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Papers by Gopal Shukla

Climate Change and Agroforestry Systems

Table S1. Details of collected species as supplementary file. (DOCX 24 kb)

Plant biodiversity: monitoring, assessment and conservation, 2017

This chapter seeks to deliver an elucidation of the diverse technological attributes identifying ... more This chapter seeks to deliver an elucidation of the diverse technological attributes identifying the vastly effectuated and evolving technique of cryoconservation, a biotechnology developed to enable the prolonged storage of diversified flora. The foremost cryogenic methodologies and the pivotal phases for their effective adjustment to varied kinds of germplasms are expounded. Herein, numerous examples of cryopreservation of plant species are mentioned, to illustrate the incredible breakthrough that has been made, along with its additional roles in supporting genetic breeding programmes and in eliminating systemic plant pathogens by means of cryotherapy; thus making it an effective substitute for the purpose of conservation of germplasm.

Plant biodiversity: monitoring, assessment and conservation, 2017

Studies on biological diversity are usually descriptive and concentrated at higher spatial scales... more Studies on biological diversity are usually descriptive and concentrated at higher spatial scales and rarely concentrated at local landscapes. The present study is an attempt to describe and quantify the upper-storey vegetation of a forest at Terai Duars in West Bengal state, India. Stratified random nested quadrat sampling was adopted to mark 57 quadrats of size 20 x 20 m to describe the quantitative characters of upper-storey vegetation composition in the forest using number of individuals, occurrence of a species in quadrats, diameter, status of distribution and Importance Value Index (IVI). Upperstorey vegetation comprised 131 tree species, represented by 43 families and 92 genera. On the basis of total number of individuals recorded from all the quadrats, species were categorized as few, medium and high. The distribution status of species was described as frequent, rare and abundant in occurrence. The abundant species can be regarded as the prominent upper-storey species in the...

Meeting the energy needs of a rapidly-growing economy like India is a matter of apprehension. Iss... more Meeting the energy needs of a rapidly-growing economy like India is a matter of apprehension. Issues associated with conventional petroleum energy are fluctuating global prices, depletion of reserves, dependence on imports and environmental pollution. Understandably, efforts have been intensified to identify alternative sources of energy. Jatropha and some more non-edible tree borne oil seed species as biodiesel has emerged as viable options. These tree borne oil seeds are elaborated for their potential as biodiesel. The advantages and constraints for production and adoption of these crops as biodiesel is also discussed. Some remedial measures for smooth and efficient adoption of these tree borne oil seeds are also suggested.

Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability, 2020

Plant litter production and decomposition is a crucial ecosystem process that defines and governs... more Plant litter production and decomposition is a crucial ecosystem process that defines and governs the plant-soil relationships by regulating the nutrient turnover and the build-up of soil organic matter. Litter is the principal source of organic matter for soils in the forest ecosystem. The litter, upon decomposition, makes available essential nutrients for the growth and development of a forest stand. Different tree components contain different amounts of nutrients; and build up of soil organic matter. The amount of nutrients added through litter decomposition varies with forest types, species, stand attributes, and variation in seasonal environmental conditions. Nutrient return from organic matter is estimated by the physico-chemical properties of the litter. Moreover, the rate of decomposition and the nutrient releases are highly influenced by magnitude of litter produced, litter quality and nutrients release, as well as, by climatic conditions and existing microbial communities ...

