Forest resource availability and its use by the migratory villages of Uttarkashi, Garhwal Himalaya (India)

Recognising the ecological importance of Himalayan forests in terms of their intrinsic values as life support system for the local people and as repository of regional biodiversity, the present study was conducted. It aimed at assessing the status of available forest resources, current levels of pressure on them and sustainability of current land use practices in a part of district Uttarkashi in Garhwal Himalaya. We quantified available standing biomass, regeneration and population of highly preferred species and their consumption patterns. The study revealed a spatio-temporal variation in resource extraction. The standing biomass of preferred woody species at low altitude permanent villages and high altitude summer camping sites (Kharaks) were 140.68 +/- 26.91 and 477.46 +/- 31.8 t/ha, respectively. Average fuel wood consumption per household at permanent villages was 14.65 +/- 0.78 kg/day whereas consumption per,temporary hut (Chhans) at camping sites was 36.42 +/- 3.35 kg/day. Higher per capita consumption of fuel wood in the camping sites due to seasonal migration of local as well as transhumants locally known as Gujjars had put immense pressure on sub-alpine forests. An increase in the demands for natural resources was noticed due to an augmented influx of tourists, which would further lead to the degradation of already scarce resources in the sub-alpine areas. Thus increased resource extraction from the low as well as high altitude forests simultaneously, may not be sustainable in the long run. In near future this might affect the status of the undisturbed forest at middle elevation, which has relatively high available biomass and regeneration capacity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.