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Journal of Ecological Society
Vol. 29
2016
Guest Editor
Vishwas Sawarkar
Editorial Team
Dr. Swati Gole
Yogesh Pathak
Ecological Society
Pune, India
Cover Design
Dr. Gurudas Nulkar
Published by
Dr. Swati Gole, Chairperson
The Ecological Society
B-2, Jayanti Apartments, Near Ratna Hospital, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune 411 016
Telephone : 020-25677312
Mail : editor@ecological-society.org
Website : www.ecological-society.org
Printed at
Aksharchhaya
2035 Sadashiv Peth, Tilak Road, Pune 411 030
Journal Team :
Dr. Swati Gole, Founding member of The Ecological Society
Yogesh Pathak, Volunteer, The Ecological Society
Ajay Phatak, Trustee, The Ecological Society
Dr. Gurudas Nulkar, Trustee, The Ecological Society
About Guest Editor
Mr. Vishwas Sawarkar is Trustee of Ecological Society, and Retired Director, Wildlife Institute of India,
Dehradun (WII). Mr. Sawarkar worked with the USDA Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service
(Projects in India and sharing experience in USA)-Conservation of biological diversity in protected areas and
forested landscapes. He was part of the first teams to work in Project Tiger in India- the Melghat Tiger Reserve,
Maharashtra (1973-79). He was also the first Dean of the Faculty of Wildlife Sciences, WII and retired as Director
WII. He is currently consultant for various wildlife management related projects/initiatives.
Editorial Advisory Board
1. Vice Admiral (Retd.) Manohar Awati, PVSM VRC
2. Prof. S.D.Mahajan, (Retd.) HOD Botany and Biology
3. Dr. Subhash Bhave, Professor, INDSEARCH
4. Vishwas Sawarkar (Retd.) Wildlife Institute of India
Reviewers
The papers titled ‘Research’ in this journal have gone through a double-blind peer review process from eminent
researchers in the respective field. All other contributions have also undergone peer review from experienced
reviewers.
About the Journal
•The Journal of Ecological Society is published annually.
•The opinions expressed in the papers here are not necessarily those of the Ecological Society.
•The Journal is available digitally at our website at no charge.
Cover Photo Credits : Ashwin Gharote, Dr. Swati Gole, Revati Gindi, Pynbitbha Rynjah
32016 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Contents
1. Foreword 5
Yogesh Pathak
Special Section : Man-Nature Relationship
2. Foreword to the Section on Man-Nature Relationship 7
Vishwas Sawarkar
3. Research Paper 9
Filling in the Gaps for Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation –
Biomonitoring for Baseline Information and Capacity Building in
Meghalaya, India
Sonali Saha, Lucy Mary Jyrwa, Marvellous B. Lynser, Darina Kharchandi,
Banri Dohling, Shanwell Khongwir, Bashida Massar, Amartya Saha,
Pynbitbha Rynjah, Banridor Kharbyngar, Bakorshisha Kharjana, Jane Kharbuddon,
Ibamaian Pariong, Sebastian Syngkli, Reuben Shabong, Apbor R. Kharkongor
4. Article 27
Non-palatable Medicinal Plants as a Solution to Crop Raiding by
Wild Herbivores around Protected Areas
Poorva Joshi, Prof. Milind Watve
5. Article 34
Silent Conflicts – Human-wildlife interactions in urban spaces
Dr. Gurudas Nulkar
Forest and Restoration Opportunities in the Panshet Catchment
6. Article 44
Vegetation character and species diversity of the Panshet catchment
Revati Gindi, Kirti Amritkar, Gunwant Mahajan, Trupti Satpute
7. Article 56
Restoration Templates for Sahyadri (Northern Western Ghats)
Ketaki Ghate, Manasi Karandikar, Kirti Amritkar
Miscellaneous
8. Reprint 65
Reprint and Analysis of ‘‘The Rio Conference : Some Bare Truths’’
from Vol. 6
Ajay Phatak
Past issues of the Journal of Ecological Society
Volume Year Theme
Number
01 1988 Ecological situation and Lay man
02 1989 Is our environment improved or worsened?
