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Ashok PahdiI
ioIic inIer!erences on
5hankeracharya ForesI
FcosysIem
ForesI resources are much o! imporIahce ahd are o! ecohomic value Io
mah. Sihce Iimes immemorial mah has beeh exploiIihg Ihese resources.
Mah has become greedy as he sIarIed usihg or beIIer says abusihg Ihe
!oresI resources ih Ihe !orm o! Iimber, !odder, !uel wood, excessive
grazihg , medicihal plahI exIracIioh eIc. Shahkeracharya !oresI ecosysIem
has beeh desighaIed as ohe o! Ihe reserved ahd proIecIed !oresI
ecosysIem o! Ihe valley. 1he maih aims ahd ob|ecIives o! my work are Io
documehI Ihe impacI o! bioIic ihIer!erehces ih Ihe Shahkeracharya !oresI
ecosysIem. 8ecause o! beihg reserved !oresI, sIill Ihere was observed some
ma|or bioIic ihIer!erehce due Io: ForesI !ires DisIurbahces due Io
securiIy !orces DisIurbahce due Io Iourism Vehicular acIiviIies ih Ihe
!oresI De!oresIaIioh eIc.
asharaI MushIaq
8ASHARA1 MUSH1AQ passed M.Sc ih EhvirohmehIal
Sciehces ih FirsI divisioh !rom Ihe UhiversiIy Kashmir
ih 2008.l've sIarIed Ph.d programme Ihrough
8arkaIullah UhiversiIy 8hopal ih 2010 Io Iill daIe.
Durihg Ph.d ih 2011 l've beeh awarded as JRF ih
LAWDA spohsored research pro|ecI.8esides l remaih
acIively ehgaged ih several ElA research pro|ecIs.
978-3-8465-4034-3
asharaI MushIaq
Ashok PandiI
ioIic inIer!erences on 5hankeracharya ForesI FcosysIem
asharaI MushIaq
Ashok PandiI
ioIic inIer!erences on 5hankeracharya
ForesI FcosysIem
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BIUTIC INTERFERENCES
IN SHANKERACHARYA
FUREST ECUSYSTEM
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PAGE NO.
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION 5-8
Chapter 2
REVIEWAND LITRATURE 9-12
Chapter 3
DISCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA 13-17
Chapter 4
METHODOLOGY 18-21
Chapter 5
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 22-69
Chapter 6
CONCLUSION 70-72
Chapter 7
MITIGATION MEASURES 73-74
Chapter 8
REFERENCES 75-77
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Through the grace of ALMIGHTY ALLAH, the cherisher and sustainer of
world, who give me enough courage and patience to carry out this work
successfully.
It is he who has created for you all things that are on earth. Then He turned to
the heaven.. And all things, He hath perIect knowledge.
I have no words to express my deep sense of gratitude and indebtedness to Prof.
A R. Yousuf, P. G. Department of Environmental Science and Centre of
Research for Development, University Of Kashmir. For his enthusiastic
guidance, kind help, continued encouragement, generous assistance, valuable
suggestions and constructive criticism during the course of present work.
I wish to express my deepest and heart-felt gratitude and sincere thanks to
my respected projected supervisor Prof. Ashok K. Pandit, professor CORD &
P. G. Department of Environmental Science, University Of Kashmir, for his
supervision, invaluable suggestions, encouragement and a lot of guidance during
the course of present study.
I also extend my grateful thanks to Prof. G. A. Bhat and Prof A. N Kamila
for their moral support, valuable suggestions and kind advise during the period of
my project work.
It is with pleasure that I record the blessing and good wishes of my parents
Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat and Mrs. Hamida Bano without which it would
have been impossible to complete the present dissertation. The amount of
encouragement, understanding and patience that my parents Endeavour. They
fulfill my every requirement and make all sorts of facilities available for me to
continue my higher studies. I affectionately dedicate this work to them.
BASHARAT MUSHTAQ
Nature has been so kind to man ever since his appearance on the
earth`s surIace, man has been dependent on nature Ior his subsistence.
Nature has gifted a number of resources to man, which are available around
him. Among these natural resources, forests are one of the most important
natural resource available to man. A forest is a three dimensional
ecological system dominated by trees and other woody vegetation that exist
in dynamic interaction with the air-earth matrix of the landscape. A forest
is a complex ecological system or ecosystem, characterized by a layered
structure of functional parts. Forest ecology, therefore, is concerned with
the structure, composition and function of forests as a landscape ecosystem.
