Forest Resource Use Pattern in Fringe Villages of Barsey <i>Rhododendron</i> Sanctuary and Singalila National Park of Khangchendzonga Landscape, India

Chettri, Santosh K.; Sharma, Ghanashyam; Gaira, Kailash S.; Pandey, Aseesh; Joshi, Rajesh; Chettri, Nakul; Pradhan, Bharat Kumar

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8856988

International Journal of Forestry Research

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Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion Conclusion Data Availability Conflicts of Interest Acknowledgments References Copyright Related Articles

Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2021 | Article ID 8856988 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8856988

Forest Resource Use Pattern in Fringe Villages of Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary and Singalila National Park of Khangchendzonga Landscape, India

Santosh K. Chettri,^1,2Ghanashyam Sharma,¹Kailash S. Gaira,²Aseesh Pandey,²Rajesh Joshi,²Nakul Chettri,³and Bharat Kumar Pradhan⁴

Academic Editor: Daniel M. Kashian

Received15 Sept 2020

Revised27 Dec 2020

Accepted28 Dec 2020

Published11 Feb 2021

Abstract

Forests in the Barsey-Singalila transboundary area under Khangchendzonga landscape (KL) are facing pressures of resource uses. Despite continuous utilizations, complete data are lacking from the ground level. Socioeconomic, demographic, and forest use data were obtained by interviewing 233 households across two study locations. Forest product market survey was undertaken to determine prices of forest products. Resource dependence index was (0.60) high for both the locations. Alnus nepalensis is highly preferred fuel species with probability of use (0.791), and Rhododendron arboreum with probability of use (0.09) is considered as least preferred species. Relatively bigger village with more population is aggravating utilization pressures. Resource use at Gorkhey-Samanden is low (20% in case of fuelwood) as compared to the use at Ribdi-Bhareng (80% for fuelwood). Only preferred medicinal plants or wild edibles, namely, Yushania maling are collected regardless of their availability for fuelwood and other uses, which is causing more pressure on a small group of plants. A huge shortfall between resource demand and production indicates the possible extraction of resources from surrounding reserve forests. The results provide significant information on peoples dependency on forest resources and may be utilized for developing forest conservation policies for enhanced ecosystem services and livelihoods in the region.

1. Introduction

Forest is an essential component of various ecosystem services. Local people depend on forest resources for various products such as fuel wood, construction materials, medicine, and food [1]. Globally, it is estimated that between 1.1 billion and 1.7 billion people depend to varying degrees on forests for their livelihoods, and about 200 million indigenous communities are almost fully dependent on forests [2]. It is estimated that 20–25% of rural peoples’ income is obtained from environmental resources in developing countries [3] and act as safety nets in periods of crisis or during seasonal food shortages [4, 5].

While in rural India, nearly 275 million people are directly dependent on forests for sustaining their livelihood [6]. Forest and people are inextricably linked in India, and around 350–400 million (40%) people are dependent on forest resources [7]. About 70% of Indian population lives in rural areas, and most of them have either agriculture or forest-based economy [8]. Their dependency on the forest resource is still high due to easy access, simple use, and lack of economically viable options [9]. Demand and consumption of fuelwood is not increasing over last decades as compared to the rate estimated earlier in 1980s, and it is still valid in rural areas [10]. The underutilized wild edible bioresources can play a significant role in rural development, poverty alleviation, livelihood enhancement, and nutritional security of local communities through bioprospecting with application of suitable scientific interventions [11–14].

Barsey-Singalila transboundary area within Khangchendzonga landscape (KL) houses unique ethnic and social groups with rich traditional knowledge on bioresource utilization [15]. Over the years, human pressure is exerted upon this transborder area for collection of basic subsistence materials, viz., fuelwood, fodder, construction timber, and nontimber forest produces (NTFPs). The dwelling community in the region employs different farming and livestock practices and also depends on forest resources for regular income generation. Hence, a comprehensive information on resource utilization patterns is required across state’s border of KL. Also, to assess environmental impacts posed upon from the intervention is greatly sensed. Therefore, we planned to assess indigenous resource use patterns and people’s dependency on bioresource needs. The study principally highlights on the resource availability, their use patterns, demand, and people’s dependency on natural resources, for setting conservation priorities and livelihood security as apparent from the assessment.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Sites

Singalila National Park (SNP) having 78.6 km² area is located on the Singalila Ridge at an altitude of 7000 m asl, in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is famous for trekking route to Sandakphu that runs through it. The park was previously declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1986. The region had long been used as the trekking route from Manebhanjang to Sandakphu (the highest peak of West Bengal and Phalut). The trek along the Singalila Ridge to Sandakphu and Phalut is one of the most popular ones in the Eastern Himalaya, due to the grand vistas of the Khangchendzonga range, and the Everest range which can be seen from the ridge and also for the seasonal wildflower blooms and birding.

Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (BRS) covers an area of 104 km², established in 2004 in the Singalila Ridge in western Sikkim. It borders on Nepal to the west and on the state of West Bengal to the south across the Rambong Khola stream. There are three points of entry to this sanctuary from Hilley, Dentam, and Soreng. Tourists generally prefer Hilley, since it is approachable by road too. The bridle path from Hilley to Barsey is a favorite amongst tourists especially during the Rhododendron flowering season. The faunal value of BRS includes leopard cat, Himalayan Yellow throated Marten, Himalayan Palm Civet, and many diverse species of birds. Two villages were selected for the present study from the Barsey-Singalila transboundary area, namely, Ribdi-Bhareng surrounding the BRS (Sikkim) and Gorkhey-Samanden (Darjeeling district, West Bengal) surrounding the SNP (Table 1).

Gorkhey-Samanden, a forest village located at an altitude of 2286 m asl, is the remotest village situated in the close proximity to the SNP (Darjeeling) in the north and BRS (Sikkim) in the east connected by an interstate border (Figure 1). It is bestowed with rich biodiversity providing a wide range of ecosystem services and hence bears local significance. The village covers an area of 36 hectares. There are 65 households in the village with a total population of 205 persons comprising of Sherpa, Rai, Chettri, and Tamang communities. Male literacy rate of the village is 64%; whereas, female literacy rate is 52%. Agriculture, livestock, and tourism are major livelihood options of the community. Potato, maize, oat (barley), bean, rayosaag (green leafy vegetable), pea, cabbage, radish, and squash are common crops found. Apart from these, yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is recently introduced speciesunder KL programme.

Ribdi-Bhareng, West Sikkim, is a Gram Panchayat Unit (GPU) with a total area of 543 hectares. There are 324 households in the GPU with total population of 1536 persons. Sherpa, Rai, Chettri, Tamang, and Gurung are the main dwelling communities. Male literacy rate of Ribdi-Bhareng is 60% and female 50%. Agriculture and livestock rearing are major occupations of the people in Ribdi-Bhareng. Potato, maize, oat (barley), bean, rayosaag, pea, buckwheat, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, squash, and large cardamom are staple crops cultivated, and cattle are also kept for diary purposes.

2.2. Methods

2.2.1. Survey and Sampling

The socioeconomic survey of the households using semistructured questionnaire formats was carried out. A total of 233 households were surveyed from Gorkhey-Samanden (as site-A, 60 hh) and Ribdi-Bhareng (as site-B, 173 hh). The data were collected through stratified random sampling [16] to select households in the sample villages to collect primary socioeconomic data on types of forest resource consumption, source, frequency, resource demand, and farm production. The forest product market survey was undertaken to determine prices of forest products. In addition, the PRA (including focus group discussions) survey was conducted. In the process, key stakeholders/informants, members of the farming community, ecotourism committee members, government employees, and the panchayat representatives were involved. Preferred fodder species were also documented from the households. Households were asked about the fuelwood, fodder, and other non-timber forest product collection and quantity of biomass that they extracted annually from the forest. Two individuals per household per day were found involved in collection of fuel. Weighed the head loads (bhari) for fuelwood at the entry and exit points of the forest boundary during November–March approximately for 150 days. Forty bharis were sampled in each village during each investigation. Collected amount of each species segregated out of each bundle based on local names and then weighed using a spring balance [17]. Living samples (twig containing leaf and flowers) of each species were locally identified and were later identified scientifically. To measure fuelwood utilization, actual number of hours burnt by a species was divided by the total number of hours that the fuel could have burnt [17]. Additional information were collected using field observations and transect walks. Information on price of different NTFPs/wild edibles and medicinal plants were collected through the market survey. The collected data on fuelwood were analysed following [17, 18].

2.2.2. Data Analysis

orwhere is the total species collected in all samples, and is the number of samples.where is the frequency of collection of a species in the i^th site, and is the population of the i^th site.

