More at http://www.sanctuaryasia.com |In the Field
Oblivious to the photographer’s presence, a yellow-throated marten (top) casually trots across
the road. Equally adventurous is this local woman climbing up a tree at the edge of a cliff to
collect fi rewood (above). Excessive extractive activities has left large patches of the oak forest
bare as seen in the observable lack (top left) of canopy.blooms. Spring and summer are a time
of plenty with insects emerging from
hibernation and a number of shrubs
beginning to fl ower and fruit. Kaafal
Myrica esculenta, a tall shrub, is one such.
Its sour, raspberry-like red berries are
a favourite of the Wedge-tailed Green
Pigeon, Slaty-headed Parakeet, Great
Barbet, and other frugivores.
I must confess I stole some fruits
from the birds too!
BIODIVERSITY AT RISK
Our study suggested that excessive
extraction negatively impacts the
forest structure resulting in loss of
bird diversity. Insectivores and forest
specialists like the Rufous-bellied Niltava,
Maroon Oriole and the Rufous-bellied
Woodpecker were identifi ed as vulnerable
guilds (see box on page 72). Expectedly,
dense canopy cover was found to be
especially vital to species diversity.
Excessive lopping served to open up the
canopy signifi cantly to the detriment
of avians. However, generalists such as
the Black-headed Jay and the Streaked
Laughingthrush, seemed relatively
unaff ected by such degradation.
One way to protect vulnerable guilds
would be to reduce or control extraction
of forest resources so as to maintain
the complex structure of oak forests.
However, the lack of viable alternatives
to forest-based products makes this
easier said than done. Local communities
in parts of Uttarakhand have started
earning decent livelihoods from bird
tourism by setting up homestays or by
turning guides to their own ‘backyards’.
This is a welcome process, which
reduces their dependence on extractive
forest products, while incentivising
the protection of wildernesses.
While in Kumaon, I was delighted to
meet youngsters who had picked up
impressive bird-identifi cation skills and
are now sought after by groups of
birdwatchers and photographers. These
are very encouraging trends, but not
enough is being done to boost
such livelihoods.
Forest extraction is just one of
many problems faced by this landscape.
Over the last 15 years, the region has
undergone massive land use change.
Rapid urbanisation, construction of
roads and insensitive tourism hastenthe degradation process. Locals are also
abandoning or selling off agricultural
lands that serve as important habitats
for migratory birds. Conversion into
hotels and holiday homes adds to the
pressure on already-scarce resources
including groundwater and fi rewood.
More focussed studies would help us
understand and mitigate the impact of
such rapid developments on the fl ora
and fauna of India’s temperate forests.
With climate change making rapid
advances, there are probably fewer
national priorities the nation could
identify than to create livelihoods for
a hard-pressed people by engaging
them in the restoration of their own
ancestral lands. ƒTARUN MENON TARUN MENONTARUN MENON