the Improper lopping of branches and twigs climbers of minimum ten years of age affected the tree growth, development and with a minimum basal girth of 60 and reproduction. After VFC members cm. The extraction season is between are educated, task team members 15th May and 15th June before the made sure that hand plucking of onset of monsoon. individual matured leaves are carried out in March. Mature leaves have higher Embelia tsjeriam - cottam essential oil content and medicinal (Vayuvilanga) is another medicinal properties. plant, whose fruits and roots treat worms and heart disease. Again after Prior to the intervention through the intervention of the project only project, the fruits. of Garcinia indica & portion of lateral root are extracted Garcinia gummigutta (Upagi) were without damaging the tap roots and soil plucked by cutting the branches etc. is put back to ensure further root while it was still unripe. The task team development. Fruits in bunches are members of project area made sure that harvested by lowering the branches. the ripe yellow coloured fruits are collected after falling, during first and The flower buds of Mammea suriga second week of July. The ripe fruits are used as raw material in aromatic have more medicinal properties than extract. After the intervention of the unripe fruits. project, the task force members in 23 My Forest December - 2013 the project area ensure that only flower mature seeds without damaging any buds are harvested by climbing the tree portion of the twig. and hand plucking from the branches. Only one third of the canopy is The fruits of Limonia acidissima harvested, as male and female flowers (bella) are liver and cordic tonic. The are borne on different trees. No plucking of immature and unripe fruits bloomed flowers or buds are plucked, encourages the cutting of branches. Now VFC members in Savandurga so as to enable pollination and seeding. (Magadi taluk) ensure that only the The flowers are plucked between 15th mature and fallen fruits are collected. February and 31st March. VFC members were found to be experts Earlier, MFP Contractors tapped in Medicinal Plants. resizn from Ailanthus malabarica The leaves of Gymnema sylvestre (Halmaddi) by giving new blaze to the (Madhunashini) is used to treat tree every alternate year. This would jaundice, cough, asthma and bronchitis. weaken the stem of the tree, resulting in This is a climber, which twine around the fall of the tree during heavy wind. Now host trees. The collection of young the Task force members of VFC in leaves encourage the cutting of project area ensure that only one blaze branches and uprooting the whole is given to the tree, which is freshened climber. VFC members in project area up annually. Now Halmaddi trees are ensure that only fully mature leaves, not falling during heavy wind in project which contain more medicinal area. FRLHT must be complemented properties, are plucked. for their intervention. The intervention of FRLHT has also Myristica malabarica (Rampatra) is ensured that only 50% of the roots of another medicinal plant whose seeds Decalepis hamiltonii (Makali beru) are used to be collected by chopping off the extracted in alternate years from good branches. This affects the reproduction. soil region. This method is found to have VFC members in project area now have been enhancing the regeneration of the checked the MFP Contractors and only roots. These roots are known blood mature seeds are plucked by climbing purifier. VFC members of Savandurga the trees. VFC (Magadi taluk) are found to be very harsh, if anyone is found destructively The seeds of Piper nigrum were harvesting the roots of Makali beru. picked up by removing the portion of climber with seeds. This results in After this project, many more damaging the plant and retarding its projects were implemented with the growth. VFC members in project area involvement of local VFCs covering are conscious enough to pluck only species such as Saraca asoca, 24 My Forest December - 2013 Coscinium fenestratum, Vateria indica, Chinkara were present in the areas Litsea glutinosa, Premna integrifolia connecting Western and Eastern ghats, and Stereospermum suaveolens. some 200 years ago and even Cheetah occurred in these areas. Cheetah can STRATIGIES IN WILDLIFE AREAS be reintroduced in this area provided the invasion of exotics like Opuntia Certain tree and shrub species in dillenii and Prosopis juliflora is arrested, wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks which will enable the rebound of chital are also important forage plants for wild and blackbuck population. Abundance ungulates and if the protection is good of Lantana in lower Nilgiri is another their abundance can lead to high conservation challenge in the area. No density of ungulates. Such species are native species grow under Lantana. Dr. Pterolobium hexapetalum (Pterolobium Johnsingh, Ex-Dean, Wildlife Institute indicum) (powerful curved thorns of India (WII) is of the opinion that after providing very little forage), Grewia few decades, tourism area of Bandipur tiliifolia, Randia dumetorum. Bridelia would have only Lantana shrub and montana, Ziziphus xylopyrus, Ziziphus Anogeisus latifolia tree. Already most of mauritiana. Ziziphus rugosa, Gmelina teak trees stand dead, debarked by arborea, Premna latifolia. Fruits and elephants. Disappearance of tree leaves of both Ziziphus mauritiana and species like Bridelia retusa, Bauhinia Ziziphus xylopyrus are nutritious and racemosa, Gmelina arborea, Grewia are liked by ungulates. These species tiliifolia, Ziziphus xylopyrus etc whose are generally found in the drier tract of leaves, fruits and barks provide food to Bandipur National Park. Destruction of ungulates, are matter of concern. these species can affect the ungulate Unwanted species Iike Cassia siamea density and hence the tiger population. Cassia spectabilis, Lantana camara The abundance of Acacia leucophloea etc. should not be allowed to expand. whose bark and leaves are consumed Moreover, Langurs do a great job of by pregnant elephants, can lead to feeding the ungulates by dropping food healthy elephant population. Elephants plants. also like Boswellia serrata bark. Resin come out of these trees and fire enters Once in the last week of December through holes, killing the tree. The 2011, I had an occasion to visit mortality of Boswellia serrata trees in Bandipur, Madumalai and Mukhurthi this region are often elephant induced. protected areas with Dr. Johnsingh. He Lack of regeneration of these important narrated an incidence of a tusker killing forage plants is a huge conservation Sri N R Nair in December 1977 in challenge in the forests. The available Bandipur. Sri Nair then was working as literature indicate that Neelgai and Acting Director of Wildlife Institute of 25 My Forest December - 2013 India, Dehradun. The incident forests were cleared and the area happened, when Sri Nair was trying to was planted with species such as Pinus photograph a tusker on foot near patula, Eucalyptus hybrid and Acacia Thavarkatte. Dr. Johnsingh was mearnsii (wattle). Regeneration of accompanying Sri Nair on that fateful shola species are seen under Pinus morning. When Elephant chased them, patula plantation. Shola species both ran in different directions. Dr. regenerating in Pinus patula plantations Johnsingh could locate the body of Sri are Daphniphyllum neilgherrense, Nair within fifteen minutes when jungle Syzygium montana, Syzygium crow started flying over the spot. nilgiricum, Rhododendron nilagiricum, Generally jungle crow follows the path Symplocos spp. Early flowering of of wild dog so that they can locate the kill Rhododendron indicate global and feed on it. By watching the warming. Wattles have regenerated movement of Tiger and Leopard, they profusely and covered grasslands and are exceedingly good at locating the also invaded shola forests. Although kills of these large cats as well. In flat forest Department is trying to remove terrain, it is generally advisable not to go wattles physically but limited success is close to elephants when the direction of seen on the ground. Rhododendron and the wind is from observer towards wattle are not palatable to ungulates Elephant herd. When chased by and thus these species are threat to Elephants, one should better run down National Park. However Sambhar and the slope and move away from Elephant Nilgiri Langoor sometimes are found to as much as possible. It must be borne in be feeding on wattles, when nothing mind that persons running away from else is available. Strobilanthes weeds Elephants are often under fear and are flower in 7 or 12 years cycle and this vulnerable to accidents. Dr. Johnsingh information can be used for removal of also remembered a narration from 2000 this weed. years old records in Tamil literature, During a visit to fire ravaged areas of where a bull in musth (lone tusker) Nagarahole National Park along with charged a hanging branch of Dr. Johnsingh in the last week of April Pterocarpus marsupium, Honne tree 2012, an Elephant was observed (Vengai) full of yellowish inflorescence, feeding on the bark of a tree. Dr. which looked like a tiger. Johnsingh confirmed that when trees Mughurthi National Park of Tamil sprout after fire, nutrients from soil are Nadu is wonderful habitat of shola and transported through the bark of the grassland where Sambhar and Nilgiri trunk to the branches. As a result during Tahr are in plenty and even Gaur is this period, the bark has high staging a comeback. In the past, shola concentration of nutrients and is liked by 26 My Forest December - 2013 animals. Elephants are also found to has also Bischofia javanica trees, found feed on the bark of Lannea with the rake mark of tiger. Helicteres coromandelica (Godde), Grewia tiliifolia isora is another shrub species whose (Tadasal) and Kydia calycina (Bende). bark liked by Elephants and there are Bende seeds become dry and are not very good regeneration of this species consumed by beetles and rodents, in the forest connecting Nagarahole whereas the seeds of tadasal and National Park and Brahmgiri Sanctuary. The main reason for such good Godde have some pulp around them regeneration is that it's seeds are dry and are consumed by insects. While and are not consumed by rodents and regeneration of Bende is very good, the beetles. In the grassy blanks of regeneration of other two species are Brahmgiri sanctuary, presence of not satisfactory. Past management another Randia type species by name prescription of extraction of Godde Meyna laxiflora is noticed, the fruit of poles for housing of poor in an elephant which is edible to human. Grassy blanks country such as Nagarahole, was generally have small sized Ziziphus without application of mind and for want rugosa, Grewia tiliifolia, Randia of fodder during summer, elephants dumetorum the leaves of which are stray out of the Park, causing damage to edible to wild animals. The grassy human life and property. blanks also have unpalatable spp. such as Strobilanthes, Pogostemon Careya arborea, a fire hardy species, b e n g h a l e n s i s , E u p a t o r i u m especially found on the fringes of grassy adenophorum, Pteridium aquilinum (a blanks, produces strong smell when in fern) etc. On the contrary the young flower and the bark of which is eaten by leaves of Phoenix humilis are eaten by Elephants and fruits by all ungulates gaur and the seeds are eaten by sloth including barking Deer. Careya arborea bear as well as human being. Also Gaur grows even in dry eastern slopes of was seen feeding on Parthenium, which Western ghats. Randia dumetorum is a had not flowered. Similarly Sambhar shrub available in the forests as well as and Chital are found feeding on an unwanted plant Ageratum conyzoides, in grassy blanks, the seeds of which are which was also not flowered. Grassy fish poison and leaves are relished by blanks are climatic climax. The attempt ungulates. There are several patches in to plant these areas in Kudremukh Nagarahole National Park, where this National Park have not been very species has even suppressed Lantana. successful and big trees of Acacia There are excellent forests in auriculiformis have dried up and Brahmagiri Sanctuary comprising of repeated fire in these patches have species such as Mesua ferrea, resulted in spread of Pteridium Calophyllum inophyllum, Bridelia retusa aquilinum (a fern), which is not a healthy (Parallel lateral nerves) providing good sign for management of protected fodder for wild animals. The sanctuary areas. 27 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.28-38 HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT AND ITS MITIGATION- THE KARNATAKA EXPERIENCE SRI R. UDAY KUMAR IFS., Abstract Human - Animal conflict is a major issue is conservation biology. The present paper out lines the causes of Human - Elephant conflict in the present scenario. The paper in detail provide information about the history of co-existence of man and elephant, Scenario of the conflict in Indian sub-continent. The article also raises a concern about the unnatural death of elephants. Finally strategies followed by the Karnataka Elephant task force is discussed in depth. Introduction : Conflict connotes - a struggle, fight, a Census-2012). The Government of clash of interest etc. Man being an apex India in the year 1992-93 initiated the species has a vast array of natural to conserve the resources at his command and control. declining elephant population. On the His over dependence on the depleting directions of GOI, the Government of natural resources has led to inter and Karnataka notified the Mysore Elephant intra specific competition and Reserve (MER) on 25-11-2002 with an impairment of the delicate balance of area of 6724.87 km2 spanning over six demand and supply. The obvious result districts of the state. is the alarming situation of Human- Animal Conflict which is more pronounced in case of wild elephants. Not a single day passes without a report in the newspapers about Man-Animal Conflict and Human Elephant Conflict (HEC).

The coexistence of Man and Elephants dates back to over 4000 years (Prachi Mehta, 2011). India has about 28,000 wild elephants (Report of Elephant Task Force, 2012) and Karnataka has about 6200 elephants- which is about 20% of the country's

Addl. Principal Conservator of Forests and Field Direction, (Project Elephant) Mysuru. 28 My Forest December - 2013 Notification of the MER was a major accidents in Karnataka, there have initiative in conservation and been cases of electrocution and management of elephant populations in poisoning. A report of unnatural death of the state. In the wild, there are two kinds four wild elephants on 04-11-2008 at of elephants viz. the African Elephants Nanjangud taluk of of (Loxodonta africana) and the Asian suspected poisoning, attracted media Elephants (Elephas maximus). The glare and the Hon'ble High Court of African elephant has an estimated Karnataka initiated a suo moto Public population of 4-6 lakhs and is placed Interest Litigation in WP No.14029/ under the "Near Threatened" category 2008 (GM-RES-PIL) and directed the by the IUCN and Appendix-I of the Govt. of Karnataka to initiate measures CITES. The has a to conserve the Elephant Population, to smaller population of 35,000-50,000 evolve management strategies to (Perera, 2009) and is placed under mitigate HEC issues. On 24-01-2012, it "Endangered" category by the IUCN constituted a 12 member Karnataka and Appendix-I of CITES. Elephant Task

HEC scenario in the Indian sub Force (KETF) committee with Dr. continent Raman Sukumar of Indian Institute of India has about 28,000 elephants Science Bangalore as the Chairman (60% of world's Asian Elephant with elephant experts, naturalists, legal Population) which are attributed to experts and forest officers as members cause 400 human deaths, 150 property with a mandate to propose strategies for damage and loss of severallakh tons of conservation of elephants. crops annually. The committee submitted its report in Karnataka has recorded 68 human September 2012, which was vetted by deaths by wild animals in 2013-14 of the Govt. of Karnataka and finally which 17 were caused by elephants. accepted by the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka and the PIL was disposed In India, annually 100 elephants are off. killed by electrocution, poaching, poisoning etc. (Elephant Task Force Maior Recommendations of the Report, 2010). Karnataka has reported Karnataka Elephant Task Force 6 such deaths in 2013-14. (KETF) The KETF has adapted a landscape Unnatural death of elephants - a management approach to the cause of concern conservation of elephants and has Though there are no incidents of classified elephant habitats of the state death of wild elephants in train into 3 zones viz. 29 My Forest December - 2013 1. Elephant Conservation Zone: district, parts of N.W Bannerghatta Large intact forests supporting huge extending to Ramanagara and Tumkur elephant populations, with little or no districts and plains of Chikkmagaluru significant human disturbance and district. The management strategy is to good connectivity to similar habitats identify and remove elephants to qualify for this zone. The best examples alternate locations or keep them in for this are contiguous forest tracts of captivity at departmental camps. Mysuru, Chamarajnagar and Kodagu districts. The strategy of management is Factors Responsible for HEC keeping the elephants in using various (a) Fragmentation of elephant habitats kinds of barriers. in forest/non forest areas by a host of anthropogenic activities like 2. Elephant-Human Coexistence construction of hydel projects Zone: (Linganamakki, Supa, Mani etc), The population of elephants and human mining, roads, railway lines, nuclear is moderate and the boundary between power plant etc. the elephant habitat and agricultural (b) Loss of connectivity between areas is lengthy, convoluted and elephant habitats (corridors) leading Human-Elephant Conflict needs t o o v e r c r o w d i n g , u n e v e n mitigation through various measures to d i s t r i b u t i o n , i n t r a s p e c i f i c ensure a peaceful co existence. The competition for food, water etc best examples are forest areas north of forcing them to venture into newer Cauvery river up to Gangavara RF of areas. Kodagu district and Western parts of (c) Extension of Agriculture into Sakaleshpura tq of . The elephant habitats leading to loss of f o c u s o f m a n a g e m e n t i s o n tree cover and luring them to crops reconciliation of livelihood of humans like Banana, Paddy, Jowar, Maize and conservation of elephants. The etc. strategy is to keep the elephants' out' of (d) Settlements of humans displaced human habitations. from project areas in elephant habitats leading to more direct 3. Elephant Removal Zone: contact with humans. A small number of elephants, or isolated p o p u l a t i o n s p e p p e r e d a l o n g (e) Gregarious flowering of Bamboos in the forests leading to their large predominant human settlements with scale death and shortage of fodder. little or no connectivity to larger habitats experiencing high levels of HEC qualify (f) Pressure of local cattle on grazing for this zone. The best examples are grounds shared by elephants. taluks of Alur, Arkalgud of Hassan (g) Selective girdling of natural fodder 30 My Forest December - 2013 trees like Grewia tilifolia (Tadasalu), 1) Habitat Improvement Works: Kydia calycina (Bende) in elephant Karnataka has been experiencing habitats, forcing elephants to find gregarious flowering and subsequent alternate sources. dying of Bamboos since the last 10 (h) Conversion of hitherto wooded lands years. The process is complete in into monoculture of coffee, Banana, Belagavi, Uttarakannada, Shivamogga, Cardamom, Pepper by estate Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts owners. and regeneration is fairly established. (i) Conversion of wooded lands to However it is still in progress at Mysuru monoculture of Eucalyptus, Teak etc and Chamarajanagar districts causing a by the department. shortage of Bamboos the main diet of G) Unwillingness of people to maintain elephants. It would take some more a buffer zone at the fringes of time to stabilize. elephant habitats and change the cropping pattern to grow tree crops instead of plantation crops. (k) Destruction of large tracts of elephant habitats by man made fires. (1) Wilful damage of Elephant Proof Barriers/solar fence by mischievous elements. (m) Unscientific solar fencing of estates, disrupting traditional migratory paths of elephants. (n) Unabated promotion of resort culture/ ecotourism at the fringes of e l e p h a n t h a b i t a t s c a u s i n g disturbance. (O) Growing intolerance of people Efforts are made to dibble seeds of towards elephants. fodder sps (Hamata, Subabul). Physical The list is suggestive and not all removal of Lantana weeds to promote inclusive. natural regeneration of fodder sps is tried in BRT, Rajiv Gandhi National Park Mitigation of HEC: The department is practicing a host of (Nagarhole) and Bandipur with a good measures to contain the problem. A few success. Water holes are being desilted such are explained below. and filled with water (wherever feasible) 31 My Forest December - 2013

2) Creation and Maintenance of Barriers: As a management intervention, three kinds of barriers are erected/ constructed to contain the elephants. Elephant Proof Trenches (EPT) of dimensions 3mx2mxlm are excavated at forest fringes. However EPTs are not feasible in high rainfall areas, sandy and unstable soils. The next alternative is to go in for Solar fence with 5 rows of metal strands. The fence is energized to maintain a voltage of 7 KV - 9KV - sufficient enough to repel but not lethal. But it is of serious concern that, elephants have learnt to breach EPTs and Solar fence. Hence wherever feasible a combination of EPT & Solar to avoid elephants moving out of the fence + stone walls are also habitat in search of water. constructed. In RGNP (Nagarahole) several specialized steel and cement 32 My Forest December - 2013 concrete structures with barbs are tried and found successful. A recent innovation is the adoption of used railway lines to erect strong barriers. An ambitious pilot project of Rs.212 crores to erect such barriers has been prepared and is being implemented at RGNP, Bandipur and BNP at the first instance. 3) Anti Crop Depredation Camps: Semi permanent and permanent Maintenance of solar fence is structures are established in high entrusted to village Eco Development conflict areas of BNP, RGNP, Virajpet, Committees wherever feasible and in Madikeri, Hassan, Bandipur, Chamaraj other areas by the department. nagar and other places to repel elephants causing crop losses and occasional human deaths. These camps are manned with staff provided with Weapons, Wireless sets and Walkie Talkies and many of them have dedicated vehicles to patrol the areas and fore warn the farmers about impending elephant raids. Rapid R e sp o n se Te a ms (R RTs) a re established at high conflict areas like Kodagu, Chamarajnagar, Hassan etc with dedicated toll free numbers for the benefit of public. After information is gathered by the department, RRTs would rush to the spots and drive the elephants.

