Conservation of some disturbed Indian tropical forest ecosystems

Abstract

Tropical forests, particularly in India, are fast disappearing due to indiscriminate overexploitation in the absence of adequate restoration steps. Natural recovery of tree vegetation, even in rainy to very rainy places, is poor due to high frequency of repeated biotic and anthropogenic onslaughts, soil impoverishment and accelerated loss of soil, water and nutrients. We have made case studies of certain wet outer Himalayan forest in Darjeeling and dry deciduous forests around Varanasi for the import of energy, water and the nutrients through precipitation, the rates of primary production, litter fall, decomposition, nutrient release and export in form of harvested timber and fodder material, nutrient and water runoff and soil erosion. We feel that there is an urgent and immediate need for the conservation of habitats for adequate restoration and recovery. The tropical forests, despite of the abundance of rainfall and bright sun, high standing crop biomass and rapid turnover of material, are quite fragile due to poor edaphic conditions and are easily undergoing savannization and desertification.