Journal of Tree Sciences, 2021

Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 2018

We expected that the indigenous communities of Jaldapara National Park depend on the non-timber f... more We expected that the indigenous communities of Jaldapara National Park depend on the non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and there would be a relationship between socioeconomic variables and their dependency on NTFPs. The study also documented the gap between prices of NTFP items at the household level and in local markets. Multistage sampling procedures were applied with a sample size of 205. The data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Chi-Square (χ2) test. Insignificant values of Chi-Square (χ2) test reveal that there is no association or relationship of NTFP dependency with the socioeconomic and demographic variables of the respondents. The communities do rely on NTFPs for their daily, sociocultural, and cash requirements and assure a safety net during scarcity. There is a variable contribution of NTFPs to total monthly household income (1-70%). We documented 43 species of NTFPs sold either as raw or as processed form. The NTFPs sold were in the form of twigs, shoot, fruit, seed, leaves, mushroom, and fish. A wide gap exists between the price realized by the community from the sale of NTFPs and those sold in the local markets. This calls for institutional intervention for capacity building and empowering the community for processing or value addition and market intelligence.

Journal of Hill Agriculture, 2015

Consensus and perception of local ethnic inhabitants from different parts of Sikkim state of Indi... more Consensus and perception of local ethnic inhabitants from different parts of Sikkim state of India regarding the role of wild edible fruits in their daily life style was studied. Perception level was analyzed on the basis of family dependency, income generating ability, medicinal values and intercropping with agricultural crops. Results revealed that 61.6% of the respondents were with a medium perception level followed by high perception level (31.6%) about the values and usage of indigenous minor or wild edible fruit trees. Distribution of data was highly consistent (15.20%) with mean and SD value of 10.92 and 1.66, respectively. Thus, the variables gender, age and occupation of respondents were found to be critical for developing their perception level on values and usage of these fruit trees. The estimated R2 value of 0.099 indicated that predictor variables altogether had explained 9.9% variations embedded with predicted variable i.e. local people's perception on values and usage of fruit trees

Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2015

This study was an attempt to document the indigenous Lepcha people's perception on climate change... more This study was an attempt to document the indigenous Lepcha people's perception on climate change-related issues in five villages of Dzongu Valley located in Kanchandzonga Biosphere Reserve, India. Personal structured questionnaire was used for interview of 300 households selected randomly. Results showed that 85 % of the households have perceived climate change, mainly in the form of increasing temperature and unpredictable pattern of rainfall. In terms of climate change-related events, 75 % of the households believed that wind is becoming warmer and stronger over the past years. Majority of the households have observed changes in crop phenology, while about 90 % agreed that the incidences of insect pest and diseases have increased over the years, especially in their large cardamom crop. A comparison of community perceptions, climatic observations and scientific literature shows that the community have correctly perceived temperature change, unpredictable occurrence of rainfall and increased incidence of insect pest and diseases, which have largely influenced the experiences and perceptions regarding climate-related events. Results reveal that households have adopted the use of locally available material as mulches against soil erosion, to conserve the soil moisture and manage soil temperature. Majority of the households have diversified their cropping system through traditional agroforestry systems and intercropping. Unfortunately, most of the households were unaware about the scientific sustainable approaches to combating impact of climate change. This documentation will aid in assessing the needs in terms of actions and information for facilitating climate change-related adaptation locally in Sikkim state of India.

The present study was an effort to document the medicinal plants traditionally utilized by the lo... more The present study was an effort to document the medicinal plants traditionally utilized by the local communities to cure various day to day prevailing ailments. The information on plants parts used, mode of administration, doses and uses in different ailments and disease was gathered from the tribal medicine men including the elders of the community using a well structured questionnaire. The study reported 35 plant species of ethno medicinal importance belonging to 31 genera and 26 families. The species comprised of 16 trees, 10 herbs, 8 shrubs and 1 climber. Of all these collected medicinal plant specimens, fruit was the most important and widely used. Fruits of (15) species were used in medicinal purpose followed by leaves (11), bark (9) and whole plant (5). The plants were used in various ailments in the form of powder, paste and raw form etc. These available plants are used to treat different diseases like body ache, heart problem, stomach disorder, cuts, fracture, gastric, toot...

