Comparison of Stumpage Value in Old and Young Recovered Primary Forest at FRIM Selangor Forest Park

Forest Research Institute (FRI) was a former name of Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). It had begun restoration activities back in 1920s. Nowadays, it is a paid off with a FRIM being known as a nearly 100 years old artificial forest located in the heart of the city. To date, 92% of total forested area in FRIM consisted of 85% of planted forest and 7.4% of natural forest. In order to sustain the conservation effort, the institute was declared as National Heritage in 2012 and currently in the process of pursuing the title of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For this conservation to be translated into monetary value that reflects the richness of its natural treasure, the estimation of the stumpage value of these old and young recovered was made to highlight the importance of reforestation in degraded areas. The economic valuation of timber resources was estimated with residual value technique for four Fields that represent both types of forest. An old recovered primary forest; which located in Field 11 and 20 and a young recovered primary forest; Field 52 and 53. The results showed significant difference of stumpage value in old and young recovered forest. While the estimated stumpage value of young recovered forest is much lower, the estimated stumpage value of old recovered primary forest that aged between 72 (Field 20) to 93 years old (Field 11) is higher than the value of other Malaysia forest reserves. The findings indicated the importance of forest reforestation and proved that FRIM has a universal value as a man-made forest.

A study on diversity and distribution of Ficus L. (Dicotyledonae: Moraceae) species at Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun (Uttarakhand), India

Ficus L., commonly known as Fig, is a member of the family Moraceae (mulberry family) comprises 37 genera and approximately 1,100 species distributed in diverse ecosystems, especially in tropical and temperate regions of the world. The Ficus genus stands out as a keystone resource provider in many tropical forests, which is probably because of continuous non-seasonal fruiting in many species. It is one of the largest genera in the angiosperms about 750 species. The present study was carried out in the Forest Research Institute (FRI) campus, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), India. The phytodiversity of Ficus L. and their socio-economic values worked out during the investigation, religious-spiritual attachment, food of wild animals, ethnomedicinal and timber significance. There were 16 species of Ficus L. recorded from New Forest, FRI, Dehradun based on the morphological observations of taxonomically significant characteristics. The species found in FRI New Forest Dehradun were, Ficus benjamina, F. religiosa, F. racemosa, F. rumphii, F. retusa, F. krishnae, F. elastica, F. virens, F. semicordata, F. auriculata, F. hispida, F. pumila, F. palmata, F. drupacea, F. benghalensis, F. pomifera. Out of the notified 16 species of Ficus, 11 species were trees, 3 shrubs and 2 climbers in nature. The maximum leaf size (30×27cm2) was reported in F. auriculata, followed by F. semicordata (28×10cm2), F. benghalensis (25×11cm2). However, minimum leaf size was noticed in F. benjamina (4×2cm2) and F. retusa (4×3cm2). Among, 15 species, axillary fig (fruit) arrangement was observed, while one species (F. racemosa) has stem position of fruits. The current finding is itself a pioneer study to present a glimpse of such immense species diversity of single genera from sub-valley areas and will be a milestone for future studies in conservation and management of these wild varieties.

Forest Long-legged flies (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from the park of the Forest Research Institute with new records for Bulgaria and notes on habitat affinity

The paper gives information for 17 dolichopodid species collected from the park of the Forest Research Institute, Sofia. Two species (Lamprochromus kowarzi and Syntormon pseudospicatum) are recorded as new for the fauna of Bulgaria. Habitat preferences of the identified species are discussed. Two species dominate the study area: Hercostomus nanus dominates from early June to mid-July and then Sybistroma obscurellus dominates from mid-July to the second half of October.

Gigantochloa gangasinghiana - A new species of bamboo from India

Gigantochloa gangasinghiana, a new bamboo species collected from Bambusetum of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun is described and illustrations are provided. It was earlier identified as Oxytenthera abyssinica. Species was flowered during the months of November-February, 2020-2021. Its distinction from the closely related species i.e. Gigantochloa apus (Schult. & Schult.) Kurz and Gigantochloa manggong Widjaja has been provided.

Calvatia craniiformis (Schwein.) Fr. ex De Toni (Brain puffball) - New report from North-East India

The specimen was collected during the rainy season in June, 2018 from Botanical garden Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat. Morphological characters of the specimen were recorded in the field and micromorphological characters were studied in the laboratory under the optical microscope. After a thorough examination of the specimen and its spores and capillitial threads, it is confirmed that the specimen is wild edible puffball named Calvatia craniiformis belongs to family Agaricaceae. It is also ensured after consultation with available literature that Calvatia craniiformis is the first report in North-East India.

A review of the Indian species of genus Polygraphus erichson, 1836 (coleoptera: curculionidae: Scolytinae) with bio-ecological notes on P. major, a pest of Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jacks (Pinaceae) in Kashmir, India

The Indian species of the genus Polygraphus Erichson, 1836 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) collected from various localities of the Western Himalayan region and the species available at the National Forest Insect Collection (NFIC), Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (India) were studied and are reviewed herewith. A key to Indian species of Polygraphus is provided. Detailed bioecological field and laboratory observations of P. major including mating behaviour, gallery pattern, life cycle and seasonal history are reported.

Population Dynamics of major Mangrove species in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh

Growth dynamics of major mangrove species in three salinity zones of the Sundarbans was conducted by establishing permanent sample plots (PSPS) by the Mangrove Silviculture Division of the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute. Multistage sampling process was applied to collect data from 33 Permanent Sample Plots (PSPs), area of each PSP being 400 m2. Total number of seedlingh, saplings in each saline zone and total regeneration percentage of each species in the PSPs was worked out.