giant tree project summary vanzole village, … · the giant tree project is initiated in vanzole,...

** TEAM MEMBERS **

Namdev Shivgan, Local Volunteer

Anant Shivgan, Local Volunteer

Sachin Parshram, Field Assistant

Omkar Pai, Junior Field Researcher

Swaroopa Damle, Intern

GIANT TREE PROJECT

SUMMARY

VANZOLE VILLAGE, SANGAMESHWAR, RATNAGIRI May 2019-July 2019

Giant trees of Vanzole AERF Global Giving

INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION

2. OBJECTIVE

3. SUMMARY

4. RESULT

5. GIANT TREES IN VANZOLE : ANALYSIS

6. CONCLUSION

7. APPENDIX 1 : CHECKLIST OF GIANT TREES

8. APPENDIX 2 : DISTIBUTION OF GIANT TREES IN VANZOLE VILLAGE


GIANT TREE PROJECT

SUMMARY

Vanzole Village, Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri.

INTRODUCTION

Giant Trees or Old Growth Trees are an important part of ecology as well as religious beliefs of various indigenous communities. Many of the giant trees have therefore been saved by communities and worshipped as a part of age old traditions.

Ecologically one of the most important roles the giant trees play is carbon sequestration and storage of carbon stock. In many species, one giant tree stores more amount of carbon than medium of small size trees that are more in population. They are also major source of food for various fauna and significantly, they host a number fauna and epiphytic plants. A number of arboreal species throughout the world are completely dependent on trees or giant trees for their survival. Giant trees especially become important for the survival of fauna such as Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Civets, Hornbills and various other arboreal animals. Top canopy and mid canopy of the giant tree forms the niche of these species.

Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) a flagship species in one of the biodiversity hotspots that is the Western Ghats, make their nests in the naturally formed hollows or cavities in the old growth trees or Giant Trees. Other species of Hornbills viz. Malabar Pied Hornbill; Indian Grey Hornbill and Malabar Grey Hornbill also use the giant trees for nesting. Where the female lays eggs, nurtures the hatchlings and undergoes moulting in a span of nearly 15 weeks. While male forages for food and collects fruits for the female and the hatchlings. This cycle is repeated once in a year between February and May. The monogamous pair of hornbills tries to choose the same tree every year if possible. Besides hornbills, some other birds such as the crested hawk eagle choose to build their nest high up in the canopy of giant trees. Therefore, Giant trees become a critical part in the ecology of hornbills, eagles and various birds, which roost in the canopy.

Survival of these species is further important to maintain the ecological balance. Hornbills and various other frugivorous birds carry out the dispersal of seeds of their food plants. They are responsible for distribution of various species of plants such as Beilschmiedia dalzellii, Ixora brachiata, Caryota urens, Strychnos nux-vomica and many other species of food plants.

Study of giant trees and their ecology, distribution and number of species of fauna that, they host is therefore useful to get an insight of the on ground situation and planning of conservation strategies.

Also the relation of giant trees with humans has been an important reason for the conservation of the trees. Many of the giant trees found the in the Northern Western Ghats are saved by the communities around it for religious purpose or many giant trees are a part of biodiversity of Sacred Groves, which is conserved by communities as a forest reserved in the name of god that they worship. Therefore it is also important to understand, communities perception about giant trees and its importance. This will help to create a scope for involvement of the locals in the on ground conservation strategies.


The giant tree project is initiated in Vanzole, a village in the Northern Western Ghats where the communities have traditionally protected and conserved 4 sacred groves and number of individual giant trees in and around the human vicinity. Vanzole Village is divided into three parts, Vanzole, Vanzole Khurd, and Vanzole Budhruk for administration purpose. The giant project plan is to study giant trees of all the three parts of the village.

This projects aims towards creating database of at giant trees and studying its ecology by documenting the relationship of the giant trees with other species of flora and fauna.

OBJECTIVE

Following are the objectives of the project to study the relationship of the giant trees with other species flora and

fauna

Distribution and Dynamics (Girth at Breast Height, Height and Canopy) of Giant Tree Species with respect to Human Vicinity and Forest.

Status of regeneration of tree species in relation to giant trees to find dominance of food plant species.

Documentation of Bird species that visit the giant trees.

Mapping of Giant Trees in Vanzole Village.

Finding out social importance of giant trees and its impact on ecology.


SUMMARY

Methods and Findings

Data Collection: Data Collection is started with documenting data from human vicinity first and then in the sacred groves and private forest land.

First Phase of Data collection process is focused on : 1) Documentation of GBH, Height and Canopy of Giant Trees

2) Marking the Giant Trees on GPS for mapping

3) Counting of regeneration within radius of 10 meters

Second Phase of Data collection process is focused on : 1) Sampling for bird survey: considering total documented giant trees as 100% Population. The population will

be divided into categories such as Giant Trees in Human Vicinity and Forest.

