Floristic and Phytoclimatic Study of an Indigenous Small Scale Natural Landscape Vegetation of Jhargram District, West Bengal, India

Sacred groves are distinctive examples of biotic components as genetic resources being preserved in situ and serve as secure heavens for many endangered and endemic taxa. From this point of view, the biological spectrum, leaf spectrum and conservation status of the current sacred grove vegetation, SBT (Swarga Bauri Than) in Jhargram district of West Bengal, India, have been studied. The area's floristic study revealed that SBT’s angiosperms were varied and consisted of 307 species belonging to 249 genera, distributed under 79 families of 36 orders as per APG IV. Fabales (12.05%) and Fabaceae (11.73%) are the dominant order and family in terms of species wealth. Biological spectrum indicates that the region enjoys “thero-chamae-cryptophytic” type of phytoclimate. With respect to the spectrum of the leaf size, mesophyll (14.05%) was found to be high followed by notophyll (7.84%), microphyll (7.19%), macrophyll (7.84%), nanophyll (6.86%), leptophyll (6.21%), and megaphyll (2.29%). The study area, being a sacred grove, it has a comparatively undisturbed status, and the protection of germplasm in the grove is based on traditional belief in the social system.

Characteristics of Lowland Tropical Peatlands: Formation, Classification, and Decomposition

Tropical peatlands occur mostly in coastal lowlands, and it can be considered as larger sinkers of carbon and important ecosystem services for water resources, bio-resources and biodiversity. This article summarised characteristics, formation and classification of tropical lowland peatlands. Tropical peatlands cover about 11% of the global peatland resource (441,025 km2 in area) and the estimation value can be changed with including all histosols and shallow organic soils. Tropical coastal peatlands were predominantly developed during the middle to late Holocene (between 3,500 to 6,000 years BP) under the wet conditions generated after the stabilisation and regression of middle Holocene sea-level highstands. Hydrology is a fundamental factor to the formation and function of tropical peatlands. There is no specific definition for the peatlands based on available references. The available definitions can be broadly divided into authoritative and scientific definitions. The authoritative definitions depend on specific uses and applications, while scientific definitions depend on field observations and experimental design/analytical methods. Tropical peatlands store abundant organic matter. However, the recent anthropogenic activities enhance the emission of stored carbon as greenhouse gasses such as CH4 and CO2.

Carbon Stocks in Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) Forests on Two Different Aspects in the Mahabharat Region of Makawanpur, Nepal

Despite the significant contribution of forests in climate change mitigation, studies to establish the potential of sub-tropical forest ecosystems at different aspects in enhancing soil health indicators are only partly known. The study was carried out to quantify vegetation and soil carbon stocks of a natural Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) forest at two different aspects (northern and southern) of a typical sub-tropical environment in Nepal. Stratified random sampling was used for forest inventory and soil sample collection. Aboveground forest biomass was calculated using standard allometric models. Soil was sampled up to 60 cm depth and at 20 cm intervals. Walkey and Black method was used to determine soil organic carbon. Total aboveground plant biomass carbon in southern aspect (140.20 t ha-1) was higher compared to that on the northern aspect (115.34 t ha-1). Similarly, soil carbon stock on southern aspect (46.65 t ha-1) was higher than that of northern aspect (42.14 t ha-1). This resulted to total carbon stock on southern and northern aspect of P. roxburghii forest of 186.85 t ha-1 and 157.48 t ha-1 respectively. The total carbon stock of P. roxburghii forest is significantly higher on southern aspect than on northern aspect with p value 0.001 (p<0.05). Hence, we conclude that the southern aspect of the Mahabharat range favour the growth of P. roxburghii forest compared to the northern aspect. However, the contribution of the entire Chir pine forest ecosystem to carbon sequestration and global climate warming mitigation can’t be neglected.