33 My Forest December - 2013 5) Reduction of pressure on forests: In the year 2005-06 a pilot project to supply LPG gas cylinders to villagers residing in the fringes of Bandipur National Park to wean them from collecting firewood was launched through a society called 'Namma Sangha' (our society). LPG Cylinders are given to people at 50% of the actual cost; and to SCs and STs at 25 % of the cost and the balance paid through funds of Tiger Foundation, SCP /TSP schemes. The project is on and till date 38,000 gas connections have been provided and the overall dependence on the forests for firewood has reduced by 60% (Karnataka Elephant Task Force Report, 2012). This is being replicated in parts of . This would ensure restoration of elephant habitat and reduction of disturbance to the animals.

6) Collective fencing and cost effective techniques: Efforts have been made in parts of 4) Creation of awareness among Uttara district by independent public: agencies to promote collective fencing The general public in conflict areas are of farm lands and the cost being shared educated through periodic meetings, by farmers and so also the responsibility radio talks, dissemination of pamphlets of maintenance. New cost effective about the precautions to be taken at fences smeared with Chilli Powder, times of crisis. The department has Tobacco with oil are being tried out with published a booklet in 2011 called a good success. However more field "ªÀiÁ£ÀªÀ-D£É ¸ÀAWÀµÀðuÉ ¥ÀjºÁgÉÆÃ¥ÁAiÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ" trials may be required to replicate them and is distributing it to farmers in in a larger scale. sensitive areas besides educating them 7) Payment of crop compensation in maintenance of barriers in the Eco /Ex-gratia: Development Committee meetings. Compensation for crop losses is paid to 34 My Forest December - 2013 farmers at rates assessed by the are known to traverse 60 kms a day and Agriculture and Horticulture depart hence need large tracts of areas to feed. ments subject to a ceiling limit. Compensation for cattle kills has been Karnataka has 9 important elephant increased to Rs.10,000/- per head of a corridors (Wildlife Trust of India). But cow / buffalo and Rs.5000/- per head of connectivity among them is disjunct and a sheep / goat. Compensation for efforts to restore them is in progress. A permanent disability of humans is classic example is of the Kaniyanapura- increased to Rs.50,000/- and ex-gratia Moyar corridor at Bandipur. Efforts are in case of death is enhanced to Rs.5.00 on to re establish corridor connectivity in lakhs. Sakaleshpur taluk (Hassan district) to allow free access to elephants migrating from -Kodagu-Hassan- Goa.

In another effort a small bit of land (25.37 ha) acquired by Wildlife Trust of India was handed over to Forest Department to re establish connectivity of the Yedayarahalli-Doddasampige corridor (Chamarajanagar district).

9) Prevention of sagging of High Tension power Lines and control of illegal energizing of fence: On the directions of the Hon'ble High C o u r t o f K a r n a t a k a i n W P No:14029/2008, power supply companies of Karnataka have been vested with of the responsibility of maintaining HT power lines at a minimum ground clearance of 20' to avoid chance electrocution of elephants. Serious drives taken up to curb illegal tapping of energy from power lines for electrifying fences to 8 ) R e s t o r a t i o n o f c o r r i d o r avoid crop damage by elephants has connectivity: resulted in a slide in electrocution Elephants being free ranging animals deaths. 35 My Forest December - 2013 10) Integrated land use planning: their numbers exceed the carrying Action has been taken in 2012 to capacity of the habitat, frequent HECs declare a 10 KM wide Eco Sensitive result. Hence, physical removal Zone (FSZ) around the outer periphery (translocation) and rehabilitation in new of Bandipur National Park. A similar areas or capture and nurturing in notification for Rajiv Gandhi National elephant camps are practiced. On the Pa rk i s p e n d i n g a p p ro va l a t directions of the Hon'ble High Court of Government of India. These zones act Karnataka in WP.No.14029/ 2008, 22 as buffers insulating the elephant/ tiger wild elephants were captured in habitat from human habitations around. Sakaleshpur (Hassan District) to As a rule no resorts are permitted in the mitigate the serious problem of HEC in Protected Areas. However, Resorts Hassan district. along the fringes located in non forest areas can't be regulated by the In India, sterilization of wild elephants department. These are major sources is not permitted and culling is termed of disturbance to wild elephants and unethical. Hence the only possible other fauna. These are to be regulated solution is export of captured elephants by the concerned departments by to neighbouring states on demand; practicing an integrated land use strictly for government activities. planning. However no trading is permitted.

11) Change in cropping pattern in the fringe areas: With enhanced irrigation facilities, farmers are tempted to grow plantation crops for better returns. The traditional crops like Ragi, Jowar, Sunflower, Groundnut etc have given way to Sugar cane, Paddy, Banana, Areca nut - which entice elephants to venture out to the fringe areas causing huge losses. Hence department is making all efforts to educate farmers in fringe areas to grow traditional crops.

12) Management of Elephant Population: It is imperative to maintain healthy, breeding population of elephants to sustain the gene pool. However when 36 My Forest December - 2013

37 My Forest December - 2013

Conclusion: of elephant spatial distribution and social behaviour. The problem of HEC is too complex to suggest straight forward solutions. Area References specific, need based actions are to be taken to mitigate conflicts before they 1. Perera, B.M.A. Oswin 2009. The reach a flash point. Human-Elephant Conflict. Review of current status and mitigation methods, Data base on elephant population Gajah 30:41:52. dynamics, social behaviour, migration pattern etc needs to be developed for a 2. Prachi Mehta, 2011. Pilot project for better understanding and long term mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict planning for management. Use of latest in N.Kanara District, Karnataka, India. technology of Drones, Heat sensing 3. Report of the Karnataka Elephant cameras, GPS fitted radio collars would Task Force, September 2012. come handy in a better understanding

38 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.39-53 MASS VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF MELIA DUBIA CAV. A FUTURE MONEY SPINNER FOR FARM FORESTRY AND WOOD BASED ENTERPRISES. G. SELVAKUMAR*, GANGADHARA** RAICHEL VERGHESE*** Abstract Melia dubia cav. belonging to the family Meliaceae is a tree which is popular in the recent past in the field of form forestry. Its promise of bringing further has attracted farmers to come forward to grow this species. The present paper discusses various details like description of the tree, collection of fruits, processing / handling of fruits storage, processing of seeds, nursery techniques, wood structure, and economics. Melia dubia Cav. C= Melia Composite Willd., Melia superba Roxb.) Vernacular names Assamese : Dingkurlong, Bengali: Ghora-nim, Gujarathi : Kadu-kajar Hindi : Ghora nim, Kannada:kaadu bevu/ Hebbevu, Betta Bevu; Hebbevu, Malayalam : Malavembu, Aryaveppu; Malaveppu; Valiyaveppu; Kittuveppu, Marathi : Kuriaput, Oriya : Maha-limbu, Batra, Tamil : Malay vembu; Masaveppu, Telugu : Munnatikaraka, Urdu : Labshi.

* Addl. PCCF (Research wing), Karnataka Forest dept., Bangalore. ** Former Asst. Conservation of Forest (Research) Kolar. *** Range Forest officer (Research wing) Kolar, Bangalore. 39 My Forest December - 2013

Distribution Moist deciduous forests (3C/2S1) and The species is found distributed in very Dry Mixed Moist deciduous forests moist teak forests (3B/C1a), Secondary (5B/C2) of India.

Natural distribution of Melia dubia in alternate, spiral, crowded, pulvinate; India rachis terete, long stalked upto one Description meter in length; petiolule 0.3-1.2cm; pinnae 3-8 pairs, leaflets 2.5 pairs on Melia dubia is a large deciduous each pinnae, opposite, 4.5-9 x 2.4 cm, perennial tree growing from 6 to 30 ovate-elliptic, apex acuminate, base metres in height. Bark is smooth, cuneate or attenuate, asymmetric, greenish when young, turning dark margin crenate, coriaceous, glabrous brown when mature and fissures with when mature; midrib raised above; age forming large rectangular flakes. secondary nerves ca. 10 pairs, Wood trunk has few or no branches gradually curved; tertiary nerves arising from about 8 m. Young broadly reticulate. The leaves are shed branchlets are scurfy-tomentose, in December and flush of new leaves terete, turning glabrous on maturity into are found in February-March along with branchlets. Leaves are compound, the flowers. bipinnate to tripinnate, imparipinnate, 40 My Forest December - 2013

Flowers Fruit and seed description

The flowers are borne on the terminal Fruits - Fruits ripen from October to panicles in the upper axil and are February. The fruit is drupaceous, ovoid shorter than the leaves. The flowers are or ellipsoid about 1.5 cm long, smooth, numerous, star shaped, greenish white shining and yellowish when ripe. in colour. The petals are hairy. The tree Immature fruits are green in colour, flowers during January to April when the mature fruits yellow which turn brown. trees shed their leaves and fruits ripen The average size of the fruit is 3.0 x 2.0 during November to February in the cm with about 250-300 fruits per next year. kilogram. Samples with 500 fruits per kg have also been observed. A single tree can produce 15 - 20 kg of fruits.

41 My Forest December - 2013

indicate immaturity and should not be collected.

Processing and handling After collection the fruits can be transported to the place of processing in gunny bags or bamboo baskets. Ripe yellow fruits can be depulped easily if the fruits undergo fermentation and Seeds - Each endocarp has five locules heating as the pulp is difficult to remove. housing 1-5 seeds per fruit. The seeds Under natural conditions, ground fallen are enclosed in a stony endocarp, fruits are eaten by goats / deer which pointed smooth and black. Locule filling depulp the fruits and spit out the stony varies from 0 - 5. Isolated tree endocarp. The pulp can be softened .by collections have been observed to show allowing the fruits to ferment which can poor filling while fruits collected from be hastened by soaking the fruits in plantations raised from different water which is slightly acidified (to pH sources have high levels of seed filling. 5.5-5.6) or in lime water (Dilute calcium The seeds have an average size of 1.5 hydroxide solution). Once fermented, cm x 0.5 cm. 100 seed weight is about the fruits are macerated in bamboo 150 g. baskets and thoroughly washed under running water so that even a small quantity of pulp is not adhered to the seeds. Sand can be used as an abrasive to remove the pulp thoroughly.

Storage and viability The drupes thus extracted have to be sun-dried for ten days in shade. Cleaned and dried drupes can then be stored in gunny bags or sealed tins for Fruit Collection one to two years without losing viability. It is best to adopt ground collection in The drupes stored for over a year show Melia than obtain fruits by climbing and / or shaking the fruiting branches. The improved germination over fresh ones. ground can be cleared off and a No instances of pest incidence have tarpaulin spread under the tree. Care been observed in the fresh or stored should be taken to collect only the ripe drupes of M. dubia. If the pulp is not yellow or brown fruits. Green fruits thoroughly removed, the drupes are 42 My Forest December - 2013 susceptible to fungal infestation. This watered regularly. At places where can be overcome using Captan or daytime temperature is not very high, or Bavistin (@ 4 g/kg seeds). where nursery beds are in shade, the bed should be covered with a tarpaulin Seed processing and pretreatments sheet to retain temperature in the Reports state very poor germination in medium. M e l i a . T h e h i g h e s t r e c o r d e d germination in the species is 15-20 per cent. Various pretreatments like hot- water soaking (60-70°C), boiling water treatment (100°C), roasting drupes at 60°C for 5-10 minutes, storing of drupes in farmyard manure, treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid (H2So4), drupes collected from the spittings of goats, soaking of drupes in cow-dung Germinated seedlings slurry for two to fifteen days, cutting the hard endocarp of drupes and soaking Nursery pests and control drupes in cold water for a week have Red spider mite: The mites occur in been suggested to improve the groups beneath the leaves and feed on germination rate of M. dubia. However, the epidermal tissues. (Fig- A). studies reveal germination as high as Chlorosis can be easily located on the 75 per cent without any pretreatment. adaxial side in infested seedlings (Fig The drupes should be graded in water to C). Low to medium level infestation was remove floating drupes prior to sowing. found during June to July and The major constraints in germination November to. December. Application of identified in the species are the source Derrimax 0.3 ml/lit of water can control of collection, time and medium of the mites. sowing. Ascortis selenaria defoliator: A. polyphagous defoliator attacks Melia Nursery seedlings during the rainy season- June Seed sowing: Cleaned and dried to July and November to December (Fig drupes should be sown in the open D). The main host is Prosopis juliflora. It raised nursery beds, in drilled lines, 5 a l s o o c c u r s i n P e l t o p h o r u m cm apart. About 6-7 kg of dried drupes ferrugenium, , Delonix containing about 1500 numbers are regia etc. At low infestation level, required for one standard nursery bed handpicking of caterpillars can be done (10 x 1 m). The drupes sown need to be to manage the pest. Adults are usually 43 My Forest December - 2013 attracted to light and therefore light the attack is severe. Premature traps can be installed for a week after defoliation is noticed in container the first showers. At high infestation seedlings. Both the foliage diseases level Methyl parathion (2 ml/lit) can can be controlled by the application of control the pest. Mealy bug: Occasional Carbendazim (@ 0.1 % a.i.) as foliar incidence of mealy bugs was noticed at spray at fortnightly interval as well as low levels in seedlings (Fig C). soil drench at weekly interval. Application of Neem oil or tobacco Both the pests and diseases extract directed towards the underside incidence are serious, causing heavy of the leaves controlled the scales. mortality to the species, and hence Leaf miners: Leaf miners also damage require to be monitored closely. the leaves in nursery seedlings at very low levels. Pricking and maintenance of seedlings The seedlings in the nursery bed, by about one month, can be pricked and transported. Care should be taken at A. Red spidermite B. Clorosis on leaves C. Scale insects due to mite feeding the time of transplantation as the s p e c i e s i s v e r y s e n s i t i v e t o transplantation shock. The potted seedlings can be maintained in the D. Ascortis selenaria E. Leaf miner Mealy bug attack shaded nursery with regular watering larva on coppice shoots for normally 3-4 months. It is better to Nursery diseases and control shift them to outdoor conditions at the end of six months, as further retaining In seedbeds, collar rot and seedling them in shade hampers their growth. web blight by Rhizoctonia solani, leaf spots caused by Colletotrichum dematium (Pers. ex Fr.) Grov. and Cylindrocladium Weicola (Hawley) Boedijn & Reitsma are the diseases recorded on M. dubia in nursery. The symptoms produced by both the pathogens are almost similar; disease appears as small pin prick lesions, pale brown in colour, later spreading to form circular necrotic lesions. The infection spreads to the entire leaf lamina in case 44 My Forest December - 2013 Vegetative propagation Juvenile stem cuttings, branchlets and mature branches of M. dubia can be tried for rooting or sprouting. The juvenile stem cuttings respond well to 1000 - 2000 ppm IBA (liquid formulation). Mini cutting technique are now attempted by the research wing for standardization of technique for large scale propagation of the species. The size of the cutting and season of rooting b) Manual cracking of fruit. plays a major role in the rooting of A beetlenut / walnut cracker like cuttings. Cuttings of size 15 cm to 2 cms instrument was devised to crack on thickness and cuttings prepared individual drupe. Drupes being a poly from may to July of the year respond locular in nature, 50% of the embryo better to rooting with a germination inside the drupe was damaged. More percentage of 55 to 60%. over the process of cracking individual drupe was tedious and cumbersome. Some field trials attempted by research wing of kfd for mass propogation a) Root sucker inducement Many different experimental trials were conducted with the intension of discovering the ideal technique for mass propagation. Initially circular trenches were dug around matured c) Propagation from Apical shoot trees at a radius of 4 to 5 feet to induce system. root suckers. The suckers so induced From the coppice shoots the apical were collected and transplanted into shoots were snipped and the cut tip was polythene bags. But the success was d i p p e d i n r o o t h o r m o n e a n d hardly 12% transplanted in root trainers. Then they were placed in hydro pit poly houses for about 2 weeks. By this method initial sprouting was encouraging but the ultimate survival was 3% only. 45 My Forest December - 2013 Meia dubia seedling in a small plot in the irrigated area of the research nursery at kolar. Total seedling planted were 100x70=700.

