(Shorea robusta); Haldu (Adina cordifolia); Sisham (Dalbergia sissoo); Khair ( .... Medicinal plants, essential oils, waxes, starches, gums, dyes, bamboo, cane,.
Reprinted from Garhwal Himalaya: Nature, Culture & Society; Editors: O.P. Kandari & O.P. Gusain Published by TransMedia, Srinagar-Garhwal, Uttaranchal (India), January 2001, ISBN 81-900807-4-1
5 Forest and Forestry Status, Constraints & Scope
Forest Heritage
Classification of Forests
Forest Products
Forest Policy
Development Programmes
Forestry Research in UPHills
Constraints & Conflicts
D S Chauhan, B P Bhatt, A K Negi and N P Todaria
Forest and Forestry
95
ORESTS HAD AND WILL ever playa detennining role in the development of human civilization. Indispensable source of food, fodder, fuel, fibre, frolic and shelter, these green sentinels are not only vital for maintaining the ecological health of the earth, but are equally important for steadily supporting the socio-economic and even cultural progress of the mankind. They paved way for the evolution of cultural institutions in the yore, while now serve as a perennial source of inspiration, solitude and effective means of releasing stress and strains of modern society (Saxena et al., 1993; Myers, 1996). Forests have had all the more pivotal role in then Himalaya where the economic structure and social organisations are built around the primary relationship with the natural resources (Negi et al., 1997).
F
Talking historically, Garhwal Himalaya had a healthy tradition ofhannonious relationship between people and their rich forest heritage. To quote Walton (1911 a), 'the most productive cultivation in the mountains was found in villages between 1,000 and 1,500m that had access, on the one hand, to good forest and grazing ground and, on the other, to riparian valley fields. Villages were usoolly situated halfway up a spur, below oak forestfi and perennial springs, and below.and above cultivated fields along a river course' . .Animal husbandry, in addition to grain cultivation, was important feature of the hill economy. The people and their cattle migrated annually to the rich grasslands withillthe forests, from tropical to temperate and alpine regions. Temporary cattle sheds wefe constructed there and the potato (introduced in the post-British era) and buckwheat;were cultivated. Sheep and goats were reared above tree line until the first snowfall. In permanent hamlets, oak forests provided both fodder and fertilizer. Green and dry leaves were molded for manure and, thus, the forest enhanced the fertility of the agriculture fierds, directly through its foliage and indirectly through the dung of cattle fed with fodder leaves and forest grass. Broad leaved trees also provided the villagers with fuel and sm
