Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1, 2006
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Introduction
Rajasthan is the largest state in India with a geographical area of 34.22 million ha, which
constitutes 10.41% of the total land area. The state is bifurcated by Aravali hills running
south-west to north-eastern direction. Approximately 50% of the forest area of the
state lies in this hill range. The state has a forest area of 3.17 million ha that constitutes
9.26% of geographical area of the state. People of the state, especially in Eastern and
South-eastern parts, depend on the forest for fuelwood, fodder, timber and various other
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). According to an estimate, 90% of the energy
demand in rural Rajasthan is fulfilled by fuelwood (NSSO, 1995), majority of
which comes from forests. Likewise there is huge pressure for fodder on the forests.
Cattle population of the state is 48.44 million, which exceeds human population in the
state. These ever-increasing demands exert pressure on forests and pose management
challenges such as meeting increasing community biomass demands, regenerate forests
and enhance forest area simultaneously. As per the National Forest Policy, forest cover
should be 33% of countrys geographical area, but Rajasthan has only 4.78% of forest
cover (FSI, 2001).
Rajasthan issued the first JFM resolution on 15th March 1991 and became one
of the pioneer states to initiate JFM. Though Rajasthan has long history of community
forest management in form of traditional practices such as Kesar Chidkav
(Saffron Sprinkling), Dev Van and legendary devotion of Vishnoi community towards
flora and fauna, it was legally formalised with the JFM resolution by formation of
village level Forest Protection Committees (FPC)s. Since then, six JFM resolutions have
been issued facilitating increased community participation (especially women) and
management.
Over past 13 years, 3667 FPCs have been formed that are protecting 3767 km2 of
forest area covering approximately 12% of state forest area and involving 300,295
families (Bahuguna et al, 2004). Externally funded projects (Aravali Afforestation
Project, Afforestation and Pasture Land Development and Rajasthan Forestry Project
funded by OECF, Japan) have contributed to the spread of JFM in the state. As
substantial investment of resources and efforts has been done on JFM programme in the
state, it becomes imperative to assess its impact against its envisaged goals. In this paper,
we attempt to understand the ecological impact of JFM through the measurement
of ecological parameters. The main objective of the study was to assess the tree
biodiversity, density, basal area, biomass and productivity vis--vis the non-JFM area or
control plots.
Methodology
Seven forest divisions, representative of different geographical areas of the state were
selected for the study in consultation with the Forest Department. These were: Sikar
from north zone, Banswara, Pratapgarh and Udaipur (South) from south zone, Jaisalmer
from west zone and Bundi and Dausa from east zone. Most forest divisions were from
the Aravali mountain range as major JFM activities were carried out in this region. Four
representative FPCs from each division were selected with one extra FPC in Sikar
division. So in total 29 FPCs were studied form seven divisions. But due to very poor
growth of plantations in one FPC of Jaisalmer, it was not included in vegetation study.
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So though 29 FPCs were studied for all the management aspects but sample plots for
vegetation study were laid only in 28 FPCs. Ecological sampling was conducted in the
JFM areas in a FPC, which constituted one or more plantations or natural forests or both.
Thus, there were 33 sample plots from 28 FPCs. Table 1 gives the details of number of
plots selected in different divisions.
Table 1
Natural forests
Division
FPCs
surveyed
Age range
(years)
Number of
plots
FPCs
surveyed
Number of
plots
Banswara
910
Bundi
812
Dausa
514
Jaisalmer
Pratapgarh
79
Sikar
812
Udaipur (South)
37
22
22
11
11
Total
Basic criteria adopted to measure the impact of JFM are species diversity, tree density
and basal area. Plantations and natural plots were studied with their best possible similar
control plots. Control plots were areas with similar kind of conditions as that of JFM with
no silvicultural interventions. In Jaisalmer division, suitable control plots were not
available. Management practices in the JFM area were also recorded based on group
discussions held with the FPCs.
Replicates of quadrats measuring 25 m 25 m for trees, 10 m 10 m for shrubs and
1 m 1 m long for herbs were laid. In tree quadrats, stems having more than 10 cm Girth
at Breast Height (GBH) and in shrub quadrats stems having more than 5 cm GBH were
measured and species were recorded; and all plants in the herb quadrats were counted and
number in each species recorded. In addition, approximate height of all stems in tree
quadrats was also recorded. After collecting the data from each quadrat, species richness,
Shannon Weiners species diversity index, density of trees, size class distribution of trees
and basal area were computed. Biomass in tons per ha was computed as product of
height, basal area and wood density. Wood density of these forests was assumed to be
0.71. Mean annual increment for plantation was computed by dividing biomass with age
of plantation.
Results
In plantations over seven divisions, age varies from 3 to 14 years. Average age of
plantations is 8.13 years, wherein maximum average age is in Sikar division with
10.40 years followed by Dausa and Bundi divisions with 10.25 and 10.00 years
respectively. Most recent plantations are in Jaisalmer division with an age of three years.
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Species richness, density, diversity index, basal area and biomass of JFM plantations
and control plots
910
28
248
Bundi
Dausa
Jaisalmer
Pratapgarh
Sikar
Udaipur
(South)
812
670
1.661.92
4.18
514
28
362
11
1.162.30
12.18
0.06
0.20
0.07
79
13
320
10
1.912.26
9.62
75.86
7.86
812
22
234.4
10
0.902.02
10.67
59.48
5.60
37
21
165
1.21.71
0.91
3.88
0.10
20
311
10
02.29
7.70
56.53
5.24
Average
11
2.222.29
2.13
11.23
0.60
26.79
1.42
115.36 10.82
Control plots
Banswara
42
140
1.821.86
1.08
5.43
Bundi
54
104
4.5
1.171.21
1.81
11.28
Dausa
46
241
7.25
1.471.92
3.60
19.55
Pratapgarh
31
191
1.471.88
2.89
16.35
Sikar
40
187
7.8
1.202.16
1.03
4.93
Udaipur
(South)
45
83
01.78
0.51
2.23
Average
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169
02.16
1.87
10.11
In natural forests, average species richness and diversity are greater than in plantations.