After 2 months the seedling were cut flush to the ground to induce coppice d) Propagation from Ramets of shooting. Each stump produced about mature older stumps (av)t 5 stump each. Therefore 700 Copper stumps of older plantations of 8 seedlings 3500 coppice shoots were to 10 years was attempted but the obtained. The coppice shoots were cut stumps being highly matures did not and dipped in 2% IBA root hormone yield encouraging results and the solution and repotted in bags and root coppice shoots were just a few. trainers and placed in hydro pits for initial establishment for about 20 days. After 20 days the coppice shoots began to establish and bear roots. This encouraging result induces us to attempt the same on a larger scale.

e) Propagation by ramets from tender shoots Initial trial was attempted by planting 46 My Forest December - 2013

f) Mass production of rammets from 5 months old drip irrigated Melia dubia plantation 1 ha plot of irrigated Melia dubia An area under Eucalyptus plantation, which was concluded was selected for large scale trial in kolar yeswanthpura nusery. Stumps were uproots and area burnt and redug mechanically. Melia dubia of seedling origin was planted at a close esspacement of 2x2 and drip irrigated. Farm yard manure was also The profound and vigorous coppice applied. growth was noticed from May to July of the calendar year when shoots we cut and mass multiplication attempted. For a change instead of cutting the seedlings flush to the ground, seedlings were cut about a meter in height. The advantage was that it was easier to work at that height and hardening was avoidable at this height. More over the idea was that in future is need be we could continue cutting gradually downwards to fetch more coppice shoots as and when needed. Coppice shoots were normally cut early in the With regular watering and application of mornings or late evenings when they Farm yard manure, plantation burst in wetre of about 2cms in thickness. lateral growth and reached a dia of about 18 to shoots of these coppices were trimmed 20 cms in % months time. and soaked in water before dipping them in 2% IBA solution and then 47 My Forest December - 2013 planted in small sized poly bags or root Growth requirements: Melia dubia is trainers for establishment, contact fast-growing and possesses strong fungicide was also used. potential as a reforestation and agroforestry species. The species grows well in temperature ranges of 30- 45 oC at an altitude of 650 - 1800 m. The species requires a mean annual rainfall Preparation of Coppice shoots of 750 - 2500 mm. It grows in well drained red, red loam and black loam soils with pH ranging from 5.5 to 7.0 and depth 50-150 cm, requires moderate soil fertility and can come up in soils with salinity of <4 dS/m.

Silvicultural characteristics : The tree is a heavy light demander, requiring full overhead light for development. Young plants are easily browsed, and hence care should be taken during the first year of planting. It is an excellent The transplanted coppice shoots were coppicer, coppicing profusely from large placed in hydro poly pits (mini poly stumps, however, younger stems or houses) for about 20 days. Thereafter stumps of one to two year old trees yield on establishment the seedlings were only a few coppice shoots. It produces shifted to shade nets for another 10 to root suckers freely. The species is 15 days for selective hardening. susceptible to the attack of mealy bug, Success of germination of these ramets which attacks stumps and destroys the were to the tune of 55 to 60%. young coppice.

Out - planting of seedlings The species performs best in wide spacing of 5 x 5m in staggered rows, though lesser spacings of 4 x 4 and 3 x 3 are also adopted. Planting should be done prior to the rains. Pit size of 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm is essential. Irrigation is Plantation methods essential during the first two years, devoid of which the species does not 48 My Forest December - 2013 survive even in good sites. Fertillization Wood properties during the first two years hastens Very large sized boles can be obtained growth. attaining up to 30 m in length and about 120 cm in diameter at breast height at Agroforestry the end of 20 years. The species has a It can be planted as intercrop among basic specific gravity of 0.414, moisture coconut trees. Groundnut, Blackgram content of 12% and drying time index and Greengram can come up as (DTI) of 0.889 (0.1 DTI = about 1.5 days intercrop under Melia dubia. It also drying time interval) performs well as a bund plant for Casuarina, Banana, Drumstick and sugarcane plantations and Mango orchards. The species can support cultivation of Tomato / Turmeric underneath. It is also grown as a shade tree in coffee and tea plantations.

A fifteen year old treeA ten year old tree felled for plywood

Melia intercropped with orange Melia intercropped with coconut

The circular bole of the tree Melia intercropped with sapota Melia intercropped with Sandal

49 My Forest December - 2013

Wood gross structure

Growth rings Semi-ring-porous to diffuse-porous; Distinct Vessels Large to medium, small in late wood, few, solitary or in radial pairs, transition from early to late wood gradual Parenchyma Paratracheal - scanty or vasicentric, rarely forms small irregular or oblique patches around small vessel groups in the extreme late wood portions Rays Moderately broad, rather widely spaced, ray flecks distinct on radial surface Gum canals Vertical, traumatic

Wood properties

Colour Sapwood grey or pinkish-white with yellow cast, heartwood light red Hardness Moderately hard Weight Light, 450 kg/m2 at 12% m.c. Grain Straight : texture coarse

Strength under green conditions Static Bending - Modulus of Rupture (kg/cm2) 399.84 Static Bending - Modulus of Elasticity (kg/cm2) 51.759 Impact Bending (cm) 212.94 Compression parallel to grain - Max. crushing stress 371

Wood Processing Drying Green conversion and open stacking under cover recommended Working properties Easy to saw, machining satisfactory, can be brought to a smooth surface Natural durability Moderately durable under cover and preservation

50 My Forest December - 2013

Timber characteristics The wood is moderately hard and 450 kg/m3 in weight. The sapwood is grey or pinkish white with a yellowish tinge and the heartwood is light red in colour. It is straight grained and coarse textured. The wood is easy to saw, machines satisfactorily and can be finished into a smooth surface. It is only moderately durable, that too under cover. Wall- boards, door panels, furniture, agricultural implements and floorings are also made with the wood. It has Ply block of Melia dubia Sliced veneer of Meliadubia been identified as the best raw material for plywood, as both face and core Other uses veneer. It can also be used in match Extracts from the tree are medicinal and industries, packing cases and as a the leaves are lopped as fodder. The paper pulp for production of paper. It seeds are reported to contain linoleic has been identified as a high calorific and oleic acids (65-82%) and they also value species, hence is deployed in yield greenish-yellow butter oil, not energy plantations. Timber is highly utilized now but with potential in useful and it seems very suitable for preparation of soap and hair oil. The agriculture implements, plywood, boxes bitter principle of the fruit is a remedy for and packaging purpose. It is used for colic, half a fruit being the dose for an cabinet making and in construction adult. The fruit is used as an because of its resistance to termites. anthelmintic. The juice of the green fruit, Due to the light weight, it is widely used with a third of its weight of sulphur and for making catamarans (kattumarams) an equal quantity of curd heated also. together in a copper pot, is used as an application to scabies, and to sores infested with maggots.

Growth statistics Growth statistics vary from region to region depending on site and environmental factors. The general Melia dubia timber at a saw mill in Hunsur observation is that if plantations are

51 My Forest December - 2013 established with better spacing in of the two species which would facilitate favourable conditions, growth rate is the public to identify the two species. high. The irrigated plantations attain GBH of 82 cm while under rainfed conditions, the GBH is 48 cm at the fifth year. The tree generally branches after attaining a height of 12 - 13 m.

8 Months old Saplings in Pvtfarmers land at Hiriyur

4 year Old Trial – Rainfed 4 year Old Trial – Irrigated Girth 50cm, Height 12 m, Girth 67cm, Height 14 Economics Clean bole 7 m Clean bole 10 m The information provided in this section Problems in identification of Melia has been obtained from Hunsur dubia and Melia azaderach Plywood Works Pvt. Ltd., Hunsur, It has been observed that there is a mix Karnataka based on the growth up of two' species of the family of performance of the species planted by Meliaceae namely Melia dubia and the concern in 1995 and evaluated at Melia azaderach. The latter is planted the end of 15 years. Ten trees were as an avenue tree and does not selected and harvested. The trees had possess the traits desirable for an average bole length of 8.90 m and a plywood. But identification of the girth of about 100 cm producing species has posed problems and approximately 0.425 cu.m. (15 Cft) per farmers are able to distinguish the tree. These logs can be used for core species only at the end of one year. veneer by peeling and logs of smaller Described below is a pictorial difference sizes can also be utilized. Trees with a 52 My Forest December - 2013 minimum of 16 inches (40 cm) girth are weed growth, poor soil conditions, saleable at the rate of Rs 2000 per water logging, etc., do not produce logs tonne for match industry. of the desired size. If bund planting is taken up in a single row about 60 trees Recommended Planting Espacement...... 6x6 mtrs can be planted at 5 m spacing which will Average height per tree...... 9 mtrs fetch an income of about Rs.2 lakhs in Average girth per tree...... 100 cms the sixth year, as trees planted along Approximate yield per tree...... 15 cft (0.45 cmt) Total number of trees per acre...... 108 trees bunds have been recorded to put on Average Survival % per acre...... 90 girth faster than the block planted Total number of trees per hectare...... 97 material. Total cft or volume of 97 trees ...... 1458 cft Market Cost per cft of Melia dubia timber is ...... Rs: 300.00 If the plantation is maintained for 30 Selling rate per acre of 1458 cft @ 300 per cft ...... Rs : 4,36,500.00 Cost fo maintenance of plantation...... Rs : 36,500.00 years, the logs fetch higher prices (Rs. NET PROFIT ...... Rs:4,00,000.00 650/- per cft) as the utility value of the wood is increased. The logs can be * Cost of land not included. used for face veneer and the process is * Only clear bole is taken into account. more akin to splitting for which larger Lops and tops are not accounted for. sized logs are required. References This performance of the species can be expected only under good maintenance Rekha R. warrier. ( ) Money and controlled irrigation upto atleast six spinning trees IFGTB, publication of years. Unattended plantations with Coimbatore.

53 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.54-56 LIKELY EFFECT OF PROVISION OF MONETARY INCENTIVES TO CONTRACTORS FOR ADDITIONAL EXTRACTION AND CONVERSION OF PULPWOOD IN KARNATAKA FOREST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Abstract A.K. GARG, IFS Many a times there is significant variation in the estimated and final yield of pulpwood from plantations of the Corporation. It has been analysed in this paper that if monetary incentives are provided to the Contractors for extracting and converting additional quantity of pulpwood than the estimated, how the revenues of the Corporation may be affected.

Introduction There is, many times, found to be weighment is done while dispatching some variation between the estimated the pulpwood to the industries. Hence, yields and yields which are finally the need to do the exact estimation is obtained at the time of extraction from somewhat lost. the plantations belonging to the Corporation. Many times the yields Methodology show an increase and at some other Like in case of Rubber wing of the occasions, there is also a decrease, Corporation where over poundage is though to a lesser extent. The reasons given to the latex tappers as an for such fluctuations may be faulty incentive in order to augment estimation, delay of few years in felling collections of rubber latex over and the plantations without re-estimation of above the estimated quantity from each yield, delay in transporting the extracted block, an exercise was done to see the material which results in moisture loss, likely impacts on yield and revenue pilferage, etc., The few flaws in the yield enhancement if incentives, in various estimation have been enumerated in slabs, were provided to the extraction our paper (Vedant & Garg, 2011) in the contractors. My Forest, December 2011 (pages 263- 268). But the argument in KFDCL is that Results and Discussion the estimation of yield is being done The Corporation is, at present, after destructive felling of 100 producing about 1,30,000 MT of representative trees in various girth Pulpwood annually and its net profits classes and then, anyhow, the actual after payment of various taxes, lease

APCCF & Joint Managing Director, Karnataka Forest Development Corporation Ltd 54 My Forest December - 2013

rent and FDT, are about Rs 47 crores as 1,50,000 MT, and provides Rs 50/- , annually at the rate of net profit of about Rs 100/-, Rs 150/-, Rs 200/-, Rs 250/- Rs 3600/-per MT. per MT as incentives to contractors for extra extraction upto 10%, 10-20%, 20- The extra profit that the Company 30%, 30-40% and 40-50%,respectively, may earn as a result of the incentives over and above 1,50,0,000 MT, the linked to production is enumerated as follows. Suppose the Corporation fixes likely gains at the rate of Rs 3600/- per the annual pulpwood production target MT will be as shown in Table.

Table 1 Showing the computation of extra profit after giving incentives in various slabs Extra Extra Total Gain Quantity Incentive Rate Net Profit Yield expenses (at Rs 3600/- (MT) Per MT (Rs) (Rs) % Rs per MT)

10 15,000 50 7,50,000 5,40,00,000 5,32,50,000 20 30,000 100 (above 10%) 22,50,000 10,80,00,000 10,57,50,000 30 45,000 150 (above 20%) 45,00,000 16,20,00,000 15,75,00,000

40 60,000 200 (above 30%) 75,00,000 21,60,00,000 20,85,00,000 50 75,000 250 (above 40%) 1,12,50,000 27,00,000,00 25,87,50,000

(Categories of 10, 20, 30,40 & SO per cent have been selected for ease of calculations)

The net profit per MT for the additional Rs 200/- and Rs 250/-, it can be seen quantity so obtained, will be Rs 3550/-, that the decrease in per MT profit is Rs Rs 3525/-, Rs 3500/-, Rs 3475/- and Rs 75/-, Rs 100/-, Rs 125/-, Rs 150/-, 3450/-, respectively. Even though the respectively, which is lesser than per incentive rate provided per MT from 2nd MT incentive. category onwards is Rs 100/-, Rs 150/,

55 My Forest December - 2013 Chart 1 Graphical representation of extra profits vis a vis extra expenses on incentives

It can be seen that extra profits which pulpwood. This may prompt contractors will be reaped by giving monetary to do the extraction and transportation incentives to contractors for additional in an efficient manner which may supplies are likely to be phenomenally augment the revenues further. high while expenses on such incentives will be very small. References Vedant, C.S. & Garg, A. K.(2011) : A Conclusions Study of Likely Impacts of Bark, It may be worthwhile to try to build this Moisture and Height on the yield of system of providing monetary Wood, My Forest, Vol 47 (4), pp 263- incentives to extraction contractors in 268. order to obtain extra production of

56 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.57-61 BIODIVERSITY IN FORESTRY AND PRACTICES IN ITS ASSESSMENT

Abstract JAGAT RAM* I.F.S. Biodiversity is the buzz word of the day in dealing with environmental issues. The loss of biodiversity will have a cascading effects on the environmental as a whole. One fourth to one third of the present day species are likely to be extinct within next few decade. Keeping the above view the present article provides details of biodiversity in forestry, Assignment of biodiversity and methodology involved in assessment of biodiversity. Biodiversity may be defined as the Biological diverse ecosystems are variety of life from, the ecological role more capable of resisting change and they play and the genetic diversity they maintaining their functionality when contain. Biodiversity can be considered subject to unusual climatic or biotic as genetic taxonomic and ecosystem conditions. Ecosystem function levels and the variety of sublevels also. provides various services of benefit to human society. These includes the There are two proverbs arising out of maintaining of atmosphere and climate, generation of human experience that soil conservation, nutrient cycling the related to Biodiversity and are often and the control of crops-pests and heard in every day conservation. One is disease vectors. There are also non- "Variety is the spice of life and the other consumptive scientific and recreational "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" values to be derived from healthy Variety among living organism certainly ecosystems. enriches our lives and has very practical The loss of biological diversity is a value. It is much safer to have more than global crisis. There is hardly any region one kind of organism that can carry out on the earth that is not facing ecological vital functions. Currently there is much catastrophe. Of the 1.5 million species concern about loss of species diversity known to inhabit the Earth (humans are and also about loss of genetic diversity just one of them), one fourth to 'one third due to human activities as the twenty is likely to extinct within the next few first century approach concerned about decades. Biological extinction has preservation of Biodiversity is reaching been a natural phenomenon in public and political levels. geological history. But the rate of extinction was perhaps one species