Influence of Agroforestry on Rural Income and Livelihood of Smallholder Farmers in the Semi-Arid Region of Sub Saharan Africa

Semi-arid lands typically suffer from sustainable land use challenges including climate variability, declining agricultural productivity, low economic prowess and poor livelihood conditions. In order to sustainably address these challenges, agroforestry has been fronted as a critical entry point allowing for the integration of trees on farms and diversification of production in agricultural landscapes. Nevertheless, the contribution of agroforestry to socio-economic and rural livelihood in several developing countries remains debatable. This study determined the influence of agroforestry on rural income and livelihood of smallholder farmers in Machakos county (Kenya). The study was conducted using survey research design from a sample of 248 smallholder farmers, who were selected using stratified, random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. Results showed that agroforestry was adopted by 82% of the smallholder farmers as a strategy for livelihood improvement in the region. Total income was higher among adopters from timber, fuel wood, posts/poles and fodder. Adopters also had more money to spend on food, clothing, education, medicine and basic needs as a result of revenues from agroforestry. The overall gross revenue, net returns above variable costs and total costs were also higher among adopters compared to the non adopters due to sales of agroforestry products. The study recommends adoption of agroforestry as a strategy to boost rural income and livelihood.

Floristic Survey of Meethirigala Forest Reserve in Gampaha District

Meethirigala forest reserve consists of approximately 384 ha. It is the largest forest reserve in Gampaha District managed by the Forest Department. It has different topographic positions such as ridges, midslopes and valley areas close to the Kelani River. The present study was conducted to enumerate plant species found in all three topographic positions of the reserve. Plots were demarcated purposively to sample woody perennials equal or greater than 5 cm dbh (diameter at breast height) in 18 plots (5×100 m, rectangular shape). Seedlings greater than 1 m tall were sampled in 18 plots (5×5 m). Shannon diversity indices were calculated to compare dominance of particular species in different topographic positions. A total of 360 individuals of woody perennials belonging to 73 species in ridge, 368 individuals of woody perennials belonging to 100 species in midslope and 272 individuals of woody perennials belonging to 69 species in valley were recorded. And 132, 123 and 100 individuals of seedlings were enumerated in ridge, midslope and valley respectively. In ridge 58 generas, 28 families, in midslope 83 generas, 35 families and, in valley 68 generas, 29 families were observed. 28 species were found in all three different altitudes of the reserve. Forest species in study sites gave a total of 138 plant species belonging to 113 tree species, 11 climber species, 14 shrub species, 109 generas and 46 families. Of this total 138 species, 34 (25%) species are endemic to Sri Lanka. Highest endemism was recorded in the ridge (41.6%). Stratification of the ridge showed a very similar pattern to a Dipterocarp forest type. Highest diversity was recorded in midslope (1.7290) and lowest recorded in ridge (1.5626) of the forest. 18 threatened species were observed (3-Endangered and 15-vulnerable species). As a conclusion, Meethirigala forest reserve can be considered as an important refuge for wet zone forest species.

Economic Value of Urban Green Space: A Travel Cost Approach for Viharamahadevi Urban Park, Sri Lanka

Urban green spaces could bring cities and their inhabitants with vitality in terms of ecological, social, and economic benefits. Recognising and estimation of economic values of parks is important for their sound management and for justification of the current use over various alternative uses. Non recognition of values of the services of such green spaces may lead to unsound management and degradation resulting in depriving urban communities of those benefits. Viharamahadevi Urban Park is the oldest and largest park in Colombo which offers recreation and green space to the inhabitants and visitors of the city. The purpose of this study is to estimate the recreational value of the Park using Individual Travel Cost Method (ITCM). Visitors of Viharamahadevi Urban Park selected using purposive sampling method were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Data on visitation frequencies, preferences for park characteristics and socio economic parameters were collected using face-to-face interviews. In order to cater for the data issues of the ITCM, a zero truncated negative binomial regression analysis was performed in estimating the demand function. Results indicate that household income and the enjoyment of the visitors significantly and positively determine the number of visits made by the people. The annual social welfare generated from the recreational value of the Viharamahadevi Park is LKR 55.7 billion. The estimated value will be able to provide significant guidance towards future park management decisions.

A Geospatial Assessment of Deforestation of Sokponba and Ehor Forest Reserves in Edo State

The study assesses the state of Sokponba and Ehor forest reserves in Edo state, with Landsat images of 1987, 2002 and 2018 using ENVI and ArcGIS software. Questionnaire was also administered to elicit information from respondents. The study reveals that within the period of 31 years under study Sokponba forest reserve has reduced from 28,913.63 ha in 1987 to 1,578.15 ha in 2018 while plantation and farmland increased from 15,357.96 ha in 1987 to 43,494.21 in 2018. Ehor reserve also reduced from 11,128.86 ha in 1987 to 3,242.28 in 2018. In the same vein, plantation and farmland increased from 1,424.97 ha in 1,987 to 9,323.28 ha in 2018. The deliberate government policies of allocating compartment to timber contractors for logging, conversion of reserves to oil palm plantation and farmland were identified as the major drivers responsible for the depletion of the forest reserves. Considering the consequential effects arising from deforestation such as carbon sequence, greenhouse effect (global warming) and flooding the study recommends reforestation and taungya farming system for sustainable environment.