03 1990 Exploitation of Nature by man
04 1991 Habitat disturbance
05 1992 Threats to ecosystems
06 1993 Projects undertaken by the Society
07 1994 Turmoil for the environment
08 1995 Conservation, bird ecology
09 1996 Vasundhara is no longer Veerabhogya!
10 1997 Barheaded Goose
11 1998 Western Ghats : Sahyadri
12 1999 Eco-restoration
13 and 14 2001-2001 Biodiversity Profile of an Urban Area
15 2002 Associations in Nature and Our Future
16 2003 Sarus Crane
17 and 18 2004-2005 Ujani Reservoir Research
19 and 20 2006-2007 Conservation of Biodiversity of the West Coast
between Mumbai and Goa
21 2008 The Holistic Point of View and the Riddle of Energy
22 2009 Economics of Peace and Progress
23 2010 Sustainable Green Architecture
24 2011 The Coming Organic Revolution
25 2012 Articles by Students of Ecological Society
26 and 27 2013-2014 Landscape Based Ecosystem Management
28 2015 · Rocky Plateaus
· Land Use and Socioeconomic Change in
the Panshet Catchment
56 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2016
Introduction
Under undisturbed conditions, the physiography
and climate of the Northern Western Ghats, locally
known as the Sahyadri mountains, should support a
tropical semi evergreen forest on the crest line and a
moist deciduous forest on its eastern spurs in the
‘climax’ state of vegetation (Champion and Seth,
1968). However, the present condition of these forests
is variedly degraded and fragmented due to human
use for cultivation, commercial gains, dams. For ex-
ample, in the case of Panshet dam near Pune, there are
Restoration Templates for Sahyadri (Northern Western Ghats)
Ketaki Ghate, Manasi Karandikar, Kirti Amritkar
Ketaki Ghate and Manasi Karandikar are co-founders and managing partners at oikos for Ecological Services,
Pune. They are trustees and core team members at Ecological society and teach in the program. They have been
on various government committees, written articles in popular media and papers in academic journals. Email:
ketaki@oikos.in
Kirti Amritkar is associated with oikos for Ecological Services, and is a core member of Jeevitnadi Living River
Foundation, Pune. She was employed as Project Officer in Maharashtra State Environment Department from 2008-
2013.
Abstract
Sahyadri mountains are witnessing a great change in land use pattern and lifestyle of local people over
the last few decades because of modern development and construction of dams. As a result ecological
systems within the catchment have changed resulting in a change in socio-economic conditions. The usual
approach to tackle this situation is plantation or afforestation. However, this approach does not consider the
revival of ecosystems. As mitigation measures, the Ecological Society, in 1986, had conducted experiments
in the Panshet dam catchment. This resulted in the development of restoration methods for the bioclimatic
region of Sahyadri. The approach of this experiment was using a low-cost restoration methodology. In this,
enhancement of the ecosystem in early stages of restoration provides ecosystem services and products, such
as fodder in the intermediate stage to the local communities. By using similar techniques, oikos for
ecological services, a company engaged in ecological restoration, undertook several ecological restoration
programs on private lands within the Sahyadri region. The results showed significant improvement in
ecosystems and biodiversity, thereby improving livelihood options for the local communities.
Funded by a grant from Global Forest Watch, Ecological Society conducted an assessment of changes in
land use and status of biodiversity in Panshet, in 2014-15. The Panshet dam catchment forms a part of
Sahyadri and similar conditions are encountered elsewhere in the region. This study made an assessment
of the potential for restoration in the catchment area. Based on this study and earlier studies by oikos for
ecological services, we created templates which are intended to guide restoration process of degraded lands
in Sahyadri.
The templates are backed by the experience of actual implementation of restoration techniques on various
land patches within Sahyadri during the last 30 years. Three templates are presented to guide the complete
process of restoration.