Chief Conservator Of Forests, (Research), Dharawada 57 My Forest December - 2013 every 1000 years. But man's Himalayas to the warm coast of intervention has speeded up extinction peninsular India. rate went. Between 1600 and 1950, the rate of extinction is one species every The Country has over 1.15 lakh species 10 years. Currently it is perhaps one of plant and animals already identified species every year. and described. In addition the country is very important Vavilovian center of The country has several problems Priodiversity and the origin of over 167 such as overpopulation, large number important cultivated plant species and some domesticated animals. In fact our of cattle heads, growing demand for country has been recognized as one of land, energy and water supply. the worlds 12 mega diversity nation. In Unplanned developmental works and flora, the country has 45000 species overexploitation of resources have which accounts for 15% of the known made its living resources most world plants. vulnerable. Distribution of recorded 45000 Biodiversity In Forestry: species of Indian flora It is estimated that there exists 50 to a. Flowering plant : 33 % : 15000 Species 300 lakh species of living forms on our b. Fungi : 45 % : 20000 Species earth. Of these only 15 lakh have been c. Algae : 11 % : 5000 Species identified. This includes 3 lakh species d. Bryophytes : 06 % : 2700 Species of green plants and fungi, 8 lakh species e. Lichens : 04 % : 1600 Species of insects, 40000 species of vertebrates f. Pteridophytes : 01 % : 600 Species and 3.6 lakh species of micro organism. Of the 15000 species of flowering plants, 35% are endemic & located in 26 The Indian region having a e n d e m i c c e n t e r s a m o n g t h e geographical area of 329 million monocotyledons 588 genera in the hectare is quite rich in biodiversity with a country, 22 are strictly endemic. sizeable percentage of endemic flora & fauna. The richness in BD is due to The North eastern region could boast of being unique treasure house of variety of climate & altitudinal conditions Orchids in the Country, the abode of coupled with varied ecological habitats. about 675 species out of 1000 available These vary from the humid tropical in the Indian peninsula against 17000 Western Ghats to the hot deserts of species world over. Rajasthan, from the cold deserts of the Ladakh and the icy mountain of Our Country is very rich in fauna 58 My Forest December - 2013 also. The Country has nearly 75000 a) Species richness- The number of animals species about 80% of which are species in a given unit of area. insects. Hundreds of new species may b) Species diversity- The number of be present in country awaiting species and their relative proportion discovery. The Western Ghats of Kerala of individuals in a given unit of area. contain about 5000 species. The c) Endemics - the species with Western Ghats of Karnataka sports restricted distribution, either nearly 4500 species of plants and geographically or ecologically. 15000 species of animals including Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and other in d) Rarity of species - the species at vertebrates. Nearly 35% of the tree very low frequency in a given unit of species are endemic to Western Ghats area inspite of their wide distribution and many of them are endangered and or with a restricted distribution in a threatened. broad geographical area. e) Unique ecosystem - A place Assessment of Biodiversity: occupied by a species and plays its Enumeration of Biodiversity is not role (eg. Myristica swamps) new in India. We have had several f) Utility value - the values obtained species surveys in past. However such through the uses of species. surveys were concentrated on particular groups such as Mammal, and Methodology: Birds. The Botanical & Zoological Biodiversity sample plots are laid out survey of India have collected considerable data of flora and fauna of to measure biodiversity. The process of different states. However complete laying out sample plot is as described information on any specific region or ecosystem is lacking. Preliminary survey of the different forest types is carried out and one ha. Out of several approaches to plots are selected in representative assess Biodiversity, habitat based areas are permanently demarcated with approaches are most cost effective way boundary stones. The plots are laid out to identify conservation priorities. as per the guidelines provided in the Habitats / Ecosystem are defined as the Manual of Permanent sample plot space used by an organism, together Techniques for Tropical Forests (D. with the other organism with which it co- Alder & T.J. Synnott, Oxford Forestry exists, and the landscape elements that Institute. University of Oxford 1992). affect it. Habitat status using sampling These plots are called Biodiversity plots can be easily assessed and Sample Plots (BSPs) or Permanent compared with another by applying ecological and resource indicator value Preservative Plots (PSPs). such as given below: 59 My Forest December - 2013 The vegetation in each plot is Spatial structure criteria are defined enumerated by numbered tags and as below. measurements are taken for height and a. Density:- expressed in number of girth of all the trees that are above 10 cm individuals per hectare. The limits of girth. The percentage of canopy cover the girth are given in the table under 4 and number of cut stems, are also girth classes >10, >30, 60, > 120cm). recorded. b. Girth distribution :- Patterns at every 10-cm class is shown in the form of In everyone ha. plot, 3 sub plots histograms for each plot. measuring 20m X 20m are randomly c. Basal Area :- It is sum of the cross- located and permanently demarcated. sectional area of the stems per The vegetation including herbs and hectare. shrubs is to be enumerated, labeled and 2 numbered. All the plants above 1 m in c /4 height are recorded and less than 1 m (c= Circumference or girth) height the species are identified. Floristic structure : The quantitative and qualitative Biodiversity indices: characters of the species composition The physical appearance and reflect the floristic structure of the species composition of the vegetation Vegetations. The quantitative are dependent on the magnitude of characters in terms of total number of biotic and abiotic interference. The indices to measure the responses of species and their relative abundance vegetation to these factors are are determined by indices of Richness classified in to two categories. They are and Diversity respectively. (As spatial structure and floristic structure described by Shri. B.R. Ramesh, [1999] indices. of French Institute of Pandichery Some of these indices are as below. Spatial structure The spatial structure of the plots are Species richness: precisely defined by the total stand Species - individual curve : density, girth distribution and basal cumulative number of species with area. As the heights of the individuals in increase in number of individuals. the plots are either under or over estimated, it is not considered for the Marglef index (Mg) : A simple analysis. The visual estimations of the procedure used to estimate the canopy cover, canopy height and richness by equation number of strata, at an average value DMg = (Sobs-l)/In N for the entire plot are considered. 60 My Forest December - 2013

Chao 1 index : It is used to express (pi = proportional abundance of the i th the role of rarity in estimating the species) richness. (pi) = (ni / N)

2 S 1 = Sobs+ (a /2b) Evenness using Shannon Index) (Sobs = total number of species E = H' / ln S observed; In = Logarithm; N= total (H' = Shannon's index) number of individuals; ni - number of individuals of the I the species ; a = the Among the qualitative characters of number of observed species that are species composition, the proportion of represented by a single individual; b= evergreen and deciduous, and within the number of observed species evergreen proportion of primary and represented by two individuals in the secondary species are important sample) criteria to determine the effect of Species diversity bioclimate and disturbance on the Simpson's index : is defined as vegetation. The evergreen species, probability that two individuals which are considered as primary, randomly and independently selected includes species characteristic to belong to the same species. This index climax forests, which tend to become has been calculated using the formula: rare or disappear with the increase in disturbance. The secondary species

n 1 (n 1-1) D = includes pioneer species and species N (N -1) with wider ecological amplitude. The Simpson index can be defined in two ways: References: 1. as l = 1- D, also called dominance 1. Agrawal K.C. 2000, Biodiversity index; it varies between -0 (for a one 2. Manual of Permanent sample plot species community) to 1-1/S (for an Techniques for Tropical Forests (D. even community composed of S A I der & T.J. Synnott, Oxford species). Forestry Institute, University of 2. -as l = 1/D; it varies between 1 for (1 Oxford 1992). species community and S. 3. Jagat Ram, Dasappa and M.H. Shannon weiner Index : This index is S w a m i n a t h , B i o d i v e r s i t y defined as : Assessment in Western "Myforest", September 1999, Vol. H' = - pi 1n pi 35(3, Page No. 185-192). 61 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.62-69 VARIABILITY FOR FRUIT, SEED AND GERMINATION IN MESUA FERREA - A PRELIMINARY OBSERVATION ARUN KUMAR, A.N., GEETA JOSHI AND RAVISHANKAR, R. Abstract Documenting variation for fruit and seed traits is a prerequisite for conservation as well as initiating any tree improvement strategies. Mesua ferrea is an important tropical species valued for timber and medicinal properties. Fruits were collected from different trees in and around Sagar Range, Sagar Division, and various traits pertaining to fruit, seed and germination were recorded. Significant variation among trees was observed for seed traits. The study also revealed that there was no relationship between seed weight and number of days taken for germination. Introduction Before initiating any tree improvement with buttressed base and is commonly programme, documenting variation in known as Iron Wood Tree. In India, it is tree species forms one of the basic extensively distributed in Southern and steps. This documentation variation not Northern tropical wet evergreen forests only provides an opportunity to identify of North East India, Western Ghats and superior genotypes but also assists in Andamans. In North East India, it is conservation. While documenting found in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal variation in trees, various traits are Pradesh, Nagaland and in Western given importance, depending on the Ghats it is distributed in the states of target for improvement. They may Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and include height, girth, fruit and seed (Luna, 2005). It is present in traits, wood traits and many others. It is Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka generally believed that tropical (Arunachalam et ai, 2003). In ecosystems have enormous variability Karnataka, M. ferrea is distributed in not only at species level, but within Gersoppa, Chikkamagalur, Hassan, species also. One such species Shivamogga and Kodagu districts considered for this study is Mesua (Neginhal, 2004). Fruiting period varies ferrea. from July to December depending on the region (Khan et al., 2002). The tree M. ferrea is a handsome moderately is one of the most durable timbers and is large sized indigenous evergreen tree used for construction purposes.

Tree Improvement and Genetics Division, Institute of Wood Science and Technology Bangalore 62 My Forest December - 2013 Different parts of the tree such as bark, From each individual tree, 50 fruits were unripe fruit and flower has been used in randomly picked and data was recorded traditional medicine, the seed yields for fruit weight (g), length (mm), and nearly 60-70% oil which is used for width (mm). From each fruit, seeds treating skin diseases and rheumatism were extracted and number of seeds, (Shetty et ai, 2002). In reproductive seed weight (g), length (mm), width biology, fruit and seed size is an (mm) and thickness (mm) were important variable and seed size plays a recorded. Fruit/seed length, weight and significant role in forest succession width/thickness were measured by process. Seed size is also influenced by digital caliper (0.1mm precision). flowering and fruiting season and also Similarly, from a composite sample 100 determines the growth of survival of the fruits were picked, fruit and seed traits species. Studies on fruit and seed size were recorded to find over all variability are also essential in planning if any. conservation strategies. The present paper is a preliminary attempt in Germination studies were carried out documenting the variation for fruit and at IWST nursery. To document the seed traits among the trees found in and variation in germination among the around Sagar Range, Sagar Division, trees, one hundred seeds from Shivamogga Circle. individual trees were sown separately in pure sand beds. Sufficient moisture was Material and Methods provided by regular watering. To study Six trees were randomly selected the effect of seed weight on and marked in and around Sagar germination, one hundred seeds were Range, Sagar Division and fruits were randomly selected from a composite collected during August 2013 from sample. The seeds were then weighed individual tree. All the six trees were and sown in the nursery such that the profusely fruiting. The fruits are identity of each seed was maintained. considered to be matured when the fruit Time taken for germination was coat turns brown in colour and only such recorded when the plumule emerged fruits were collected. Fruits collected from the soil. The group means were from the individual trees were kept compared with one way Analysis of separately in gunny bags and brought to Variance (ANOVA) using Microsoft the Seed Laboratory at Institute of Excel. Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bangalore. The fruits collected from Results and Discussion individual trees were subjected for It is evident from Table 1 that taking observation of fruit and seed traits. into account the entire data set, 63 My Forest December - 2013 considerable variation exists for fruit the fruit width ranged from 35.49 to and seed traits in M. ferrea. Among the 56.60mm. Seed weight and seed length fruit traits, fruit weight had maximum recorded the highest (30.88%) and variability (CV=19.13%) and the range lowest (11.92%) coefficient of variation varied from 21.77 to 57.78g. Fruit length value. varied from 35.27mm to 52.18mm and

Table 1. Descriptive statistics for fruit and seed traits in Mesua ferrea

Fruit Fruit Fruit Seed Seed Seed Seed weight Length width weight length width thickness (2) (mm) (mm) (2) (mm) (mm) (mm)

Mean 41.73 43.87 44.08 4.82 27.71 23.18 16.41

Median 41.14 43.81 43.90 4.51 27.54 23.25 14.94

SD 7.98 3.10 3.55 1.49 3.30 3.51 4.20

CV(%) 19.13 7.06 8.05 30.88 11.92 15.13 25.60

Range 36.01 16.91 21.11 6.70 27.95 19.82 17.16

Minimum 21. 77 35.27 35.49 2.13 19.56 12.81 10.61

Maximum 57.78 52.18 56.60 8.84 47.51 32.63 27.77

(n=100)

The study on variation among individual traits, specially for seed weight, width trees for fruit and seed traits revealed and thickness significant variation that fruit traits did not have significant (p<0.05) was observed. variation (Table 2). In case of seed

64 My Forest December - 2013

Table 2. Variation for fruit and seed trait among different trees

Tree Fruit Seed

Weight Length Width Weight Length Width Thickness (g) (mm) (mm) (g) (mm) (mm) (mm)

T1 38.87 44.33 43.38 4.95c 26.93 23.48b 18.10c T2 39.11 43.20 43.03 3.46a 26.69 20.45a 12.94a T3 45.02 43.78 44.44 5.98d 28.30 25.04c 17.84c T4 37.24 43.68 43.06 4.33b 28.40 23.12b 14.87ab T5 47.85 45.22 46.70 5.36c 29.04 24.67bc 19.4lc T6 39.63 43.13 44.05 6.00d 27.74 24.56bc 15.11b ns ns ns s ns s s

(p<0.05; values having similar alphabets are not significantly different)

The proportion of one, two, three and number of fruits having one or two four seeded fruits across different trees seeds even though it is four loculed. was also recorded. Interestingly, Tree This preference of having one or two Number 2 (T2) did not have one seeded seeded fruits would not only help in fruits, while Tree number 3 did not have having seeds of heavier weight, but it three and four seeded fruits. Among would provide extra resource for the them, T5 had 60%, T1 and T3 had 50%. seedlings after germination. Because, Only two trees T2 and T4 had four the additional energy and resources seeded fruits and it was only 20%. needed to have extra seeds can be Incidentally, T3 had the higher fruit and avoided and the same can be allocated seed weight suggesting that fruits to the single or two seeds. Khan et al. having only one and two seeds tend to (1999) were of the view that this would have more fruit and seed weight. Similar also aid in having temporal advantage observations were recorded by Khan et as the competition that arises by having al. (1999) in M. ferrea. It is also evident more number of seedlings can be that M. ferrea trees prefer to have more avoided.

64 My Forest December - 2013 Table 3. Per cent of one, two, three and four seeded fruits among different trees

Tree No. One seed Two seed Three seed Four seed T1 50% 40% 10% 0 T2 0 50% 30% 20% T3 50% 50% 0 0 T4 30% 30% 30% 20% T5 60% 30% 10% 0 T6 40% 50% 10% 0 (n=100 from each tree) There was no significant difference of single seed (22.84mm) was 59% in fruit weight having one, two, three or more than the average thickness of two four seeds. To document the variation in seeds and -73% thicker than the lowest seed traits between one, two, three and (13.22mm) found in three seeded fruit. four seeds, it was found that (Table 4), Invariably, trees try to invest higher except for seed length, the other three resource in the single seed so as to traits viz., seed width, thickness and provide extensive inputs in the form of weight showed significant variation and nutrition because of increased one seeded fruit recorded the maximum thickness and weight so that the value in case of seed thickness chances of its survivability and better (22.84mm) and seed weight (6.16g). growth is further strengthened. Khan et The weight of single seed compared to al. (1999) reported that initial reserves average weight of two seeds was 22% in the seeds playa greater role in the more and -88% heavier than the lowest seedling survival and growth in seed weight (3.27) Similarly, thickness M. ferrea. Table 4. Variation for seed traits in one, two, three and four seeded fruits Fruit type Seed Length Seed Width Seed Thickness Seed Weight (mm) (mm) (mm) (g) One Seed 27.74 24.05b 22.84b 6.16c Two Seed 27.83 24.15b 14.33a 5.03b Three Seed 26.69 20.54a 13.22a 3.27a Four Seeds 29.2 20.98a 13.55a 3.42a ns s s s (p

Tree Number Germination (%) T1 78c T2 58a T3 90e T4 64b T5 80c T6 86d (p<0.001, values having similar alphabets are not significantly different)

There was significant differences in semiserrata (Khan and Shankar, 2001), germination percentage among the Dipterocarpus macrocarpus (Shankar, trees (Table 5) with T2 showing the 2006) and Aquilaria malaccensis lowest (58%) and T3 having the highest (Shankar, 2012) Considering the fact (90%) germination percentage. It is also that seed weight plays an important interesting to note that those trees role, it was interesting to note that (Fig. which had higher seed weight recorded I) the time taken by seeds for the highest germination also. germination did not have any Germination is an event which denotes relationship with seed weight. The seed transition from seed being dependent weight ranged from 2.501g to 8.835g on food sources from the mother plant and the days required for germination to an independent plant capable of varied from 11 to 40 days. When seeds taking up nutrients and growing of one, two, three are four seeded fruits independently (Schmidt, 2000). Seed were tested for the number of days trait specially size is an important life required for germination, there was no history trait influencing regeneration significant differences among the seeds success (Turnbull et al., 1999). As there and the average number of days varied is substantial difference in seed traits from 16.85 to 19.53. This suggests that among the trees, it might have also seed weight does not play a significant played an important role in germination. role in time taken for seed germination, Seed weight playing a crucial role in however, it has played a significant role germination has also been reported in in germination percentage and as other species such as Quercus spp. observed by Arunachalam et al. (2003) (Tripathi and Khan, 1990), M. ferrea it plays an important role in seedling (Khan et a!., 1999), Quercus growth, biomass and survival.