Value Addition of Horticultural Crops: Recent Trends and Future Directions, 2015

ABSTRACT In the era of scientifi c advancement, technological upliftment, and modernization, poor... more ABSTRACT In the era of scientifi c advancement, technological upliftment, and modernization, poor people of the country still depend upon wood for their primary energy source. Up to the nineteenth century, wood was irreplaceable as the most important fuel and raw material for construction, agriculture, crafts, and shipbuilding. Assessments of the scope for greenhouse gases (GHG) mitigation through wood use at the different levels can be done with a combination of approaches from different disciplines. Treatment of carbon stored in harvested products varies among international, national, and voluntary project-based mitigation programs, and to recognize carbon storage in wood products within international protocols has been ongoing for the past several years. The role of carbon sinks in harvested wood products (HWPs) is generally accepted, and one of the themes discussed in the negotiations of a post-2012 agreement is the possible inclusion of HWPs in accounting of CO 2 emission after 2012. In the present paper, we are discussing about the various national and international value-added wood products for storing or preserving carbon for a long time and ultimately useful option for mitigating climate change.

Climate Change Effect on Crop Productivity, 2014

ABSTRACT Climate change is looming large towards humanity in the coming decades. Agriculture also... more ABSTRACT Climate change is looming large towards humanity in the coming decades. Agriculture also produces significant effects on climate change as a possible contributor of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere and as an industry that is highly sensitive to climatic changes. Climate is significant in the distribution, productivity and security of food. There should be a realisation that climate is both a resource to be managed wisely and a hazard to be dealt with. Thus, a portfolio of assets to prepare for climate change is needed. This chapter discusses in global detail, with special reference to India, the contribution of agriculture towards climate change, its implication, abatement, trade-off, adaptation and adjustment with barriers and policy recommendations towards achieving climate-smart agriculture.

Journal of Forestry Research, 2014

ABSTRACT We documented the status of fern diversity, biomass and carbon accumulation at Chilapatt... more ABSTRACT We documented the status of fern diversity, biomass and carbon accumulation at Chilapatta Reserve Forest in Cooch Behar Wildlife Division, West Bengal. Stratified random nested quadrat sampling was adopted for analyzing the qualitative and quantitative characters. Nineteen fern species were recorded, of which two are yet to be identified. Identified species were of eight families and nine genera. Highest and lowest frequency recorded were 25.44 and 0.19 while relative frequency varied from 3.16 to 12.25. Fern density ranged from 93 to 13,403 individuals ·ha−1. Most of the species were widely distributed. IVI values ranged from 7.54 to 37.45. The above ground portion of ferns accumulated the major portion of biomass and carbon.

Value Addition of Horticultural Crops: Recent Trends and Future Directions, 2015

ABSTRACT and developing nations. NTFPs contribute signifi cantly to forest economy of developed a... more ABSTRACT and developing nations. NTFPs contribute signifi cantly to forest economy of developed and industrialized nations also. NTFPs can be processed or value added into consumer-oriented products. They have commercial importance and can contribute to the economic development of a region or a nation. Commercialization or value addition of NTFPs is now promoted as an approach to rural development especially in tropical forest areas. Unfortunately, commercialization of NTFPs has exploited and deprived the collectors. The chapter describes the prospects, constraints, and strategies to overcome these constraints of NTFP development and its value addition. The successful NTFP commercialization will be transparent, equitable, and sustainable which will have a positive impact on poverty reduction, gender equality, resource access, tenure, and management which demands aggressive policy interventions. The effective policy interventions can improve the stake of all stakeholders involved in NTFP from collection to value addition and ultimately improve collection, value addition, income, and livelihood without sacrifi cing the principles of sustainable forest conservation.

