V P Tewari - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by V P Tewari
Forest Ecosystems, 2025
Rapid urbanization has caused significant changes along the urban-rural gradient, leading to a va... more Rapid urbanization has caused significant changes along the urban-rural gradient, leading to a variety of landscapes that are mainly shaped by human activities. This dynamic interplay also influences the distribution and characteristics of trees outside forests (TOF). Understanding the pattern of these trees will support informed decision-making in urban planning, in conservation strategies, and altogether in sustainable land management practices in the urban context. In this study, we employed a deep learning-based object detection model and high resolution satellite imagery to identify 1.3 million trees with bounding boxes within a 250 km 2 research transect spanning the urban-rural gradient of Bengaluru, a megacity in Southern India. Additionally, we developed an allometric equation to estimate diameter at breast height (DBH) from the tree crown diameter (CD) derived from the detected bounding boxes. Our study focused on analyzing variations in tree density and tree size along this gradient. The findings revealed distinct patterns: the urban domain displayed larger tree crown diameters (mean: 8.87 m) and DBH (mean: 43.78 cm) but having relatively low tree density (32 trees per hectare). Furthermore, with increasing distance from the city center, tree density increased, while the mean tree crown diameter and mean tree basal area decreased, showing clear differences of tree density and size between the urban and rural domains in Bengaluru. This study offers an efficient methodology that helps generating instructive insights into the dynamics of TOF along the urban-rural gradient. This may inform urban planning and management strategies for enhancing green infrastructure and biodiversity conservation in rapidly urbanizing cities like Bengaluru.
Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science, 2014
ABSTRACT Data from 27 remeasured sample plots were used to evaluate dynamic base-age invariant si... more ABSTRACT Data from 27 remeasured sample plots were used to evaluate dynamic base-age invariant site index models for teak (Tectona grandis) forests in Karnataka, India. The data were obtained in observational field studies covering a wide range of sites in Karnataka and provided up to three interval measurements per plot. All the functions were fitted simultaneously using iterative seemingly unrelated regression and a base-age-invariant method. The model evaluation criteria were bias, root mean square error and the adjusted coefficient of determination. The best results were obtained with the generalised algebraic difference equations derived from the Korf base model. The selected model accounted for 99.8% of the total variance in height–age relationships in dominant trees. The dynamic base-age invariant site index model proved to be effective and accurate in presenting polymorphic site index curves with multiple asymptotes. The new dynamic base-age invariant site index models based on generalised algebraic difference approach (GADA) methodology can be recommended for dominant height prediction and forest site quality evaluations in the teak forests in Karnataka, India.
National Forest Inventory and forest assessments are attracting increasing attention owing to the... more National Forest Inventory and forest assessments are attracting increasing attention owing to their role in providing information related to manifold forest functions. There is a high demand for global information about forests and multiple services that these ecosystems provide. Of particular, current interest are forest assessment systems at national level by countries that wish to engage themselves in the REDD+ initiative. The discipline of Forest Inventory has developed a versatile toolbox of techniques and methods useful for national-level forest assessments. This chapter presents a brief overview of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) in India vis-a-vis some other developed countries and highlights the proposed changes in plot design while revising NFI in India. Some new initiatives by Forest Survey of India have also been highlighted. With an increase in requirement of information and new technological developments, a constant adaptation of the NFI framework and introduction ...
Chandigarh-the ‘City Beautiful’ of India is known for its urban greenery and well planned landsca... more Chandigarh-the ‘City Beautiful’ of India is known for its urban greenery and well planned landscaping in the whole world. More than 0.60 millions of domestic tourists are visiting Chandigarh city each year. In a research study undertaken during 2002-04, an assessment about the annual recreational use value of this city’s urban parks and gardens was made by using Zonal Travel Cost Method (TCM) on the domestic tourists coming to the city for tourism purpose. Though man made greenery can not compensate nature’s green cover, yet it plays a significant role in attracting domestic tourists towards a city of parks/gardens in a developing country like India.
Agroforestry is as old as agriculture itself. Many of the anecdotal agroforestry practices, which... more Agroforestry is as old as agriculture itself. Many of the anecdotal agroforestry practices, which are time tested and evolved through traditional indigenous knowledge, are still being followed in different agroecological zones. The traditional knowledge and the underlying ecological principles concerning indigenous agroforestry systems around the world have been successfully used in designing the improved systems. Many of them such as improved fallows, homegardens, and park systems have evolved as modern agroforestry systems. During past four decades, agroforestry has come of age and begun to attract the attention of the international scientific community, primarily as a means for sustaining agricultural productivity in marginal lands and solving the second-generation problems such as secondary salinization due to waterlogging and contamination of water resources due to the use of excess nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides. Research efforts have shown that most of the degraded areas...
Science Et Changements Planetaires Secheresse, 2006
Using crops to make liquid fuel is not a recent idea. Biofuels are not only preferable to petrol ... more Using crops to make liquid fuel is not a recent idea. Biofuels are not only preferable to petrol but there is also hope for biofuels’ environmental and social redemption. The International Energy Agency has laid out a ‘roadmap’ to ramp-up the use of biofuels from around 2% of global transport fuel today to 27% by the year 2050. Each year, more than 40 million tonnes of inedible plant material, including wheat stems, corn stover and wood shavings from logging, are produced. Turning these discarded, woody bits of plants into ‘second-generation’ biofuels has huge appeal. The two important methods involved in taping this second generation biofuel from lignocellulosic wastes are Biochemical and Thermochemical ways. Among this, Thermochemical coupled with FT Reaction pays the way to liquid fuel which can readily useful by present spark engine. Fast-growing species can be grown on polluted soil, which also helps to reduce soil contamination. These trees convert carbon dioxide into biomass ...
