Firewood consumption and extraction from community forests in East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya: Its impact on woody species diversity and population structure

M. B. Lynser, Ksanbok Makdoh, Batriti Nongbri
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Abstract

Firewood serves as the principal source of energy for cooking and heating, for many rural communities, but the impact of firewood extraction on the forest is often undermined. The present study was undertaken to assess the firewood consumption pattern by households living near community forests of East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya and the impact of such activity on species diversity and population structure on such forests. Data on firewood consumption and preferred firewood species, and impacts of firewood harvesting on species diversity and population structure were collected through household surveys and phytosociological studies respectively. The surveyed households showed high dependency on firewood and the consumption pattern varies with the family size. The preferred firewood species are those of hardwood trees such as Quercus spp., Lithocarpus spp., Castanopsis spp. and Myrica spp. Firewood extraction have negative impact on forests, resulting in decrease in species diversity and population of the preferred firewood species. Statistical analysis revealed that species richness and diversity and density differ significantly in protected and unprotected forests. Despite low per capita consumption of firewood and precautionary measures like regulated harvesting in the study area, firewood harvesting cannot be ignored as an important cause of forest degradation and biodiversity loss. More research into local ecological and cultural contexts and perceptions concerning costs and benefits can help devise sustainable management options, including alternative sources of fuel.
梅加拉亚邦东卡西山区社区森林柴火消耗和采伐:对木本物种多样性和种群结构的影响
对许多农村社区来说,柴火是做饭和取暖的主要能源来源,但采伐柴火对森林的影响往往被削弱。本研究评估了梅加拉亚邦东卡西山区社区森林附近居民的柴火消费模式及其对社区森林物种多样性和种群结构的影响。通过入户调查和植物社会学研究,收集了柴火消耗和首选柴火种类、采伐对物种多样性和种群结构的影响等数据。被调查家庭对柴火的依赖程度较高,且消费模式因家庭规模而异。栎、石栎、Castanopsis和杨梅等硬木树种为首选薪柴树种,采伐对森林产生负面影响,导致首选薪柴树种的物种多样性和种群数量减少。统计分析表明,保护林和非保护林的物种丰富度、多样性和密度存在显著差异。尽管研究区域的人均柴火消费量较低,并采取了管制采伐等预防措施,但柴火采伐是森林退化和生物多样性丧失的重要原因,不容忽视。对当地生态和文化背景以及对成本和收益的看法进行更多的研究可以帮助制定可持续的管理选择,包括替代燃料来源。
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