Variations in Vegetation and Nutrient Composition in Sal and Eucalyptus Stands: A Case Study of Bhagabatichak Forest Area, West Bengal, India

The study was conducted on two type of stands one was coppice sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. F.) stand (CSS) managed by Forest Protection Committee (FPC) along with the State Forest Department and other was coppice eucalyptus (Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.) stand (CES) solely managed by the State Forest Department. These two stands are in the Bhagabatichak forest area under Midnapore East Forest Division, West Bengal, India. In this study Importance Value Index (IVI), biomass, species diversity index (H/), concentration of dominance(Cd), species richness index(d), beta diversity(βd), index of similarity (IS), nutrient composition and soil pH of the two stands were measured. The study reveals that the highest numbers of species were available during monsoon period in both the stands; these were 71 and 43 respectively in CSS and CES. The result also shows that the highest IVI was occupied by sal in CSS and eucalyptus in CES in all the seasons. Other major species were Clerodendrum viscosum Vent, Lantana camara L., Combretum roxburghii Spreng. Highest diversity index (H/) was in CSS during monsoon (1.983) and minimum in CES during pre-monsoon (1.274). So, the species richness index (d) was higher in CSS during monsoon (28.259) and lower in CES during pre-monsoon (12.112).Cd shows the opposite trend, it was higher in CES during pre-monsoon (0.125) and lower in CSS during monsoon (0.042). β diversity reflects the rate of species change, which was highest in CSS during post-monsoon (1.300). The similarity index (IS) between the two stands was 64.91%. The total annual above ground biomass (agb) were 87008.043 kg ha-1 yr-1 in CSS and 86309.837 kg ha-1 yr-1 in CES. Among them major contributors were sal (82357.946 kg ha-1 yr-1) in CSS and eucalyptus (84246.358 kg ha-1 yr-1) in CES. In both the stands higher amount of nutrients were available in Combretum roxburghii. In CSS available NPK were 1.272%, 0.527% and 1.867% respectively in Combretum roxburghii. In CES the values were 0.864%, 0.513% and 1.724% respectively for the same species. Soil pH of CSS were 5.53 in top soil and 5.79 in subsoil, in CES soil pH were 4.88 and 5.02 in top soil and subsoil respectively. It was observed that sal stand was better than eucalyptus stand with respect to ecology and biodiversity.

CONSEQUENCES OF LOSS OF COMMON PROPERTY RESOURCES IN THE SELECTED BLOCK, DINDIGUL DISTRICT OF TAMILNADU

Common property land resources include grazing ground, community pasture, village forests and woodlots, and village sites, on which the villagers have legal usufructuary rights; these land resources also include all another land formally held by the panchayat or a community of the villages (NSS 54th round). For a collection of data of common land resources de jure and e facto approaches were considered. Forest land resources which are under the jurisdiction of the forest department was also considered as poor dependent rural communities are directly or indirectly dependent on the forest for livelihoods. From the report of NSS 54th round, it is observed that 15% of India’s total geographical area substantially forms a part of common land resources. Consequences of loss of common property resources and depletion of common property resources resulted largely because there was no private cost for using these resources. Privatization of common property resources in the arid zone has invariably meant the conversion of common property resources land into cropland.

The Case of the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Camel Pastoralism in Rajasthan (India)

The Indian forest management system introduced during colonial times has led to the progressive loss of the grazing rights of the country’s pastoralists, culminating in the abolishment of grazing fees and replacement with grazing fines in 2004. This scenario has had a negative knock-on effect on the conservation of many of the livestock breeds that pastoralists have developed in adaptation to local environments and that are the basis of the country’s food security. This paper illustrates the dilemma with the example of the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) in Rajasthan that represents the traditional monsoon grazing area for local camel, sheep and goat pastoralists. Raika herders have engaged in a long-standing but losing legal battle with the state for their continued seasonal access to this area. This situation contributes to the rapid decline of the camel which is an iconic part of Rajasthan’s desert identity, a major attraction for tourists and was declared state animal in 2014. The aims of the forest department to conserve wild animals and those of pastoralists and camel conservationists could easily be integrated into a more equitable governance system as is endorsed by Aichi Target 11 of the CBD Strategic Plan 2011–2020. However, deeply engrained concepts about nature being separate from (agri-)culture, as well as unequal power structures, stand in the way.