Tetrahedron, 1984
Tetrahedron Vol. 40, No. 15. pp. 359 lo 2863, 1984 Pnnltd m lilt USA 00404020yS4 3.00+.00 Peiamon... more Tetrahedron Vol. 40, No. 15. pp. 359 lo 2863, 1984 Pnnltd m lilt USA 00404020yS4 3.00+.00 Peiamon Press Ud. CALCULATION Of HEOT OF FCRMWICK I MOLBCUIAR CCTWBCTIVITY AND IOCUTECWIQUE. A COMPARATIVE STUDY VKSIMGH1,, VPTgWARI DKOUOTA an ...
Indian Forester, 2021
The discipline of Forest Inventory has developed a versatile toolbox of techniques and methods us... more The discipline of Forest Inventory has developed a versatile toolbox of techniques and methods useful for national level assessments. Forest mensuration has always played an important role in the practice of forest management. Forest measurements and biometrics involves developing and testing methods for taking and using measures from forested lands. Forest management is concerned with future effects of current decisions. The key to successful forest management is a proper understanding of growth processes, and one of the objectives of modelling forest development is to provide the tools that enable foresters to compare alternative silvicultural treatments.
In this article, a brief description of Forest inventory and assessment in India, and recent advances made by various ICFRE research institutes in the field of forest mensuration, biometrics and growth modelling leading to effective forest management options has been presented. Research needs and gaps, and suggestions for future research are also given.
Indian Journal of Agroforestry, 2021
Forest managers have to respond to the need for climate-adaptive strategies in the face of observ... more Forest managers have to respond to the need for climate-adaptive strategies in the face of observed and projected climatic changes although, on-the-ground forest adaptation research is rarely available to indicate what adaptation measures or strategies might be successful in preparing forest ecosystems to deal with climate change. Forest managers are also challenged by limited locally or regionally pertinent information on climate projections and probable impacts. The adaptive silviculture for climate change needs to respond to these obstacles for implementing climate adaptation strategies by providing a network of replicated operational-scale research sites. A chain of experimental silvicultural trials are required to be established in different forest types all over the country with the objective to produce a multi-regional study with locally-suited climate change adaptation treatment and to introduce forest managers to thoughts, ways and tools which help to put together climate change considerations into resource management and silvicultural decision-making. Adaptation of the management of forest resources to climate change involves addressing several important aspects to propose a convincing basis for decision-making. This includes knowledge and conviction of managers and decision-makers and mapping of management options for the current as well as future scenario. In this article, some decision-making procedures are discussed focusing on how to take into account the uncertainty and recent information on the climate development and assess alternative management decisions that may also be tailored for agro-forests with some modifications.
Indian Forester, 2021
antalum album L. is distributed from Indonesia in the West to Juan Fernandez Islands in the East ... more antalum album L. is distributed from Indonesia in the West to Juan Fernandez Islands in the East and from Hawaiian Archipelago in the North to New Zealand in the South. It is believed that sandalwood was introduced into India from Timor, Indonesia. Sandalwood is one of the most important economic tree species harvested mainly for its heartwood and oil. Sandalwood referred to as “Chandana” and is used in India from the earliest historic times.
The sandalwood stands are under immense pressure and their management is becoming increasingly complex. Unfortunately, efforts aimed at conserving the genetic resources of sandalwood suffer from want of precise information on the area coverage, present status, growth characteristics and diameter size class distribution. In Karnataka, S. album is mainly found in Shimoga, Chikamagalur, Coorg, Hassan, Mysore, Dharwad, Bangalore, Kolar, Belguam, Uttar Kannada, Dakshin Kannada, Bellary and Tumkur districts.
Keeping this in view, 41 sample plots were layed-out in sandal wood estates under Karnataka Forest Department. Out of 41 plots, 19 plots were laid out in sandalwood plantations (plantation plots), 4 plots were laid in regeneration plot and 18 plots are natural plots. The younger age plantations (3 – 6 years) are seen in Kadur, Bidar, Bangarpete, Srinivaspur, Malur, Mysore, Dharwad, Yelawala, and Kaggalipura ranges. Older plantation (15 – 20 years) are seen in Ambligola, Shkaripura, Shiralkoppa, Bangalore, Dundsi, Dharwad and JB kaval range. Significant variation in height and diameter growth was observed in all the sampled plots. Growth in Bangalore forest range was superior with 10.39 m of height and 11.52 cm of dbh compared to other ranges having natural distribution. Among the older trees grown under natural conditions, trees in Kadur range showed better height of 7.8 m and diameter of 8.31 cm.
ISTF/SAF International Forestry Working Group Newsletter, 2020
This article gives a brief introduction about biodiversity, global scenario of biodiversity and i... more This article gives a brief introduction about biodiversity, global scenario of biodiversity and its loss, biodiversity and biodiversity losses in Indian context, global biodiversity target and general remarks abut importance of biodiversity ad need for its mainstreaming.
ISTF/SAF International Forestry Working Group Newsletter, Oct 2020
This article gives brief introduction about Agroforestry, its potential and limitations, preferab... more This article gives brief introduction about Agroforestry, its potential and limitations, preferable agroforestry trees in India, wood demand by industries, concept of contract farming and way forward.