Global Perspectives on Sustainable Forest Management, 2012

Thirty per cent of the earth's land area or about 3.9 billion hectares is covered by forests. It ... more Thirty per cent of the earth's land area or about 3.9 billion hectares is covered by forests. It was estimated that the original forest cover was approximately six billion hectares (Bryant et www.intechopen.com Global Perspectives on Sustainable Forest Management 4 al., 1997). The Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China were the most forest rich countries accounting to 53 per cent of the total forest area of the globe. Another 64 countries having a combined population of two billions was reported to have forest on less than ten per cent of their total land area and unfortunately ten of these countries have no forest at all. Among these countries 16 are such which had relatively substantial forest areas of more 1than one million hectares each and three of these countries namely Chad, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Mongolia each had more than ten million hectares of forest. The forest area remained fairly stable in North and Central America while it expanded in Europe during the past decade. Asian continent especially in India and China due to their large scale afforestation programme in the last decade registered a net gain in forest area. Conversely the South America, Africa and Oceania had registered the net annual loss of forest area (Anon., 2010; 2011 a). 2. World deforestation According to Professor Norman Myers, one of the foremost authorities on rates of deforestation in tropical forests, "the annual destruction rates seems set to accelerate further and could well double in another decade" (Myers, 1992). Mostly deforestation has occurred in the temperate and subtropical areas. Deforestation is no longer significant in the developed temperate countries now and in fact many temperate countries now are recording increases in forest area (Anon., 1990 a ; 2010). In most instances developed nations are located in temperate domains and developing nations in tropical domains. However deforestation was significantly less in tropical moist deciduous forest in 1990-2000 than 1980-1990 but using satellite imagery it was found that FAO overestimated deforestation of tropical rainforests by 23 per cent (Anon., 2001 a; b). However the definition of what is and what is not forest remains controversial. The tropical rainforests capture most attention but 60 per cent of the deforestation that occurred in tropical forests during 1990-2010 was in moist deciduous and dry forests. However extensive tropical deforestation is a relatively modern event that gained momentum in the 20 th century and particularly in the last half of the 20 th century. The FAO FRA 2001 and 2010 reports indicate considerable deforestation in the world during 1990-2010 but this was almost entirely confined to tropical regions (Anon., 2001 a ; 2010). A summary of deforestation during the decades 1990-2010 is given in tables 1 and 2. These tables show there was considerable deforestation in the world during 1990-2010 but this was almost entirely confined to tropical regions. Rowe et al. (1992) estimated that 15 per cent of the world's forest was converted to other land uses between 1850 and 1980. Deforestation occurred at the rate of 9.2 million hectares per annum from 1980-1990, 16 million hectares per annum from 1990-2000 and decreased to 13 million hectares per annum from 2000-2010. The net change in forest area during the last decade was estimated at-5.2 million hectares per year, the loss area equivalent to the size of Costa Rica or 140 km 2 of forest per day, was however lesser than that reported during 1990-2000 which was 8.3 million hectares per year equivalent to a loss of 0.20 per cent of the remaining forest area each year. The current annual net loss is 37 per cent lower than that in the 1990s and equals a loss of 0.13 per cent of the remaining forest area each year during this period. By contrast some smaller countries have very high losses per year and they are in risk of virtually losing all their forests within the next decade if current rates of www.intechopen.com

Journal of Forestry Research, 2010

Three pod lengths (< 10 cm, 10-20 cm and > 20 cm) and 13 pre-sowing treatments were considered wi... more Three pod lengths (< 10 cm, 10-20 cm and > 20 cm) and 13 pre-sowing treatments were considered with four dates of collection (9 February, 19 February, 1 March and 11 March) to investigate their effect on germination rate and growth of seedlings of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. at Pundibari, West Bengal, India. The best time of pod collection was on 19 February as the germination rate of the seeds collected on this date was 92.5% without requiring any pre-sowing treatments. This clearly indicated that the seeds collected on 19 February were nondormant, viable and physiologically mature. Significantly better seedling growth was also obtained when the seeds were sown on 19 February which was extracted from pods of length 10-20 cm. Application of thiourea as a pre-treatment did not significantly enhanced seed germination rate, but its application in lower concentration (100 μL•L-1) resulted in better seedling growth and development.