Keywords: Ecological restoration, Restoration templates, Sahyadri, Northern Western Ghats.
significant changes in the river basin and in commu-
nity use of the available resources, because of the
construction of the Panshet dam. The villages in the
catchment area have been shifted to higher contours,
where they practice slash and burn farming (Gole,
1985). This type of shifting cultivation has turned all
the forested slopes to secondary vegetation. More-
over, contractors who buy timber from the local
people either for making coal or selling as timber,
have triggered the clearing of forested slopes in this
region. In the last few years’ farm house townships
have attracted urban attention and this has put severe
Forest and Restoration Opportunities in the Panshet Catchment
572016 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY
pressure on the natural setting of the catchment. By
extensive use of earth moving equipment, the land use
has changed rapidly and further degraded the land-
scape. The present state of the landscape of Western
Ghats is the outcome of years of use by local people
and the modern developmental pressures within the
last few decades (Ghate, 2014). The original forest
cover and biodiversity of the NWG, now remains only
in some pockets of notified protected areas and within
semi-protected areas like sacred groves. The rest of
the landscape is degraded to various seral stages
depending on the degree of disturbance, mainly due
to socio-economic changes in the catchment (Ghate,
2014). Therefore, there is an immediate need to con-
serve and restore these ecosystems towards better
health of the landscape benefitting human as well as
non-human beings.
As a solution to address this degradation, efforts
are usually put in plantation or afforestation to in-
crease biotic resources needed by the local community
and to improve ecosystem. However, plantations can-
not be affordable and feasible over a large expanse
like the NWG. Moreover, plantations do not consider
a landscape approach nor the revival of ecosystems.
Plantations are effective when undertaken on smaller
areas where the landscape is in a degraded state.
Ecological society has developed restoration methods
where low cost passive restoration techniques can be
employed. This requires protection of the area and
undertaking certain interventions. These are planned
for ecological restoration at a landscape level. During
this experimentation, Ecological Society (ES) has de-
veloped a framework for restoration.
During any restoration project, especially in the
Northern Western Ghats (NWG) some important as-
pects must be considered. These are (i) ‘fragility of
ecosystem’ due to very high rainfall along the crest
line (ii) catchment of some of the major rivers in the
Indian peninsula (iii) physical conditions (abiotic con-
ditions) and forests (biotic resources) at the river
source regions (iv) these are the major soil producing
areas, supplying soil downstream. All these special
physical features have created unique habitats which
have been supporting biodiversity some of which are
unique to the habitat, that is endemic species. In this
situation, the biodiversity and ecosystems are ex-
tremely important and precious. (Ghate, 2014)
Background
The restoration templates are intended to offer a
process guide to help users plan and take decisions
based on the collected data. Moreover, they also
specify what data needs to be collected. For a given
bioclimatic region, restoration techniques may remain
fairly similar. The actual process of nature restoration
involves a trial and error approach. Thus, learning
from earlier restoration experiments may help to fol-
low process of restoration.
These templates are developed based on experi-
mentations conducted in 30 long years, starting with
an assessment of biodiversity of Panshet Catchment,
in 1985. This survey showed a deficient resource
situation in this region. Due to the dam construction,
several villages were displaced to higher contours.
Thus, the villagers had poor access to water and got
less fertile land for cultivation and consequently faced
livelihood issues. Earlier, their lifestyle was depen-
dent on natural resources, but as the forests degraded,
bio-resources grew scarce in the changed situation. In
1986, ES undertook an experiment on a barren hill
slope owned by the Irrigation department,
Maharashtra State. A three-year restoration exercise
was initiated at this site. The idea of creating tem-
plates originated in this experiment. Subsequently, the
experience gained from projects carried out by oikos
for ecological services at others sites in the NWG and
other bioclimatic zones of India, helped shape the
templates. The templates have been benefited from
the insights gained in the ongoing project within
Koyna catchment in NWG, since the last 10 years. This
project is a pure conservation approach towards resto-
ration. Similarly, oikos undertook restoration plan-
ning for 16 sacred groves in Palghar district (earlier
Thane district) where, actual implementation was
done in two sacred groves over three years. The
community was involved in the restoration. Over the
last 15 years, oikos has applied restoration principles
in over 100 commercial projects. For example, in an
eco resort on 300 acre near Bangalore more than 70 %
of the land is dedicated for conservation and restora-
tion. This experience and observations of various eco-
system stages at landscape level over the years has
helped in the making of templates proposed herewith.
