Abstract

Diversity, Nativity and Sustainable Use of Forest Flora of WatershedRissa

Author(s): Tara Devi

Watershed Rissa-khad falling under Sarkaghat Forest Range of district Mandi Himachal Pradesh is endowed with rich forest resources. These forest resources include both timber and non-timber forest products such as gum, resin, fiber, flosses, oil, grasses, bamboos, wild edible, fodder, fuel and medicinal plants etc. These resources have been used for making dyes, building houses, agricultural tools, bridges, medicines, resins, fibers, vegetables etc. both on commercial as well as non commercial bases for uplifting socio-economic conditions of inhabitants of water-shed. A high percentage of the total population depends upon forest resources for their livelihood options and ful-filling their day to day activities. People exploited floral diversity in the form of leaf, root, stem, fruit and flowers etc. exerting immense pressure on natural forest wealth, like pressure from human beings for fuel, fodder, wild edibles, small timber etc., pressure from wild animals, from domestic animals due to grazing and removal of fodder, pres-sure due to encroachments, pressure due to conversion of forest land for non forestry purposes, pressure due to forest fire, pressure due to landslides etc. Exploitation and use of forest resources is not sustainable over a long peri-od of time and need proper resource assessment, conservation and adoption of participatory approaches under which the local communities come together totake collective action.

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