Climate Change and Agroforestry Systems

Table S1. Details of collected species as supplementary file. (DOCX 24 kb)

Plant biodiversity: monitoring, assessment and conservation, 2017

This chapter seeks to deliver an elucidation of the diverse technological attributes identifying ... more This chapter seeks to deliver an elucidation of the diverse technological attributes identifying the vastly effectuated and evolving technique of cryoconservation, a biotechnology developed to enable the prolonged storage of diversified flora. The foremost cryogenic methodologies and the pivotal phases for their effective adjustment to varied kinds of germplasms are expounded. Herein, numerous examples of cryopreservation of plant species are mentioned, to illustrate the incredible breakthrough that has been made, along with its additional roles in supporting genetic breeding programmes and in eliminating systemic plant pathogens by means of cryotherapy; thus making it an effective substitute for the purpose of conservation of germplasm.

Plant biodiversity: monitoring, assessment and conservation, 2017

Studies on biological diversity are usually descriptive and concentrated at higher spatial scales... more Studies on biological diversity are usually descriptive and concentrated at higher spatial scales and rarely concentrated at local landscapes. The present study is an attempt to describe and quantify the upper-storey vegetation of a forest at Terai Duars in West Bengal state, India. Stratified random nested quadrat sampling was adopted to mark 57 quadrats of size 20 x 20 m to describe the quantitative characters of upper-storey vegetation composition in the forest using number of individuals, occurrence of a species in quadrats, diameter, status of distribution and Importance Value Index (IVI). Upperstorey vegetation comprised 131 tree species, represented by 43 families and 92 genera. On the basis of total number of individuals recorded from all the quadrats, species were categorized as few, medium and high. The distribution status of species was described as frequent, rare and abundant in occurrence. The abundant species can be regarded as the prominent upper-storey species in the...

Meeting the energy needs of a rapidly-growing economy like India is a matter of apprehension. Iss... more Meeting the energy needs of a rapidly-growing economy like India is a matter of apprehension. Issues associated with conventional petroleum energy are fluctuating global prices, depletion of reserves, dependence on imports and environmental pollution. Understandably, efforts have been intensified to identify alternative sources of energy. Jatropha and some more non-edible tree borne oil seed species as biodiesel has emerged as viable options. These tree borne oil seeds are elaborated for their potential as biodiesel. The advantages and constraints for production and adoption of these crops as biodiesel is also discussed. Some remedial measures for smooth and efficient adoption of these tree borne oil seeds are also suggested.

Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability, 2020

Plant litter production and decomposition is a crucial ecosystem process that defines and governs... more Plant litter production and decomposition is a crucial ecosystem process that defines and governs the plant-soil relationships by regulating the nutrient turnover and the build-up of soil organic matter. Litter is the principal source of organic matter for soils in the forest ecosystem. The litter, upon decomposition, makes available essential nutrients for the growth and development of a forest stand. Different tree components contain different amounts of nutrients; and build up of soil organic matter. The amount of nutrients added through litter decomposition varies with forest types, species, stand attributes, and variation in seasonal environmental conditions. Nutrient return from organic matter is estimated by the physico-chemical properties of the litter. Moreover, the rate of decomposition and the nutrient releases are highly influenced by magnitude of litter produced, litter quality and nutrients release, as well as, by climatic conditions and existing microbial communities ...

