Regeneration of indigenous Shola species under exotic pine plantations in the Palni Hills, South India

Diploma Thesis , 2011 , 65 Pages , Grade: 2,0

Forestry / Forestry Economics

The Palani Hills or “Palni Hills” are situated in the western part of the state Tamil Nadu, South India (district Dindigul). The Palani Hills, (10˚5’ - 10˚25’ N and 77˚15’ - 77˚50,E) are an eastward spur of the Western Ghats of India with a maximum (east to west) length of 65 km, a maximum width of 40 km (mean width 24 km) and a total area of 2068 km² (cf. Matthew,1999).

The function of the Palni Hills as a critical water shade respectively as a catchment area and origin area of numerous streams is – ecological and economical - important for the whole population of Tamil Nadu, especially for the inhabitants of the planes.
For several years now efforts have been made to “reserve forest land” (these forests are already among the protected areas of Tamil Nadu) to “Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park” as their upgrade will increase their IUCN status from level VI - Protected Area with Sustainable Use of Natural Resources to IV - Habitat/Species Management Area or II - National Park and improve the habitat and wildlife conservation of this area.
IAN LOCKWOOD published 2003 in the Indian magazine “FRONTLINE“: “In the early 1990s, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department submitted a proposal to the State government to protect much of the Palni Hills by declaring the area a wildlife sanctuary or a national park. The proposal was the result of a remarkable collaborative effort by the State Forest Department, the Palni Hills Conservation Council (PHCC) and several concerned individuals. Ten years later, the area still awaits the notification in this regard. In the meantime, mounting pressure on the habitat from encroachment and increased tourist inflow has taken its toll on the hills.”

Until today (2011) these efforts failed.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction.
• 1.1 Eco regions and forest biomes of India
• 1.2 The studied area
• 1.2.1 Geographical situation
• 1.2.2 Climatic conditions
• 1.2.3 Geology and soils.
• 1.2.4 Native vegetation of the Upper Palnis (1700 – 2500m).
• 1.3 Exotic plantations in the Palni Hills
• 1.3.1 History of exotic plantations.
• 1.3.2 Use of plantations nowadays.
• 1.4. Problem definition and objectives.....
• 2. Methods and Materials.
• 2.1 Strategy of outdoor assessments
• 2.1.1 Selection criteria for plantations
• 2.1.2 Number, size and spatial distribution of vegetation plots ..
• 2.1.3 Plot design..
• 2.2 Procedure of outdoor assessments..
• 2.2.1 Exploration of plantations
• 2.2.2 Assessment of general parameters of the plantations......
• 2.2.3 Assessment of location parameters per plot..........\li>
• 2.2.4 Assessment of main stand
• 2.2.5 Assessment of Shola regeneration........
• 2.2.6 Assessment of ground vegetation......
• 2.3 Statistical analysis
• 3. Results
• 3.1 Main stands
• 3.1.1 Composition of species and stock structure ....
• 3.1.2 Number of trees, standing supply and base area per ha
• 3.1.3 Deadwood, damages and human influence
• 3.1.4 Crown density and crown cover percentage
• 3.1.5 Regeneration of main stand species
• 3.2 Ground vegetation.
• 3.2.1Assemblage of species
• 3.2.2 Dominant species.
• 3.2.3 Competition situation
• 3.3 Shola regeneration........
• 3.3.1 Composition of species
• 3.3.2 Population density: number of individuals…………………..\li>
• 3.3.3 Distance to the nearest Shola as potential seed source..\li>
• 3.3.4 Browsing rate and herbivores..\li>
• 3.3.5 Other damages...\li>
• 3.3.6 Vitality: Sprout heights and diameters.
• 3.3.7 Special locations..\li>
• 3.3.8 Altitude, fall of ground and exposition
• 3.3.9 Spatial dispersion
• 4. Discussion.
• 4.1. Appraisal of competition.
• 4.2 Appraisal of browsing ......
• 4.3 Shola as a potential seed source.
• 4.4 Possible silvicultural measures.
• 5. Summary
• (1) What is the current situation of shola regeneration in reference to condition and species assemblage?.
• (2) How is the competitive situation and what influence does the intraspecific ground vegetation have on the regeneration?.
• (3) Which other location factors have a verifiable influence on species assemblage and abundance of the regeneration?..\li>
• (4) What effect do wild herbivores like the Indian Bison have on the regeneration?.
• (5) Is a successful natural establishment of shola species within the plantation expectable in future?..\li>

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation investigates the regeneration of indigenous Shola species under exotic pine plantations in the Palni Hills, South India. The study aims to assess the current situation of Shola regeneration, analyze the competitive situation and the influence of ground vegetation, identify other location factors impacting species assemblage, and evaluate the effect of herbivores on regeneration.

• Shola regeneration under exotic pine plantations
• Competitive situation and influence of ground vegetation
• Location factors impacting species assemblage and abundance
• Effect of herbivores on regeneration
• Potential for successful natural establishment of Shola species

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the study area, outlining the ecological context of the Palni Hills in South India. It discusses the history and current use of exotic plantations, and defines the problem and objectives of the research.
• Chapter 2 details the methods and materials used in the study, including the strategy for outdoor assessments, the selection criteria for plantations, and the design and procedure for vegetation plot analysis.
• Chapter 3 presents the results of the study, focusing on the composition and structure of the main stands, the assemblage and dominance of ground vegetation, and the composition, density, and spatial distribution of Shola regeneration.
• Chapter 4 discusses the findings of the study, analyzing the competition situation, the impact of browsing on regeneration, the potential of Shola as a seed source, and possible silvicultural measures to promote Shola regeneration.
• Chapter 5 provides a summary of the key findings and conclusions of the study, addressing the research objectives and highlighting the implications for conservation and management of Shola ecosystems in the Palni Hills.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The dissertation focuses on the regeneration of indigenous Shola species under exotic pine plantations, exploring the competitive situation, the influence of ground vegetation, and the impact of herbivores. The study investigates the potential for successful natural establishment of Shola species within the plantation context, contributing to the understanding of ecological dynamics and conservation strategies in this unique and valuable ecosystem. Key terms include Shola regeneration, exotic pine plantations, competition, ground vegetation, herbivores, seed source, silviculture, Palni Hills, South India.

• College: University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan
• Course: Forstwirtschaft
• Grade: 2,0
• Author: Birgit Einhellinger (Author)
• Publication Year: 2011
• Pages: 65
• Catalog Number: V323192
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668238749
• ISBN (Book): 9783668238756
• Language: English
• Tags: Regeneration, South India, Forestry, Plantations, Palani Hills, Pine, Shola, Natural Regeneration, Western Ghats