Documentation of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) on Commonly Available Plants in Koira Range, Bonai Forest Division, Sundargarh, Odisha, India

Mining activities are an important source of revenue for the development of the nation. However, it creates lots of social and ecological imbalance. The major remarked problem is that the local communities of mining areas losses their Indigenous Traditional Practices. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been made to document the indigenous traditional knowledge on commonly available plants in Koira Range, a mining impacted areas of the Bonai Forest Division, Odisha, India. Twenty nine villages of 4 sections are selected for present survey works. The results revealed that about 63 plants are commonly used by the local communities for different purposes. The practices are documented through present study. The present work will provide a baseline data for conservation strategy and biological activities including value addition of available plant wealth.

Annotated Checklist and Conservation Status of Mammal Species in Sarpang District, Bhutan

Bhutan has a total geographical area of 38,394 Km² located in between the Indo-Malayan and Palearctic region, out of which 51.44% (19750.75 km²) of its total geographical area has been designated as the protected area. However, none of the districts have a structured baseline checklist of mammal species documented till date. Therefore, Sarpang Forest Division under the Department of Forests and Park Services had carried out five rigorous camera trap surveys including a nationwide tiger survey that covers representable areas of the district from 2014 till 2020. The survey shows that district has 36 mammal species that belong to 18 families under seven orders. Felidae and Cervidae families has the highest species abundance (n = 17%), while, Canidae, Herpestidae, Leporidae, Manidae, Melinae, Muridae, Mustelidae, Tupaiidae, Proboscidae, Pteromyidae, Suidae and Ursidae were the lowest (n = 3%). Above all, Sarpang homed 29.90% of total mammal species of Bhutan, out of which 3% of mammal species were categorized under Critically Endangered, 14% Endangered, 14% Vulnerable, 22% Near Threatened, and 47% Least Concern as per IUCN Red List. However, only 20 mammal species are listed under CITES and nine in Schedule I of Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995. Therefore, landscape-based planning such as the Division-based Conservation & Management plan; periodic monitoring of wildlife species using camera traps, and validation of Schedule I species are suggested for long-term conservation and management of globally threatened species inside the landscape of Sarpang district in Bhutan.

Geospatial Technology Based Water Management Action Plan for South Forest Division of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu

Aims: Recent climate change impacts rainfall patterns, increasing wildlife and livestock populations in higher densities, which are likely to aggravate water scarcity in forest areas. A sustainable water management strategy and action plan based on scientific inputs are crucial and need of the hour to resolve the water scarcity problem. Hence, the study aims to prepare an action plan and water management strategy for rangelands of Nilgiris using geospatial tools. Study Design: Field survey was conducted to identify the existing water storage structures and water requirement and ASTER GDEM and GIS were used to prepare the water management strategies for Nilgiris south forest division. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out in Nilgiris south division located in between 760 28' 08’’and 760 44' 08" East longitude and 110 10' 81’’and 110 31' 80" North latitude during 2014-2016. Methodology: The study area has been delineated as macro watersheds, and the altitude, slope, forest cover and drainage lines were extracted from ASTER GDEM for generation thematic maps. Rainfall data for twenty years (1995-2014) was collected and runoff was worked out using runoff coefficient of a different land. A field survey was conducted for identifying the existing water storage structures, spatial occupancy of herbivores, spread and water requirement of invasive species in the Nilgiris south forest division. Results: GIS based thematic maps for slope, contour, area coverage under forest range and macro watershed have been prepared, and water availability and water balance components like runoff and evapotranspiration have been determined. After identifying water availability and water balance according to the site conditions and strategies one Earthen cum masonry embankment, 2 Earthen pond with Major check dam, 2 Masonry embankments, 2 Major check dam 7 Medium check dam 100 Minor check dam, 1 RCC Embankment and 99 gabion check dams in South forest division of Nilgiris. Conclusion: Suitable locations were identified and location specific water harvesting structures have been suggested to store 68844 cum of water.

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF WILD BOAR IN SUB-TROPICAL CHIR PINE FOREST IN SIRAN FOREST DIVISION, TANGLAI RESERVE FOREST, DISTRICT MANSEHRA, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

The current study was conducted in May & June 2021 in Tanglai State Forest which is a Sub-Tropical Chir Pine Forest Type, the key species are: Common Leopard (Pathera pardus), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Jackals (Canis aureus), Rhesus Monkey (Macaca Mulatta), Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos), Flying Squirrels (Pteromyini). In KPK, Wild Boar is found mostly in the west of Indus around Peshawar, Mardan Bannu, D.I Khan etc. In this paper it is recommended that the presence of Wild Boar and the way they may affect their habitat should be monitored because its population multiplies so fastly having high reproduction potential i.e. reaching sexual maturity as early as six (06) months of age, therefore, it is required to be managed in the habitats, the aim of such control should be to bring Wild Boar population into balance on particularly sensitive sites or in response to disease control. Moreover, this work is also aimed to suggest wild boar management to the authorized department, these approaches of management will be profitable to mitigate its adverse damages to the agricultural crops, forest crops, human beings, livestock i.e. wildlife conflicts.