Fuelwood consumption among the sites was determined using Sorenson’s similarity index [19]:where C is the amount of fuel collected common in sites (A and B); A is the collection of fuel in site A, and B is the collection of fuel in site B. Shortfall in resource needs and possible extraction are determined on the basis of the information collected.

3. Results

3.1. Resource Availability Status and People’s Dependency

With the aim of collecting data on resource base for villages, we carried out the seasonal study on resource extraction and utilization patterns. Results of the studied parameters depicted that fuelwood, fodder, timber, wild edibles, medicinal plants, and litter are the most common forest resources for Ribdi-Bhareng and Gorkhey-Samanden households (Table 2). Regardless of availability status, source of resource would be preferentially private forests (as rural people claim), reserved forest, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. We evidenced colloquial activities of tourism practices, forest collections, and grazing from the sites. People have to travel atleast 2–5 kilometers distances everyday to extract the resource. Wherein, the dependency index of studied sites was determined within 0.60.

The fuelwood consumption at Ribdi-Bhareng was recorded slightly higher than Gorkhey-Samanden by 1.5%; farmland production of fuelwood at Ribdi-Bhareng was more than private land fuelwood growth at Gorkhey-Samanden by 80%. This may be due to higher fraction of landholdings possessed by the house of Ribdi-Bhareng. The total number of households at Ribdi-Bhareng is 324 and Gorkhey-Samanden is 65. Likewise, fodder consumption rate was more at Ribdi-Bhareng (17%) than fodder consumption at Gorkhey-Samanden, and in a similar way, the farm fodder production rate at Gorkhey-Samanden was lower than Ribdi-Bhareng (58.3%).

Timber required at Gorkhey-Samanden was found 6 cubic cm·hh⁻¹ yr⁻¹ which is much higher than the estimated production of 0.1 cubic cm hh⁻¹ y⁻¹. Similarly, timber demand in Ribdi-Bhareng was recorded 7.5 cubic cm hh⁻¹·yr⁻¹, and the production was 0.2 cubic cm·hh⁻¹·yr⁻¹. On the other hand, litter use at both Gorkhey-Samanden and Ribdi-Bhareng villages was found 10 kg·hh⁻¹·d⁻¹ and 12 kg·hh⁻¹·d⁻¹, respectively. Similarly, production amount was found 7 kg·hh⁻¹·yr⁻¹ for both the villages. NTFP/wild edibles demand at Gorkhey-Samanden was 0.5 kg·hh⁻¹·d⁻¹ and Ribdi-Bhareng 0.4 kg·hh⁻¹·d⁻¹; whereas, production was found half of the amount, i.e., 0.25 kg·hh⁻¹·d⁻¹ for both the above villages. Across the study sites, food stuffs (ration) required were estimated 12 kg·hh⁻¹·month⁻¹ for a family having 6 members in each. Per capita crop production was estimated 3 kg·month⁻¹ for a family.

3.2. Fuelwood Collection, Probability of Use (PU), and Resource Use Index (RUI)

Habit and mean collection (kg sample⁻¹·day⁻¹ and kg sample⁻¹·yr⁻¹) for common fuelwood species are presented in Table 3. Most species used for fuel are regarded as tree species. Mean collection for Arundo donax (1.68 kg·sample⁻¹·day⁻¹) is found to be the most collected species followed by Quercus lamellosa (1.62 kg·sample⁻¹·day⁻¹) and least for Tsuga dumosa and Ankhle (0.11 kg·sample⁻¹·day⁻¹). For yearly extrapolation, Aundo donax (252 kg·sample⁻¹·year⁻¹) showed the most collected species followed by Quercus lamellosa Sm. (243 kg·sample⁻¹·year⁻¹) and the least to Alnus nepalensis D. Don (241.5 sample⁻¹·year⁻¹). Probability of use (PU) is maximum for Arundo donax (0.813) followed by Alnus nepalensis (0.791), Dendrocalamus hamiltonii (0.745), and Castanopsis tribuloides (0.7) and least in Rhododendron arboreum (0.09).

