Estimation of forest biomass flow in the Montane mainland of the Uttarakhand Himalaya

Forests are the major source of timber, fuelwood, fodder, and food for the native people of the Himalayan region. Here, dependency of human population on the forest biomass for running their livelihood is tremendously high and it is a century old practice. Raising animals in the vast grasslands – temperate and alpine as well as collecting fodder through lopping fodder trees from the temperate forest, occupies the foremost place in the occupation and economy of the region. Forest biomass consumption varies from 13 kg/day/households (fuelwood) and 12 kg/day/household (fodder) in the lower elevation (1150 m) to 28 kg/day/household (Fuelwood) and 34 kg/day/household (fodder) in the higher elevation (1900 m). This paper examines the forest biomass-flow estimation in the montane mainland of the Uttarakhand Himalaya. Case study of eight villages of Kewer Gadhera Sub Watershed was carried out. Data were gathered through household level survey and participatory observation method and forest biomass estimation and withdrawal were calculated by conventional method. The study reveals that fodder and fuelwood withdrawal is a very common phenomenon in the study area and is a main livelihood option. Its consumption varies in different locations and seasons. It is also influenced by the aspect of slope. North-south facing slopes consumes more fuelwood than North-east facing slopes because due to variations in temperature.