IUFRO Occasional Paper No. 33, Feb 2020
The need for large-scale forest landscape restoration has been increasingly recognized, with sign... more The need for large-scale forest landscape restoration has been increasingly recognized, with significant political support globally and locally. Greater investments have been initiated for restoring landscapes through forest protection, tree planting, and other measures as well as livelihood improvements. These efforts seek to achieve the restoration goals expressed by global initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge and the New York Declaration on Forests. Considerable effort has been devoted globally to promote forest landscape restoration (FLR) and its potential to provide desired benefits to nature, climate and society; however, thus far, there is limited evidence that progress has been made on the ground in restoring specific local landscapes. In order to fill this gap, IUFRO with support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety undertook an analysis of FLR implementation in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. An IUFRO team set out to enhance understanding of the ecological, social and economic dimensions of forest landscape restoration, as well as the underlying challenges involved, thus to better judge the progress made in achieving the Bonn Challenge goals. A total of 17 landscapes in nine countries with Bonn Challenge commitments (three each in Africa, Asia and Latin America) were analysed as “snapshots” of FLR implementation. Following a common methodology developed by the IUFRO Team, local forest scientists selected landscapes with past and ongoing restoration activities. Local teams collected data and interviewed people on-site, according to an agreed questionnaire and reporting format. Questions sought to determine, notably, who is involved, what actions are taken, what is working, what is not working, what has been achieved, what policies are supporting or hindering implementation, what has been learned to date, and what could be done differently. Building on this information, over 60 specific lessons learned were derived from the landscape studies. These were further distilled into the ten overarching lessons that are presented in this publication. Our results are intended to specifically inform FLR stakeholders operating in three different spaces; i.e., field implementation, FLR facilitation, and governance and policy. Through this publication IUFRO hopes that the overarching lessons can provide valuable experiences for others involved in implementing forest landscape restoration. The publication concludes with a view on the outlook and implications for global FLR-related processes such as the Bonn Challenge. An attempt is made to link the lessons learned from the analysis of the landscapes and the various FLR initiatives presented here to the global goals and targets, and to suggest possible way forward for such global processes. Overall, the Bonn Challenge and associated efforts have been successful in mobilizing political will to begin to address the global problems of deforestation and land degradation. But the work to recover from past destructive exploitation and resource overuse has just begun.
Journal of Forest and Environmental Science, Sep 1, 2018
Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important timber species worldwide and India is one of ... more Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important timber species worldwide and India is one of the major teak growing countries. Though some volume equations were developed for teak in India but the models developed were neither evaluated using robust statistical criteria nor validated. Hence, the objective of this study was to develop statistically tested appropriate volume equation to predict total wood volume (over-and under-bark) for teak trees in Gujarat. A total of 41 trees with age varying from 15 to 33 years and diameter at breast height (dbh) from 7.3 to 30.8 cm were felled for the purpose. Linear and non-linear equations were used to model the relationship of the total wood volume with respect to dbh and total height. The equations tested mostly fitted well to the data. Model evaluation and validation indicated that models should be calibrated with local data for greater accuracy in the prediction.
Southern Forests: a journal of forest science, 2018
Stand density management diagrams are average stand-level models that graphically display the rel... more Stand density management diagrams are average stand-level models that graphically display the relationship between stand yield, density, height and diameter throughout the various stages of forest development in even-aged stands. These are useful tools for designing, displaying and evaluating alternative density regimes in even-aged forest ecosystems to achieve a desired future condition. In this paper, we present a stand density management diagram constructed for sandalwood stands in Karnataka state of India. The relationship between stand density, dominant height, quadratic mean diameter, relative spacing and stand volume is exhibited in one graph. The relative spacing index was used to characterise the growing stock level. Two equations were fitted to the data collected from 19 sample plots measured annually for three years: one relates quadratic mean diameter with stand density and dominant height, whereas the other relates total stand volume with quadratic mean diameter, stand density and dominant height.
Journal of Plant Chemistry and Ecophysiology, 2018
Podophyllum hexandrum (Bankakdi) is a very important high valued temperate medicinal plant which ... more Podophyllum hexandrum (Bankakdi) is a very important high valued temperate medicinal plant which is known for its medicinal property in treatment of specific types of cancers. The species is in great demand and is being harvested from the wild indiscriminately. The species needs immediate attention for its protection and conservation. Keeping in view of the above facts, after extensive survey, 30 sites were identified for collection of Podophyllum hexandrum species from different geographical locations of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir states in India. Each site was geo-referenced along with characterization of micro-habitat. On the basis of high podophyllotoxin content, the superior chemotypes of P. hexandrum were identified.
Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science, 2018
Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important tropical timber species occurring naturally i... more Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important tropical timber species occurring naturally in India. In India, teak is the single most important commercial timber species. Scientifically sound growth models, based on advanced modelling techniques, are often not available, although they are necessary for the successful management of teak stands in the country. Long-term forest planning requires mathematical models. In this paper, an attempt is made to develop a dynamic growth model based on the limited data, consisting of three annual measurements, collected from 15 teak sample plots in Gujarat state of India. A biologically consistent whole-stand growth model is presented, which uses the state-space approach for modelling rates of change of dominant height, stand density and stand basal area. A simple model containing few free parameters performed well and is particularly well suited to situations where available data are scarce.
Annals of Arid Zone, 2017
Teak is a slow growing species and any tree improvement programme will take 15-40 years before th... more Teak is a slow growing species and any tree improvement programme will take 15-40 years before the timber from the first rotation of improved planting stock is harvested. Ten to fifteen years may pass from the initiation of an improvement programme before improved seed is available. Developing seed production areas (SPAs) is one of the first steps in tree improvement programme that can be used to obtain genetically improved seed for immediate planting but it is usually for the short term in nature. Though seeds obtained from this method do not yield large volume of genetic gain, it sometimes greatly improves tree quality.
After survey of nearly 940ha plantations of Tectona grandis at 15 locations in Gujarat, 85ha at six sites were converted into seed production areas (SPAs) after inter-comparing with various other seed stands. After culling of inferior trees from these six stands, the average height, clear bole, girth at breast height, diameter at breast height and volume were shifted towards the higher side in all the stands. Seeds collected from these seed production area performed better in seed attributes than un-culled stands.
Indian Forester, 2017
Developing seed production areas (SPAs) is one of the first steps in tree improvement programme t... more Developing seed production areas (SPAs) is one of the first steps in tree improvement programme that can be used to obtain genetically improved seed for immediate planting. It is usually for the short term in nature. Though seeds obtained from this method do not yield large volume of genetic gain, it sometimes greatly improves tree quality.
