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Showing posts from December, 2014

Similipal Biosphere Reserve, and Tribal communities: treasure of traditional knowledge from the writing of Sanjeet Kumar

The concepts of Biosphere reserve was initiated by the UNESCO ( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1970 as a global measure to promote in situ conservation of biological resources human welfare and sustainable development. Representative areas of natural and cultural landscapes, extending over terrestrial and coastal / marine ecosystems, with appropriate zoning pattern, resource base and management mechanisms have been designated as Biosphere Reserve. This approach is an effective mean of protecting the landscape along with its biodiversity. So far, 15 Biosphere Reserve have been established in India across different bio-geographical regions. Similipal in Odisha was notified as the 8 th Biosphere Reserve in June 1994, as the representative ecosystem under the Eastern Ghats. Similipal Biosphere Reserve has a unique assemblage of a number of ecosystems, such as mountains, forests, grasslands and wetlands that congregate into a contiguous patch wit

Dioscorea species : Important non timber forest products (NTFPs)

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Dioscorea species : Important non timber forest products (NTFPs) among the aboriginals of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, India. They use them as famine food and as therapeutic medicine against different microbial infections and other diseases & disorders. Non-timber forest products ( NTFPs ), also special, non-wood, minor, alternative and secondary forest products, are useful substances, materials and/or commodities obtained from forests which do not require harvesting (logging) trees . They include game animals , fur-bearers , nuts , seeds , berries , mushrooms , oils , foliage , medicinal plants , peat , fuelwood . Research on NTFPs have focused on their commodifiability for rural incomes and markets, as an expression of traditional knowledge or as a livelihood option for rural household needs, and, as a key component of sustainable forest management and conservation strategies. All research promote forest products as valuable commodities and tools that can promote