We expect these templates to help in identifying prob-
lems, collecting right data, following the right proce-
dures and consequently save time and inputs to
restoration practitioners. They can be used to assess
current conditions before making a choice of appro-
priate restoration technique. The templates can be
used for restoration work in bioclimatic zones similar
to that of Sahyadri.
After a review of literature available on restoration
templates and discussions with experts, it was seen
that most of the existing templates have evolved for
FOREST AND RESTORATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PANSHET CATCHMENT
58 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2016
watershed development or stream restoration (Dept
of Environmental Protection, 2004). Moreover, in
many of the templates, the focus is to restore physical
attributes, control erosion, or stop pollution. It was
also seen that the templates lacked the consideration
of biotic components in them. Our experience sug-
gests that biodiversity can be used as an indicator to
judge the present state of the land and then design a
restoration strategy. Thus, our approach towards res-
toration starts with an assessment of physical condi-
tions and biotic components. This article describes the
templates and explains their use.
The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) USA,
an organization promoting ecological restoration, has
developed a set of guidelines for developing and
managing ecological restoration projects. The first edi-
tion discusses various terms used in restoration ecol-
ogy, importance of assessing reference ecosystems
and non-native species along with guidelines to set
restoration objectives and design planning (Science
and Policy Working Group , 2004). The second edition
focuses on planning and implementation tasks. SER
suggests preliminary tasks like appointment of a res-
toration practitioner and a team, documentation of
history of the site, establish reference ecosystem, de-
fining goals and liasoning with public agencies.
Implementation planning and tasks include descrip-
tion of each intervention, scheduling, marking bound-
aries, installing permanent fixtures followed by
post-implementation tasks for effective monitoring
and evaluation of the project (Clevell, Rieger, and
Munro, 2005). These guidelines seem to be useful in
technical planning of the project but do not provide
restoration activities.
Restoration potential analysis
Before undertaking any restoration program, it is
important to assess the restoration potential of the
area surrounding the selected site. This is because the
site is connected to a larger landscape through flows
of surface and ground water, exchange of nutrition,
seeds and through wind and water and movement of
fauna. The restoration potential analysis conducted in
the Panshet dam catchment in the NWG is discussed
ahead.
Restoration potential analysis for Panshet
catchment: A Case study
For undertaking an assessment of the restoration
potential, the following steps were taken.
1. A satellite image of the selected area was used to
examine the land use and assess the vegetation.
2. The identified land use and vegetation was di-
vided into classes and a map was prepared from
this.
3. To validate these classes and locations, ground
truthing was undertaken in sample areas.
4. The quality of the vegetation classes was decided
by the species composition and the occurrence of
endemic species or habitat specialist or locally
rare species. This established the level of degra-
dation and the potential for restoration in this
area.
Based on the above analysis, the restoration was
prioritized into four categories.
No Restoration Vegetation class Area %
Priority
1 Priority 1 Mature forest 2922.10 11
2 Priority 2 a.Dwarf canopy 10113.36 40
b.Scrub 6427.13 25
3 Priority 3 Open grasslands 3268.13 12
4 Priority 4 Human use 3027.16 12
Total 25757.88 100
The table shows priorities towards conservation
and restoration. Mature forests which have endemic
biodiversity are the first priority for conservation.
These include all sacred groves and some inaccessible
areas. If not fully protected, species within these areas
may get wiped out from the entire catchment.
The map shows that there are three major vegeta-
tion classes in the catchment. These classes are defined
on vegetation character indicating degrees of degra-
dation. There is a potential for restoration in vegeta-
tion class with the second priority. These are
degraded forests but can be improved relatively fast.
