Induchoodan N C
Ecological Studies of A Sacred Grove - Vellanikkara College of Forestry 1988
Sacred groves serve as unique examples of in situ genetic resource conservation through involvement of local people in the most economic and efficient manner. Ecological studies in Sacred Groves are practically nil and the present investigation, in such a fascinating field has brought out many interesting data for the first time.
The forests of Iringole Sacred grove, lying at 100 10’N Latitude and 760 30’ E longitude, within Perumbavoor Municipality can be considered as Southern tropical West coast Evergreen Forest (Low lying). The area is hot and humid with an annual precipitation exceeding 3000 mm. The dry season lasts from January to March.
The vegetation belongs to the typical Hopea ponga and Vateria indica association commonly encountered in southern half of the west coast of India.
Fifteen percent sample enumeration was conducted to study the physiognomy of the forests and to derive the nature of association within it. Twopercent regeneration survey was conducted to ascertain the status of regeneration of various species.
180 species of flowering plants belonging to 50 families are encountered at Iringole. The dominant arborescent family is Dipterocarpaceae. Ten percent of the flora shows endemism to West coast and low lying areas of the Western Ghats and nearly one third of the species are of medicinal importance.
There is a heavy concentration of Holigarna arnottiana, Myristica malabarica and Polyalthia frograns in the middle stratum. Hopea ponga and Vateria indica belonging to various girth classes are uniformly distributed in all the strata. Hopea parviflora is represented by overmature and senile trees. Potential species for the future generation are Artocarpus hirsutus, Mesua nagassarium and Strombosia ceylanica.
There appears to be no constraints for the regeneration of Artocarpus hiresutus, Polyalthia fragrans and Hopea ponga. Hopea parviflora rarely attains the sapling stage.
The life form at Iringole belongs to Raunkiaer’s “Phanerophytic – Liana complex”
The area is luxuriant in species richness (2310 individuals above 10 cm. gbh in one and a half hectare) but porr in species diversity.
The soils are poor in organic carbon, high in exchange acidity and low in exchangeable bases, but the forest is able to sustain, expand and progress towards the climax because of adequate protection offered by local people.
Thus our traditional society deserves special respect for the wise stewardship of such areas which we now seek to protect.
634.9 / IND/EC
Ecological Studies of A Sacred Grove - Vellanikkara College of Forestry 1988
Sacred groves serve as unique examples of in situ genetic resource conservation through involvement of local people in the most economic and efficient manner. Ecological studies in Sacred Groves are practically nil and the present investigation, in such a fascinating field has brought out many interesting data for the first time.
The forests of Iringole Sacred grove, lying at 100 10’N Latitude and 760 30’ E longitude, within Perumbavoor Municipality can be considered as Southern tropical West coast Evergreen Forest (Low lying). The area is hot and humid with an annual precipitation exceeding 3000 mm. The dry season lasts from January to March.
The vegetation belongs to the typical Hopea ponga and Vateria indica association commonly encountered in southern half of the west coast of India.
Fifteen percent sample enumeration was conducted to study the physiognomy of the forests and to derive the nature of association within it. Twopercent regeneration survey was conducted to ascertain the status of regeneration of various species.
180 species of flowering plants belonging to 50 families are encountered at Iringole. The dominant arborescent family is Dipterocarpaceae. Ten percent of the flora shows endemism to West coast and low lying areas of the Western Ghats and nearly one third of the species are of medicinal importance.
There is a heavy concentration of Holigarna arnottiana, Myristica malabarica and Polyalthia frograns in the middle stratum. Hopea ponga and Vateria indica belonging to various girth classes are uniformly distributed in all the strata. Hopea parviflora is represented by overmature and senile trees. Potential species for the future generation are Artocarpus hirsutus, Mesua nagassarium and Strombosia ceylanica.
There appears to be no constraints for the regeneration of Artocarpus hiresutus, Polyalthia fragrans and Hopea ponga. Hopea parviflora rarely attains the sapling stage.
The life form at Iringole belongs to Raunkiaer’s “Phanerophytic – Liana complex”
The area is luxuriant in species richness (2310 individuals above 10 cm. gbh in one and a half hectare) but porr in species diversity.
The soils are poor in organic carbon, high in exchange acidity and low in exchangeable bases, but the forest is able to sustain, expand and progress towards the climax because of adequate protection offered by local people.
Thus our traditional society deserves special respect for the wise stewardship of such areas which we now seek to protect.
634.9 / IND/EC