Diversity and Threatened Climber Plants in Tropical Forests of Courtallam Hills, Southern Western Ghats, India

Investigated the distribution of climber and its conservation status in tropical forests of Courtallam hills in southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India during 2017-2018. A total of five 1 ha plots were established, and all climber species ≥1 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) were counted, which resulted in a total of 81 climbing plant species that representing to 62 genera under 30 families. Study plots revealed the most abundant climber species are Jasminum flexile (Oleaceae), Salacia oblonga (Celastraceae) and Ziziphus oenopolia (Rhamnaceae). The dominant climber species families in the study plots include Apocynaceae (11 species), Leguminosae (10 species), Menispermaceae and Vitaceae (6 species each), Capparaceae and Oleaceae (5 species each) and Convolvulaceae (4 species). Among 81 climber species, about 12 species are documented as threatened species of Courtallam hills. The results of this investigation suggest that forest management and forest protection is important for in-situ conservation of liana diversity with the involvement of local community.

Grain Size and Chemical Composition of Sediments to Determine the Governing Geochemical Processes in Fluvial Environments

The environmental impact on the river system and the bay or a tidal flat area is of significance since these environments act as sinks of pollutants. The river system gradually gathers the material that flows along the river and settles it at the downstream area. The geochemistry of sediments of the rivers and the Bay or tidal area are signatures of the mass transfer process that occur in fluvial environments. Thus, the processes such as provenance, maturity of sediments, weathering, climatic implications, sedimentary processes, heavy mineral concentrations, sorting and mixing effect, grain size variation, transport and downstream accumulation and effect of tributaries can be determined using geochemistry. The major oxides and trace element concentration of the sediments of the river and the Bay or Tidal area is thus very important to determine the fluvial processes. Comparison of two different fluvial environments with different climatic conditions and geology where one consists of the river with a Bay in Sri Lanka and the other consisting of a river with a tidal flat in Japan is thus conceded. The environmental assessment using elements of sediments in such environments have been effective due to the possibility of being able to identify the fluvial processes that are affected by the river and Bay or tidal sediments in two different systems.

Pre-Sowing Treatments Accelerate Germination Percent for Restoration of Fourteen Threatened Tree Species in Bangladesh

Ecologically valuable native tree species are becoming threatened due to deforestation, forest fragmentation and preference of fast-growing exotics than the native ones in plantation. One of the main reasons for the preference of exotic species than the native ones is its higher rate of germination and rapid growth. The effect of different pre-sowing treatments was studied on fourteen threatened tree species of Bangladesh to find out the appropriate treatments for speed up germination rate and initial seedling growth. These species are ecologically valuable multipurpose indigenous trees of Bangladesh. Methanol extract of Castanopsis indica leaves could decrease the tumor Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma volume and weight. Lophopetalum wightianum is a globally threatened tree species. Hard coated seeds of Canarium resiniferum, Castanopsis indica, Protium serratum, Quercus acuminata and Vitex peduncularis were treated with sand paper, nicking, normal water, hot water, H2SO4 and HCl. Soft coated seeds of Brownlowia elata, Dichopsis polyantha, Firmiana colorata, Lophopetalum wightianum, Pterospermum acerifolium, Pterospermum semisagittatum, Pterygota alata, Schleichera oleosa and Sterculia villosa were sown in polybags, propagator house and nursery bed in normal, flat and 45o angle positions. Among all hard-coated seeds, Castanopsis indica showed significantly higher germination percentage (67%) after seeds treated with sandpaper in comparison to control (25%). Soft-coated seeds of Lophopetalum wightianum showed significantly higher germination percentage (90%) among all studied species when sown in propagator house, whereas in natural condition it provides only 26% germination rate. This paper will help to restore ecologically valuable threatened species.