Journal of Tree Sciences, 2021

Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 2018

We expected that the indigenous communities of Jaldapara National Park depend on the non-timber f... more We expected that the indigenous communities of Jaldapara National Park depend on the non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and there would be a relationship between socioeconomic variables and their dependency on NTFPs. The study also documented the gap between prices of NTFP items at the household level and in local markets. Multistage sampling procedures were applied with a sample size of 205. The data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Chi-Square (χ2) test. Insignificant values of Chi-Square (χ2) test reveal that there is no association or relationship of NTFP dependency with the socioeconomic and demographic variables of the respondents. The communities do rely on NTFPs for their daily, sociocultural, and cash requirements and assure a safety net during scarcity. There is a variable contribution of NTFPs to total monthly household income (1-70%). We documented 43 species of NTFPs sold either as raw or as processed form. The NTFPs sold were in the form of twigs, shoot, fruit, seed, leaves, mushroom, and fish. A wide gap exists between the price realized by the community from the sale of NTFPs and those sold in the local markets. This calls for institutional intervention for capacity building and empowering the community for processing or value addition and market intelligence.

Journal of Hill Agriculture, 2015

Consensus and perception of local ethnic inhabitants from different parts of Sikkim state of Indi... more Consensus and perception of local ethnic inhabitants from different parts of Sikkim state of India regarding the role of wild edible fruits in their daily life style was studied. Perception level was analyzed on the basis of family dependency, income generating ability, medicinal values and intercropping with agricultural crops. Results revealed that 61.6% of the respondents were with a medium perception level followed by high perception level (31.6%) about the values and usage of indigenous minor or wild edible fruit trees. Distribution of data was highly consistent (15.20%) with mean and SD value of 10.92 and 1.66, respectively. Thus, the variables gender, age and occupation of respondents were found to be critical for developing their perception level on values and usage of these fruit trees. The estimated R2 value of 0.099 indicated that predictor variables altogether had explained 9.9% variations embedded with predicted variable i.e. local people's perception on values and usage of fruit trees

Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2015

This study was an attempt to document the indigenous Lepcha people's perception on climate change... more This study was an attempt to document the indigenous Lepcha people's perception on climate change-related issues in five villages of Dzongu Valley located in Kanchandzonga Biosphere Reserve, India. Personal structured questionnaire was used for interview of 300 households selected randomly. Results showed that 85 % of the households have perceived climate change, mainly in the form of increasing temperature and unpredictable pattern of rainfall. In terms of climate change-related events, 75 % of the households believed that wind is becoming warmer and stronger over the past years. Majority of the households have observed changes in crop phenology, while about 90 % agreed that the incidences of insect pest and diseases have increased over the years, especially in their large cardamom crop. A comparison of community perceptions, climatic observations and scientific literature shows that the community have correctly perceived temperature change, unpredictable occurrence of rainfall and increased incidence of insect pest and diseases, which have largely influenced the experiences and perceptions regarding climate-related events. Results reveal that households have adopted the use of locally available material as mulches against soil erosion, to conserve the soil moisture and manage soil temperature. Majority of the households have diversified their cropping system through traditional agroforestry systems and intercropping. Unfortunately, most of the households were unaware about the scientific sustainable approaches to combating impact of climate change. This documentation will aid in assessing the needs in terms of actions and information for facilitating climate change-related adaptation locally in Sikkim state of India.

The present study was an effort to document the medicinal plants traditionally utilized by the lo... more The present study was an effort to document the medicinal plants traditionally utilized by the local communities to cure various day to day prevailing ailments. The information on plants parts used, mode of administration, doses and uses in different ailments and disease was gathered from the tribal medicine men including the elders of the community using a well structured questionnaire. The study reported 35 plant species of ethno medicinal importance belonging to 31 genera and 26 families. The species comprised of 16 trees, 10 herbs, 8 shrubs and 1 climber. Of all these collected medicinal plant specimens, fruit was the most important and widely used. Fruits of (15) species were used in medicinal purpose followed by leaves (11), bark (9) and whole plant (5). The plants were used in various ailments in the form of powder, paste and raw form etc. These available plants are used to treat different diseases like body ache, heart problem, stomach disorder, cuts, fracture, gastric, toot...

