Abstract:
Fuelwood is the major source of energy for the rural Himalayan populations for the fulfillments of their fuel, fodder, livestock, cooking and heating requirements. Immense fuelwood extraction from the local forests has resulted in deterioration of forest structure as well as threatening the survival of important fuel wood species. The present study was carried out to estimate the demand, fuel wood consumption rates and to gain the information about preferred fuelwood species in upper and lower elevation villages of District Bagh Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The altitudinal range of the study area was 1250 m to 2630 m from subtropical to temperate type. Seven villages at the higher and lower elevation of District Bagh were surveyed to investigate summer and winter fuelwood consumption annually and per/capita/day consumption, family size, herd size, source of income and preferred fuelwood species. The weight survey method was used to estimate fuel wood quantity. Forest stands are surveyed by using standard phytosociological procedures to determine the impacts of fuel wood harvesting on natural forest structure and status of preferred fuel wood species. Deforestation intensity and regeneration status of the species were also investigated. Population showed an average family size of about 7.57, herd size 3.28. Total average annual fuelwood consumption of District Bagh was 16.2 tons. Annual wood consumption at the higher and lower altitudinal villages was recorded as 18.355 and 10.78 tons annually. Per capita/day consumption was found to be 6.627 and 3.912 kg respectively with an average of 5.9 kg in the study area. The dominant species in the study area included Pinus wallichiana, Abies pindrow and Quercus dilatata. These three species had an average tree density value of 152.5 stems/ha, 118 stems/ha and 97.5 stems/ha. Average deforestation intensity recorded for these xiv species were recorded as 135.0 stumps/ha, 87 stumps/ha, and 67.5 stumps/ha. Similarly, the average regeneration density for these species was recorded as 27.1 seedlings/ha, zero number of seedling/ha and 17.5 seedlings/ha respectively. The average tree density for the whole forest stands was calculated to be 90.99 stems/ha. Due to over grazing and animal's trampling the regeneration rate was poor and maximum deforestation was recorded. Overall deforestation intensity for the forest stands had an average value of 72.018 stumps/ha whereas average seedling density was determined as 15.285 seedlings/ha. Pinus wallichiana, Abies pindrow and Quercus dilatata were highly exploited species which can leads to the loss of biodiversity and disturbance in the forest strata. In order to conserve the depleting forest strata, conservation policy should be applied at local and regional levels.
Page(s):
0-0
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: First International Conference on Revamped Scientific Outlook of 21st Century (Abstract Book), Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2022
Keywords:
energy
,
Fuelwood
,
Pinus wallichiana
,
Forest Structure
,
forest