The same categorization of data is followed for analysis of the data

2) Sample size of 5 trees from each category will be considered for the bird survey to compare bird species that visit the giant trees in forest and human vicinity.

CURRENT STATUS: Field Work is carried out for approximately two months for data collection. Data has been collected from Human Vicinity and Sacred Groves. Process of Data collection is going on currently from Sacred Grove. The target is to complete the data collection process in 10 more days.

RESULTS Following are the outcomes of the data collected till date:

1) 80 Giant Trees ranging between GBH of 1 meter to 6 meters have been documented and mapped.

(Please refer Appendix 01 for the list of giant trees and GBH, Height and Canopy)

2) 40 Giant Trees are marked from Human Vicinity and Private Forest and Agricultural Land and 40 Giant Trees are marked from 4 Sacred Groves.

(Please refer Appendix 02 for the distribution of trees)

3) Maximum giant trees of Mango (Mangifera indica) i.e. 16 and Fanas (Artocarpus heterophyllus) i.e. 11 are found in human vicinity.

4) Maximum giant trees of Beheda (Terminalia bellirica) i.e. 13 and Jamun (Sizzygium cumini) i.e. 6 are found in Sacred Groves.

5) Maximum regeneration of Bherlimaad (Caryota urens) and Makdi (Atlantia racemosa) was found in Sacred Groves

6) Largest tree: Payer (Ficus amplissima) located in human vicinity has GBH of 612cm.


7) 4 Sacred Groves Studied for Giant Trees documentation :

SACRED GROVE OF BUDDHIST COMMUNITY The first sacred grove studied, was the one of the Buddhist community. It is the smallest sacred grove out of the four. It spreads over an area of 0.57 acres. 6 Giant Trees are documented from the sacred grove. One giant tree of Mango out of 6 is found to be significantly tall with GBH of 561cm Height 72ft and Canopy 15m. It is surrounded by grassland.

Species of Giant Trees Count

Amba (Mangifera indica) 1

Nanya (Lagerstroemia microcarpa) 3

Jamun (Syzygium cumini) 1

Pyre (Ficus amplissimia) 1

Total 6


Map 01 : Sacred Grove of Buddhisht Community

SACRED GROVE OF GODDESS JUGAI

Sacred grove of goddess Jugai stands amidst human vicinity. Area of the sacred grove is 0.90 acres. The sacred grove has majorly lost all the under canopy vegetation. However, the community has saved and conserved old growth / giant trees. 10 individuals of giant trees are documented from this sacred grove. Beheda is the dominant species. Significantly dense under canopy vegetation and regeneration was observed only under one tree of Beheda (Terminalia chebula), Jamun (Syzygium cumini) and Mango (Mangifera indica).


Jamun (Syzygium cumini) 1

Beheda (Terminalia bellerica) 7

Saag (Tectona grandis) 1


Total 10


Map 02 : Sacred Grove of Jugai Devi

SACRED GROVE OF GODDESS DHANIN

Sacred Grove of goddess Dhanin is located along a stream. It therefore has riparian diversity on the edge of the grove. The temple of goddess Dhanin has old construction with pillars and frame of roof made of logs of wood. The temple is demarked with a wall made of stones. Therefore, this sacred grove has age old appearance with traditional construction.

Area of the sacred grove is 1.42 acres. 11 individual giant trees are documented from this sacred grove. One individual of Mango tree is found with maximum GBH of 2.58m height 72ft and canopy 13.5m.

Species of Giant Trees Count Jamun

(Syzygium cumini) 3

Bakul (Elagnus conferta) 1

Kumbha (Careya arborea) 1



Kajra (Strychnos nux-vomica) 2

Aatkin (Flacourtia Montana) 1

Total 11


Map 03 : Sacred Grove of Dhanin Devi

KEDARLING SACRED GROVE Sacred Grove of god Kedarling is the biggest of the four sacred groves. Area of the sacred grove is 3.62 acres. Maximum giant trees are documented from this sacred grove. Beheda is the dominant species. Maximum GBH of Beheda tree i.e. 297cm height 70ft and canopy 8m is documented from this sacred grove.



Katesavar (Bombax ceiba) 2

Aatkin (Flacourtia Montana) 2

Katekumbal (Xantolis tomemtosa) 1

Karambel (Dillenia pentagyna) 1

Pyre (Ficus amplissimia) 1

UNID 2

Total 13


Map 03 : Sacred Grove of Dhanin Devi

Giant Trees in Vanzole Village

1. Analysis of Giant Tree Data with respect to size

• Maximum giant trees i.e. 40 individuals are documented in the range of 2 meters to 4 meters

• 31 Individuals are documented within the range if 0-2 meters • Only 9 individuals are documented within the range of

4meters to 6 meters Graph 01 : Number of individuals of giant trees with respect to size

2. Analysis of distribution of giant tree species and number of individuals

• Maximum species diversity i.e. 13 Species and 40 individual trees are documented from Sacred Grove

• 7 species and 28 individuals are documented from Human Vicinity

• Only 4 species and 12 individuals are documented from Private forest and agricultural land. (However Private forest land is comparatively less explored than Sacred Groves data will be collected during in the on-going process).

