Journal of Environmental Biology

Forest biomass flow for fuel wood, fodder and timber security among tribal communities of Jharkhand

M.A. Islam¹*, S.M.S. Quli², R. Rai³, Angrej Ali⁴ and S.A. Gangoo¹

¹Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, Sopore-193 201, India

²Faculty of Forestry, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi-834 006, India

³Tropical Forest Research Institute (ICFRE), P.O.- R.F.R.C., Jabalpur-482 021, India

⁴Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir,

Wadura, Sopore-193 201, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: ajaz_jsr@yahoo.co.in

 Publication Data

Paper received:

24 May 2013

Revised received:

30 November 2013

Revised received:

20 February 2014

Accepted:

05 March 2014

Abstract

The study investigated extraction and consumption pattern of fuel wood, fodder and timber and forest biomass flow for fuel wood, fodder and timber security among tribal communities in Bundu block of Ranchi district in Jharkhand (India). The study is based on personal interviews of the selected respondents through structured interview schedule, personal observations and participatory rural appraisal tools i.e. key informant interviews and focus group discussions carried out in the sample villages, using multi-stage random sampling technique. The study revealed that the total extraction of fuel wood from different sources in villages was 2978.40 tons annum^-1, at the rate of 0.68 tons per capita annum^-1, which was mostly consumed in cooking followed by cottage industries, heating, community functions and others. The average fodder requirement per household was around 47.77 kg day^-1 with a total requirement of 14227.34 tons annum^-1. The average timber requirement per household was computed to be 0.346 m³ annum^-1 accounting for a total timber demand of 282.49 m³ annum^-1, which is mostly utilized in housing, followed by agricultural implements, rural furniture, carts and carriages, fencing, cattle shed/ store house and others. Forest biomass is the major source of fuel wood, fodder and timber for the primitive societies of the area contributing 1533.28 tons annum^-1 (51.48%) of the total fuel wood requirement, 6971.55 tons annum^-1 (49.00%) of the total fodder requirement and 136.36 m³ annum^-1 (48.27%) of the total timber requirement. The forest biomass is exposed to enormous pressure for securing the needs by the aboriginal people, posing great threat to biodiversity and environment of the region. Therefore, forest biomass conservation through intervention of alternative avenues is imperative to keep pace with the current development and future challenges in the area. ? 

 Key words

Fodder, Forest biomass, Fuel wood, Timber, Tribe

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