After survey of Acacia nilotica var. indica plantations at six sites in Godhara, Nadiyad and Junagarh planted by SFD, Gujarat during 1970-84, 25ha. at Gushar (Godhara) and 15 ha. at Pawagarh (Godhara) were converted into SPAs after inter-comparing various other seed stands. After scoring each tree in the stand and ranking them in descending order, out of 44,635 trees at Gushar, 30691 plants were culled and 13944 trees were retained while out of 5712 trees at Pawagarh, 1510 were culled and 4212 were retained. After culling, the average height, clear bole, and girth diameter were found to be shifted towards the higher side in both the stands. Seeds collected after establishment of SPA showed improvement in seed weight and germination percentile.
Forest Ecosystems, 2025
Rapid urbanization has caused significant changes along the urban-rural gradient, leading to a va... more Rapid urbanization has caused significant changes along the urban-rural gradient, leading to a variety of landscapes that are mainly shaped by human activities. This dynamic interplay also influences the distribution and characteristics of trees outside forests (TOF). Understanding the pattern of these trees will support informed decision-making in urban planning, in conservation strategies, and altogether in sustainable land management practices in the urban context. In this study, we employed a deep learning-based object detection model and high resolution satellite imagery to identify 1.3 million trees with bounding boxes within a 250 km 2 research transect spanning the urban-rural gradient of Bengaluru, a megacity in Southern India. Additionally, we developed an allometric equation to estimate diameter at breast height (DBH) from the tree crown diameter (CD) derived from the detected bounding boxes. Our study focused on analyzing variations in tree density and tree size along this gradient. The findings revealed distinct patterns: the urban domain displayed larger tree crown diameters (mean: 8.87 m) and DBH (mean: 43.78 cm) but having relatively low tree density (32 trees per hectare). Furthermore, with increasing distance from the city center, tree density increased, while the mean tree crown diameter and mean tree basal area decreased, showing clear differences of tree density and size between the urban and rural domains in Bengaluru. This study offers an efficient methodology that helps generating instructive insights into the dynamics of TOF along the urban-rural gradient. This may inform urban planning and management strategies for enhancing green infrastructure and biodiversity conservation in rapidly urbanizing cities like Bengaluru.
Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science, 2014
ABSTRACT Data from 27 remeasured sample plots were used to evaluate dynamic base-age invariant si... more ABSTRACT Data from 27 remeasured sample plots were used to evaluate dynamic base-age invariant site index models for teak (Tectona grandis) forests in Karnataka, India. The data were obtained in observational field studies covering a wide range of sites in Karnataka and provided up to three interval measurements per plot. All the functions were fitted simultaneously using iterative seemingly unrelated regression and a base-age-invariant method. The model evaluation criteria were bias, root mean square error and the adjusted coefficient of determination. The best results were obtained with the generalised algebraic difference equations derived from the Korf base model. The selected model accounted for 99.8% of the total variance in height–age relationships in dominant trees. The dynamic base-age invariant site index model proved to be effective and accurate in presenting polymorphic site index curves with multiple asymptotes. The new dynamic base-age invariant site index models based on generalised algebraic difference approach (GADA) methodology can be recommended for dominant height prediction and forest site quality evaluations in the teak forests in Karnataka, India.
National Forest Inventory and forest assessments are attracting increasing attention owing to the... more National Forest Inventory and forest assessments are attracting increasing attention owing to their role in providing information related to manifold forest functions. There is a high demand for global information about forests and multiple services that these ecosystems provide. Of particular, current interest are forest assessment systems at national level by countries that wish to engage themselves in the REDD+ initiative. The discipline of Forest Inventory has developed a versatile toolbox of techniques and methods useful for national-level forest assessments. This chapter presents a brief overview of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) in India vis-a-vis some other developed countries and highlights the proposed changes in plot design while revising NFI in India. Some new initiatives by Forest Survey of India have also been highlighted. With an increase in requirement of information and new technological developments, a constant adaptation of the NFI framework and introduction ...
Chandigarh-the ‘City Beautiful’ of India is known for its urban greenery and well planned landsca... more Chandigarh-the ‘City Beautiful’ of India is known for its urban greenery and well planned landscaping in the whole world. More than 0.60 millions of domestic tourists are visiting Chandigarh city each year. In a research study undertaken during 2002-04, an assessment about the annual recreational use value of this city’s urban parks and gardens was made by using Zonal Travel Cost Method (TCM) on the domestic tourists coming to the city for tourism purpose. Though man made greenery can not compensate nature’s green cover, yet it plays a significant role in attracting domestic tourists towards a city of parks/gardens in a developing country like India.
Agroforestry is as old as agriculture itself. Many of the anecdotal agroforestry practices, which... more Agroforestry is as old as agriculture itself. Many of the anecdotal agroforestry practices, which are time tested and evolved through traditional indigenous knowledge, are still being followed in different agroecological zones. The traditional knowledge and the underlying ecological principles concerning indigenous agroforestry systems around the world have been successfully used in designing the improved systems. Many of them such as improved fallows, homegardens, and park systems have evolved as modern agroforestry systems. During past four decades, agroforestry has come of age and begun to attract the attention of the international scientific community, primarily as a means for sustaining agricultural productivity in marginal lands and solving the second-generation problems such as secondary salinization due to waterlogging and contamination of water resources due to the use of excess nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides. Research efforts have shown that most of the degraded areas...