Value Addition of Horticultural Crops: Recent Trends and Future Directions, 2015

ABSTRACT In the era of scientifi c advancement, technological upliftment, and modernization, poor... more ABSTRACT In the era of scientifi c advancement, technological upliftment, and modernization, poor people of the country still depend upon wood for their primary energy source. Up to the nineteenth century, wood was irreplaceable as the most important fuel and raw material for construction, agriculture, crafts, and shipbuilding. Assessments of the scope for greenhouse gases (GHG) mitigation through wood use at the different levels can be done with a combination of approaches from different disciplines. Treatment of carbon stored in harvested products varies among international, national, and voluntary project-based mitigation programs, and to recognize carbon storage in wood products within international protocols has been ongoing for the past several years. The role of carbon sinks in harvested wood products (HWPs) is generally accepted, and one of the themes discussed in the negotiations of a post-2012 agreement is the possible inclusion of HWPs in accounting of CO 2 emission after 2012. In the present paper, we are discussing about the various national and international value-added wood products for storing or preserving carbon for a long time and ultimately useful option for mitigating climate change.

Climate Change Effect on Crop Productivity, 2014

ABSTRACT Climate change is looming large towards humanity in the coming decades. Agriculture also... more ABSTRACT Climate change is looming large towards humanity in the coming decades. Agriculture also produces significant effects on climate change as a possible contributor of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere and as an industry that is highly sensitive to climatic changes. Climate is significant in the distribution, productivity and security of food. There should be a realisation that climate is both a resource to be managed wisely and a hazard to be dealt with. Thus, a portfolio of assets to prepare for climate change is needed. This chapter discusses in global detail, with special reference to India, the contribution of agriculture towards climate change, its implication, abatement, trade-off, adaptation and adjustment with barriers and policy recommendations towards achieving climate-smart agriculture.

Journal of Forestry Research, 2014

ABSTRACT We documented the status of fern diversity, biomass and carbon accumulation at Chilapatt... more ABSTRACT We documented the status of fern diversity, biomass and carbon accumulation at Chilapatta Reserve Forest in Cooch Behar Wildlife Division, West Bengal. Stratified random nested quadrat sampling was adopted for analyzing the qualitative and quantitative characters. Nineteen fern species were recorded, of which two are yet to be identified. Identified species were of eight families and nine genera. Highest and lowest frequency recorded were 25.44 and 0.19 while relative frequency varied from 3.16 to 12.25. Fern density ranged from 93 to 13,403 individuals ·ha−1. Most of the species were widely distributed. IVI values ranged from 7.54 to 37.45. The above ground portion of ferns accumulated the major portion of biomass and carbon.

Value Addition of Horticultural Crops: Recent Trends and Future Directions, 2015

ABSTRACT and developing nations. NTFPs contribute signifi cantly to forest economy of developed a... more ABSTRACT and developing nations. NTFPs contribute signifi cantly to forest economy of developed and industrialized nations also. NTFPs can be processed or value added into consumer-oriented products. They have commercial importance and can contribute to the economic development of a region or a nation. Commercialization or value addition of NTFPs is now promoted as an approach to rural development especially in tropical forest areas. Unfortunately, commercialization of NTFPs has exploited and deprived the collectors. The chapter describes the prospects, constraints, and strategies to overcome these constraints of NTFP development and its value addition. The successful NTFP commercialization will be transparent, equitable, and sustainable which will have a positive impact on poverty reduction, gender equality, resource access, tenure, and management which demands aggressive policy interventions. The effective policy interventions can improve the stake of all stakeholders involved in NTFP from collection to value addition and ultimately improve collection, value addition, income, and livelihood without sacrifi cing the principles of sustainable forest conservation.