In the Panshet catchment, remnants of earlier forests
are still seen sporadically. Root stock in such areas
help in faster restoration than totally barren areas or
grasslands.
Grasslands being a totally different habitat than
forests, will take longer time to restore. Also are
assigned a lesser priority for restoration as forest
endemic species are already lost from these areas.
Finally, though it appears that land under human
use is minimal, there is substantial use of the land
around these areas for activities such as grazing, fuel
wood and shifting cultivation. Mature forest areas like
Sacred Groves are also threatened due to develop-
mental activities around them and human interven-
tions inside grove. Also, practices like lighting fires,
put severe stress on the landscape. Similarly, the
592016 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY
potential future threats of new settlements owned by
urban people like farm houses are visible in the map,
must be considered. Hill slopes are fenced, leveled
and plotted for modern development. All these land
classes can be restored by using restoration techniques
discussed below.
Restoration template
The entire Sahyadri has composition and landscape
similar to Panshet dam catchment, therefore we have
used this study as a canvas to propose restoration
template for entire region. Based on experimentation
carried out over the years, Ecological Society has
suggested restoration techniques which can be used to
restore this variedly degraded landscape. The concept
of nature restoration is now gaining popularity and its
benefits are tangible. Thus, the authors propose tem-
plates in this paper which can be used by various
stakeholders. These templates comprise restoration
techniques as illustrated further in a Table 1. How-
ever, the techniques need to change as per the starting
point or site specific conditions or current status of the
land under consideration.
These templates are designed using two ap-
proaches:
1. Pure conservation approach where efforts are
directed towards restoration of climax forest, for
the sole purpose of restoring natural resources,
biodiversity and ecosystem services. Refer Table
2. Various stakeholders like government depart-
ments like forest and irrigation departments, vil-
lage commons, private parties and others can
consider this approach. Government depart-
ments can implement this for land owned by the
forest department, lands considered for compen-
satory afforestation programmes or the land
which is going to be unused for next few decades.
Local farmers may not use this approach but
urban citizens owning farm house plots would
find this approach useful, since they are not
dependent on land for their livelihood. With this
approach, they can give back to nature. To a
certain extent, a part of village common land can
be restored with this approach considering long
term benefits and ecosystem services being of-
fered to future generations in terms of water or
fertility of soil, or pollinating services etc.
2. Integrated approach: Restoration to strengthen
natural resources to support livelihood of local
people. Refer Table 3. This approach is intended
FOREST AND RESTORATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PANSHET CATCHMENT
60 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2016
Table 1 : Steps in Restoration
No. Restoration Details
technique
1 Protection Total protection from cutting of vegetation, cattle and fire is the first step. The same can
be achieved with dry fence and live hedge. Identification and protection of safe sites.
2 Soil and Erosion-prone areas or slopes needs to be worked on with the help of local materials
moisture like stones and boulders to arrest soil and reduce water velocity.
conservation
3 Vegetation Protection to existing flora, stage wise natives plantation (initially hardy plants and
management then desired plants), removal of invasive non-natives etc.
4 Habitat Creation of rock piles, log piles, wetlands, plantation of larval host plants, shrub
creation clusters etc.
5 Plantation Selecting appropriate native plants as per the current status of the soil and land.
(Native plants)
6 Seed dispersal One of the easiest ways to introduce native plants and test regenerating capacity of
(Native plants) the soil.
* Photographs: oikos for Ecological Services
612016 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Table 2 : Conservation approach
Current status
of land Grasslands Scrub Shrubbery Dwarf Tall Mature
canopy canopy forest End point :
Semi-
Restoration 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 3, 5, 6 1, 5, 6 1, 5, 6 evergreen
techniques 5, 6 5, 6 Forest
Approximate 15 - 20 10 – 12 10 - 15 10 - 15 20 - 50
time frame (yrs)
* Please note: The time frame is based on observations of local people and team along with the restoration experiment
carried out by Ecological Society at Panshet catchment. It is subject to variation.