Science Et Changements Planetaires Secheresse, 2006
Using crops to make liquid fuel is not a recent idea. Biofuels are not only preferable to petrol ... more Using crops to make liquid fuel is not a recent idea. Biofuels are not only preferable to petrol but there is also hope for biofuels’ environmental and social redemption. The International Energy Agency has laid out a ‘roadmap’ to ramp-up the use of biofuels from around 2% of global transport fuel today to 27% by the year 2050. Each year, more than 40 million tonnes of inedible plant material, including wheat stems, corn stover and wood shavings from logging, are produced. Turning these discarded, woody bits of plants into ‘second-generation’ biofuels has huge appeal. The two important methods involved in taping this second generation biofuel from lignocellulosic wastes are Biochemical and Thermochemical ways. Among this, Thermochemical coupled with FT Reaction pays the way to liquid fuel which can readily useful by present spark engine. Fast-growing species can be grown on polluted soil, which also helps to reduce soil contamination. These trees convert carbon dioxide into biomass ...
Tetrahedron, 1984
Tetrahedron Vol. 40, No. 15. pp. 359 lo 2863, 1984 Pnnltd m lilt USA 00404020yS4 3.00+.00 Peiamon... more Tetrahedron Vol. 40, No. 15. pp. 359 lo 2863, 1984 Pnnltd m lilt USA 00404020yS4 3.00+.00 Peiamon Press Ud. CALCULATION Of HEOT OF FCRMWICK I MOLBCUIAR CCTWBCTIVITY AND IOCUTECWIQUE. A COMPARATIVE STUDY VKSIMGH1,, VPTgWARI DKOUOTA an ...
Indian Forester, 2021
The discipline of Forest Inventory has developed a versatile toolbox of techniques and methods us... more The discipline of Forest Inventory has developed a versatile toolbox of techniques and methods useful for national level assessments. Forest mensuration has always played an important role in the practice of forest management. Forest measurements and biometrics involves developing and testing methods for taking and using measures from forested lands. Forest management is concerned with future effects of current decisions. The key to successful forest management is a proper understanding of growth processes, and one of the objectives of modelling forest development is to provide the tools that enable foresters to compare alternative silvicultural treatments.
In this article, a brief description of Forest inventory and assessment in India, and recent advances made by various ICFRE research institutes in the field of forest mensuration, biometrics and growth modelling leading to effective forest management options has been presented. Research needs and gaps, and suggestions for future research are also given.
Indian Journal of Agroforestry, 2021
Forest managers have to respond to the need for climate-adaptive strategies in the face of observ... more Forest managers have to respond to the need for climate-adaptive strategies in the face of observed and projected climatic changes although, on-the-ground forest adaptation research is rarely available to indicate what adaptation measures or strategies might be successful in preparing forest ecosystems to deal with climate change. Forest managers are also challenged by limited locally or regionally pertinent information on climate projections and probable impacts. The adaptive silviculture for climate change needs to respond to these obstacles for implementing climate adaptation strategies by providing a network of replicated operational-scale research sites. A chain of experimental silvicultural trials are required to be established in different forest types all over the country with the objective to produce a multi-regional study with locally-suited climate change adaptation treatment and to introduce forest managers to thoughts, ways and tools which help to put together climate change considerations into resource management and silvicultural decision-making. Adaptation of the management of forest resources to climate change involves addressing several important aspects to propose a convincing basis for decision-making. This includes knowledge and conviction of managers and decision-makers and mapping of management options for the current as well as future scenario. In this article, some decision-making procedures are discussed focusing on how to take into account the uncertainty and recent information on the climate development and assess alternative management decisions that may also be tailored for agro-forests with some modifications.
Indian Forester, 2021
antalum album L. is distributed from Indonesia in the West to Juan Fernandez Islands in the East ... more antalum album L. is distributed from Indonesia in the West to Juan Fernandez Islands in the East and from Hawaiian Archipelago in the North to New Zealand in the South. It is believed that sandalwood was introduced into India from Timor, Indonesia. Sandalwood is one of the most important economic tree species harvested mainly for its heartwood and oil. Sandalwood referred to as “Chandana” and is used in India from the earliest historic times.
The sandalwood stands are under immense pressure and their management is becoming increasingly complex. Unfortunately, efforts aimed at conserving the genetic resources of sandalwood suffer from want of precise information on the area coverage, present status, growth characteristics and diameter size class distribution. In Karnataka, S. album is mainly found in Shimoga, Chikamagalur, Coorg, Hassan, Mysore, Dharwad, Bangalore, Kolar, Belguam, Uttar Kannada, Dakshin Kannada, Bellary and Tumkur districts.
Keeping this in view, 41 sample plots were layed-out in sandal wood estates under Karnataka Forest Department. Out of 41 plots, 19 plots were laid out in sandalwood plantations (plantation plots), 4 plots were laid in regeneration plot and 18 plots are natural plots. The younger age plantations (3 – 6 years) are seen in Kadur, Bidar, Bangarpete, Srinivaspur, Malur, Mysore, Dharwad, Yelawala, and Kaggalipura ranges. Older plantation (15 – 20 years) are seen in Ambligola, Shkaripura, Shiralkoppa, Bangalore, Dundsi, Dharwad and JB kaval range. Significant variation in height and diameter growth was observed in all the sampled plots. Growth in Bangalore forest range was superior with 10.39 m of height and 11.52 cm of dbh compared to other ranges having natural distribution. Among the older trees grown under natural conditions, trees in Kadur range showed better height of 7.8 m and diameter of 8.31 cm.
ISTF/SAF International Forestry Working Group Newsletter, 2020
This article gives a brief introduction about biodiversity, global scenario of biodiversity and i... more This article gives a brief introduction about biodiversity, global scenario of biodiversity and its loss, biodiversity and biodiversity losses in Indian context, global biodiversity target and general remarks abut importance of biodiversity ad need for its mainstreaming.
ISTF/SAF International Forestry Working Group Newsletter, Oct 2020
This article gives brief introduction about Agroforestry, its potential and limitations, preferab... more This article gives brief introduction about Agroforestry, its potential and limitations, preferable agroforestry trees in India, wood demand by industries, concept of contract farming and way forward.
