N. P. Melkania

Abstract

Among the global common concerns, climate change has been identified as the most important environmental challenge facing humanity. Emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons are identified as green house gases causing warming of earth globally. Of these, CO₂ alone accounts for 60 per cent share. Absorbing atmospheric CO₂ and moving into the physiological system and plant biomass, and finally into the soil, is considered as the most practical way of removing excess C from atmosphere and storing it into a biological system. C is, thus, sequestered into the plants and then the animals. Studies have established that C sequestration by trees and forests could provide relatively low cost net emission reductions. C management in forests is, therefore, one of the most important agenda in India in the 21st century in context of green house gases effects and mitigation of global climate changes. Studies indicate that Indian forests store 1,083.81 MtC (wood only) in the year 1994 to 3,907.67 MtC (above -and belowground material) in the year 1993. In forest soil, total C storage is estimated 9,815.95 MtC as per 1994 forest stands under 19 ligneous species. Site-specific C estimates depend on stand composition, age, site quality and management. Estimated rate of C flux in selected Indian planted forests reveals that : (i) planted forests of short- rotation tree species with regular leaf shedding patterns have more capacity for C sequestering in litter which decomposes more rapidly than those with annual or bimodal leaf shedding patterns, and (ii) mixed planted forests of exotic and native species could be more efficient in sequestering C than the monocultures. This contribution reviews C sequestration in Indian forests at national level and site- specific situations, and elaborates some possible opportunities for sustainable C forestry.

Keywords

Global Climate Change, Carbon Sequestration, Natural and Planted Forests, India

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N. P. Melkania

Abstract

Bamboos are potential bioresources of tangible and intangible values for humankind. Tropical and sub-tropical Indian forests and agrarian ecosystems harbour great species diversity of bamboos. Majority of bamboo species find favourable niche in the North-Eastern Region of the country. Among these, Phyllostachys bambusoides Gamble is confined only to Apatani plateau in Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh, thus called commonly 'Apatani' bamboo. It is strictly a cultivated bamboo either grown as sole crop on land adjacent to cultivation fields and/or in association of Pinus excelsa. The present contribution documents, based on field surveys, the indigenous knowledge of Apatanis of cultivation and utilization of P. bambusoides. The information will be useful for development workers and extension services involved in bamboo development and natural resource management.

Keywords

Runner Bamboo, Phyllostachys bambusoides, Apatani Tribe, Arunachal Pradesh,
Indegenous Knowledge, Utilisation

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N. P. Melkania

Abstract

The North-eastern Himalayan region of India represents highly heterogenous landscape both bio-physically and in terms of human dimensions. Inhabited largely by the traditional societies living close to nature and natural resources, these ecosystem people are linked with natural forest and rangeland ecosystems and human-engineered agroecosystem through biodiversity-driven traditional ecological knowledge. Their traditional ecological knowledge base operates at various levels of ecosystem complexity ranging from sub-species to landscape level. The agronomic cultivation in the region is closely interlinked with forest and rangeland. The region is floristically rich and home of many economic plants and inter-related species. A large number of plant and animal species are unique to the region and serve local and national economies. Out of 8,000 species of Himalayan flowering plants, nearly 5,000 co-exist in the Eastern Himalayas along with 85 terrestrial mammals, over 500 bird species and large number of butterflies, insects and reptiles. Arunachal Pradesh in eastern Himalaya is recognised as one of the global mega-biodiversity 'hotspots'. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are still the best protected states as far as the protected area network in the region is concerned. Sacred groves and landscapes, informal community gene-banks and home gardens are the best examples of the people-centered in-situ biodiversity conservation. This paper provides a synthesis of research on biodiversity of forest and rangeland ecosystems of Indian North-eastern region and suggests certain practical conservation initiatives for sustainable biodiversity management. The biodiversity-related issues are set at state and regional level. While describing the development and conservation initiatives, necessity of linking biodiversity conservation with economic development focused on livelihood security of the ecosystem people is highlighted. The regionous biodiversity need be researched through an interdisciplinary approach accounting on ecological, social, economic and institutional dimensions. In the wide field of biodiversity conservation, ecosystem peoples' interest must get top priority from sustainability point of view.

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