Graph 02 : Distribution of Giant Trees with respect to Human Vicinty, Private Forest/Agricultutre

Size No. of Individuals

0-2m 31

2m - 4m 40

4m-6m 9

Habitat No. of Individuals

Species Diversit

y Saced Grove 40 13

Human Vicinity 28 7

Private Forest / Agriculture Land /

Streams 12 4


Land and Sacred Groves

CONCLUSION

A baseline data of 80 giant trees is created with GBH, Height and Canopy of each individual tree. Gaint trees were documented from Private forest land, sacred groves as well as human vicinity. However, species distribution majorly varied between Human vicinity and sacred grove. Atkin (Falcourtia Montana), Kajra (Strychnos nux-vomica), Karbel (Dillenia pentagyna), Bakul (Elagnus conferta), Katekumbal (Xantolis tomentosa) are some of the species documented from sacred grove only. Whereas, Mango (Mangifera indica), Jackfruit (Artocarpus hetereophyllus), Beheda (Terminalia bellirica) are species majorly found in Human vicinity. Phanas (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is commonly documented in human vicinity and private forest land. Beheda (Terminalia bellirica) is commonly documented in Human Vicinity and Sacred Grove. Mango (Mangifera indica), Payar (Ficus amplissima) are commonly documented in all the three environments.

The analysis and results shows the distribution of species with respect different environment. This difference in distribution is majorly influenced by human intervention. Therefore, this study gives an insight of relationship between community and giant tree species. The giant trees are saved and conserved for various reasons. Giant Trees in sacred grove are conserved because of the religious beliefs of the community it is a patch of forest reserved in the name of the local deity. However, in sacred grove of goddess Jugai , there are only giant trees with minimum or no under canopy vegetation. Giant trees conserved in the human vicinity are majorly the species whose fruits are consumed by humans. This shows the reason for the studied pattern in distribution of giant trees.

The study and analysis of baseline data and distribution of Giant Trees is carried to lay the foundation for planning further strategies of conservation. The continuous change in trend and lifestyle of communities in the northern Western Ghats may impose a threat on the current status of giant trees due to changes preferences of individuals. It is therefore important to take steps towards encouraging the community towards continuing the conservation of giant trees in the traditional way as they have been doing.

This study further aims to analyse data of birds that visit the giant trees and regenerations around the giant trees. This will give an insight of ecology of the giant trees.


APPENDIX 1

CHECKLIST OF GIANT TREES

No. Place Common/Local Name Scientific Name

GPS Tree Code

GBH (m)

Height (ft)

Canopy (m)

1 Sacred Grove of Goddess Dhanin

Jamun / Jambhul Syzygium cumini GT55 1.14 42 7



3 Kedarling Devrai Karambel Dillenia pentagyna GT62 1.32 53 6

4 Vanzole (Gawkarwadi)

Fishtail palm / Maad Caryota urens GT15 1.35 35 5

5 Vanzole (Gawkarwadi) Mango / Amba Mangifera indica GT14 1.36 40

6 Kedarling Devrai Atkin Flacourtia montana GT66 1.39 40 5


Phanas / Jackfruit

Artocaprus heterophyllus GT19 1.47 35 10

8 Sacred Grove of Goddess Jugai Teak / Saag Tectona grandis GT44 1.48 53 4

9 Vanzole (Gawkarwadi) Mango / Amba Mangifera indica GT13 1.5 52 10

10 Sacred Grove of Goddess Dhanin Kajra Strychnos nux-

vomica GT80 1.51 40 7

11 Kedarling Devrai Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica GT70 1.51 67 6



13 Sacred Grove of

Buddhist Community

Nanya Lagerstroemia microcarpa GT41 1.53 47 8

14 Sacred Grove of

Buddhist Community


15 Sacred Grove of Goddess Jugai Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica GT47 1.63 65 9

16 Sacred Grove of Goddess Jugai Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica GT50 1.63 56 8.5

17 Kedarling Devrai Katesawar Bombax ceiba GT61 1.65 55 9

18 Sacred Grove of

Buddhist Community


19 Kedarling Devrai UNID GT68 1.73 65 5



Phanas / Jackfruit

Artocarpus hetereophyllus GT11 1.75 42 13

APPENDIX 1


GPS Tree Code

GBH (m)

Height (ft)

Canopy (m)

