Eurasian Journal of Forest Science

1-7

Authors: Raj Shekar Singh*1, Ranjeet.Kumar Singh1 and Surjit Bera1

Mining is known to demolish adjacent natural ecosystem all over world with generating massive volumes of wastes dumped resulting in damage to the natural ecosystem, reducing herbaceous ground cover and wildlife. Hinustan Copper Mines (HCM) is the Asia’s largest open cast copper mines and produces 70 % copper for the Indian market. The study was carried out at buffer zone of HCM in 31 forest sites of Birsha-Damoh forest range area of Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh in India. The herbaceous ground cover (HGC) was estimated by line transect method. Results indicated that the total average herbaceous ground cover ranged from 11.2 - 77.44%, indicating least wildlife movement at site 14 and maximum at site 29. The dominant herbaceous plants were Cynodon dactylon followed by Lantana camara, Thysanolaena maxima covering across most of the sites. The rest of the herbaceous species were Vallaris heyne, Achyranthes aspera, Eragrostis tenella, Waltheria indica and Ocimum Gratissimum, found as casual constituents of the community. The maximum number (7) of wild animals presence in a day was observed at Cynodon dactylon and Thysanolena maxima dominated sites and minimum number (1) was observed at Lantana camera dominated forest sites.

13-28

Authors: Laxmi Goparaju1, Firoz Ahmad1 and Debadityo Sinha1*

The tropical dry deciduous forests of Mirzapur district in Uttar Pradesh (state) in India are facing severe threat from agricultural expansion, increased urbanization, infrastructure development and unsustainable use of forest produce. As a result the forests are now fragmented and wildlife habitat is vanishing. Dwindling numbers of wild animal species has become a cause of concern. The present study has analyzed satellite remote sensing data of Landsat OLI (2013) in conjunction with GIS and support of GPS to identify suitable habitat for wild animals. Various thematic maps like land use/land cover, forest cover type, lakes, roads and slope data were prepared in support of the objective of the paper. The weighted overlay method was used for integration of the thematic layers for identification of potential habitat and corridors for wild life movement. Most suitable (2.54%), moderately suitable (12.0%) and least suitable (16.20%) areas were delineated and represented in a map. Highly suitable habitat was found at Dadri and Kotwa forest. Moderately suitable habitat was found in Darhi Ram forests. Least suitable areas were found in the outer fringes of Kotwa, Dadri, Darhi Ram and Sarson forests. Such data is the pre requisite for wildlife conservation effort.

48-56

Authors: Ernaz Altundağ Çakır1*

Geophytes are the most preferred group among the ornamental plants due to their aesthetic features, suitability to be cut flowers and their fragrance. The aim of the research is to identify geophyte taxa, their risk categories and economic potentialities as ornamental plants in Iğdır province. Plant specimens were collected from Iğdır province between 2007 and 2012 vegetation seasons. The collected plant specimens were kept in ISTE (the herbarium of the Istanbul University, Faculty of Pharmacy). As a result of this study, 52 geophytic taxa belonging to 12 families are determined from the investigation area. 4 taxa are endemic (Allium armenum, A. baytopiorum, Bellevalia gracilis and Pseudomuscari forniculatum) to Turkey. According to floristic regions, 32 Irano-Turanian elements are ranked first, followed by 6 Mediterranean elements and 4 Euro-Siberian elements. 10 of the identified species are widespread or unknown phytogeographic origin. The most richest families are Asparagaceae (14 taxa), Amaryllidaceae (9 taxa), Liliaceae (9 taxa), Iridaceae (5 taxa), Asteraceae (3 taxa), Orchidaceae (3 taxa). Of all the collected taxa, 61% were bulbous, 17% were rhizomatous, 10% were tuberous, 8% were tuberous roots and 4% were cormous. Owing to the attractive flowers, 43 taxa were signed as ornamental plant potentialities.