It is concerned with the climate, physiography and soil of diverse area in
which occurs the individual trees and other organisms constituting the
forest community.
Forest resources are much of importance and are of economic value
to man. Since times immemorial man has been exploiting these resources.
Man has become greedy as he started using or better says abusing the forest
resources in the form of timber, fodder, fuel wood, excessive grazing ,
medicinal plant extraction etc. and other products that are being
commercially used. Forests make considerable contribution to the economy
of our country.
India constitutes a rich biodiversity, which is abundant with
unique diversified flora and fauna wealth. The prevailing climate
conditions coupled with physical and biotic factors have untidily made an
impact on resources of many ecosystems, which are highly complex and
and
34
0
.54
N latitude and 73
0
.55
and 75
0
.35
SITE DESCRIPTION
The study area has been divided into four sites which are described as
under:
SITE-I: site-I is situated at the top of forest near by transmission tower
facing towards Dalgate. Site-I is a scrub site and is subjected various types
of biotic interferences due to the impact of different biotic factors.
SITE-II: Site-II is coniferous and is situated just below the temple,
opposite to Sonawar area of the city. Site-II is also affected with many
types of biotic interferences.
SITE-III: Site-III is located in the middle portion of the forest. It is
dominated with dedicious trees and is less affected with biotic
interferences.
SITE-IV: The last and fourth site is situated near the main entrance of
the forest, opposite to Nehru park. Site-IV is also facing various kinds of
biotic pressures.
During the study period the data was collected from June to
November 2007, by taking weekly visits, field photography, vegetation
analysis, and unaided usual count of trespassing.
VEGETATION ANALYSIS
Vegetation analysis or community structure is an important aspect of
ecology and enables us to understand as to how a community formed by
organisms control the organism and influence their behavior and life
history (Misra, 1974). A community is a component as well as factor of
environment. The vegetal analysis provides information regarding the
interaction among species in a particular community as well as about the
organization of the species within the community.
Vegetation analysis was made during September to November 2007. The
vegetation and composition was recorded by quadrat method (Misra,
1968). Herbs, shrubs and tree species were recorded by taking quadrates of
size 11sq.m, 55sq.m and 1010 sq.m respectively at various stations at
each site depending upon the vegetal cover the site sustain. Herbs and
shrub cover were determined by method given in Cain and Casto (1959).
Tree canopy cover was determined by method given in Babu et. al (1959).
Vegetation survey of all sites were carried out and data on vegetation was
subjected for percentage frequency, density and abundance which was
obtained by actual count method (Misra, 1968), Curtis and M.C. Intosh
(1951) were followed in obtaining the important value index (IVI) from the
relative values of frequency, density and abundance of each species. The
vegetation analysis can be done by using following formulas:
Percentage frequency:
This is the dispersion of species within a community and was determined
after Raunker (1934). Percentage frequency can be obtained by using
following formula;
According to present data, given in table 1.1. It was observed that site-I
was ranking first in interference with herbaceous vegetation followed by site-II.
There is a variation between the values of protected and unprotected plots at site-
I. The total values of frequency %, density and abundance in protected plot are
830, 62.7 and 106.20 respectively. In comparison to this, such values for
unprotected plot are frequency % (410), density (13.30) and abundance (34.70).
However the values of IVI are not only maximum in protected plots but also in
unprotected plots. It was evident from present study that site-I have very less
herbaceous cover as compared to other sites because of various biotic factors.
Site-II also sustains less herbaceous cover because of forest fire, which destroys
the vegetal cover of this site. From comparison of data of herbs between
protected and unprotected plots at site-II (table1.2), shows variation in values of
biological spectrum i.e, frequency, density and abundance. At site-II the values
of total frequency % of all species for protected plot are (560),total density
(51.00) and abundance values are (81.41), while as these values for unprotected
plots are freq % (380), total values of density are (10.10) and total abundance
(27.30) respectively. At site-III there are also variation in data between the herbs
of protected plots and unprotected ones (table 1.3). At site-III there was observed
less interference with herbaceous cover than other sites. Site-IV also represents
large variation between the values of frequency %, density and abundance among
protected and unprotected plots of herbs. it is evident from compression of data
given in table (1.4). Site-IV represents large interference with herbaceous cover.