67 My Forest December - 2013

Figt. Effect of seed weight on number of days to germinate

Our preliminary studies in M.ferrea References indicate that among fruit and seed traits, Arunachalam, A., Khan, M. L. and significant differences have been Singh, N. D. (2003). Germination, o b s e r v e d i n s e e d t r a i t s a n d growth and biomass accumulation germination. Though seed weight plays as Influenced by seed size in a significant role in germination, but the Mesua ferrea L. Turkish Journal time taken for seeds to germinate was of Botany, 27: 343-348. not dependent on the seed weight. Khan, M. L., Bhuyan, P. and Singh, N.D. (2002). Fruit set, seed germination Acknowledgment and seedling growth of Mesua We thank Director, Institute of wood ferrea (Clusiaceae) in relation to science and Technology, Head, Tree light intensity. Journal of Tropical Improvement and Genetics Division for Forest Science, 14:35-48. the support and Staff of Sagar Forest Khan, M. L., Bhuyan, P., Shankar, U. Range during field work. We thank Mr. And Todaria, N. P. (1999). Seed Ganesh Hegde and Mazar Khan, germination and seedling fitness in Project Assistants for their assistance. Mesua ferrea L. in relation to fruit The authors thank, Karnataka forest size and seed number per fruit. Department for providing the funding to Acta Oecologica, 20:599-606. carry out this work. Khan, M.L. and Shankar, U. (2001). Effect of seed weight, light regime, and substratum microsite on seed 68 My Forest December - 2013 germination, and seedling growth macrocarpus Vesque) New of Quercus semiserrata Roxb. Forests, 31 :305-320. Tropical Ecology, 42: 117-125. Shankar, U. (2012). Effect of seed Khan, M.L., Bhuyan, P. Shankar, U. and abortion and seed storage on Todaria, N.P. (1999). Seed germination and seedling growth in germination and seedling fitness in Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk. Mesua ferrea L. in relation to fruit (Thymelaeaceae). Current size and seed number per Science, 102(4):596-604. fruit. Acta Oecologica, 20: 599- Shetty, B. V., Kaveriappa, K. M. and 606. Bhat, K.G. (2002). Plant resources Luna, R. K. (2005). Plantation trees. of Western ghats and lowlands of and Udupi International Book Distributors, districts. Pilikula Nisarga Dhama Dehra Dun. S o c i e t y , M o o d u s h e d d e , Neginhal, S.G. (2004). Forest trees of Mangalore. South India. S.G. Neginhal, Tripathi, R.S. and Khan, M.L. (1990). Bangalore. Effect of seed weight and microsite Schmidt, L. (2000). Dormancy and pre- characteristics on germination and treatment: Guide to Handling of seedling fitness in two species of Tropical and Subtropical Forest Quercus in a subtropical wet hill Seeds. Danida Forest Seed forest. Oikos, 57: 287-296. Centre, Humbelbaek, Denmark. Turnbull, L.A., Rees, M. and Crawley, Shankar, U. (2006). Seed size as a MJ. (1999). Seed mass and the predictor of germination success competition/colonization trade-off: and early seedling growth in a sowing experiment. Journal of ' h o l l o n g ' ( D i p t e r o c a r p u s Ecology, 87: 899-912.

69 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.70-80 ASSESSMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF TRADITIONALLY AND FLORA FOR CURING DIABETES IN RURAL AREAS IN CENTRAL HIMALAYAN REGION OF INDIA

GIRISH CHANDRA PANT Abstract The remote villages of the Central Himalaya are depository of the traditional knowledge and parctices. Documentation of such knowledge is vital in view of the gradually vanishing knowledge in new generations. Therefore, an effort has been made to document the traditional uses and practices of the plants utilized in curing diabetes by the inhabitants of rural areas in Central Himalaya of India. A total of 37 plant species belonging to and 27 families are traditionally used to treat diabetes. Various parts of these species are used to cure diabetes. This study would help developing a wide-ranging record on the availability of flora traditionally being used by the rural communities for curing diabetes, strengthening the healthcare system and also in documenting the traditional knowledge available in rural areas of Central Himalaya. Key words: Traditional knowledge, Flora, Diabetes, Central Himalayas, Medicinal plants.

Introduction polyuric diseases, in which glycosuria does not occur (Rollo 1797). Diabetes The word "diabetes" (a Greek word mellitus is a disease common to all parts that means "to pass through") was first of the world (Anonymous, 2007). Plant used by Aretaeous of Capadocia in the derivatives with hypoglycemic have 2nd century AD to describe a condition been used from very ancient time in folk that is characterized by excess of sugar medicine and traditional healing in blood and urine, hunger and thirst systems around the world (Yeh et al., (Mac Frlance et al., 1997) and the 2003). The health care system of 80% adjective "mellitus" (a latin- greek word population, of the developing world is that means "honey") was introduced by still dependent on their surrounding the English physician John Rollo so as vegetation/ forests and pastures. They to distinguish the conditions from other rely on medicinal plants because of their Resident director, Van Vigyan Bhawan, ICFRE, New Delhi E-mail : Gepant10gyahoo.com; [email protected] 70 My Forest December - 2013 effectiveness, lack of modern document the traditional knowledge in healthcare alternatives and cultural rural areas of Central Himalayan region. preferences (Caniago and Siebert, Material and Methods 1998). About 60% of the Indian population depend on traditional The Uttarakhand State of India 2 systems of medicine (Timmermans, covers an area of 53,485 km of which 2003). 90 % lies in the Central Himalayan region. The region is predominantly a The Central Himalayan region of rural area with 16,826 rural settlements India is synonymous with the newly of which 81 % have a population of less constituted Himalayan state of than 500. The study area (known as Uttarakhand. The geographical area of Kumaon Himalaya) is located in 28° 43' the region is dispersed within an 55" to 30° 30' 12" N latitude and 78° 44' altitudinal variation ranging from 200 m 30" to 80° 45' E longitude covering an to more than 8000 m amsl. The area of 21,032 km2 of Central knowledge and practices of utilization Himalayan region and attitudinally and conservation of medicinal plants, divisible into subtropical (300 to 1500 ethno-medicinal and ethno-veterinary m), temperate (1500 to 3500 m) and treatments by women of the region are alpine (>3500 m) zones. Annual rainfall vast (Samal et al., 2004). Several peaks at about 1200 m altitude (4100 studies have been carried out on the mm) and gradually declines to 670 mm use of the medicinal plants in the IHR in at 2700 m. About 29.12% population of general and Uttarakhand state in Central Himalayan region reside in particular (Samant et al. 1998, Pant, study area and 83.68% of this resides in 2005). Maximum species of medicinal rural areas. Women constituting, about plants have been reported from 51.8% (68.66% literate) (Census, 2011) Uttarakhand (Kala, 2004) followed by population of rural area in the study area Sikkim and North Bengal (Sam ant et are the life and blood of the economic al., 1998). A very few studies have been structure respectively. conducted on medicinal uses of the Ethno-botanical survey has been plants used in the household remedies found to be one of the reliable (Tripathi et al., 2001, Pande and Joshi, approaches to drug discovery (Carney 2001). The main objective of this study et al., 1999).Field survey for this study was to assess the availability of flora was conducted in 2012 in five districts, traditionally being used by the local viz.h Nainital, Almora, Bageshwar, communities for curing diabetes, and Champawat and Pithoragarh (Table 1 ).

71 My Forest December - 2013

In each district, 4 remote villages were knowledge distribution, and women randomly selected for the survey tend to know more. about medicinal keeping in view the bio-physical plants than men (Quinlan and Quinlan, diversities, i.e. forest cover, altitudinal 2007). Such influence is usually related location, distance from (i) primary .to their work activities in backyards and health center (ii) market (iii) road and home-gardens, as well as to care for bus points, and caste composition of the family health in general (Camou- village, so that they were best Guerrero et ai, 2008). The study representatives of other villages in the provides comprehensive information on region. A total of 270 respondents were the traditionally used 37 plant species interviewed which includes both women related with 27 families in curing (40.74%) and men (59.26%) from all diabetes. The predominant families are age groups. However, most of Fabaceae, Moraceae with 3 plant respondents are between 35 to 62 species, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, years. The main occupation of the C a e s a l p i n i a c e a e , R u t a c e a e , respondents is agriculture (42.59%) Lamiaceae, Liliaceae with 2 plant and (Table 1). Ethno botanical information other 19 (62%) families with one plant used for diabetes either ing flowering species used for curing diabetes (Table and fruiting stage was collected through 2 , Figure 1). The Indian Himalayan semi structured questionnaire. Almost Region supports approximately 1700 all the plants present in different sites plant species of known medicinal value were collected and identified with the (Samant et al., 1998). According to Kar help of plant taxonomists and literature et al. (2003), more than 100 medicinal concerned. Secondary literature, such plants are mentioned in the Indian as different flora records and various system of medicines including folk publications were also taken into medicines for the management of account. diabetes, which are effective either separately or in combinations. Results and Discussion Distribution of plant species according From the documentation, it was to habit type indicates that out of them revealed that women possess more 37% are trees, 32% herbs, 18 % shrubs, knowledge of the traditionally used 13% climbers and 3% grass (Figure 2). flora, as more than 52.65% of them The study also indicates that different have knowledge on anti diabetic use of parts of plants were used to cure flora against 38.55 % for men. Gender is diabetes. The distribution of plant parts a widely observed factor in studies on shows that leaves of 35% plants, bark of

72 My Forest December - 2013

8%, fruit of 16 %, whole plant extract of Conclusions 8%, seed of 8%, root of 13%, rhizome The study provides comprehensive 3%, heart wood of 3%, wood of 3%, bulb information on the traditionally used of 3% and tuber of 2% were identified as flora in treating diabetes. The synthetic having medicinal value for curing oral hypoglycemic agents have adverse diabetes (Figure 3). The reason why health effects in addition to blood sugar leaves are used mostly is that they are easily accessible and are active in lowering. Therefore, search for anti- photosynthesis and production of diabetic flora from traditional medicinal metabolites (Ghorbani, 2005). The flora has become important. Traditional common use of leaf in the preparation of anti-diabetic flora, now a days gaining remedies could partly be due to the the recognition amongst alternative relative ease of finding this plant part. form of medication, it is providing sound Leaves remain green and available in health and economic sustainability to plenty for the most months of the years. rural communities of Central Himalayan The use of leaves in the preparation of region. Genetic biodiversity of remedies is also common elsewhere traditional medicinal flora used to cure (Ignacimuthu et al., 2006). diabetes is under the threat of extinction Information on the use of plant as a consequence of non sustainable species for therapeutic purpose has collection methods, loss of growth been passed from one generation to the habitats and uncontrolled trade of next through oral tradition, this medicinal plants. knowledge of therapeutic plants has References started to decline and become obsolete through the lack of recognition by Anonymous (2007). Diabetes mellitus younger generations as a result of a s t a t i s t i c s . A m e r i c a n H e a r t shift in attitude and ongoing socio- Association 18(1). economic changes (Kala, 2000). It is Alarcon-Aguilar, FJ., Roman-Ramos, very important to document, analyze R., Flores-Saenz, J.L. and Aguirre- and evaluate this 'knowledge not only Garcia, F. (2002). Investigation on for their cultural reasons, but also for the Hypoglycaemic Effects of their commercial value, as ethno E x t r a c t s o f F o u r M e x i c a n medicinal uses of plants is one of the Medicinal Plants in Normal and most successful criteria used by the A l l o x a n - d i a b e t i c M i c e . pharmaceutical industry in finding new Phytotherapy Research 16: 383- therapeutic agents (Cox and Balick, 386. 1994).

73 My Forest December - 2013

S i v a r a m a n , K . ( 2 0 0 6 ) . Ethnobotanical investigations Caniago, I. and Siebert, S. (1998). among Tribes in Madurai District of M e d i c i n a l p l a n t s e c o l o g y, Tamil Nadu (India). J. Ethnobiol. knowledge and conservation in and Ethnomed. 2:25. Kalimantan, Indonesia. Economic Botany 52: 229-250. Kar, A., Choudhary, B.K. and Bandyopadhyay, N.G. (2003). Carney, JR., Krenishky, J.M., Comparative evaluation of hypo Williamson, R.T., Luo, J., Carlson, glycaemic activity of some Indian TJ., Hsu, V.L. and Moswa, medicinal plants in alloxan diabetic lL.(1999). Maprouneacin, a new r a t s . J o u r n a l o f E t h n o daphnane diterpenoid with potent pharmacology 84: 105-108. anti hyperglycemic activity from Maprouneaafricana.J. Nat Prod Kala, C.P. (1998). Ethnobotanical 62: 345-347. Survey and Propagation of Rare Medicinal Herbs in the Buffer Zone Camou-Guerrero, A., Reyes-Garcia, V., of the Valley of Flowers National Martinez-Ramos, M. and Casas, A. P a r k , G a r h w a l H i m a l a y a . (2008). Knowledge and use value International Centre for Integrated of plant species in a Ranimuri M o u n t a i n D e v e l o p m e n t , community: a gender perspective Kathmandu. for conservation. Human Ecology 36: 259-272. Pant, S. (2005). Plant Diversity and E t h n o b o t a n ) o f M o r n a u l a Ghorbani, A. (2005). Studies on Himalayan Region, Reserve Forest pharmaceutical ethnobotany in the in Kumaun, West Himalaya. PhD region of Turk men Sahra, north of Thesis. Kumaun University, Iran (Part 1): general results. Nainital. J. Ethnopharmacol 102: 58-68. Pande, P.C. and Joshi, G.c. (2001). MacFarlance, LA., Bliss, M., Jackson, Indigenous medicinal uses of lG. and Williams, G. (1997). The plants in Kumaun Himalaya. In: history of diabetesmellitus. In: Samant, S.S., Dhar, U. and Palni, Pichup, J. and Williams, G. (eds.), L.M.S. (eds.), Himalayan Medicinal Textbook of diabetes. 2nd Ed., vol.l. Plants: Potential and Prospects. Blackwell, London, pp. 1-21. GyanodayaPrakashan, Nainital, Ignacimuthu, S., M. Ayyanar and pp. 117-124.

74 My Forest December - 2013

Quinlan, M.B. and Quinlan, RJ. (2007). plants, In: Samant, S.S., Dhar, U. Modernization and medicinal plant and Palni, L.M.S. (eds.), Himalayan knowledge in a Caribbean Medicinal Plants: Potential and horticultural village. Medical Prospects, Gyanodaya Prakashari, Anthropology Quarterly 21:169- Nainital, pp. 151. 192. Timmermans, K. (2003). Intellectual Samant, S.S., Dhar, U. and Palni, Property Rights and Traditional L.M.S. (1998). Medicinal Plants of Medicine: Policy dilemmas at the Indian Himalaya: Diversity i n t e r f a c e . W o r l d H e a l t h Distribution Potential Values. Organization, Geneva. Gyanodaya Prakashan, NainitaI. Rollo, 1. (1797). An account of two Samal, P.K., Shah, A., Tiwari, S. and cases of the diabetes mellitus, with A g r a w a l , D . K . ( 2 0 0 4 ) . remarks as they arose during the Indigenousmedicinal practices progress of the cure. C. Dilly, and their linkages in resource London. conservation and physical well Yeh, G.Y., Eisenberg, D.M., Kaptchuk, being of the locals in Central TJ. and Phillips, R.S. (2003). Himalayan region of India. Indian Systematic Review of Herbs and J.Traditional Knowledge 3:12-26. Dietary Supplements for Glycemic Tripathi, G. (2001). Indigenous Control in Diabetes. Diabetes Care knowledge and traditional practice 26:1277-1294. of some Himalayan medicinal

75

My Forest September - 2013

Quinlan, M.B. and Quinlan, RJ. (2007). plants, In: Samant, S.S., Dhar, U. Modernization and medicinal plant and Palni, L.M.S. (eds.), Himalayan knowledge in a Caribbean Medicinal Plants: Potential and horticultural village. Medical Prospects, Gyanodaya Prakashari, Anthropology Quarterly 21:169- Nainital, pp. 151. 192. Timmermans, K. (2003). Intellectual Samant, S.S., Dhar, U. and Palni, Property Rights and Traditional L.M.S. (1998). Medicinal Plants of Medicine: Policy dilemmas at the Indian Himalaya: Diversity i n t e r f a c e . W o r l d H e a l t h Distribution Potential Values. Organization, Geneva. Gyanodaya Prakashan, NainitaI. Rollo, 1. (1797). An account of two Samal, P.K., Shah, A., Tiwari, S. and cases of the diabetes mellitus, with A g r a w a l , D . K . ( 2 0 0 4 ) . remarks as they arose during the Indigenousmedicinal practices progress of the cure. C. Dilly, and their linkages in resource London. conservation and physical well Yeh, G.Y., Eisenberg, D.M., Kaptchuk, being of the locals in Central TJ. and Phillips, R.S. (2003). Himalayan region of India. Indian Systematic Review of Herbs and J.Traditional Knowledge 3:12-26. Dietary Supplements for Glycemic Tripathi, G. (2001). Indigenous Control in Diabetes. Diabetes Care knowledge and traditional practice 26:1277-1294. of some Himalayan medicinal

58 My Forest December - 2013

76 Table 1. Gender and occupation of respondents

Gender Occupations Name of district Rural respondents Male KTF Female KTF AG RG TH GS SE RB

Almora 44 26 6 18 8 16 2 4 10 6 6 My ForestDecember-2013

Pithoragarh 84 46 19 38 16 35 14 7 9 8 13

72 42 22 30 22 32 9 6 7 9 7

77 Bageshwar

Champawat 80 52 17 28 14 32 4 4 15 14 11

Total

% of total 280 166 64 114 60 115 29 21 41 37 37

respondents 59.29 38.55 40.71 52.63 41.07 10.35 7.5 14.64 13.21 13.21

* KTF-Knowledge of the traditionally used flora, AG-Agriculture, RG-Rearing of goats, Th-Traditional healers, GS- Government service, SE-Self-employed, RB-Rural business. Table 2. A list of medicinal plants along with part/parts used for the treatment of diabetes Life Part Family Botanical name Local Preparation and mode of use form name used

Anacardiaceae Mangifera indica L. Aam Tree Fruit Fresh young leaves extract is taken in empty stomach.

