Diversity, Availability, and Pattern of Use of Tree Stratum Forage in the Western Himalayas | Chapter 2 | Research Advances in Environment, Geography and Earth Science Vol. 8

The present study explores the diversity, availability, and pattern of use of tree stratum forage in the western Himalayas. Trees have been used for centuries for fodder globally. Tree foliage is a substantial source of feed for livestock. Several species of fodder-yielding trees are distributed in different elevation zones in the mountains of the Uttarakhand Himalayas. As in many other regions of the world, farmers in the Himalayan region depend largely on this practice for sustaining their livestock during the winter and summer seasons for almost half of the year. The Himalayas are remote and inaccessible; people depend mainly on forest resources to fulfil livelihood services. The availability of fodder in the hill villages of the Uttarakhand Himalayan region is insufficient, and some of this food is supplemented through the lopping of tree foliage. Most of the fodder species were used in summer due to the availability of deciduous species; however, the availability of fodder was scarce during winter. The dependency is very high (>70%) during the period beginning from October to February. Owing to changing climatic conditions, a farmer’s preference for a particular tree species is also variable, depending on where he lives, according to the low, middle, and high hill regions. The present study deals with the diversity, distribution, availability, and community preference of fodder trees in Uttarakhand. For the present study, a questionnaire survey was administered in different districts of the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand. A total of 41 species of fodder plants representing 24 genera taxonomically belonging to 18 families were enlisted and documented. Protected plantations of potential multipurpose fodder species are needed in the wasteland and need to initiate programs like afforestation, reforestation, and forest rehabilitation with participatory approaches.

 

Author(s) Details

Chander Shekhar
Doon (P.G.) College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Dehradun (U.K), India.

 

Akhilesh Kumar
Himalayan School of Biosciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, India.

Vivek Jain

Udyogini Non-Governmental Organization, Uttarakhand, India

 

Sunil Prakash
School of Agriculture, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

 

Pankaj Lal
College of Forestry Ranichauri, University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Uttarakhand, India.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/raeges/v8/1474

An Overview of Diminution of Quercus semecarpifolia Forests Ecosystem Services in Himalayan Region | Chapter 10 | Emerging Issues in Environment, Geography and Earth Science Vol. 5

 This study measure, recognize, and group the ecosystem aids provided by Q. Semecarpifolia jungles in the Himalayan region. The genus Quercus (Oaks) includes very important tree variety of the Himalayan forests. Oaks are critical for a multitude of ecosystem aids and livelihood support services collected by the residents in the Himalayan region. Himalayan temperate oaks are conifer, medium- to large-sized shrubs, mostly in the direction of clusters. The distribution of oak plants happens between 800 and 3,800 m asl during the whole of the Himalayan region. Quercus semecarpifolia is the most aged and dominating species of the Himalayan domain. Forest ecosystem aids were thought of as a ‘gift of character’ and utilized throughout era, though their quantification, recognition, and financial valuation are frequently ignored or underestimated. By way of the greater range of ecosystem duties and livelihood time it offers, it is seen as a lifeline for the settlers in this region. Still, because of over-confidence, this species' woodland is promptly disappearing in his extent. The main source of overexploitation is the reaping of fuelwood and feed. Research on the quantification, value, and prioritizing of environment services obtained from the Himalayan woods and other environments is still in its early stages and grant permission take several years. In consideration of address future comparisons, preservation, management, and the decline in ecosystem duties of this species in the Himalayan domain, our study offers baseline dossier.

Author(s) Details:

Chander Shekhar,
Department of Genetics and Tree Improvement Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

H. S. Ginwal,
Department of Genetics and Tree Improvement Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

M. S. Bhandari,
Department of Genetics and Tree Improvement Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

Santan Barthwal,
Department of Genetics and Tree Improvement Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/EIEGES-V5/article/view/12715