For determining the impact of biotic factors on shrub vegetation, two
sites (site-I & site-IV) have been selected for vegetation analysis because these
two sites were containing a good cover of shrub vegetation. Again these two sites
have been categorized into two plots i.e., protected & unprotected plots for the
purpose of comparison of data between these plots to determine the degree of
impact of biotic factors on shrubs. From data given in table 2.1, the values of
frequency, density, and abundance, are maximum in protected plot and minimum
in unprotected plot. However, in case of IVI it is not always maximum in
protected but some species shows maximum value of IVI in unprotected plot
also. After comparing the data between the protected and unprotected plots, it is
evident that site-I represents higher degree of interference with shrubs than site-
IV. According to present data site-IV shows less impact of biotic factor on shrubs
and there are less variation among the values of frequency(%), density and
abundance (see table 2.2).
For observing the impact of biotic factors on trees, three sites have been selected
(site-I, II&IV) for the purpose of vegetation analysis. Site-III was not selected,
because there was no any kind of interferences with trees. Impact of biotic
factors on trees and decline of tree cover was analyzed by taking quadrats of size
10 10m
2
(Misra, 1968 & Babu et.al, 1959). At each site two plots have been
taken to collected and compare the data between the two plots, so as to determine
the impact of biotic factor on trees. As per the present data given in table 3.1,
shows a great variation of each value among the species recorded in unprotected
plot. The total values of frequency (%) are (400), density (13.7) and abundance
(23.10), while as these values in unprotected plot are freq. (%) (170), density
(3.70) and abundance (8.50). At site-II there was also observed a great
interference with tree cover by some biotic factors. At this site here are also a
great variation among the values of frequency (%), density and abundance (table
3.3). Data collected from analysis was compared to represent the degree of
impact on trees at this site. Site-IV has a less pressure of biotic factors, thus
shows less degree of interference as compared to site-I & II. Data collected at
site-IV during present study period are represented in table 3.3, and there are not
much variation between the values of frequency (%), density and abundance of
protected and unprotected plots. The value of IVI was not only maximum in
protected plots but it is also higher in unprotected ones.
Graph showing protected plot of herbs at site-I
Graph showing unprotected plot of herbs at site-I
&
/s/
&
/s/
Graph showing protected plot of herbs at site-II
Graph showing unprotected plot of herbs at site-II
&
/s/
&
/s/
&
/s/
&
/s/
&
/s/
&
/s/
Graph showing protected plot of shrubs at site-I
Graph showing unprotected plot of shrubs at site-I
&
/s/
&
/s/
Graph showing protected plot of shrubs at site-IV
Graph showing unprotected plot of shrubs at site-IV
&
/s/
&
/s/
Graph showing protected plot of trees at site-I
Graph showing unprotected plot of trees at site-I
&
/s/
&
/s/
Graph showing unprotected plot of trees at site-II
Graph showing protected plot of trees at site-II
&
/s/
&
/s/
Graph showing protected plot of trees at site-IV
Graph showing unprotected plot of trees at site-IV
&
/s/
&
/s/
FOREST FIRES
Forest fires are as old as the mankind. The uncontrolled forest fires destroy
the trees, shrubs, herbs and natural regeneration, the wild animals, birds and their
eggs etc. The soil molecules are loosening with the result more soil erosion takes
place. High temperature destroys the organic matter of the soil. Air pollution due to
heavy fires gives rise to many other problems. The crown fire may kill the leaves
of shade plants with the result, water holding capacities of soil decreases badly and
natural water resource dry up. Besides, the destruction of soil micro-organisms
which maintains the nature`s balance hence, the important chain gets destroyed.
Every year India loosing crores of forest wealth due to forest fires.
Forest fires are one of the major biotic interferences in the Shankeracharya
forest, observed during the present study. During study period the incident of forest
fires in Shankeracharya forest has occurred three times in the month of October,
2007. The incident of fire has occurred at site- II. The Site affected by forest fire
results a great damage to trees and associated vegetation, damage to birds and
insects and soil conditions of the site. In Kashmir the most of the forest fires are
occurred due to human activities in one way or other way. In case of
Shankeracharya forest, the main source of forest fire is security forces posted in the
forest. It was observed during the present investigation, that security forces present
in Shankeracharya forest make fire in the forest for warm themselves during duty
hours particularly morning and evening hours, but at evening they leave the fire as
such without spreading water over it. This illegal activity in the forest becomes the
source of forest fire in Shankeracharya forest.
