Browsing by Author "Mathur, P.K."

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An ecological assessment of forest spatial heterogeneity species diversity and grassland burning practices in the terai conservation area.
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2002) Kumar, Harish; Mathur, P.K.
The present study formed a part of the major collaborative project entitled "Management of Forests for Biological Diversity and Forest Productivity - A New Perspective", jointly implemented by the Wildlife Institute of India and the US Forest Service. The project aimed to address the primary requirement of forests of sustaining biodiversity. It is being realized that the traditional forest management approach had to undergo a major shift in emphasis and strategies. The project expected to demonstrate the integration of science and management in a planning process that establishes the complimentary roles of wildlife protected areas and the large surrounding landscape of managed forests in maintaining forest based biological diversity. The project was field based at four Conservation Areas (CAs) that covered large landscapes of forested and non-forested matrix areas representing a variety of biogeographic patterns, forestry practices, ethnic human societies and their forest based culture, economies and tradition, and the range of administrative realities. Each of the CAs included select protected areas (PAs) - National Parks or Wildlife Sanctuaries; Managed Forests (MFs) and the intervening matrix of the Government, community or private lands so as to constitute a larger delineated landscape. The present study specifically focussed on the Terai Conservation Area (TCA), one of the four CAs. The TCA covering 7,896.6 sq km constitutes a spatial heterogeneous landscape of Pas including Dudwa Natioal Park (DNP) and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS); and Managed Forests (MFs) of North Kheri and South Kheri Forest Divisions (NKFD and SKFD) within a matrix of private agricultural lands. the present study focused on the landscape spatial patterns, their influence on species diversity and also the effect of various grassland burning practices in TCA. In order to achieve this, the following objectives were set forth for the present study: a.To assess, characterize and map the current land use and landscape patterns. b.To identify, classify and describe vegetation communities, assess their extent and geographic distribution in the landscape. c.To assess the influence of landscape spatial patterns on habitat and species of particular management interest. d.To assess grassland burning practices vis-a-vis plant diversity, productivity, ungulate use and make appropriate recommendations for the management..
Extraction of Non Timber Forest Produce from Selected Tree Species in Betul Forest division and its Impact on the Population Structure of these Species
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 1997) Koliyal, Anupama; Sawarkar, V.B.; Mathur, P.K.
This study, carried out from November 1996 to May 1997 in North Betul Forest Division (NBFD), aimed to investigate the impacts of NTFP collection on the population structure of three extracted species namely, Buchanania lanzan, Emblica officinalis and Madhuca indica. Population structure, particularly the proportion of the younger recruitment classes in the extracted site, was compared to that in Satpura National Park, an ecologically similar but undisturbed area, a perfect natural 'control' site. Regeneration of all three were negligible in the harvested site when compared to that in the unharvested site. Interestingly, Timber Forest Products, viz. Tectona gran dis, Bauhinia racemosa, and Chloroxylon sweitenia, which are harvested for parts other than the fruit/seed, showed good regeneration in both sites. The second component of the study viz. the socio-economic investigation of the dependent people showed that they ranked other occupations like Forest Department jobs and agriculture above NTFP collection and realised that collection had a negative impact on the forests. It seems that it is only the want of other income generating opportunities that forces them to continue extraction. Again this offers scope for conservation measures to be implemented. Though a short study like this is limited in its scope for providing long-term solutions, it clearly demonstrates that NTFP collection, particularly of Buchanania lanzan, Emblica officinalis and Madhuca indica in dry deciduous forests of central India does have a significant impact on the forests in general and these species in particular.
Land use, forest fragmentation and river dynamics in Dudhwa landscape and their conservation implications
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2008) Midha, Neha; Mathur, P.K.
The present study aimed to assess land use, forest fragmentation and river dynamics in Dudhwa landscape and their effect on diversity, vegetation, and species of concern i.e. swamp deer ( ). Specific objectives addressed description of viii landscape spatial patterns, and evaluation of efficacy of high resolution satellite data in the development of spatial database; quantification of forest fragmentation, and assessment of structure and composition of forest vegetation; and understanding channel planform, changes in Sharda River, construction of Locational Probability Model of a stretch of Sharda River, and implications for conservation of endangered swamp deer and its prime habitat i.e. Jhadi in Kisanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. The study focused on the Dudhwa landscape which represents the part of The Sal ( ecosystem in the foothills of the Himalaya. In view of the multi-facet study objectives and vast area, it was imperative to adopt a holistic approach so as to have an insight on land use, forest fragmentation, and vegetation in the constituent areas of the landscape, and also on the river dynamics, a major disturbance factor influencing the floodplain and swamp deer. The field studies were carried out during 2005 and 2006. A combination of well tested field assessment methods and modern techniques Remote Sensing and GIS were employed in the present study.
Livestock grazing and conservation of biodiversity in the high altitude ecosystem - An integrated landscape management approach.
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2000) Mehra, Badrish S.; Mathur, P.K.
The present study therefore, aimed to assess various issues of livestock grazing on a regional landscape basis and to suggest a long term strategy for integrating sustainable grazing compatible to biodiversity objectives. The study formed a part of the major 5-year Forestry Research, Education and Extension Project (FREEP) implemented in the GHNPCA and its surrounds. The present study was undertaken in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA), Himachal Pradesh comprising three PAs viz., the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary and an Ecodevelopment Zone (EZ) encompassing an area of 1,171 sq km. The local inhabitants in the GHNPCA have reared livestock since time immemorial and have followed transhumant pastrolism. According to the common belief amongst the local people, conservationists and wildlife managers, the livestock population and herd or flock size have increased substantially overtime; grazing practices are harmful to wildlife and also leading to large scale degradation; and unregulated grazing in forests and alpine pastures is not compatible with the long term conservation objectives. The study revealed that the age old practice of seasonal transhumant pastrolism and their life style largely remained unaffected despite several changes brought in during the different ruling regimes, new technologies and overall development since the Pre-colonial period to till date. The caste system has influenced the social structure, work distribution and resource use. The landscape had a total pressure of an estimated 33,000 to 38,000 livestock including resident of GHNPCA as well as migratory beyond the Conservation Area.