** Treatment to a special habitat in Sahyadri: ‘Rocky outcrop’ Habitat: Sahyadri have a special type of rocky habitats
shaped due to Lateritic outcrop or Basalt outcrop. Here, scarcity of soil and harsh physical conditions lead to formation of
vegetation community dominated by grasses and herbaceous flora along with habitat-specialist amphibians and reptiles
(Watve, 2010). These being very special ecosystems and host special endemic species. Therefore they must be protected
completely from any human interference. Considering the high degree of endemism in biodiversity, it is suggested to have no
intervention on this land class. Using the first technique in table 1, i.e. protection is recommended and plantations or using
other restoration techniques are not recommended in this habitat.
*** Special Sites : Existing patches of Protected Mature forests also should be excluded from any interference and be treated
as special sites. These may include sacred groves, inaccessible areas, rock fall areas, few government owned mature forest
patches etc. All such sites need just first technique i.e. protection as in table 1. But if at all any kind of interference or
degradation is seen, appropriate measures to be selected based on above template.
Table 3 : Integrated approach
Starting point
No. Restoration technique Grasslands Scrub Dwarf Canopy
Management for Management for
fodder fuel wood
1 Protection
2 Soil and moisture conservation
3 Vegetation management
4 Habitat creation
5 Plantation
End point : Livelihood support
*This approach does not include Tall or Mature Canopy forest patches as such patches have to be protected and conserved
as it is.
FOREST AND RESTORATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PANSHET CATCHMENT
62 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2016
Indicator Details Year wise data
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
ABiomass
Increase in biomass Dry and wet biomass of grasses
BOverall biodiversity
Increase in habitat Grassy areas : Shrub Clusters : Tree
diversity clusters : Instream habitats* : Wetlands
Index of diversity - Number (flora-fauna species) to be
June recorded from each habitat
Index of diversity - Number (flora-fauna species) to be
September recorded from each habitat
Improvement in Ratio of ‘Species indicating degradation :
biodiversity Species indicating improvement’
CSoil and moisture
conservation
Soil quantity arrested
Soil pH
Soil temperatures
Soil carbon
Water recharge capacity
Conductivity
Moisture monitoring Thrice a year
to address needs of local people living in these
mountains for generations and use the local re-
sources for their livelihood. When the population
was lower, resources were enough to suffice their
needs and they could survive without land man-
agement. But the increasing population, chang-
ing life style and resources depletion, there is an
immediate need for land management and nature
restoration, so that they can be used sustainably
in future. In this approach, the objective is to
improve landscape and maintain it in a better
condition so that communities will get benefits of
from the various ecosystem services and prod-
ucts.
In both the templates, operational techniques re-
main the same.
Restoration template for data monitoring useful for
Implementation
Measuring the key indicators mentioned below will
help track the path of the restoration effort. Often the
direction of restoration may be subject to nature’s
vagaries, local climatic effects, and impacts of human
interference. Monitoring these indicators will help in
judging the interventions needed to keep restoration
on the desired path.
Additional Tips for Ecological Restoration (Gole,
Restoration of Nature, 2007)
• When the work of ecological restoration begins on a
given area, total protection is the key factor and
local community awareness regarding this initia-
tive is also important.
• A detailed survey of the existing floral and faunal
species and its documentation is necessary. It is
useful as base line data during future stages of
restoration.
• Identification of reference sites like Sacred Grove or
mature forest patch nearby the project area will
help in understanding composition of climax stage
632016 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ecosystem and developing seed bank of native
plant species.
• Removal of any kind of pre-existing native vegeta-
tion is not advised. Whatever vegetation cover
exists is useful for conserving moisture as it adds
biomass and casts shade.
• When it comes to removal of non-natives, experts
should be involved.
• In the application of restoration techniques, if bio-
mass is externally added to the site - documenta-
tion of observations regarding species growing on
such area is necessary. It will help in deciding
repetition of such intervention.