Annonaceae Annona squamosa L. Sharifa Tree Leaves Three fresh leaves are chewed daily with empty stomach for treating My ForestDecember-2013 diabetes. Amaryllidaceae Allium sativum L. Lahsun Herb Bulb Oral administration of the extract. Apiaccae Herb Seed One teaspoonful powder daily with a

78 Carum copticum L. Ajwain cup of luke warm water before meal. Apriaceae Coriandrum sativum L. Dhania Herb Leaves Fresh green leaves are chewed daily.

Apocynaceae Catharanthus roseus G. Don Sadabahar Shrub Leaves Two leaves are chewed in the morning with empty stomach Asclepiadaceae Gymnema sylvesre (Retz.) R.Br. Gudmar Climber W hole Fresh juice used in the morning. plant Berberidaceae Shrub Root Decoction of root used in empty Berberis asiatica Roxb.ex DC. Kilmora stomach. Euphorbiaceae Emblica officinalis Gaertn Aonnla Tree Fruit Fresh fruit juice ones a day.

Brassicaceae Raphanus sativus L. Muli Herb Root Juice of root is used Curcuma longa Linn L. Haldi Herb Rhizome Half teaspoonful of rhizome powder mixed luke-warm water is taken daily. Caesalpiniaceae Cassia fistula .L Amaltas Tree Bark Back powder is used. Decoction of ten gm root daily is Cassia tora .L Chakund Shrub Root useful. Combretaceae Terrninalia W. & A Arjun Tree Leaves Decoction of leaves Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium album L. Bathua Herb Leaves Leaves are cooked and eaten daily. Cucurbitaceae Momordica charantea Karela Climber Fruit Fruit juice is taken in morning and evening in empty stomach. My ForestDecember-2013 Fabaceae Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Mathi Herb Seed One teaspoonful of seeds powder daily in the morning with empty stomach. Acacia catechu L. Khair Tree Heart wood Decoction is taken daily in the

79 morning. Pterocarpus marsupium Vijay sal Tree Wood Water in tumbler made of its wood is Roxburgh kept overnight and is taken daily early in the morning. Rutaceae Murraya koenigi L. Spreng. Karipata Shrub Leaves Fresh leaves juice is used. Aeglemarmelos(L.) Corr. Bel Tree Leaves Decoction is taken. Rubiaceae Rubia cordifolia L. Mangitha Climber W hole Decoction is consumed. plant Urticaceae Urtica dioica L. Sisuna Herb Root Decoction of root is used. Menispermaceae Tinospora cordifolia (W illd.) Geloy Climber W hole Juice of stem taken daily empty Miers. plant stomach. Lamiaceae Ajuga parviflora Benth. Ratpatia Herb Leaves Fresh leaves chewed in empty stomach. Ocimum sanctum .L Tulsi Shrub Leaves Leaf extract is used. Liliaceae Asparagus racemosus willd. Shataver Herb Root Powder of root is taken with a cup of milk. Aloe vera (L.) Webb. & Benth Alovera Herb Leaves Juice extract of leaves is used. Meliaceae Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Neem Tree Leaves One teaspoonful of leaves powder dried in shade is taken daily with water.

Moraceae Ficus benghalensis L. Bargad Tree Bark A teaspoonful of stem bark powder is My ForestDecember-2013 taken daily with a cup of fat free milk. Ficus racemosa L. Gular Tree Fruit Raw fruit is eaten. Ficus religiosa L. Pipal Tree Leaves Young leaves are useful. Pedaliaceae Seasmum indicum L. Till Shrub Seed Seeds are eaten daily for a month in 80 winter season. Poaceae Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. Madua Grass Grain Finger Millet's phyto chemicals help Flour in slowing digestion process. This helps in controlling blood sugar level in condition of diabetes. Finger Millet based diet helps diabetics as it contains higher fiber. Solanaceae Lycopersicon lycopersicum L. Tamater Herb Fruit Red fruit taken as salad is beneficial. Myrtaceae Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. Jamun Tree Fruit and Powder of dried fruit is taken with Leaves water twice. Juice of fresh leaves taken daily with empty stomach. My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.81-89 INFLUENCE OF INSECT ATTRACTANTS, MICRONUTRIENTS AND GROWTH REGULATORS APPLICATION ON SEED GERMINATION AND QUALITY IN LUCERNE (MEDICAGO SATIVA L.) KRISHNA, A AND SREEDHRA.K Abstract In the laboratory experiment, seeds of Lucerne cv. RL-88 produced during Robi season of 2010-11 at Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad. The experiment consisted of eight treatment combinations

involving two insect attractants viz., Jaggery solution @ 2% (A1)and Commercial

attractant (A2)(Bee-Q @ 0.175%), two micronutrients Boron@ 0.8% (M1)and

Molybdenum @ 0.05% (M2)and two growth regulators Gibberlic Acid (GA3) @ 50

ppm (G1)and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) @ 50 ppm) (G2). All the insect attractants, micronutrients and growth regulators were sprayed at the time of 50 per cent flowering stage. After harvesting the crop, threshing done to extract the seeds and cleaned and dried down to safe moisture level. Samples were drawn from different treatments used for seed quality assessment in the laboratory. The results indicated that, Seeds harvested from the plots of Bee-Q insect attractants,

Molybdenum @ 0.05 per cent and GA3 (Gibberilic Acid) @ 50 ppm sprayed were showed significantly higher values of higher seed quality parameters. Seeds harvested from Jaggery attractant, Boron @ 0.8% and NAA sprayed plots showed higher electrical conductivity (0.289 dSm-1) compared their respective treatments. Key words: Lucerne, Insect attractants, micronutrients, germination and vigour index Introduction tones of green forage per ha. It is grown as a farm crop in Gujarat, Maharashtra, World area under lucerne Punjab, Western districts of Uttara cultivation is about 35 m ha with Pradesh and West Bengal. After production of 436 million tones of forage Sorghum and Berseem, Llucerne is 3rd yield which varies from 5-75 tlha/yr with important forage crop in India'(Anon., 8-12 cuttings and seed yield is 186-280 2010). kg/ha. In India Lucerne occupies one million ha area and provides 60-130 Lucerne (Medicago sativa, L) is Department of Forest biology and Tree improvement College of Forestry, University of Agricultural Sciences, Sirsi-581 401 81 My Forest December - 2013 popularly known as Alfalfa, is a small northern states due to favourable seeded crop, and has a slowly-growing environmental conditions prevailing in seedling, but after several months of these states. The regions of low establishment, forms a tough crown at temperature are most favourable for the top of the root system. This crown lucerne seed production (Hazra and contains many shoot buds that enables Sinha, 1996). alfalfa to re-grow many times after being Supply of good quality seeds is an grazed or harvested. In Karnataka, effective means of improving the crop there are many forage grasses and production. Seed quality depends on legumes in cultivation. Among all the complex condition evoking the most available forage legumes, lucerne is favourable interaction between the very ideal leguminous forage as it is genetic make up of the seed and highly palatable, nutritive, fast growing environment, under which it produced, harvested processed and stored. and it can be grown throughout the year. It is serving as a most important nutritive Seed production in Lucerne crop for milch cows, race horses and requires high dexterity, timeliness and draught animals (Abdul Khalak., 1989). conducive climate conditions. Production of quality seed is one of the As Lucerne crop provides good major set back in Lucerne, as it requires quality green fodder during the summer tripping mechanism for . pollination. months when there is acute shortage of Hence, it is essential to know the green fodder. There is great demand for influence of insect attractants, its quality seed because farmers micronutrients nas growth regulators on generally raise the crop for green fodder seed quality in Lucerne. and did not produce seed. The Material and methods availability of quality seed is one of the The experiment was conducted limiting factors in its rapid spread during Rabi season of 2010-11 at Main throughout the country. Seed Agricultural Research Station, production in Lucerne is undependable University of Agriculture Sciences, and restricted to certain regions. Thus, it Dharwad. The experiment consisted is insufficient to meet the seed of 8 treatment (combinations involving requirement. Almost 80% of this two insect attractants (A1- Jaggery Lucerne seed is being produced only in solution @ 2% and Ar Commercial Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and attractant (Bee-Q @ 0.175%), two 82 My Forest December - 2013

M2- Molybdenum @ 0.05%) and two Results and discussion growth regulators (G Gibberlic Acid 1- The germination percentage (GA3) @ 50 ppm and G2- Naphthalene showed significant variation due to the Acetic Acid (NAA) @ 50 ppm). insect attractants sprayed at the time of Experiment was laid out in randomized 50 per cent flowering stage. Seeds block design with factorial concept and harvested from the plots of Bee-Q replicated thrice. All the insect insect attractants sprayed recorded attractants, micro nutrients and growth significantly higher germination regulators were sprayed at the time of percentage (91.16) compared to 50 per cent flowering stage on same Jaggery solution (88.41). Application of day. The certified seeds of lucerne Molybdenum @ 0.05 per cent as foliar variety RL-88 were procured from spray recorded significantly higher Indian Grass land and Fodder germination percentage (90.58) Research Institute (IGFRI), Regional compared to the Boron @ 0.8 per cent Centre, Dharwad and used for the application. Seed harvested from the study. The seeds were hand sown @ 20 plants GA3 (Gibberilic Acid) @ 50 ppm kg per hectare to the depth of 2-3 cm in sprayed at the time of 50 per cent the furrows spaced at 30 cm apart in all flowering showed significantly higher the plots. After seed germination, weak values of germination percentage than and diseased seedlings were removed the NAA (Naphthalene Acetic Acid) @ by thinning after two weeks of sowing 50 ppm (Table-1 and Fig-1) and retained a single healthy seedling per hill. To get more number of tillers The interaction effect between and flowers and to reduce the insect attractants and micronutrients, the A M showed significantly higher vegetative growth in Lucerne, crop 2 I cutting was recommended. The crop germination percentage (91.33) cutting was done at 70, 95 and 120 days followed by A2M2 (91.00) and lower in after sowing. After harvesting the crop, AIM, and AIM2 with 86.66 and 90.16 threshing done to extract the seeds and r e s p e c t i v e l y. T h e t r e a t m e n t cleaned and dried down to safe combination A2GI and M2G) recorded moisture level. Laboratory studies such significantly higher germination as gennination percentage, root length, percentage shoot length, dry weight of the seedling, The interaction effects between electric conductivity, vigour index were insect attractants, micronutrients and recorded as per standard procedure growth regulators showed significant (IST A, 1996). differences with respect to seed 83 My Forest December - 2013 germination. The treatment combi- seedling dry weight was did not vary nation of A)M2G) found significantly significantly due to the interaction of superior over all other treatment insect attractants and growth combinations. Application of insect regulators. However, M.G. (17.05) attractants, micronutrients and growth recorded higher seething dry weight regulators produced seeds with better whereas, M2G2 (15.71) recorded lower quality. The better filling of seeds and seedling dry weight during the higher test weight indicates the better experimentation. Significantly higher food reserve in the seeds produced with seedling dry weight was found in A.M2G. these treatments might have resulted in over all other treatment combinations. better quality parameters. These results The better seed quality may be due to are in agreements with the observations spraying of micronutrients and growth of Vippin Krishna et al. (2006b) in regulators resulted in production of bold Lucerne and Sundara (2002) in Pea. seeds. These results are in agreements The seedling dry weight found with the observations of Vippin Krishna significant due to the insect attractants et al. (2006a) and Manomani et al. sprayed at the time of 50 per cent (2002) in Lucerne. flowering stage The Bee-Q insect Among the insect attractants attractant recorded significantly higher sprayed, Bee-Q recorded significantly seedling dry weight (17.18) compared higher shoot length (9.03) compared to Jaggery solution (15.50). Application of Jaggery solution (8.52 cm). Application Boron @ 0.8 per cent as foliar spray of Molybdenum @ 0.05 percent as foliar recorded significantly higher seedling spray recorded significantly higher dry weight (16.40 mg) compared to the shoot length (8.84 cm) compared the

Molybdenum @ 0.05 per cent Boron @ 0.8 percent application. GA3 application. Application of growth (Gibberilic acid) @ 50 ppm sprayed regulators produced significant plots showed significantly higher shoot differences in seedling dry weight. length than the NAA (Naphthalene Acetic Acid) @ 50 ppm. The treatment combination of A2M) significantly superior in producing The treatment combinations A2M2 seedling dry weight (17.43) followed by (9.10) recorded significantly higher

A2M2 (16.94 g). The least seedling dry shoot length and it was lower in AIM. weight was observed in A1M1 and A1M2 (8.55 cm). A2G. (9.31lcm) recorded with 15.38 and 15.68 respectively. The significantly higher shoot length

whereas, A.G2 (8.14cm) recorded lower 84 My Forest December - 2013 s h o o t l e n g t h . T h e t r e a t m e n t per cent application. GA3 (Gibberilic combinations M2G. (9.16 cm) recorded Acid) @ 50 ppm sprayed at the time of significantly higher shoot length and 50 per cent flowering showed lower was in M.G2 (8.37 cm). significantly higher values of vigour index than the NAA (Naphthalene The insect attractants sprayed Bee- Acetic Acid) @ 50 ppm (Table-2 and Fig- Q commercial attractants recorded 2). The treatment combinations M G significantly higher rot length (6.07 cm) 2 I (1463) recorded significantly higher compared to Jaggery solution (5.60 vigour index and lower in M G (1200). cm). Molybdenum @ 0.05 percent as 2 2 foliar spray recorded significantly higher The interaction effects between insect root length (8.84 cm) compared the attractants, micronutrients and growth Boron @ 0.8 percent application. regulators showed non-significant Among the growth regulators sprayed, differences in vigour index. These results are in conformity with findings of GA 3 (Gibberilic acid) recorded Mishra and Patel et al. (1987) and significantly higher root length (9.15 cm) Mohan and Yadava (1989) in lucerne. compared to NAA (Naphthalene Acetic Acid). Seed harvested from Jaggery attractant sprayed plots showed higher The treatment combination of electrical conductivity (0.289 dSm-1) A2M2(6.19 cm), A2G. (6.44 cm) and M2G. compared seeds Bee-Q (0.264 dSm-1) (6.39 cm)significantly superior in sprayed plots. Application of Boron @ producing root lengthover other 0.8% as foliar spray recorded higher combinations The interaction effects electrical conductivity (0.760 dSm-1) b e t w e e n i n s e c t a t t r a c t a n t s , compared to the Molybdenum @ 0.05% micronutrients and growth regulators application. NAA (Naphthalene Acetic showed significant differences in root Acid) recorded significantly higher length. The treatment combination of electrical conductivity (0.293 dSm-1) A2M2G. recorded significantly maximum compared to GA (Gibberilic Acid). root length over other treatments. 3 The seedling vigour index found Among the treatment combinations -1 -1 significant due to the insect attractants A1M1 (0.290 dSm ), A1G2 (0.313 dSm ) sprayed at the time of 50 per cent and M2G2 recorded significantly higher flowering stage. Application of electrical conductivity. The interaction Molybdenum @ 0.05 as foliar spray effects between insect attractants, recorded significantly higher vigour micronutrients and growth regulators index (1332) compared to Boron @ 0.8 showed significant in seedling dry 85 My Forest December - 2013 weight. The treatment combinations of Mohan, R. and Yadava, R. B. R., 1989,

A1M1G2 found significantly superior over Effect of growth regulators on seed all other treatment combinations The yield and quality in Melitotus electrical conductivity of the seed sps. J. Agron. Crop Sci., 160(3): leachate is inversely proportional to the 151-154. seed quality. These results are in Sundara T. H., 2002, Influence of conformity with the findings of Vippin phosphorus, micronutrients and Krisha et al. (2006b) in Lucerne. growth regulators on growth, seed References yield and quality of pea (Pisum sativum L.) MSc. (Agri) Thesis Abdul Khalak., 1989. Seed yield of submitted to Univ. Agric. Sci., Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) Dharwad varieties at different times of sowing and levels of fertilizer. MSc. Vippin Krishna, B. C., Channakeshava (Agri) thesis submitted to Univ. and Viswanatha. K. P., 2006a, Agri. Sci., Bangalore. Influence of growth regulators, micronutrients, and pheromones Anonymous, 1996, International rates on crop growth, flowering behavior for seed testing. Seed Science and seed yield in Lucerne. Forage and Technology (Supplement), Res., 32 (2):98-100. 29 : 1-335. Vippin Krishna, Channakeshava, B.C., Manomani, V., Raj. A. D. and Gopalan, P r a s a n n a , K . P. R . . a n d A., 2002, Effect of Foliar spraying Viswanatha, K. P., 2006b, Effect of with Nutrients on Seed Production spray of growth regulators, and Seed Quality of Lucerne. micronutrients, and pheromones Seed. Tech. News., 32(1): 34-35. on seed yield and quality Mishra, S. M. and Patel, D., 1987. Effect parameters in Lucerne. Forage of boron on seed yield in Lucerne Res., 32 (3):152-154. (Medicago sativa L.). J. Agron. Crop Sci, 158 :34-37.

