ESSENCE—IJERC International | Naveen et Journal al . (2018) for Environmental| IX (1): 134—141 Rehabilitati on and Conservation ISSN: 0975 — 6272 IX (1): 134— 141 www.essence-journal.com Original Research Article Cheura (Diploknema butyracea) as a livelihood option for forest-dweller tribe (Van-Raji) of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India Joshi, Naveen Chandra; Chaudhary, Alka and Rawat, Gopal Singh Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, India Corresponding Author: [email protected] A R T I C L E I N F O Received: 01 February 2018 | Accepted: 22 April 2018 | Published Online: 15 August 2018 DOI: 10.31786/09756272.18.9.1.116 EOI: 10.11208/essence.18.9.1.116 Article is an Open Access Publication. This work is licensed under Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ) ©The Authors (2018). Publishing Rights @ MANU—ICMANU & ESSENCE—IJERC. A B S T R A C T This study documents the traditional uses of Cheura or Chyur (Diploknema butyracea) by a tribal group (Van-Raji) in Eastern Uttarakhand part of western Himalayan region. Cheura is one of the eco- nomically important but lesser known and underutilized multipurpose tree of Himalaya. It has a great spiritual and cultural importance along with livelihood association along the Himalayan communities especially the Van-Rajis, which are among the most ancient primitive vulnerable tribes (PVTs) of In- dia with a population of around 700 in Uttarakhand. Field surveys were conducted during 2015–2017 to collect data on the availability and uses of various parts of this tree by the tribals in their 9 hamlets in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. These tribals use almost all the parts of the tree and has a great economic value in respect of food, fuel wood, timber, fodder and other products. It is also used to cure many diseases and body disorders by the community people such as in inflammation of tonsils, rheu- matism, itching, ulcers, hemorrhage, etc. All such uses are discussed. An attempt has also been made to document the current causes of habitat loss of this socio-economic important tree and traditional knowledge thereof along with a suggested action plan. K E Y W O R D S Himalaya | Livelihood | Tribal | Traditional knowledge | Habitat loss | Action plan C I T A T I O N Joshi, Naveen Chandra; Chaudhary, Alka and Rawat, Gopal Singh (2018): Cheura (Diploknema bu- tyracea) as a livelihood option for forest-dweller tribe (Van-Raji) of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India. ESSENCE Int. J. Env. Rehab. Conserv. IX (1): 134—141. https://doi.org/10.31786/09756272.18.9.1.116 https://eoi.citefactor.org/10.11208/essence.18.9.1.116 134 ESSENCE—IJERC | Naveen et al . (2018) | IX (1): 134—141 Introduction edible), honey, gur (jaggery), fodder for ani- Himalayan region which occupies only 15 per- mals, hard and durable timber, medicines and cent of the country’s geographical area, ac- pesticides apart from its role in soil and water counts for about 30 percent of the endemic spe- conservation. cies found in the Indian sub-continent [1]. Due Besides being such an important tree it is facing a to wide altitudinal range Himalaya has always great habitat loss in the study area due to many been the best source of medicinal plants and factors including eroding traditional knowledge. most of the medicinal plants used in Indian tra- We attempt to document the various uses of this ditional system of medicine are found in Hima- tree as done by the local communities of the study laya. According to an estimate among the 1600 area along with the identification of various rea- species of medicinal plants used in India [2], sons for its habitat loss in the study area. more than 50% species come from the Himala- Material and Methodology yan region [3]. The state of Uttarakhand which The current study was carried out in all the nine is situated in western Himalaya, is bestowed hamlets of Van-Rajis and surrounding commu- with a rich array of forest resources, especially nities in Dharchula, Didihat and Kanalichina medicinal and aromatic plants and this region blocks of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand holds most medicinal plants in comparison to state of India. Van-Raji is an ethnic minority other parts of India [4]. Many plants and trees tribe of western Himalaya and known to be the have a wide range of uses. This kind of flora are descendants of Kirats. They were forest dwellers economically and socio-cultural important for and hunter and gatherers living in caves till few the local people and such trees are known as decades back and now they reside in permanent “Kalpavriksha” in ancient literature. According settlements (9 hamlets) in Dharchula, Kana- to Hindu mythology and the Vedic scriptures lichina and Didhat blocks of Pithoragarh district "Kalpavriksha" is a divine tree which fulfills