FENCE TYPES, FENCING PRACTICES AND BETTER MANAGEMENT OPTIONS IN HILLY REGION OF UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT, WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

ABSTRACT: Types of fences, fencing practices, plant species used for fencing in different land  uses,  and  reason  for  preferring  particular  species  were  assessed  by interviewing the fence owners and by field visits in hilly area of Sirsi taluk in Uttara Kannada district. Out of twenty species used for fencing in the study area, 11 were mainly considered for fencing and planted; 9 wild species used for fencing are not planted. Agave sisalana and Duranta plumieri are planted extensively either as single species or mixed with others along the trench-cum- mound fence of the betta (leaf manure forests) and bena lands. Many useful species  without  spines  or  thorns  are  planted  along  the  border  of  tenured properties.  As  compared  to  other  studies,  number  of  species  observed  and benefits  derived  from  the  fences  were  less.  Options  for  meeting  the requirements  of  fencing  poles,  fodder,  green  manure  and  fuel  wood; enhancing ecological, economic and environmental services from fences, and reducing  pressure  on  forests  by  choosing  suitable  species  for  planting  on fences are discussed.