Abstract

The present study on monitoring and evaluation of ecological and socio-economic variables is a continuation of the earlier one on Biodiversity in Tropical Moist Forests: A Study of sustainable use of non-wood forest products in the Western Ghats, Kerala. This was carried out in Wayanad and Nilambur forests areas during the period April to December 1998, with the aim to monitor, evaluate and update data on ecological and socio-economic variables which have been collected during the first phase of thestudy. In addition, an attempt was also made to examine diversity, distribution and biomass production patterns of selected Non-wood Forest Product(NWFP) species in Wayanad Forest Division. Wayanad, the natural forests cover an area of about 243 km2. In these forest, Asparagus racemosus, Costus speciosus, Curcuma aromatica, Desmodium velutinum, Dioscorea pentaphylla, Hemidesmus indicus, Phyllanthus amarus, Pseudarthria viscida, Sida rhombifolia, Solanum indicum and solanum viarum are some of the important NWFPs being collected by the tribal people during the August-December every year. These species were studied for their density, distribution snd biomass production patterns. Among the species studied, sida rhombifolia showed highest density followed by costus speciosus. However, standing biomass of useful parts was highest in the case of Costus speciosus followed by Asparagus racemosus The study also indicated that Wayanad harbours a biomass worth of about Rs. 49, 32, 633 in respect of the above 11 NWFP species. There are differences in the distribution and quantity of biomass of useful part/s of any given NWFP species among the four Forest Ranges in Wayanad. Most of the NWFPs, having medicinal properties, are consumed by the pharmaceutical companies and other traditional users. Based on their demand, nine medicical plants such as Adhatoda zeylanica Aegle marmelos, Holostemma ada-kodien, Rauvofia serpentina Saraca asoca, Coscinium fenestratum, Kingiodendrom pinnatum, Symplocos cochinchinensis and Trichosanthes cucumerina were selected for propogation and enrichment planting in the study areas. Attempts were made to propagate these medicinal plants on large scale and results indicated that selected species can be propagated using simple methods. Anattempt was also made to update the data relating to socio-economic aspects of collection, marketing and living conditions of selected tribes collected during the first phase of the study. The analysis showed a significant increase in the quatity of NWFPs collected during the period 1982-83 to 1997-98 with variations in different years. Further, the collection charges received by the gatherers of NWFPs and sale value realised by the authorised marketing agency of the products, viz. Kerala State Scheduled Caste and Sheduled Tribe Development Co-operative Federation Ltd(an apex body of Tribal service Co-operative Societies in Kerala) also showed an increasing trend. However, because of inflation, the increase in the collection charges of the gatherers has not brought about a corresponding increase in their real income. The socio-economic condition of the selected tribes during the study period did not change much from that of recorded earlier