all and one in Champawat district of Uttarakhand the wishes. In new era many trees which are state. They are rich of traditional ecological knowledge especially pertaining to wild flora and fauna which has helped them through gen- erations to sustain in deep forests (Fig. 1). Distribution of Cheura tree The Indian butter tree (Diploknema butyracea) also known by synonyms Bassia butyracea (Roxb.); Madhuca butyracea (Roxb.) Macbride; Illipe butyracea (Roxb.) Engl.; Aesandra bu- very useful and almost all the parts are useful tyracea (Roxb.) Baehni; Vidoricum butyraceum are quoted as "Kalpvriksha" such as Cheura (Roxb.) Kuntze and Mixandra butyracea (Roxb.) (Diploknema butyracea), Shami (Prosopis ciner- Pierre ex L. Planch, is a deciduous tree about 15 aria), Parijata (Erythrina variegata), Bargad -20 m high and is commonly known as Chyur or (Ficus benghalensis), coconut (Cocos Cheura, Phulwara (Phalwara), Phulwaor Phulel nucifera), Mahua (Madhuca longifolia), and in Northern parts of India, Chyuri in Nepal, mulberry (Morus nigra). Yika Shing in Bhutan and Gophal in Bengal. Among these Cheura (Diploknema butyracea) is Distributed naturally throughout the forest of the only native to Himalaya. It has medicinal lower Himalaya between an altitude ranges of and economic importance to various ethnic com- 300 – 1500 m1. Tree attains a height of 15 m munities in western Himalaya with many uses of and girth 1.8 m, fruits are berries, 1-3 seeded its different parts. It is a rich source of many and contain about 2.0 cm long almond shaped useful substances like oil (edible and non- kernel. 135 ESSENCE—IJERC | Naveen et al . (2018) | IX (1): 134—141 Fig. 1: Location of Raji settlements in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. 136 ESSENCE—IJERC | Naveen et al . (2018) | IX (1): 134—141 Cheura is native to the sub-Himalayan tracts of (Ghee or butter) is extracted from the seeds India, China, Nepal and Bhutan (Brandis 1906) which is known as Cheura ghee or butter. It pro- and has been reported by almost whole range of duces oil seeds, rich in oil contents which at Himalaya and grows mainly in the sub- lower temperature transforms into fat and looks Himalayan tracts on steep slopes, narrow shady like butter or ghee which has a great nutritional valleys or gorges and cliffs at an altitude rang- and medicinal value. Some of the main uses of ing from 300 to 1500 meters [5] [6]. The popu- the tree as done by the study community are as lation of this species in Uttarakhand is almost follows: localized in Pithoragarh district particularly the Seeds areas bordering Nepal and adjoining areas of Seeds which are brown in color are the most im- Almora, Bageshwar and Champawat [7]. Thus portant part of this tree, as the seeds are used to the current study was made in Pithoragarh dis- extract fatty acid oil locally known as "Cheura trict of Uttarakhand state of India situated in ghee" which is a dense white colored substance Western Indian Himalaya Region (IHR). used as vegetable oil as well as for lightening the Field survey and data collection lamps. The yield of vegetable oil is 42-47% of the Field visits were carried out in different phases weight of seeds [8]. The processing was earlier from October 2015– December 2017. Prior in- done at community level but now is undertaken at formed verbal consent was taken before data the individual household level. The oil thus ob- collection by explain the aim of the study to the tained is also used for making chocolate, soap and respondents. Data was collected from primary candles. This oil is also used by the surrounding sources through interactions, interviews and communities to cure many diseases and is consid- focus group discussions with value chain actors, ered good for many body disorders such as to re- and through secondary sources (review of past lieve headache, rheumatic pains, ulcers, itching, reports). A total of 108 respondents were inter- hemorrhage, inflammation of tonsils etc. It is also viewed and 8 group discussions were con- applied on chapped hands and feet in winter. The ducted. Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) was used to oilcakes made out of the residual byproduct left gather, confirm, and validate ethnobotanical after the extraction of Ghee and is equally impor- information. An attempt was also made to docu- tant, as these are used as manure having pesticide ment the efforts needed for the conservation of properties and also as fish poison used in fishing this medicinally and economic important tree as fishing has become one of their major source along with the view of local community towards of income now. The residual substance is used as the habitat loss of this important tree. leech repellent and the local people rub its paste The questions were based on the uses of various on their legs in the rainy season to repel the leech.