IUFRO Occasional Paper No. 33, Feb 2020
The need for large-scale forest landscape restoration has been increasingly recognized, with sign... more The need for large-scale forest landscape restoration has been increasingly recognized, with significant political support globally and locally. Greater investments have been initiated for restoring landscapes through forest protection, tree planting, and other measures as well as livelihood improvements. These efforts seek to achieve the restoration goals expressed by global initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge and the New York Declaration on Forests. Considerable effort has been devoted globally to promote forest landscape restoration (FLR) and its potential to provide desired benefits to nature, climate and society; however, thus far, there is limited evidence that progress has been made on the ground in restoring specific local landscapes. In order to fill this gap, IUFRO with support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety undertook an analysis of FLR implementation in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. An IUFRO team set out to enhance understanding of the ecological, social and economic dimensions of forest landscape restoration, as well as the underlying challenges involved, thus to better judge the progress made in achieving the Bonn Challenge goals. A total of 17 landscapes in nine countries with Bonn Challenge commitments (three each in Africa, Asia and Latin America) were analysed as “snapshots” of FLR implementation. Following a common methodology developed by the IUFRO Team, local forest scientists selected landscapes with past and ongoing restoration activities. Local teams collected data and interviewed people on-site, according to an agreed questionnaire and reporting format. Questions sought to determine, notably, who is involved, what actions are taken, what is working, what is not working, what has been achieved, what policies are supporting or hindering implementation, what has been learned to date, and what could be done differently. Building on this information, over 60 specific lessons learned were derived from the landscape studies. These were further distilled into the ten overarching lessons that are presented in this publication. Our results are intended to specifically inform FLR stakeholders operating in three different spaces; i.e., field implementation, FLR facilitation, and governance and policy. Through this publication IUFRO hopes that the overarching lessons can provide valuable experiences for others involved in implementing forest landscape restoration. The publication concludes with a view on the outlook and implications for global FLR-related processes such as the Bonn Challenge. An attempt is made to link the lessons learned from the analysis of the landscapes and the various FLR initiatives presented here to the global goals and targets, and to suggest possible way forward for such global processes. Overall, the Bonn Challenge and associated efforts have been successful in mobilizing political will to begin to address the global problems of deforestation and land degradation. But the work to recover from past destructive exploitation and resource overuse has just begun.
Journal of Forest and Environmental Science, Sep 1, 2018
Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important timber species worldwide and India is one of ... more Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important timber species worldwide and India is one of the major teak growing countries. Though some volume equations were developed for teak in India but the models developed were neither evaluated using robust statistical criteria nor validated. Hence, the objective of this study was to develop statistically tested appropriate volume equation to predict total wood volume (over-and under-bark) for teak trees in Gujarat. A total of 41 trees with age varying from 15 to 33 years and diameter at breast height (dbh) from 7.3 to 30.8 cm were felled for the purpose. Linear and non-linear equations were used to model the relationship of the total wood volume with respect to dbh and total height. The equations tested mostly fitted well to the data. Model evaluation and validation indicated that models should be calibrated with local data for greater accuracy in the prediction.
Southern Forests: a journal of forest science, 2018
Stand density management diagrams are average stand-level models that graphically display the rel... more Stand density management diagrams are average stand-level models that graphically display the relationship between stand yield, density, height and diameter throughout the various stages of forest development in even-aged stands. These are useful tools for designing, displaying and evaluating alternative density regimes in even-aged forest ecosystems to achieve a desired future condition. In this paper, we present a stand density management diagram constructed for sandalwood stands in Karnataka state of India. The relationship between stand density, dominant height, quadratic mean diameter, relative spacing and stand volume is exhibited in one graph. The relative spacing index was used to characterise the growing stock level. Two equations were fitted to the data collected from 19 sample plots measured annually for three years: one relates quadratic mean diameter with stand density and dominant height, whereas the other relates total stand volume with quadratic mean diameter, stand density and dominant height.
Journal of Plant Chemistry and Ecophysiology, 2018
Podophyllum hexandrum (Bankakdi) is a very important high valued temperate medicinal plant which ... more Podophyllum hexandrum (Bankakdi) is a very important high valued temperate medicinal plant which is known for its medicinal property in treatment of specific types of cancers. The species is in great demand and is being harvested from the wild indiscriminately. The species needs immediate attention for its protection and conservation. Keeping in view of the above facts, after extensive survey, 30 sites were identified for collection of Podophyllum hexandrum species from different geographical locations of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir states in India. Each site was geo-referenced along with characterization of micro-habitat. On the basis of high podophyllotoxin content, the superior chemotypes of P. hexandrum were identified.
Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science, 2018
Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important tropical timber species occurring naturally i... more Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important tropical timber species occurring naturally in India. In India, teak is the single most important commercial timber species. Scientifically sound growth models, based on advanced modelling techniques, are often not available, although they are necessary for the successful management of teak stands in the country. Long-term forest planning requires mathematical models. In this paper, an attempt is made to develop a dynamic growth model based on the limited data, consisting of three annual measurements, collected from 15 teak sample plots in Gujarat state of India. A biologically consistent whole-stand growth model is presented, which uses the state-space approach for modelling rates of change of dominant height, stand density and stand basal area. A simple model containing few free parameters performed well and is particularly well suited to situations where available data are scarce.
Annals of Arid Zone, 2017
Teak is a slow growing species and any tree improvement programme will take 15-40 years before th... more Teak is a slow growing species and any tree improvement programme will take 15-40 years before the timber from the first rotation of improved planting stock is harvested. Ten to fifteen years may pass from the initiation of an improvement programme before improved seed is available. Developing seed production areas (SPAs) is one of the first steps in tree improvement programme that can be used to obtain genetically improved seed for immediate planting but it is usually for the short term in nature. Though seeds obtained from this method do not yield large volume of genetic gain, it sometimes greatly improves tree quality.