Distribution, habitat use, and nesting behavior of the King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in the Trashigang Forest Division, Eastern Bhutan

The King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor 1836), is the longest venomous snake in the world; it is globally threatened and has been categorized as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Herein we describe distribution, habitats, and nesting behavior of the King Cobra in Trashigang Forest Division, Bhutan. We recorded a total of 18 King Cobras during the one-year survey period. The elevational distribution was 650–2,057 m but most sightings were at lower elevations. King Cobras did not appear to prefer or avoid any particular habitat type but most records were from areas where human disturbances were at a minimum. We monitored a nest containing 37 eggs that was actively guarded by a female. This study was the first of its kind in Trashigang Forest Division and we hope that the information obtained will help formulate appropriate conservation strategies for this globally threatened species.

Analysis of Landscape Connectivity among the Habitats of Asian Elephants in Keonjhar Forest Division, India

Land development has impacted natural landforms extensively, causing a decline in resources and negative consequences to elephant populations, habitats, and gene flow. Often, elephants seek to fulfill basic needs by wandering into nearby human communities, which leads to human–elephant conflict (HEC), a serious threat to conserving this endangered species. Understanding elephant space use and connectivity among their habitats can offset barriers to ecological flow among fragmented populations. We focused on the Keonjhar Forest Division in Eastern India, where HEC has resulted in the deaths of ~300 people and several hundred elephants, and damaged ~4100 houses and ~12,700 acres of cropland between 2001 and 2018. Our objectives were to (1) analyze elephant space use based on their occupancy; (2) map connectivity by considering the land structure and HEC occurrences; (3) assess the quality of mapped connectivity and identify potential bottlenecks. We found that (1) the study area has the potential to sustain a significant elephant population by providing safe connectivity; (2) variables like forests, precipitation, rural built-up areas, cropland, and transportation networks were responsible for predicting elephant presence (0.407, SE = 0.098); (3) five habitat cores, interconnected by seven corridors were identified, of which three habitat cores were vital for maintaining connectivity; (4) landscape features, such as cropland, rural built-up, mining, and transportation networks created bottlenecks that could funnel elephant movement. Our findings also indicate that overlooking HEC in connectivity assessments could lead to overestimation of functionality. The study outcomes can be utilized as a preliminary tool for decision making and early planning during development projects.

Some Common Medicinal Plants in Barsuan Range, Bonai Forest Division, Sundargarh, Odisha

Aim: To document the common medicinal plants used by the local tribal communities of mining areas of Barsuan Range, Bonai Forest Division, Odisha, India Background: From ancient times, medicinal plants are playing vital role in human health care systems. Nowadays, medicinal plants are less used by urban & rural areas but they are still used by tribal communities. From them, the valuable knowledge needs to be documented for future reference, particularly from mining areas where lot of threats are observed on them. Methodology: Keeping the threat and importance of traditional knowledge, an attempt has been made to document the most common medicinal plants of Barsuan Range, Bonai Forest Division, Odisha through field survey using Passport Data Form. Results: A total 50 common plant species were recorded having medicinal values and used by the local communities. Conclusion: In this modern era, the conservation of traditional knowledge is important. The present study highlights the some common medicinal plants of mining impacted areas which could be the raw materials for future herbal formulation and can create livelihood option.

PATHOGENIC DISEASE OCCURRENCES IN PLANTATION SITES OF BASTAR DISTRICT, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA

The investigation on “Pathogenic disease occurrence in plantation sites of Bastar district, CG, India” revealed that the several disease of Tectona grandish and Eucalyptus globules trees species in the plantation site maintained by Bastar forest division (C.G.) During the survey of plantation sites, many trees were infected by pathogens. The infected teak species showed leaf spot, leaf blight, leaf gull, leaf brown spot, stem canker, powdery mildew etc. and affecting the growth and form of teak. Whereas in Eucalyptus trees showed stem canker, collar rot, leaf spot, leaf rust, brown leaf spot, disease and affecting the growth and forms of Eucalyptus. The survey was conducted at two plantation sites namely Titrgaon and Bastar in the region and incidence of pathogenic disease commonly found and casual organism/ pathogen were identified prescribed disease management was recorded. Management of immediate removal of infected plants helps to prevent the disease spread. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out for knowing occurrence and abundance of pathogens associated with Teak and Eucalyptus trees plantation in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

Wild Mushroom Diversity of Rairangpur Forest Division, Odisha, India & Its Medicinal Uses

Aims: Rairangpur forest division, Mayurbhanj, Odisha is a hub of diverse floral and faunal species. Apart from flora and fauna, it has a rich diversity of fungal species. The present study highlights the diversity of macro fungi with special reference to its medicinal and economic values available in Rairangpur Forest Division, Odisha. Place and Duration of Study: Field surveys were carried out at regular intervals (Pre monsoon and Post monsoon) in Rairangpur Forest Division during 2019-2020. Results: Mushroom samples were collected and then identified with the help of standard available literatures and books. 99 wild mushroom species belonging to 56 genera of 37 families were noted. Conclusion: It was found that 41 species were edible in which 15 mushrooms were consumed by different tribal communities in the study area. The rest species are poisonous or bitter in taste and further research on them could lead to isolate some bioactive compounds which could be a better preventive against many lethal diseases.