Global Perspectives on Sustainable Forest Management, 2012

Thirty per cent of the earth's land area or about 3.9 billion hectares is covered by forests. It ... more Thirty per cent of the earth's land area or about 3.9 billion hectares is covered by forests. It was estimated that the original forest cover was approximately six billion hectares (Bryant et www.intechopen.com Global Perspectives on Sustainable Forest Management 4 al., 1997). The Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China were the most forest rich countries accounting to 53 per cent of the total forest area of the globe. Another 64 countries having a combined population of two billions was reported to have forest on less than ten per cent of their total land area and unfortunately ten of these countries have no forest at all. Among these countries 16 are such which had relatively substantial forest areas of more 1than one million hectares each and three of these countries namely Chad, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Mongolia each had more than ten million hectares of forest. The forest area remained fairly stable in North and Central America while it expanded in Europe during the past decade. Asian continent especially in India and China due to their large scale afforestation programme in the last decade registered a net gain in forest area. Conversely the South America, Africa and Oceania had registered the net annual loss of forest area (Anon., 2010; 2011 a). 2. World deforestation According to Professor Norman Myers, one of the foremost authorities on rates of deforestation in tropical forests, "the annual destruction rates seems set to accelerate further and could well double in another decade" (Myers, 1992). Mostly deforestation has occurred in the temperate and subtropical areas. Deforestation is no longer significant in the developed temperate countries now and in fact many temperate countries now are recording increases in forest area (Anon., 1990 a ; 2010). In most instances developed nations are located in temperate domains and developing nations in tropical domains. However deforestation was significantly less in tropical moist deciduous forest in 1990-2000 than 1980-1990 but using satellite imagery it was found that FAO overestimated deforestation of tropical rainforests by 23 per cent (Anon., 2001 a; b). However the definition of what is and what is not forest remains controversial. The tropical rainforests capture most attention but 60 per cent of the deforestation that occurred in tropical forests during 1990-2010 was in moist deciduous and dry forests. However extensive tropical deforestation is a relatively modern event that gained momentum in the 20 th century and particularly in the last half of the 20 th century. The FAO FRA 2001 and 2010 reports indicate considerable deforestation in the world during 1990-2010 but this was almost entirely confined to tropical regions (Anon., 2001 a ; 2010). A summary of deforestation during the decades 1990-2010 is given in tables 1 and 2. These tables show there was considerable deforestation in the world during 1990-2010 but this was almost entirely confined to tropical regions. Rowe et al. (1992) estimated that 15 per cent of the world's forest was converted to other land uses between 1850 and 1980. Deforestation occurred at the rate of 9.2 million hectares per annum from 1980-1990, 16 million hectares per annum from 1990-2000 and decreased to 13 million hectares per annum from 2000-2010. The net change in forest area during the last decade was estimated at-5.2 million hectares per year, the loss area equivalent to the size of Costa Rica or 140 km 2 of forest per day, was however lesser than that reported during 1990-2000 which was 8.3 million hectares per year equivalent to a loss of 0.20 per cent of the remaining forest area each year. The current annual net loss is 37 per cent lower than that in the 1990s and equals a loss of 0.13 per cent of the remaining forest area each year during this period. By contrast some smaller countries have very high losses per year and they are in risk of virtually losing all their forests within the next decade if current rates of www.intechopen.com

Journal of Forestry Research, 2010

Three pod lengths (< 10 cm, 10-20 cm and > 20 cm) and 13 pre-sowing treatments were considered wi... more Three pod lengths (< 10 cm, 10-20 cm and > 20 cm) and 13 pre-sowing treatments were considered with four dates of collection (9 February, 19 February, 1 March and 11 March) to investigate their effect on germination rate and growth of seedlings of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. at Pundibari, West Bengal, India. The best time of pod collection was on 19 February as the germination rate of the seeds collected on this date was 92.5% without requiring any pre-sowing treatments. This clearly indicated that the seeds collected on 19 February were nondormant, viable and physiologically mature. Significantly better seedling growth was also obtained when the seeds were sown on 19 February which was extracted from pods of length 10-20 cm. Application of thiourea as a pre-treatment did not significantly enhanced seed germination rate, but its application in lower concentration (100 μL•L-1) resulted in better seedling growth and development.