86 My Forest December - 2013

87 My Forest December - 2013

88 My Forest December - 2013

89 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.90-91 GLIMPSES OF INDIAN WILDLIFE Book Review Publisher : Nekhara Prakashana Auther : BMT RAJEEV Pages 453 Language : English Rs. 895/- Like a light fibre-glass frame that complicit with the quagmire one has bears a heavy load-----with no created, and in which the remnant protruding river and ribs to show how wildlife must continue to live. the whole holds together----the The wildlife preservation scenario in scaffolding of this debut book compiled the whole of the world in general & in by BMT Rajeev bears the imprint of his India in particular has undergone command over the craft storytelling and dramatic changes in the past few his ability to navigate between the more decades. With the steep fall in the nuanced demands of the subject and numbers, and shrinking of habitats broad strokes of the different denizens additionally, the average denizen in the living in the wild, touching their wild is at a loss: how to survive & interesting & unexpected ways lightly, multiply is any wild animal's worry. New till they are interwoven inseparably, avenues in the form of sanctuaries & exhibiting his subtler skills. National Parks have opened up but Simultaneously, Rajeev's dealing most of the wild animals are not t h e i r h a b i t s & c h a r a c t e r s a acclamatised or familiar with a number melodramatic hand, as the wildlife is of them, and not sure of them, perhaps, with their reliability, scope & prospects. confronted with extreme situations and The super power status that India is offered drastic choices, their demands aiming at in the field of Conservation is & requirements are wrung out and their to be seen from different angles. appetites are stroked reflexively----this Exhaustive reviews of the Indian relentless pattern can rather be wildlife, and the role of the Indian fatiguing, and it is here that one looks for Diaspora are included, along with the finer discrimination from the author. study of the world wildlife. The After going through .the book, one reverberations are felt every day of loss knows the context of the torment one of wildlife of some form or the other. has caused, and thus one gets a chance India after declaration of several of it to make amends to preserve wildlife. species as endangered is the topic One must examine one's personal frequently attracting attention of wildlife choices to see how far they are enthusiasts: it is followed by a detailed 90 My Forest December - 2013 discussion of all other vexing issues of which he could lay his hands on , and the past----Indian & international, in this discerningly chose to include relevant treatise by Rajeev. One's impression passages which are sure to educate after going through this voluminous wildlife enthusiasts, while other book is that Science has received chapters are bound to satiate the thirst through treatment. of beginners & doubting Thomases who One of the fifteen chapters in the question the very need to have wild book deals with Wildlife Legislation, and animals roaming about the forests! I wonder whether all the readers & the The book provides material for a author agree to the statement that 'Law' wholesome reading even otherwise, is a jealous mistress who, unfortunately, and Rajeev appears to have done a happens to be fickle & lacks the splendid job as its author. constancy of absolute sciences like We've seen this all before, primordial Botany, Mathematics & Natural nature corrupted by want greed & big Sciences, and hence one has to be alert business and that's disappointing since to keep abreast of 'her' changing Rajeev says 'Wildlife conservation & its stances. A writer always wears glasses management is becoming complicated & never combs his hair, while half the & a worrying issue for the Government time he feels angry about everything & wildlife enthusiasts due to enhanced and the other half depressed, spending biotic interference of man in its habitats most of his time arguing with other & in hunting valuable wild animals for dishevelled & bespectacled writers: trading their different organs in the saying very 'deep' things, always having amazing ideas for the plot of his next international market for lucrative money book, and Rajeev might be no in oriental medicine industry". And so exception! the book suggests as our sins visit upon our next generations to come, we suffer Among other chapters which require with them and for them, collectively as a to be gone through with special society. And so Glimpses of Indian attention are those dealing with Wildlife succeeds in its ambition & for its Causes for the depletion of wildlife; scope, for the possibilities Rajeev finds 'Basics of wildlife management', open to him to revisits, as idea that t he 'Special projects launched for apparently is open to exploring. May the Conservation', Monitoring and likes of his breed increase vastly! evaluation', and 'Riddles in wildlife Reviewed by : management', since Rajeev has taken Dr. B. Raghothama Rao Desai great pains to refer several treatises IFS (Retd.) 91 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.92 ART OF INDIAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (Bharateeya Vanyajeevi Nirvaahana Kale) Book Review Publisher : Sri Krishna Prasaarana Auther : BMT RAJEEV Pages : 366 Language : Kannada Rs. 590/- This beautifully crafted and therein, and spilling into the very memorable 'Magnum Opus' by BMT existence of certain magnificent rare Rajeev is indeed heartwarming. The species. author portrays with tender empathy As a whole, 'Art of Indian Wildlife how good intentions can result in Management' is a compilation of warped and terrible outcomes. Cruelty, diverse themes and differing storylines, intended and unintended, to one each with the author's take on the species of wildlife or the other, can concept of Wildlife Conservation. The cause a chain of unforeseen and suggestions presented in the book apparently unconnected disasters. aren't necessarily exceptional, nor are 'Kindness can also come from they all examples of exemplary, unexpected places to usher in rays of measures. And yet, most of them have hope'. The significance of impersonal as idea or revelation that sets them news reports of unbridled slaughtering apart from each other, while providing of wild animals, upheavals and for useful and erudite presentation, with machinations of traders of various sincerity and personal observation. organs & parts of wild animals, finally 'Art of lndian Wildlife Management' is reaches the Wild Life Board( formed in actually Rajeev's second book, the 'fifties') and 'through it to the earlier one being 'Glimpses of Indian Lawmakers' at the Centre, who enact Wildlife' which he brought out in 2010, 'Wild Life Protection Act and Rules', the language he chose to express then decades later. The author portrays having been English. Both books are vividly the terrible affects of large-scale lean, painstakingly - sustained poachings on innocent denizens of performances arid are chroniclers of his forests, who were in no way coming into length and breadth purposeful conflict with humanity on their own----as peregrinations in the world of wildlife. I the narration builds up, readers are congratulate him! shown how violence had taken over a Reviewed by : peaceful country side which was home Dr. B. Raghothama Rao Desai to beautiful forests, and fauna dwelling IFS (Retd.) 92 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.93-94 LIFE IN THE JUNGLE: MEMOIRS OFA FORESTER Book Review Publisher : Krab Media & Marketing 2013 Auther : M N Jayakumar, FRPS, IFS(Retd.) Pages : 366 Language : English Rs. 590/- I believe that an artist's work comes peafowl at a close range, during his out of an intense and unique perambulations in the forests, while on involvement with his art itself ..... an duty. Doodling with a black-and-white artist's life, his world, indeed his whole film in an affordable camera might have being is focused on this act of creation. come as a magical experience for the He is most at home with his own inner young officer. On the film's surface world of darkness & light from which might have appeared pictures of emerge the strange forms the photo unparalleled beauty which would graphs are a reflection of this all- otherwise have remained as unseen in absorbing life in the jungle. Here a water the interiors of deep jungles----some hole or a salt-lick has a life of its own, virgin confines of core areas sometimes and in combination with wildlife convey reveal weird manifestations. These with poignance, the vulnerability and pastimes grew into a playhouse where resurgence of the rare human spirit. imagination and reality co-exist. M N Jayakumar was not a prolific On his part, Jayakumar would recall wildlife photographer----he worked that wildlife enthusiasts of his laboriously as he drew inspiration from generation photographed for the love of the opportunities he got during is art. I feel one should have an postings, by looking at Nature unwavering affair with one's creativity. philosophically. To him Nature must Otherwise you are swept away by the have looked beautiful, while making him tide. True, I am saying this in retrospect. sad. He must have felt elevated But one should always resist defeat in simultaneously---- not contradictingly, life. as it is like the crest and trough of a Jayakumar's photographs that wave. His ability to create a privet realm were in relatively small format were of time and space, and an internal eagerly collected and made headlines universe in the field he had chosen, in several exhibitions. Notwithstanding made him stand out amongst his peers. all the pride, glory and extraordinary He appears to have come face-to-face with qualitative photography for the first achievements, Jayakumar will be time. When his young eyes chanced essentially remembered as a reclusive upon an encounter of a big cat or a flying artist in the field of wildlife photography, 93 My Forest December - 2013 a soft-spoken person and a much exhibited in major shows. at the famed disciplined, player at the relevant world 'Chitrakala Parishat' at Bangalore. of photography. From an amateur and "Life in the Jungle Memoirs of a casual wildlife photographer to an Forester" focuses on creating an internationally acclaimed artist, awareness about wildlife and Nature Jayakumar's was a long and and appreciating the same in its true remarkable journey in the world of form the beautiful book certainly wildlife photography. Scaling many capable of creating a platform for avid peaks of creativity in a career that wildlife photographers to showcase spanned more than two decades, he their work and features both veteran & developed his own unique style and budding photographer each shot being created an exceptional body of work. His photographs be they closeups or a great one, showcasing some unseen landscapes or portraits bear the mark of rare shots of the creatures of the wild. meticulous approach and delicate Some of the moments captured are very handling of camera, which he rare the pictures are amazing and each ingeniously and painstakingly one is different and has a story to tell. It employed to create a host of surely makes every person to ponder breathtaking images in the wild. what it will be like to actually see the animals in the wild. If they look so As much for his intense and evocative majestic in the pictures, imagine how art, Jayakumar was also known for his great they will look in the wild! The painfully modest ways and perennial pictures showcase a variety of species reluctance to come to limelight. Though like tiger, leopard, lion, elephant, wild- life had acquired a feverish pace, he dog, eagle, and hawks, with the was a recluse by nature and was not underlining message that 'these happy with the rat race --- of which he animals are best in the wild '. could not become a part, but preferring the lone road and sating away from the Reviewed by : crowded world around, as he preferred Dr. B. Raghothama Rao Desai to be himself. That did not prevent the IFS (Retd.) devoted artist's work from attracting widespread attention and critical acclaim his name became well e n s c o n c e d a m o n g s t l e a d i n g photographers in the field he had chosen, and his photographs were 94 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.95-96 WHY MEDDLE WITH THE CALENDAR OF EVENT PRESCRIBED BY NATURE? DR. B. RAGHOTHAM RAO DESAI, IFS(Retd.) Come autumn and deciduous trees in leaves have apparently outlived their the plant kingdom shed their leaves a utility and can no longer be useful to the few of the leaves presenting a beautiful tree, are shed in order to yield place to spectacle as they waltz while falling, fresh, green and useful new leaves. mimicking butterflies! A few more shoot But even the leaves that lie scattered on straight down: strikingly resembling the the ground, with the silhouettes of their fall of a sparrow while some others drop veins and capillaries visible, reflect off with little or no fuss as if they are some of the light they had captured making a statement of their free will!! If once. Whether crisp or limp they look you had observed keenly they fall alone, ready for another innings: in the forests, they fall in clusters, and on reaching the the soil from which the leaves sprouted ground they crawl or roll or pirouette as welcomes them back. The leaves that the wind blows: they are ready to be claimed a piece of the sky now make a swept away. They are ready to cushion bed of themselves on the ground to rest every walker's feet or offering comfortably --- in fact they can be stated themselves up as fodder for grubs or as to have journeyed back to enrich the soil walls for nests. and even might "whisper tales of the All living beings, to whichever kingdom wind and the sky now make a bed of they may be belonging, have to yield themselves on the ground to rest places to newer beings. Through the comfortably ---- in fact they can be instrument of death, nature so stated to have journeyed back to enrich eliminates, it being a continuous the soil and even might whisper tales of process going on relentlessly, being an the wind and the sky and the light"! inexorable law of nature as there is no Hence Indian philosophers through the exception to this cosmic law. ages held up the ideal of the dried leaves, which are content to be blown The tree throws out unceremoniously its about to describe the wisest of the own leaves when they turn yellow: detached sages!! being aware that these were the very leaves which provided food and Dry leaves are a valuable resource: if sustenance to it by photosynthesis they cannot be allowed to remain where when they were green. The yellow they have fallen, they should be buried 95 My Forest December - 2013 in pits where, while they disintegrate is to deprive the earth of that which they transform into valuable compost would gladly merge and blend with it and manure. It is time to realise that and may be resurface once again in the fallen leaves still have a journey to blades of grass. So why meddle with the complete and some further work to do. calendar of events nature had To make them vanish in a gust of smoke prescribed?

96 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.97-98 "MANGROVE ECOSVSTEM" WHAT A LAVMAN OUGHT TO KNOW DR. B. RAGHOTHAM RAO DESAI, IFS(R) Introduction: The peculiar coastal structures and the nature of estuaries along West Coast I was in Rajkot Division appear to be the reasons for "saline (Saurashtra) conducting "First mangroves" found all along the Concurrent Evaluation" of "National stretches, adapting themselves even in Afforestation Programme" on behalf of such hostile conditions of high salinity, NAEB (under the Ministry of hypoxic (deficiency in oxygen) water- Environment & Forests) during mid - logged soil strata, tidal pressures, November, 2009, when I also happened strong winds, and sea-wash, exhibiting to visit "swampy coastal areas" in the highly evolved morphological & North of that zone which are saline, as physiological characteristicsin they form part of "Rann of Kutch", and alarmingly extreme conditions. hold Mangrove forests. An opportunity having been so come across to learn They have special root systems like more has resulted in this write up. aerial-roots, stilt-roots and breather- Without going into technical or roots, and share two forms of silvicultural details, let me describe the reproductive strategy: one by "dispersal general aspects as they exist. by means of water" and the other by "vivipary" (i.e. developing embryo The Ecosystem: continuously, while still attached to the The "mangrove" ecosystem is indeed a parent tree, over a period of one to three peculiar habitat to come across at the years, their lengths growing up to a "interface of land and sea", the term meter) when they break from the parent used, to describe the intertidal world in tree and fall into water. These seedlings the tropics and sub-tropics, having (propagule) then travel in an amazing richest mangroves growing, being manner: lying horizontally in the nicknamed as "flood buffers", since they buoyant sea-water to move quickly and help stabilise the climate by moderating then turning vertical upon reaching temperature, humidity, wind & giant brackish (or fresher) water, setting waves, adapting wonderfully to down roots & bud, to make it easier to withstand salinity, wave-action, growing lodge in the mud, at a "suitable less- remarkably even in poor soils, side by salty-area"! Once so lodged, they side affording natural protection to the quickly produce additional roots and land from impacts of the seas. grow phenomenally. 97 My Forest December - 2013 The Utility and Importance: fish. Honey-collection in the mangrove- forests is another important economic Needless to emphasize, the mangrove activity. ecosystem is crucial for coastal areas: one slight ecological imbalance and Conclusion: havoc is created, particularly so as all Large demographic pressures are estuaries without exception are thickly creating extreme stresses on the populated. They play an important role coastal environment, the destruction- in stabilising the areas: so important, level having already reached a "stage of since coastlines face problems of no return". Land reclamation & erosions & threats of rising sea-levels. dumping-of-industrial-affluence and There is yet another apt nickname for debris are the other culprits, preventing m a n g r o v e s : " t r o p i c a l l i t t o r a l sea waters to reach the mangrove ecosystem", as it is found to be more areas. An effective action plan is the dynamic than the sea itself! They not need of the. hour to educate people only prevent soil-erosions but also act about the importance of such as catalysts in retaining the lands from vegetation & ecosystem which is seas, while being breeding & nursery unexaggeratedly the "saviour of earth", grounds for varieties of marine- to be saved from extinction, in the organisms including shrimps, crabs & interest of all living forms.