Gastrointestinal parasites of captive Asian elephants in Kerala

Gastrointestinal parasitic infections invariably affect the health status of elephants and can cause disease and death in elephants. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of gastrointestinal (GI)parasitesof elephants in Kerala and to relate it to the deworming status. A total of 31 Asian elephants presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, those under private ownership (Thrissur) and forest department formed the basis of the study.It was observed that 32.2 per cent of elephants in the study were affected with GI parasites. High percentage of strongyle ova was observed followed by the mixed infection of strongyle and Strongyloides ova. Statistical analysis of haematological parameters were done by using student t test in SPSS version 24.0. The haematological studies of elephants infected with GI parasites revealed anaemia and eosinophilia.

Challenges of Conserving and Co-Managing Khadimnagar National Park and Ratargul Fresh Water Swamp Forest in Bangladesh

National Parks are protected areas conserving all types of flora, fauna and their habitats regardless of generic diversification. In Bangladesh, protected area managers face difficulties to conserve these areas. This study is formulated to find out those existing difficulties against effective co-management of natural resources based on the local people’s perception. A purposive sampling is followed by a semi-structured interview to gather data from the field level of Khadimnagar National Park and Ratargul Fresh Water Swamp Forest from September 2019 to December 2019 by interviewing 100 local people for RFWSF and KNP on the basis of a qualitative research method. Both inhabitants and the Forest Department are found to be responsible for inhibiting the effective management of the subjected areas meanwhile difficulties related to motivation, cordiality, alternative job generation, financial support to management authority, tourism management and resource extraction from forests mainly prevail. To ensure substantial sustainability, both of the actors should come forward to find out a way to get rid of this devastation and to ameliorate the socio-economic condition of these areas. Arranging more conferences to raise motivation, awareness about the forest offenses and generating alternative sources of income can be counted as a strategy to reduce pressure on both forests.

Diversity of Grass Species from Sendhwa Dist. Barwani (M.P.), India

The present study was aimed to determining Diversity of grass species of Sendhwa Dist. Barwani, Madhya Pradesh, India. Sendhwa is bestowed with unique diversity of ethnic culture and natural resource. The present study is based on diversity of grass species in Satpura region of Sendhwa Dist. Barwani, of Madhya Pradesh, India during the period of 2017-2020. This area is the representative of climax vegetation and rich in grass biodiversity. On the basis of grass utility three species are abundantly found along with 38 genera and 45 species are frequently occurred in Sendhwa dist. Barwani. The data from the primary and secondary sources resulted in the documentation of 45 species belonging to 38 genera. The study area has a rich species diversity of grasses. Present study observes some wild economically important grasses which are Brachiaria reptans (L.) Gard. & Hubb., Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link., Oryza rufipogon Griff., Pennesetum pedicelatum Trin. , Phragmites karka (Retz.) trin ex. Steud., Sporobolus capillaries Miq., Sorghum halepense (L.) Kuntz., Urochloa panicoides P.Beauv. This documentation will be helpful to the staff of Forest department and for better management of grasslands with special reference to wildlife habitat.

Factors Influencing People's Response Toward Tiger Translocation in Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Eastern India

Local communities are an important stakeholder in any carnivore translocation programme and therefore, their acceptance of the translocation and support are essential to ensure its viability. Recent tiger augmentation efforts in Satkosia Tiger Reserve, India received mixed responses from the local communities, causing a stalemate in its progress. As a part of the adaptive management strategy, it was required to assess the concerns and issues to provide a practical solution. Hence, we analyzed the attitude of the people toward conservation in general and tiger specifically. We used structured questionnaire surveys and interviewed 1,932 households from 43 villages located in and around the reserve. We tested the influence of several variables representing four categories- (1) socio-economic, (2) ecosystem values and dependence, (3) relationship with the forest department and (4) losses and fear, on the attitude toward tiger conservation. The villages were clustered based on the responses received under these categories. While conserving forest was important to 91% of respondents, 71% of respondents supported wildlife conservation and only 35% felt important to conserve tiger. The logistic binary regression predicted that at the household level attitude toward tiger conservation is influenced positively by economic well-being, sense of forest ecosystem services, resource dependence and negatively influenced by restrictions from the forest department, and previous experience of loss due to wildlife. At the village level, literacy, resource dependence, access to clean cooking fuel and cooperation from the forest department predicted a positive attitude toward tiger conservation. Restriction from the forest department, fear for livestock, and experience of losses due to wildlife had a negative influence on attitude. We recommend that the villages in the landscape are prioritized based on their needs and accordingly, specific interventions are made to address their concerns. Future augmentation programme must give importance to intangible factors such as fear and perceived restrictions and opt for the involvement of the local community in the decision-making process.