After survey of nearly 940ha plantations of Tectona grandis at 15 locations in Gujarat, 85ha at six sites were converted into seed production areas (SPAs) after inter-comparing with various other seed stands. After culling of inferior trees from these six stands, the average height, clear bole, girth at breast height, diameter at breast height and volume were shifted towards the higher side in all the stands. Seeds collected from these seed production area performed better in seed attributes than un-culled stands.
Indian Forester, 2017
Developing seed production areas (SPAs) is one of the first steps in tree improvement programme t... more Developing seed production areas (SPAs) is one of the first steps in tree improvement programme that can be used to obtain genetically improved seed for immediate planting. It is usually for the short term in nature. Though seeds obtained from this method do not yield large volume of genetic gain, it sometimes greatly improves tree quality.
After survey of Acacia nilotica var. indica plantations at six sites in Godhara, Nadiyad and Junagarh planted by SFD, Gujarat during 1970-84, 25ha. at Gushar (Godhara) and 15 ha. at Pawagarh (Godhara) were converted into SPAs after inter-comparing various other seed stands. After scoring each tree in the stand and ranking them in descending order, out of 44,635 trees at Gushar, 30691 plants were culled and 13944 trees were retained while out of 5712 trees at Pawagarh, 1510 were culled and 4212 were retained. After culling, the average height, clear bole, and girth diameter were found to be shifted towards the higher side in both the stands. Seeds collected after establishment of SPA showed improvement in seed weight and germination percentile.
Tropentag 2024 Conference, Vienna, Austria, 2024
Out of total 328.7 Mha of India's total geographical area, 96.4 Mha of land (29.3%) is affected b... more Out of total 328.7 Mha of India's total geographical area, 96.4 Mha of land (29.3%) is affected by desertification/degradation and 26 Mha of degraded land is expected to be restored by the Indian Govt. by 2030. If the environment is gainer when more trees are planted, there is an incentive for individuals and various entities also for greening barren patches in India. The Green Credit Program, launched by the Indian Govt. in October 2023, provides tradable credits for afforestation efforts. One green credit will be awarded per tree planted on identified land parcels subject to a minimum density of 1100 trees per ha based on local climatic and soil conditions. These credits will be made available for trading on a domestic market platform. The forest department will identify degraded land parcels under their control and make available them for plantation. So far, over 17, 000 hectares of such lands have been identified for tree plantation across 13 states under green credit program. After tree planting is completed, forest department will submit report to the Administrator who will evaluate and verify the work done and award green credits to applicant based on the total number of trees planted on the assigned land parcel that can be traded on a designated trading platform to be maintained by the administrator. This initiative is an innovative idea of the Govt. of India to tackle the climate change vagaries and provides a nature based climatic solution to the country who is facing the wrath of climate change.
German Alumni Workshop on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development in South Asia: An Interdisciplinary Challenge at the Science Policy Interface, Bengaluru, India, 2022
14th IFSDAA International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security under Climate Change, Goettingen, Germany, 2023
Agroforestry (AF) is a land use management system which helps to conserve and protect natural res... more Agroforestry (AF) is a land use management system which helps to conserve and protect natural resources and its benefits add up to substantial improvement of economic and resource sustainability of agriculture. Agroforestry, based on ecological principles, is of paramount importance in the areas where crop production is very insecure due to variable and harsh climatic conditions. Agroforestry can mitigate the impact and consequences of these environmental limiting factors. In India, area under agroforestry is estimated to be 25.31 million ha or 8.2% of the total reporting geographical area of the country which can further be increased up to a considerable level. AF in India is practiced in 13.5 million ha which is a means to reduce rural unemployment, with timber production on farms generating 450 employment days per ha per year. India was the first country to promulgate the National Agroforestry Policy in 2014. Agroforestry imparts ameliorating and mitigating effects of harsh and erratic climatic conditions and poor soils, raising soil fertility build-up and enhance symbiotic activities that help crop growth, sustainable production of food and feed, fuel, timber, fibre, tools, draught power, medicines, and several other products of day-today utilization on farms. In addition, it permits higher security and sustainability during droughts and famines that are not infrequent in dry regions. Despite the many promises and benefits that agroforestry holds under appropriate conditions, there are also limitations arising from biophysical, socio-economic and socio-political conditions such as land ownership and control, usage rights and the like. In India, natural forest contributes just 6.4% of timber demand (3.17 million m3) and about 44.34 million m3 is harvested from Trees outside Forests (TOF). Demand for furniture has been raising 12 to 15% annually. Similarly, demand of paper has been raising 8% annually. Annual demand of wood-based panel products is 8 million cum against production of 3.4 million m3. India is meeting its wood demand through import of timber and allied products which is roughly 18.01 million m3. Thus, there is significant gap between demand and supply of wood in the country and import is bound to increase in coming years if concrete action is not taken to address the issue. As a report, 50% of timber demand, 65% fuelwood demand, 70-80% demand for plywood, 60% of raw material for paper pulp and 9-11% of fodder demand is met from AF. AF practices have demonstrated that production could be safely enhanced to more than 30 m3/ha/year by selecting suitable tree-crop combination. Thus, agroforestry is a viable option for meeting the raw material demand of wood-based industries and to sustain them in long run.