In natural areas under JFM, species richness ranges from 7.50 to 16 with an average
of 11. Maximum species richness of 16 is found in Dausa division (Table 3).
For control plots, highest species richness is ten, which is significantly lower than the
natural areas under JFM. Maximum diversity index in natural JFM areas is 2.30 in
Udaipur division. In Bundi division, species diversity index of control areas is higher
than JFM forests. It is because of the presence of rich diverse vegetation in control plots
taken for survey.
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Species richness, density, diversity index, basal area and biomass of JFM natural
forests and control plots
Name of the
Total cut
division
stems/ha
Banswara
20
Bundi
Dausa
24
Pratapgarh
39
Sikar
32
Udaipur (South)
40
Average
24
Control plots
Banswara
26
Bundi
18
Dausa
56
Pratapgarh
61
Sikar
48
Udaipur (South)
72
Average
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Density/ha
208
194
308
433
154
124
255
Species
richness
10
7.5
16
12
10
13
11
Diversity
index
1.671.95
1.171.91
2.17
1.772.03
1.868
2.30
1.172.30
98
114
124
248
112
108
153
8.5
10
7
8
8
8
8
1.571.65
1.592.38
1.31
1.221.88
1.661.86
1.960
1.222.38
Basal area
(m2/ha)
Biomass
(t/ha)
7.74
11.23
8.04
18.89
6.07
7.49
10.31
51.45
57.07
77.96
172.39
41.42
39.28
78.41
3.01
6.19
3.04
5.33
3.52
6.65
4.21
18.22
34.24
18.17
27.36
25.54
39.49
23.79
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plantation plots it is 20, indicating an overall decline in the number of cut stems
(Table 2). Even in natural forests, the number of cut stems has decreased in JFM area as
compared to control plots (Table 3). The average number of cut stems/ha in control plots
was 42 while in JFM plots it was 20, indicating an overall decline in the number of cut
stems.
Size class distributions of trees under JFM plantations and their controls. The values
are in percent
Age range (years)
DBH <5 cm
DBH 510 cm
35
75.77
23.44
DBH 1030 cm
0.004
0.78
510
53.02
43.22
0.002
3.74
0.005
DBH >30 cm
>10
33.78
64.75
35
33.33
33.33
33.33
1.46
510
35.84
48.22
15.46
0.46
>10
29.82
43.58
26.59
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3.5 Management practices for grazing, fuel wood collection and lopping
In the 29 FPCs studied, 20 (68.96%) have framed specific rules for grazing in JFM area,
while the rest (31.04%) have no regulations (Table 5). Of these 20 FPCs, all of them
follow cut and carry method of grass harvesting. Seventy five percent FPCs have
imposed total ban on cattle grazing in JFM areas and in 25% FPCs, grazing is allowed
after grass harvesting done in October or November. Most of these FPCs have older
plantations and trees have acquired sufficient height and girth and cattle cannot trample
and hamper regeneration.
Table 5
Management rules employed for grazing and fuelwood collection in different FPCs in
Gujarat
Regulation on grazing
Number (%)
15 (75%)
5 (25%)
15 (68.18%)
20 (100%)
4 (18.19%)
Total
Total ban
Number (%)
Total
3 (13.63%)
22 (100%)
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Likewise in Ganloapada FPC of Banswara divison, Rs. 51 is levied as fine for grazing
offence and Rs. 501 charged for illegal wood cutting.
Demand and supply of fuelwood in FPCs under different divisions and % demand
being met from JFM forests
Division
Fuelwood demand
per FPC (t/yr)
% demand being
fulfilled from JFM areas
Banswara
746.70
504.00
67.50
Bundi
724.70
326.10
45.00
Dausa
486.00
145.80
30.00
Jaisalmer
319.60
0.00
0.00
Pratapgarh
786.60
550.40
69.97
Sikar
601.30
180.40
30.00
Udaipur (South)
648.50
332.40
51.25
Average
616.20
291.30
41.96
Discussion
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Acknowledgements
We thank the guidance and support of Professor N.H. Ravindranath and his team from
the Centre of Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Banglore; Shri Abhijit
Ghose, APCCF, Rajasthan Forest Department, Jaipur and Shri S. N. Bhise, Head of
Natural Resource Development Programme, Seva Mandir, Udaipur, Rajasthan in this
study. We thank the Ford Foundation for their financial assistance to the project.
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References
Bahuguna, V.K., Mitra, K., Capistrano, D. and Saigal, S. (2004) Root to Canopy: Regenerating
Forests Through Community- State Partnerships, Commonwealth Forestry Association- India
Chapter and Winrock International India.
Forest Survey of India (FSI) (2001) Status of Forest 2001, Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Dehradun.
NSSO (1995) Energy Used by Indian Households, 50th round, 19931994, National Sample
Survey Organization, Government of India.
TERI (2002) Liquid Petroleum Gas in the Rural Market, Tata Energy Research Institute,
New Delhi, Seva Mandir, Udaipur.