Effect of protection on regeneration in some selected village forests under community protection in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India
Hegde, G.T.; Murali, K.S.; Bhat, D.M.; Bhat, P.R.; Ravindranath, N.H.
Current Science 88(5): 810-815
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0011-3891 Document Number: 527908
Effect of protection on regeneration and species similarity was studied in six village forests under Joint Forest Management in Uttara Kannada district, the Western Ghats, Karnataka, India. The differences in species number, stem density, basal area of planted and natural species, and shrub density were compared between two observations in all the villages studied. All village forests experienced a decrease in the number of stems after the protection was withdrawn. The decrease in the overall density of natural species was more (19.7%) than that of the exotic species (8.2%). Basal area increased for stems that were planted, while it generally decreased for stems of natural species. The overall basal area, including native and planted species, had increased during the observation period indicating biomass accumulation. Shrub density increased in all villages except in Kadle, where there was no natural vegetation in the village forest. Greater similarity of species was found for planted species within the same village forests before and after protection. The number of cut stems increased significantly when the protection was removed, indicating diversion of pressure. The community did not prefer exotic species that were planted and, on the other hand, the native species were used to meet various biomass needs. The study indicates that the programme should develop strategies that incorporate various measures to conserve and maintain the village forests.