Resource extraction processes were studied for fuel, fodder, timber, NTFPs/wild edibles, litter, and crop (Table 4). Our survey revealed that per year fuelwood consumption at Ribdi-Bhareng is (7409.5 kk·hh⁻¹), fodder (6570 kk·hh⁻¹), and NTFPs (146 kg·hh⁻¹) and Gorkhey-Samanden fuelwood is (7300 kk·hh⁻¹), fodder (5475 kg·hh⁻¹), and NTFPs (182.5 kg·hh⁻¹). Resource demand is compared with the resource production as shown in Table 5. Demand of fuelwood (2393.27 ton·yr⁻¹) and fodder (2122.11 ton·yr⁻¹) at Ribdi-Bhareng was comparatively more than what is recorded from Gorkhey-Samanden (fuelwood 445.3 ton·yr⁻¹ and fodder 333.98 ton·yr⁻¹). Considering the fact that wood biomass is required for construction purposes such as house and goths/cowshed, such is evident from timber requirement at Ribdi-Bhareng (2422.5 cft/yr) and also production (64.6 cft/yr) thereby leading to shortfall amount (2357.9 cft/yr). Fuelwood demand in Gorkhey-Samanden was (445.3 ton·yr⁻¹), whereas production was (0.12 ton·yr⁻¹). As per the primary survey of the villages, the fuel consumption was 418.86 ton, and the annual fuel availability was estimated as 211.03 ton, which indicates a deficit of 207.83 ton. Per family fuel consumption was found 52.53 kg which varies seasonally (summer, 17.28 kg and winter, 35.25 kg).

3.3. Fodder Use

Farm animals in Barsey-Singalila are rearing by two means stall feeding and open grazing. Open grazing in forest sites has been banned in Sikkim under state’s revised grazing policy, 2005 (remained effective from 2010), although illegal grazing inside forests occur. But the animal percentage meant for stall feeding is more (80%). While studying the fodder preferences, 8 most preferred species, 12 preferred species, and 6 least preferred species were found for both Ribdi-Bhareng and Gorkhey-Samanden villages (Table 6).

3.4. NTFP Use

Varying degrees of NTFP use (as high, medium, and low) and availability status (abundant, moderate, and rare) were noted. People’s dependency (high, medium, and low) and market prices of various wild edibles, NTFPs, and medicinal herbs were studied as shown in Table 7. It is observed that Diplazium sp. is priced to a low of only Rs. 10/bundle, and Nardostachys jatamansi fetched the highest price of Rs.300. Some of the medicinal plants species are available seasonally/annually either in community forests (CF), reserve forest (RF), protected forests (PF), khasmal forest (KF), and agroforests (AF) as presented in Table 8.

4. Discussion

The forests preserve the biological diversity as well as provide the natural wealth to the human being. But forests are still degrading day by day due to exponential population growth, poverty, and lack of awareness about the ecosystem services [8]. More than 350 million people were living inside or on the fringes of forests across the world, out of which 60 million were largely dependent for sustenance [6]. Forests in most developing countries are under anthropogenic pressure from resource use by marginalized communities for subsistence [7, 20, 21]. The condition is considered more perilous in Asia and Africa, where loss of forests during a ten-year period in the later part of the 20^th century was estimated to 163 million ha, of which 154 million ha (94.5%) was in the tropics alone [22].

Resource use data suggests that resource need is collected from a certain distance in the forest area which will be far from the houses. The dependency index of study sites was found much higher than the dependency rate of households as estimated in the midhills of eastern Nepal (40%) [23]. The households with low income and small fragmented land are more dependent on the forest resources [24]. Type and degree of dependence varies from place to place. It is highest among the families living within forest areas. Such families (about 10% of the households) have no or very small landholdings. Others who significantly depend for their household and day to day requirements as well as for certain specific (such as medicinal) uses on neighbouring forests (about 50%) include not only those principally associated with agriculture or allied activities but also involved with forests one way or the other [25].

Whereas, the average fuelwood consumption in the area is comparatively higher than the fuelwood consumption amount as reported for Garhwal Himalaya [26] but lesser than the amount measured in Kedarnath region [27]. So, it honestly proves that pressure on resources is considerably high. Yearly production of the resource was also comparatively much lesser than the requirement for households of both the study sites, and this result can be compared with a study held in Niti valley where fuelwood consumption was much lower than the consumption amount of other greater Himalayan villages [28]. The average fuelwood consumption data is also compared with data in Kumaon villages, where per capita consumption amount was estimated to 3.14 kg/day [29]. Since fuelwood collection forms the highest and the most frequent use of forests followed by timber and fodder collection for livestock [25]. Although Arundo donax shows high RUI, it is available at farmland. Alnus nepalensis, Dendrocalamushamiltoni, and Castanopsis tribuloides having high RUI are available at the forest including Alnus nepalensis depicting high pressure on the species. Definitely, these species having high PU show preferences in the villages. Thus, a comparatively larger village with more population will aggravate utilization pressures.