As already mentioned the forest fire has catches the study site II and results a
great damage to vegetation of the site. It is observed during present that forest fire
at site-II has damaged the ground vegetation to a large extent. At some stations of
the site-II ground becomes totally necked. In addition to ground vegetation, large
number of trees like Cidrus deodara, Thuja orientalis, Pinus helipensis etc was
also burnt by fire. Data of damage to trees and herbs was analyzed by quadrat
method (Misra, 1968 and Babu et.al, 1959). After generating the data, the data of
degraded plots was compared with data of protected plots of same site hence, to
represent the degree of damage due to forest fire. In case of ground cover
vegetation, the protected plots shows a good diversity of grasses, but in degraded
plot no any single species was recoded. Hence, all parameters in degraded plot
were absent. In case of trees the reading of degraded plot was not nil as in herbs,
some plants were also found in it. Thus the data of this degraded plot of trees was
compared with the protected plot of trees at same site which is given in table A.
from the data it is observed that in protected plot seven species of plants was found
which are given in table. While as in degraded plot only four species was found. It
is also evident that there are great variation of values of frequency (%), density and
abundance of each species between two plots. In protected plot, the value of
frequency (%), density and abundance for Cidrus are 100, 1.38 and 13.80
respectively. While in degraded plot, the same values of Cidrus are freq. %( 40),
den.(1.30) and abut.(3.20). For P.helepensis in protected plot, the value of freq.(%)
50, den.(1.90), and abun. (3.80). in degraded the same values are freq. (0.80),
den(2.50) and abun. (3.10). the values of other species are shown in table A.
Besides the damage of forest fire to floral diversity of the forest, some faunal
diversity will also be affected particularly insects and birds. No any kind of
damage of forest fire to big animals was observed during the present study. After
fire few burnt birds and their nest was found at the site. During study period, a
large no. of insects was seen at the site, but after fire there was observed very few
insects. Hence, it indicates that the diversity of insects were also destroyed by
forest fire.
Photographs showing damage due to forest fire in Shankeracharya forest ecosystem:
Photographs showing impact of forest fire on trees of Shankeracharya forest
ecosystem.
Photograph showing impact of forest fire on ground vegetation
.
These two photographs depict cause of forest fire in Shankeracharya forest ecosystem.
W&
W
W
&
helipensis. Among these species first two were totally degraded. Besides these
interferences there are other minor impacts of security forces on forest ecosystem.
Data recorded during present study are given in given table (table 5).
Photographs showing impact of biotic interferences on trees in Shankeracharya forest
ecosystem:
Photographs showing impact of biotic interferences on trees in Shankeracharya forest
ecosystem
Photo: Impact of biotic interference with trees.
W&
W
W
&
extraction of important herbs etc. Following table shows data of monthly flow of
tourists entering & leaving the forest area.
Photographs showing disturbances due to tourism:
Photographs showing accumulation of solid wastes mostly rubbish on forest floor thrown by tourists.
Photo: A tourist cuts branches of a medicinal shrub in Shankeracharya forest.
Photo: wastes thrown by pilgrims on forest floor.
Photo: Some major trespasses in the inner side of Shankeracharya forest.
VEHICULAR DISTURBANCES
The disturbances due to vehicular traffic entering and leaving the Shankeracharya
forest may be apparently pronounced, but their effect and interference with forest
ecosystem are considerable. The roads that pass trough the forest are used by
tourists, pilgrims, and security forces. The impact of vehicular disturbances on the
forest is observed in the form of:
x Noise,
x Air pollution from vehicular exhaust,
x Accumulation of dust on the leaves of plants, accumulation of litter
along road sides,
x Reduction in vegetation cover by parking vehicles on ground,
x Disturbance with birds and animals, and
x Forest fire due to carelessness.
According to the data collected during the present study, indicates the flow of
vehicles entering and leaving the forest. Among the vehicles which entering in the
forest are small vehicles and very less are big vehicles. As per the present data
every day hundreds of vehicles entering in the forest. Following table shows the
monthly flow of vehicles entering in the forest:
Photograph showing victim of vehicular disturbance in the forest.
Photograph depicts air pollution inside the forest area near temple.
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