98 My Forest December - 2013 Vol 49(4) Page No.99-100 "ªÉÃzÁ¢UÀ¼À°è ¥À«vÀæ ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼ÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¥À«vÀæ ªÀ£ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ" MAzÀÄ «±ÉèõÀuÉ ©.©. ªÀįÉèñÀ, ¨sÁ.C.¸ÉÃ. CgÀtå ¸ÀAgÀPÀëuÁ¢üPÁj, ¸ÀA±ÉÆÃzsÀ£É, ªÀÄrPÉÃj. ¨sÁgÀvÀzÀ ¸ÀA¸ÀÌøwAiÀÄ°è ªÀÈPÀë¥ÀÆeÉAiÀÄÄ PÁªÀÄ£À ªÀtð£ÉAiÀÄ°è ªÀiÁ«£À aUÀÄgÀÄ CªÀ£À ¥ÀgÀA¥ÀgÁUÀvÀªÁV £ÀqÉzÀÄ §AzÀ ¸ÀAPÉÃvÀªÁVzÉ. C±ÉÆÃPÀªÀÈPÀëªÀÅ ¹ÃvÁªÀiÁvÉUÉ ¸ÀA¥ÀæzÁAiÀĪÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÁzsÀĸÀAvÀgÀ £ÉgÀ½vÀÛ ªÀĺÁªÀÈPÀë. ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼À°è vÁ£ÀÄ C±ÀévÀÞ£ÉAzÀÄ D±ÀæAiÀÄ ¸ÁÜ£ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ, zÉêÀgÀ ¤ªÁ¸ÀUÀ¼ÉAzÀÄ PÀȵÀÚ¥ÀgÀªÀiÁvÀä£ÀÄ vÁ£Éà ºÉýPÉÆArzÁÝ£É. CzÀÄ »A¢£À £ÀA©PÉAiÀiÁVvÀÄÛ. C£Á¢ PÁ®¢AzÀ®Æ ¸À£ÁvÀ£À zsÀªÀÄðzÀ ¸ÀAPÉÃvÀªÁVzÉ. C±ÀévÀÞ ªÀiÁ£ÀªÀ ¥ÀæPÀÈwªÀiÁvÉAiÀÄ ªÉÄïÉAiÉÄà CªÀ®A©vÀ. ªÀÈPÀë¥ÀÆeÉUÉ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀ C£ÉÃPÀ ¥ÀæPÀÈwAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¥Àæw©A©¸ÀĪÀ ¥ÀAZÀ¨sÀÆvÀUÀ¼À°è ¸ÀA¥ÁæzÁAiÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ ¨É¼ÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ §A¢zÉ. PÀ¦vÀÞ ¸ÀªÀð¸ÀéªÀÇ CqÀVgÀ§ºÀÄzÉA§ÄzÀÄ ªÀiÁ£ÀªÀ£À eÁA§Æ ¥sÀ®UÀ¼ÀÄ ªÀÄAvÀæUÀ¼À°èAiÀÄÆ £ÀA©PÉ. CAvÉAiÉÄà £É®, d®, ¸ÀÆAiÀÄð, ZÀAzÀæ, CqÀPÀªÁVªÉ. ªÀÄAzÁgÀ ¥ÁjeÁvÀ ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼ÀÄ CVß, ªÁAiÀÄÄ ªÀgÀÄt EªÀÅ ªÀiÁ£ÀªÀ£À DgÁzsÀå EAzÀæ£À £ÀAzÀ£ÀªÀ£ÀzÀªÉAzÀÄ ºÉüÀ¯ÁUÀÄvÀÛzÉ. zÉʪÀUÀ¼ÁV gÀÆ¥ÀUÉÆArgÀÄvÀÛªÉ. ªÀiÁ£ÀªÀ£À CzÀgÀAvÉ ¢ªÀå ¥ÀjªÀļÀzÀ ZÀAzÀ£À ªÀÈPÀë zÉêÀ §zÀÄQUÉ D¸ÀgÉAiÀiÁV ¤®ÄèªÀ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà ªÀÈPÀëªÁVzÉ. ¤dªÁzÀ PÀ®àªÀÈPÀë vÉæÃvÁAiÀÄÄUÀzÀ°è ZÉÊvÀ£Àå²Ã® ªÀ¸ÀÄÛUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸ÀPÀ® UËgÀªÀUÀ½AzÀ ¨sÀÆ«ÄAiÀÄ°èzÀÄÝzÀÄ FUÀ EAzÀæ ¯ÉÆÃPÀzÀ°è EzÉ ¥ÀÆf¸ÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ¸ÀA¥ÀæzÁAiÀĪÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. JAzÀÄ C£ÉÃPÀgÀÄ £ÀA§ÄvÁÛgÉ. ¥ÉæêÀÄ¢AzÀ ºÁUÉÃAiÉÄ ªÀiÁ£ÀªÀ£ÀÄ vÀ£Àß fêÀ gÀPÀëuÉAiÀÄ ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÀ«ÄäZÉÑAiÀÄAvÉ ¨É¼É¸À§ºÀÄzÉAzÀÄ zÀȶ֬ÄAzÀ ¥À«vÀæ ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼À£ÀÄß, ¥À«vÀæ ªÀ£ÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß FUÀ®Æ ºÀ®ªÀgÀÄ £ÀA§ÄvÁÛgÉ. zÉêÀgÀPÁqÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ºÁUÀÆ ¥ÀAZÀªÀnUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥À«vÀæ ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼ÀÄ zÉêÀvÉUÀ¼À ªÁ¸À¸ÁÜ£ÀªÉAzÀÄ ¤«Äð¹PÉÆAqÀÄ §A¢gÀÄvÁÛ£É. ¥ÀAZÀªÀn C£ÉÃPÀgÀÄ £ÀA§ÄvÁÛgÉ. DzÀÄzÀjAzÀ CªÀÅUÀ¼À JAzÀgÉ LzÀÄ ¥À«vÀæ ºÁUÀÆ d£À»vÀPÁj ¥Àj¸ÀgÀ ¥ÀæzÀPÀëuÉ, ¥ÀÆeÉ, ¥ÀÄgÀ¸ÁÌgÀUÀ¼ÀÄ £ÀqÉAiÀÄÄvÀÛªÉ. ªÀiÁ°£ÀåªÀ£ÀÄß ¤ªÁgÀuÉ ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ°è ±ÉæõÀ× UËvÀªÀħÄzÀÞ¤UÉ ¸ÀºÀ DvÀäeÁÕ£À ®©ü¹zÀÄÝ, UÀÄtªÀżÀî VqÀUÀ¼À UÀÄA¥ÀÄ. CªÀÅUÀ¼ÀÄ ¨sÉÆâü (C®) ªÀÈPÀëzÀ PɼÀUÉ, ªÀĺÁ«ÃgÀ¤UÉ ¸Á® AiÀiÁªÀŪÉAzÀgÉ ©®é, §¤ß, ¨ÉêÀÅ, CgÀ½ (C±ÀéxÀÜ) (±ÉÆÃjAiÀiÁ) ªÀÈPÀëzÀrAiÀÄ°è JAzÀÄ ¥ÀæwÃw¬ÄzÉ. ªÀÄvÀÄÛ CwÛ, EAvÀºÀ VqÀªÀÄgÀUÀ½AzÀ ¸ÀÈ¶× §¤ßªÀÄgÀzÀ ¥ÀÆeÉUÉ PÀ£ÁðlPÀzÀ°è «±ÉõÀ ¸ËAzÀAiÀÄðªÀ£ÀÄß ºÉÆA¢zÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¥Àj±ÀÄzÀݪÁzÀ ªÀĺÀvÀé«zÉ. «dAiÀÄ zÀ±À«ÄAiÀÄAzÀÄ CzÀgÀ ¥Àj¸ÀgÀ«gÀĪÀ ¸ÀܼÀUÀ½UÉ £ÀªÀÄä ¥ÀƪÀðdgÀÄ ªÉʨsÀªÀzÀ ¥ÀÆeÉ £ÀqÉAiÀÄĪÀÅzÀÄ. CAvÉAiÉÄà ¥ÀAZÀªÀn JAzÀÄ PÀgÉAiÀÄĪÀgÀÄ. ¨sÉÆâ, CwÛ, CgÀ½, D®, ©®é, vÀļÀ¹ ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼À£ÀÄß «±ÉõÀ ±ÀĨsÀ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÉAzÀÄ ªÉʨsÀªÀ¢AzÀ eËzÀÄA§gÀªÀÅ (CwÛªÀÄgÀ) zÀvÁÛvÉæÃAiÀÄgÀ ¥ÀÆf¸À¯ÁUÀÄvÀÛzÉ. EAvÀºÀ J¯Áè ¥ÀÆeÉUÀ¼À ¦æÃwAiÀÄ ªÀÈPÀë ªÉAzÀÄ §tÂÚ¸À¯ÁVzÉ. vÀļÀ¹ »AzÉ zsÁ«ÄðPÀ PÀ®à£É ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¥ËgÁtÂPÀ PÀxÉUÀ¼À «µÀÄÚzÉêÀ¤UÉ ¦æÃw, ºÁUÉAiÉÄà ©®é ªÀÄgÀªÀÅ DzsÁgÀ«zÉ. ¨sÁgÀvÀzÀ ¥ÀæSÁåvÀ ¸À¸Àå «eÁÕ¤ ²ªÀ¤UÉ, PÀªÀÄ®ªÀÅ ®QëöäUÉ ¦æÃw¥ÁvÀæªÁzÀªÀÅUÀ¼ÀÄ. dUÀ¢Ã±ÀZÀAzÀæ ¨ÉÆøÀgÀÄ ¸À¸Àå ZÉÊvÀ£ÀåzÀ §UÉUÉ zÉêÀzÁgÀÄ ªÀÈPÀëªÀ£ÀÄß ²ªÀ£À zÀvÀÄÛ¥ÀÄvÀæ£ÉAzÀÄ PÀ« ±Á¸ÉÆÛçÃPÀÛªÁV, ªÉÊeÁÕ¤PÀªÁV ªÁåSÁå£À PÁ½zÁ¸ÀgÀÄ §uÉÚ¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ CzÀgÀAvÉ, ¸Á»vÀåzÀ°è ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. 99 My Forest December - 2013

ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼À°è ZÉÊvÀ£Àå ¨sÀªÀåvÉ ¢ªÀåvÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß PÀ°à¹ ºÀ¹gÀ£ÀÄß ºÉÆvÀÄÛ¤AvÀÄ, ¸ÀzÁ ¤¸ÀUÀðPÉÌ C¥ÁgÀ ¨sÁgÀwÃAiÀÄgÀÄ CªÀÅUÀ½UÉ UËgÀªÀ, WÀ£ÀvÉ, ¸À£Áä£À ±ÉÆèsÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¸ËAzÀAiÀÄðªÀ£ÀÄß EvÀÄÛ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ««zsÀ ¥ÀÆeÁ¢UÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸À°è¸ÀÄvÁÛ, fêÀ£ÁªÀ±ÀåPÀ ºÁUÀÆ DgÉÆÃUÀåPÀgÀªÁzÀ ¥Á°¸ÀÄvÁÛ §A¢gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ºÀ®ªÁgÀÄ ¥ÀÆdå ªÁvÁªÀgÀt ºÁUÀÆ ¥Àj¸ÀgÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¤«Äð¸ÀÄvÁÛ IĶªÀÄĤUÀ¼ÀÄ, ¸ÁzsÀÄ ¸ÀAvÀgÀÄ vÀªÀÄäUÀ¼À AiÀiÁUÀ §A¢gÀĪÀ ªÀįɣÁr£À ªÉÄÃgÀÄ¥ÀªÀðvÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß - vÀ¥À¸ÀÄìUÀ¼À£ÀÄß DAiÀÄÝ ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼ÀrAiÀÄ°è ªÀÈPÀëgÁ²AiÀÄ£ÀÄß G½¹, ¸ÀAgÀQë¹, C©üªÀÈ¢Þ ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. £ÀªÀÄä ¥ÀƪÀðdgÀ ¤¸ÀUÀð¥ÉæêÀÄ ¥Àr¸ÀĪÀ°è PÁAiÀÄðªÀÄUÀßgÁUÀ¨ÉÃPÁVzÉ. ªÀÈPÁë©üªÀiÁ£À ªÀÄvÀÄÛ EvÀgÉ ªÀÄÆ® UÀæAxÀUÀ½AzÀ w½AiÀħºÀÄzÁVzÉ. £ÀªÀÄä ¥ÀƪÀðdgÀ PÉÆqÀUÀÄ f¯Éè £ÉʸÀðVPÀªÁV ªÀÄvÀÄÛ VqÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß PÀrAiÀÄĪÁUÀ CªÀÅUÀ½UÉ ¥ÀÆeÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¸ÁA¸ÀÌøwPÀªÁV ¸ÀªÀÄÈzÀݪÁzÀ f¯ÉèAiÀiÁVzÉ. ¸À°è¸ÀÄwÛzÀÝgÀÄ. ªÀÈPÀëUÀ½UÀÆ ¸ÀºÀ ¸ÀÄRBzÀÄRUÀ¼À E°è£À £É®, d®, £ÁqÀÄ, £ÀÄr ¸ÀA¸ÀÌøw, ¸ÀA¸ÁÌgÀ ¸ÀAªÉÃzÀ£É GAmÉAzÀÄ ªÀÄ£ÀÄ ªÀĺÀ¶ðUÀ¼ÀÄ ²æêÀÄAvÀªÁzÀÄzÀÄ. EAvÀºÀ ¸ÀA¥ÀzÀÞjvÀ £Ár£À°è ºÉýzÀÝgÀÄ. FV£À §£ÀªÁ¹AiÀÄ £ÁqÀÄ »AzÉ CAzÁdÄ 1214 zÉêÀgÀPÁqÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ, £ÀAzÀ£ÀªÀ£ÀªÁVzÀÝ §UÉUÉ ¸ÁPÀµÀÄÖ ²¯Á±Á¸À£À ¥À«vÀæªÀ£ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ, £ÁUÀ§£À, ¨sÀzÀæPÁ½ªÀ£À ºÁUÀÆ LwºÀåUÀ¼ÀÄ zÉÆgÉwgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ªÀÈPÀëgÁ²UÀ¼À ¨sÀÆvÀªÀ£ÀUÀ½zÀÄÝ, £Ár£À d£ÀgÀ ¥ÀæPÀÈw - ªÀÈPÀë vÀªÀgÀÆgÁV gÀªÀÄtÂÃAiÀĪÁVzÀÝ §£ÀªÁ¹AiÀÄ£ÀÄß DgÁzsÀ£ÉÃAiÀÄ ¥ÀæwÃPÀªÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. PÉÆqÀV£À "CgÀAPÀıÀ«ÄmÉÆÖqÀA £É£ÉªÀÅzÉ£Àß ªÀÄ£ÀA §£ÀªÁ¹ zÉêÀgÀPÁqÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ ²æêÀÄAwPÉ, fêÀ ªÉÊ«zsÀåvÉ zÉñÀªÀÄA" JAzÀÄ D¢ PÀ« ¥ÀA¥À£À Erà «±ÀéPÉÌ ªÀiÁzÀjAiÀiÁVzÀÄÝ ¸ÀªÀÄÄzÁ¬ÄPÀ ªÀÄ£ÉÆèsÀÆ«ÄPÉAiÀÄ°è ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼À ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¤¸ÀUÀðzÀ ¸ÀºÀ¨sÁVvÀézÀ ºÁ¢AiÀÄ°è CgÀtå, ¥Àj¸ÀgÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ªÀĺÀvÀéªÀ£ÀÄß CjAiÀħºÀÄzÀÄ. CzÀÄ ¸ÀPÀ® fêÀgÁ²UÀ¼À ¸ÀAgÀPÀëuÉAiÀÄ PÁAiÀÄðzÀ°è AiÉÆÃVUÀ½UÀÆ PÀÆqÀ ¨sÉÆÃUÁ¸ÀQÛ ªÀĺÀvÀézÀ ¥ÁvÀæªÀ£ÀÄß ªÀ»¸ÀÄwÛªÉ. d£ÀgÀÄ ªÀÈPÀë - ¥ÉæÃgÀPÀªÁVvÉÛAzÀÄ ºÀ£ÉßgÀqÀ£ÉAiÀÄ ±ÀvÀªÀiÁ£ÀzÀ ¥ÀæPÀÈw DgÁzsÀPÀgÁVzÀÄÝ ¥ÀæwAiÉÆAzÀÄ ±Á¸À£ÀªÉÇAzÀgÀ°è w½zÀħgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. CzÀgÀ°è.... UÁæªÀÄzÀ®Æè ¸ÀºÀ «²µÀÖªÁzÀ zÉêÀvÉUÀ½UÀ£ÀÄ UÀÄtªÁV ¨ÉÃgÉ ¨ÉÃgÉ zÉêÀgÀ PÁqÀÄUÀ½zÀÄÝ "D £ÁqÉÆüÀÄ HgÉÆüÀÄ N¼ÉÆýAiÀÄA ¨É¼ÉzÀÄ. CªÀÅUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸ÀAgÀQë¹ C©üªÀȢݥÀr¹ ªÀÄÄA¢£À PÀ½ªÉÄAiÀÄ PÀgÉAiÉÆ®UÀ½A, C®è°è ¥ÀjªÀ ¥ÀjPÀ®UÀ½A ¦Ã½UÉUÉ PÉÆAqÉÆAiÀÄÄåªÀÅzÀÄ £ÀªÉÄä®ègÀ ¥ÀÆUÀ, ¥À£ÁßUÀ £ÁUÀ, ªÀPÀļÀ, ZÀA¥ÀPÀ, C«ZÀPÀ¼À, zsÀªÀÄðªÁUÀ°. PÉøÀgÀ, ¸ÀÄUÀAzsÀ, vÀt«ÃgÀ, ¸ÉêÀAw, PÁ¸ÁgÀ, C¨sÁ¨sÀjvÀªÉĤ¥À, ¥ÀĵÀà ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼ÀA, PÁAUÀÄ, vÉAUÀÄ, "ªÀÈPÀëA gÀQëvÉÆà gÀQëvÀºÀ" PÀzÀ½ÃªÀ£À, ¸ÁA§æ, dA§ÄzÀÄæ ªÀiÁr, £ÀAzÀ£ÀUÀ¼ÀA, "¸ÀPÀ® fêÀgÁ²UÀ½UÉ ¯ÉøÀ£ÀÄß §AiÀĸÀĪÀÅzÉà £ÁUÀªÀ°è ªÀ£ÀUÀ¼ÀA, M¸ÀªÀð vÀ¤gÀ¸ÀzÀ ¥ÀÄAqÉæÃ, ¥ÀĤ ªÀÈPÀëUÀ¼ÀA PÀA¥À£ÀÄUÀļÀî, PÀªÀļÀ, ¤Ã¼ÉÆÃvÀà¼À ªÀiÁ£ÀªÀzsÀªÀÄð" ªÀ£ÁªÀ½¬ÄAzÀ CwêÀgÀªÀÄìªÉ¤¹ AiÉÆÃVUÀ¼ÀÎA ¨sÉÆÃUÁ¸ÀQÛAiÀÄ£Á¢¸ÀÄw¥ÀðqÀÄ".

JA§ ªÀtð£ÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß N¢zÀgÉ ¤¸ÀUÀðzÀ°è£À ¸À¸Àå ªÀUÀðzÀ §UÉÎ £ÀªÀÄä ¥ÀƪÀðd£ÀjVzÀÝ DzÀgÀ ªÀåPÀÛªÁUÀÄvÀÛzÉ. DzÀÄzÀjAzÀ £ÁªÀÅUÀ¼ÀÄ £ÀªÀÄä ªÀÄÄAzÉ ¸ÀªÀðIÄvÀUÀ¼À®Æè PÀtä£ÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÀt¸ÀĪÀ 100