Impact of Weed Managements and Anthropogenic Stress on Quantitative Attributes of Plant Community Composition in Gopegarh Ecopark, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India

Eco-parks are generally set up worldwide for serving both recreational and conservation purposes of local biodiversity through limited maintenance. Gopegarh Eco Park was set by the Forest Department, Government of West Bengal in highlands bank of Kangsabati Kansai) river with a heritage ‘Garh’ area with remnants of Khan Raja’s establishment in Midnapore, West Bengal. This park was a place to study for its rich resources of indigenous vegetation, insects and birds for students and researchers. Increased development for amusements including picnic shades and human accessibility, intense weeding and mud ovens are set up. This study to measure quantitative characteristics of plant communities by quardrat method in low, moderate and severely disturbed zones revealed gradual decrease in indigenous flora with time; specially, herbaceous vegetation. The vegetation is gradually turning towards a monodominant tree community of Acacia auriculiformis, in low and moderate disturbed sites and Anacardium occidentale in severely disturbed sites; both planted earlier. Species frequency, diversity and density are decreasing with stress. The frequent cutting and weeding is affecting intensely on the ecosystem; decreasing soil moisture, organic carbon and changes in pH. This practice may affect propagule formation, dispersal and establishment of herbs, shrub and tree species. The park may gradually lose the indigenous flora and the flora dependant fauna and its utility as in situ sustainable maintenance of biodiversity and a resource place for practical study by students and researchers.

Spatiotemporal movement pattern of Asian Elephants Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 in Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India

The extension of the Asian Elephant’s Elephas maximus range in the northern Western Ghats (Sahyadri) was observed since 2002. This colonization was marked by elephant crop raiding events in the newly colonized Sindhudurg District, where the local community had no experience of living with elephants. The present study was conducted to understand the spatiotemporal patterns of crop depredation (raiding) and to prioritize areas to inform future interventions on managing this ecological phenomenon turned conflict. Data on crop raiding between 2002 and 2015 was obtained from compensation records with the state forest department, and mapped at village scale. Subsequently, we used three indices of crop raiding, viz., Crop Raiding Frequency (CRF), Relative Crop Raiding Intensity (RCRI), and Crop Raiding Vulnerability Index (CRVI). Results show a gradual northern movement of elephants and of the crop raiding zone over the period of 2002–2015. The rankings provided by CRVI, identified villages in a narrow strip of foothills of the Sahyadri mountains as severely vulnerable. With sufficient long term data, CRVI would be a highly useful index for prioritization of villages for resolving human-elephant negative interactions; and other cases of human-wildlife interactions too.

Contextualization of Forest Governance for Implementation of REDD+ in Bangladesh

Poor governance accelerates the deforestation and forest degradation through corruption in Bangladesh due to the enhancement of prevalent activities such as excessive collection of forests products, trafficking of logs out of reserve forests, land grabs by powerful actors, illegal encroachment of forests, etc. The study was conducted with a view to assessing the present scenario of the forest governance system based on five UN principles in Bangladesh which will be the driving force to the successful implementation of the REDD+. The study was conducted in Rangamati, Madhupur, and Sreemangal, through focus group discussion, key informants interview, and an online survey. The study shows that lack of transparency, accountability, and integrity is one of the main underlying drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. Restriction to accessing reports on fiscal activities, lack of laws and regulation concerning to public funds, lack of independent institution, ineffective monitoring and testing systems, and inadequate detection, investigation, and prosecution practices, etc. enhance the corruption in the forestry sector and the hindrances of effective REDD+ implementation in Bangladesh. The study suggested taking legal protection, engaging civil society and improving the organizational structures of the forest department to check the corruption in the forestry sector of Bangladesh. The Chittagong Univ. J. Sci. 40(1) : 148-177, 2019