Quantification and Consumption Pattern of Fuel Wood in Mornaula Reserve Forest in Kumaun, Indian Himalaya: Implication for Sustainability and Conservation

Abstract

Present study provides information on biomass utilization, fuel wood species diversity, their regeneration status, and impact of fuel wood harvesting in Mornaula Reserve Forest (MRF) in Kumaun, India. A total of 34 plant species (32 trees and 2 shrubs) were collected by the inhabitants for fuel, belonging to 22 families, dominated by Rosaceae (04 species) followed by Pinaceae and Lauraceae (02 each). Distribution of plant species ranges from1500-2200 in a wide range of habitats, forests being the most preferred one. High preference and Resource Use Index of Quercus leucotrichophora, Quercus floribunda , and Rhododendron arboreum, Pinus roxburghii, Myrica esculenta, Symplocos chinensis, and Cedrus deodara as fuel indicated high pressure on these species. The continuous exploitation of these species from the MRF may lead to rapid deletion of their population. Therefore, adequate conservation measures have to be taken to maintain the current status of the habitats, species and communities for the effective management of the MRF. Awareness among the villagers needs to be created for the resource utilization techniques, so that sustainable utilization of the species could be done by the villagers. Further, the degraded forests may be re-established through plantations of the seedlings of the preferred fuel wood species with the participation of local inhabitants.