14th IFSDAA International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security under Climate Change, Goettingen, Germany, 2023
Due to large gap in demand and supply, there is increasing pressure on the available land resourc... more Due to large gap in demand and supply, there is increasing pressure on the available land resources and continuous shrinkage of grazing lands due to over exploitation is necessitating search for additional land resources in arid regions of Rajasthan of India. In Rajasthan, large area (0.38 mha) suffers from salinity and alkalinity problems and utilization of these land for silvipastoral system could provide an alternative to improve pastoralism in the arid region. Against this background, a research trial was established in Gangani village (Latitude 26.50 Longitude 73.21) of Jodhpur district of arid Rajasthan. The soil pH of to area ranged from 8.2 to 8.8 and EC from 4.2 to 16 d Sm-1. Salt encrustations were observed at many places with EC values as high as 48 d Sm-1. After initial field trials with Atriplex lentiformis, an excretory halophyte, for six years the EC was reduced to 1.3 to 14 dsm-1. Thereafter another field trial with Suaeda nudiflora in combination to agriculture crop was laid on improved salty soil in 2013. The results of four years of study are presented here. S. nudiflora, (Chenopodiaceae), is an evergreen shrub with numerous slender, erect branches, endemic to coastal regions around the world. In India the foliage has been used traditionally as a vegetable and forage/fodder especially for camels. It is found on mud flats along sea coast or in saline soils in Bharoach, Cambay, north Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutchh region of Gujarat state of India. It has high protein content (15.5%) and total soluble sugar (4.5%) on dry matter basis in leaves. S. nudiflora seedlings, planted in August 2013 at a spacing of 4mx5m on double ridge mounds, were established well. The mean percent survival was (64.5%) in October 2017. Shrubs attained appreciable growth and the mean height was 2.01 m, crown diameter 1.73m and collar diameter 7.52 cm. In the year 2016, Bajra variety HHB-67 (IMP) was sown in the inter row spaces of S. nudiflora and it showed good survival and growth but succumbed to water logging and hence it was again sown in July 2017. About 80% germination was observed after 10 days having 4-5 cm height length. There was rain in the first week of August. The crop height ranged from 60cm to 30cm from lesser to more saline soil after one month of crop sowing. The crop attained height~ 90cm with flowering initiation from the normal soil to 60cm in saline soil. However, after that there was no rains and no flowering and fruit setting took place. The crop dried in the first week of September and harvested. The calculated green straw mass ranged from 561.2g/sqm to 256.7 g/sqm. The soil organic carbon increased from 0.35% to 0.45% in 20cm soil layer inside plant pit showing its potential for carbon sequestration and ameliorating the climate change impacts. This also indicated that the salty area was improved substantially and agriculture crop could be grown on the site. It is concluded that the improved silvipastoral systems could provide an alternative to improve pastoralism in the arid region, giving a greater buffer capacity and allowing for sustainable production even in critical years.
XIX Commonwealth Forestry Conference, Dehradun, India, 2017
Most ongoing discussions of Reduced Emissions due to Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) focus o... more Most ongoing discussions of Reduced Emissions due to Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) focus on tropical deforestation, however, the potential carbon saving from reduced forest degradation is mostly disregarded. Various studies have shown that substantial reductions of global CO2 emissions can be achieved by improving forest management in the tropics, and have illustrated the carbon benefits of improved forest management. This cost-effective approach to mitigation should be included in the new climate change agreement. The potential global contribution of improved tropical forest management to carbon retention is substantial. To assess the effect of silvicultural management on the yield and carbon sequestration, data were collected from two teak sample plots (thinned and un-thinned) established in Koppa Forest division of Karnataka in India. Both the plots were nearby and of similar age. The volume yield and above-ground stored carbon was found to be about three times more in silviculturally managed (thinned) forest stand compared to un-managed (un-thinned) stand. In this paper, the role of improved forest management for carbon retention is highlighted. The silviculturally managed forest stands sequester significantly more carbon compared to un-managed forest stand. Incentives to retain more forest carbon through improved management would represent a big step toward sustainability in the vast area of tropical forests outside protected sites.
Springer Nature Singapore Pvt Ltd, 2018
Agroforestry (AF) is a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resources management system that, by ... more Agroforestry (AF) is a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resources management system that, by integrating trees on farms, ranches, and in other landscapes, diversifies and increases production and promotes social, economic, and environmental benefits for land users. Further, it is receiving increasing attention as a sustainable land-management option worldwide because of its ecological, economic, and social attributes. Advances have been achieved by building on past research accomplishments and expanding AF’s stakeholder base, which now includes private/public partnerships, communities, ecologists, farmers, indigenous peoples, and policymakers in both temperate and tropical countries. AF has now been recognized as a valuable problem-solving approach to ensuring food security and rebuilding resilient rural environments. Recent studies have shown that more than 1 billion hectares of agricultural land have more than 10% tree cover. Of this area, 160 million hectares have more than 50% tree cover. Agricultural ecosystems can be further improved through AF to achieve environmental restoration, greater farm productivity, and key ecological services, including climate change mitigation and adaptation for improved rural livelihood. In fact, it is largely considered synonymous with climate smart agriculture and a remedy for many modern environmental challenges. Consequently, AF’s knowledge base is being expanded at a rapid rate, as illustrated by the increasing number and quality of scientific publications on various forms and different aspects of AF. This book offers state-of-the-art information on the fundamental concepts and history of AF and its evolution as a science, presenting a wealth of advanced research results and evaluations relating to different aspects of AF. Accordingly, it will be useful for a broad readership, including students, foresters, farmers, local communities, indigenous peoples, civil society institutions, media, policymakers and the general public.
Scientific Publishers (India), Jodhpur 342001, Rajasthan, India, ISBN: 978-93-91418-13-7, 2023
The book compiles scientific literature and provides approaches for construction of models. It pr... more The book compiles scientific literature and provides approaches for construction of models. It presents an updated source of references for students, researchers and practitioners requiring current process of research and methods in the field. The book describes current modelling approaches for predicting forest growth and yield comprising various modelling approaches. It gives the readers with the tools for evaluating and calibrating growth and yield models and outlines the required steps for developing forest growth and yield model. The book starts by Introduction and a brief account of sampling techniques and experimental design followed by whole-stand, size-class and individual-tree approaches for modelling forest growth and yield. It is ideal for use in forestry courses and provides ready access to a plethora of reference material for researchers working in growth and yield modelling.