Resource production is far lesser than the demand as evident from the present survey. The area is characterized by sparse vegetation cover, low primary productivity, and short growing season and is thus highly susceptible to irreversible changes of natural habitats [28, 30]. A huge shortfall in resource availability predicts the possible extraction of resources from the surrounding forests (namely, the khasmal forests, protected areas, and agroforestry areas). And the whole can also be compared with the total available fodder in Central Himalayan village [31].

There is a huge gap between timber demand and production which is required for construction of house and goths/cowshed, and such case is evident from timber demand at Ribdi-Bhareng and wood production rate, thereby, leading to huge shortfall. Considering the fact that a very small fraction of firewood comes from the agriculture fields, various resources demand and production in the study villages are attributed to production and utilization patterns.

The higher price is attributed being the species grow in high altitudes and in rare status [32]. Similarly, mushroom considered as valuable wild edible fetch higher market cost. This income can be compared with the value-added products of most selected wild edibles which derived maximum economic returns in Garhwal Himalaya for Hippophae salicifolia followed by Rhododendron arboreum and Spondias pinnata and minimum for Myrica esculenta [33]. Communities of both the villages use local medicinal plants for treatment of health problems related to indigestion, antispasmodic, chronic fever, dysentery, and influenza, for which different parts (e.g., root, fruit, leaf, and sometimes entire plant) are used. These medicinal plants are found to be distributed within an elevation range between 800 and 3600 m asl in the Himalaya [34]. Preferred species are collected regardless of their availability for fuelwood and other uses, which is causing high pressure on a small group of plants. Marketing of medicinal herbs is inefficient, informal, secretive, and opportunistic. As a result, the raw material supply situation is shaky, unsustainable, and exploitative, which in turn leads to depletion of the resource base exploiting of the rural people (who are the real stewards of the resource), adulteration, and nonavailability of quality herbal drugs for domestic consumption as well as for exports [35, 36]. In a conclusion, local ecosystem suffers from shortage of suitable resource management policies in one; similarly, delay in implementation of associated policies may also result in gradual loss of biodiversity in another. The regional initiatives taken by G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE) under Khangchendzonga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative- (KLCDI-) India programme have been widely appreciated. KLCDI is one of such transboundary programme where partner countries may work together taking the above approaches.

5. Conclusion

Transboundary areas are more vulnerable in terms of encroachment such as tourist trekking, carrying of business items, animal grazing, and collection of medicinal/wild plants, as evidenced in the Barsey-Singalila transboundary area. Sustainable use of the resource in the area is much required so that livelihood of the local people be improved. Production using local and productive fodder species should be emphasized. Fuel, fodder, and wild edibles including medicinal herbal are diverse, but there may a great threat to those species of protected areas. Our results emphasized the need for regular assessment of forest resources, particularly in protected areas. The afforestation of degraded, uncultivated, and marginal lands through high-quality fuel species in the villages might reduce pressure. Energy value of these species also needs to be determined.

The study further suggests that providing alternate and nonconventional energy sources such as solar cookers and fuel efficient portable ovens to the inhabitants at subsidized rates could reduce the pressure on nearby forests. However, the local government has supported the community people through supplying LPG stoves and cylinders at free of cost which may not be in sufficient quantity. Besides, judicious harvest of resources considering the production rate is ever appreciated. Similarly, government policies involving resource management can impact development processes. Further alternative energy sources are to be generated such as the use of biobriquettes (matula) as fuelwood.

Data Availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Director, G. B. Pant National Institute for Himalayan Environment, for providing necessary support and facilities for carrying out research. Financial support and cooperation received from International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) during KLCDI-India programme implementation are duly acknowledged. The kind of support extended by The Mountain Institute India is acknowledged. The authors are also grateful to Forest, Environment, and Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim, and Directorate of Forests, West Bengal, for affording support during our field works. Last, the support and cooperation extended by the Panchayat members and community people of Ribdi-Bhareng and Gorkhey-Samanden are deeply appreciated.

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Copyright © 2021 Santosh K. Chettri et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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