• If possible, create small wetlands/ponds in the area
as it will add to the habitat diversity. It will help
improving the micro climate.
Indicator Details Year wise data
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
D Vegetation
Change in % of cover Ratio of No-vegetation : grass :
types shrub : tree
Revival of shrubs Average height and width of
monitored clumps
Natural regeneration Number and species of regenerated
saplings within quadrats
Increase in herbaceous Species and Status : Common,
flora Few, Rare
Change in Grass Composition of grasses, % area
community covered by each species
Overall plant list
Survival of saplings Lists along with numbers
during dry season and
their height.
E Habitat Improvement
Safe site development Safe sites for special plant,
Nesting of birds, Webs of spiders,
insect diversity and population etc. :
Lists of species and numbers
within quadrats
Improvement in Ambient Temp and humidity readings :
microclimate Open areas and Shady areas
Associations Plants : Plants
Flora : Fauna
e.g. Butterflies – Foodplants
Habitat interactions Habitat listing and observing
interactions within habitats.
e.g. wetland and nearby shrubbery
F Map of project land
* Instream habitats like pools, riffles, bars etc.
FOREST AND RESTORATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PANSHET CATCHMENT
64 JOURNAL OF ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2016
• One can plan to have habitat diversity in the given
area; e.g. Patch of scrub and grassland and clumps
of trees, etc. In case of wetlands, shallow sheet of
water, sand flats, islands, dykes can be considered.
This will help in increasing biodiversity.
• Documentation of special observations is necessary
to understand the trend of the restoration stages.
e.g. Excessive growth of certain herbs along the
path or hedges indicating disturbances to some
extent, occurrence of specialist species, flocks of
certain species of bugs and beetles.
Limitations of the template :
1. The templates proposed may not be enough for a
completely changed land use or degraded land-
scape like mining areas where hardly any mosaic
of habitat is retained. In such a case, simple
protection and creation of physical features may
not get quick results in revival of biodiversity.
Here active restoration techniques are recom-
mended, where use of external materials and
energy is involved. We recommend one impor-
tant active technique of addition of biomass to
the land so that soil processes can be initiated
along with other techniques mentioned in the
template like creation of ponds and introduction
aquatic plants etc.
2. The same strategy can be applied where grass-
lands stage is arrested due to edaphic factors.
Due to degradation, soil loss is so heavy that
rocks get exposed and so no biomass is available
as a raw material for restoration calling for active
restoration techniques.
Significance of restoration templates
The above restoration templates may help various
stakeholders like forest department, irrigation depart-
ment, or private land owners who own large land
parcels in Sahyadri. Often, these land parcels can be
ecologically improved, but are neglected due to lack
of awareness and knowledge of restoration tech-
niques. With the help of clear understanding of cur-
rent status and using these restoration templates, it is
possible to undertake planning and implementation
of restoration. However, we suggest involving experi-
enced ecologists for planning and execution.
These templates would be useful for large scale
restoration of fragmented landscapes which need to
be preserved for their ecosystem services. For ex-
ample, Sahyadri mountains are source regions for
many rivers supplying water to the Indian peninsula,
and therefore needs to be preserved for sustainable
use.
Institutes like World Resources Institute (WRI) and
Global Forest Watch (GFW) are working towards
restoration at landscape level. In the last few years,
several countries have been undertaking restoration
of deforested and degraded forest landscapes in their
own countries. The global Bonn Challenge, launched
in 2011, calls for the restoration of 150 million hectares
by 2020. As a response to this, WRI, International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the
University of Maryland created an Atlas of Forest
Landscape Restoration Opportunities. This is a coarse-
scale map of the potential forest restoration opportu-
nities globally.
Restoration is expected to create significant em-
ployment opportunities at local scale in tropical coun-
tries like India. Considering the paucity of
information and methodologies available for restora-
tion, the authors expect that the templates suggested
here would be of practical use. The authors acknowl-
edge the scope for improvement of these templates
and invite practitioners to use them and provide
feedback.
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