21 Kedarling Devrai UNID GT67 1.77 67 8

22 Sacred Grove of Goddess Jugai Mango / Amba Mangifera indica GT48 1.81 65 11

23 Sacred Grove of Goddess Dhanin Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica GT56 1.81 58 7

24 Sacred Grove of Goddess Jugai Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica GT45 1.84 66 8

25 Sacred Grove of Goddess Dhanin Atkin Flacourtia montana GT58 1.86 20 5

26

Private Forest/Agriculture

Land (Edge of Human Vicitnity)

Mango / Amba Mangifera indica GT23 1.87 40 10

27



Phanas / Jackfruit

Artocarpus heterophyllus GT25 1.93 32

28 Sacred Grove of Buddhist Community


29



Phanas / Jackfruit

Artocarpus heterophyllus GT24 1.95 35 12

30 Kedarling Devrai Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica GT72 1.95 65 8.5 31 Kedarling Devrai Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica GT73 1.98 65 11 32 Kedarling Devrai Katekumbal Xantolis tomemtosa GT64 2.02 68 6


Phanas / Jackfruit


34 Sacred Grove of Goddess Dhanin Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica GT57 2.08 53 7

35 Sacred Grove of Goddess Dhanin Kumbha Careya arborea GT79 2.1 25 5.5

36 Sacred Grove of Goddess Dhanin Kajra Strychnos nux-

vomica GT81 2.1 65 5

37





38 Sacred Grove of Goddess Dhanin Bakul Elaeagnus conferta GT78 2.19 52 13


Phanas / Jackfruit


40 Kedarling Devrai Katesawar Bombax ceiba GT71 2.25 72 12

APPENDIX 1


GPS Tree Code

GBH (m)

Height (ft)

Canopy (m)



43 Vanzole (Bhoewadi) Mango / Amba Mangifera indica GT9 2.4 35 11

44




45 Vanzole (Bhoewadi) Banyan Tree / Vad

Ficus benghalensis GT4 2.5 22 13


47 Sacred Grove of Goddess Jugai Beheda / Bhela Terminalia

bellirica GT49 2.51 75 12

48 Kedarling Devrai Atkin Flacourtia montana GT69 2.57 75 7

49 Sacred Grove of Goddess Dhanin Mango / Amba Mangifera indica GT54 2.58 72 13.5


Phanas / Jackfruit


51 Vanzole (Gawkarwadi) Nimbera Melia dubia GT34 2.64 62 16


Phanas / Jackfruit

Artocaprus heterophyllus GT18 2.68 50 11

53 Sacred Grove of Goddess Jugai


54



Phanas / Jackfruit


55 Kedarling Devrai Payar Ficus amplissima GT63 2.75 58 7

56 Stream Ain Terminalia elliptica GT60 2.77 58 9.5

57 Vanzole Phanas / Artocarpus GT33 2.79 45 15


(Gawkarwadi) Jackfruit heterophyllus

58 Vanzole (Bhoewadi) Beheda / Bhela Terminalia chebula GT2 2.8 25 5


bellirica GT46 2.87 75 14.5

60 Private

Forest/Agriculture Land

Ain - Payar Terminala elliptica-

Ficus amplissima GT29 2.88 37 11

APPENDIX 1


GPS Tree Code

GBH (m)

Height (ft)

Canopy (m)

61 Kedarling Devrai Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica GT65 2.97 70 8

62 Vanzole (Bhoewadi) Phanas / Jackfruit

Artocarpus heterophyllus GT7 3.13 40 8.5


64 Vanzole (Bhoewadi) Banyan Tree / Vad

Ficus benghalensis GT5 3.16 32 10


66 Sacred Grove of Buddhist Community Payar Ficus amplissima GT40 3.25 75 13









73





75 Vanzole (Bhoewadi) Mango / Amba Mangifera indica GT1 5.3 50 16.6

76 Private

Forest/Agriculture Land (Edge of Human



Vicitnity)

77 Private

Forest/Agriculture Land

Ain Terminalia elliptica GT37 5.61 45 5

78 Sacred Grove of Buddhist Community Mango / Amba Mangifera indica GT38 5.74 72 15

79 Stream Mango / Amba Mangifera indica GT59 5.81 60 8.5

80 Vanzole (Bhoewadi) Payar Ficus amplissima GT53 6.12 52 9

APPENDIX 2

DISTRIBUTION OF GIANT TREES IN VANZLE VILLAGE

SPECIES HUMAN VICINITY

SACRED GROVE

PRIVATE FOREST /

AGRICULTURAL LAND

Common Name Scientific Name

Phanas / Jackfruit

Artocaprus heterophyllus

Payar Ficus amplissima

Nimbera Melia dubia

Mango / Amba Mangifera indica

Fishtail palm / Bherlimaad Caryota urens

Beheda / Bhela Terminalia bellirica

Banyan Tree / Vad Ficus benghalensis

Atkin Flacourtia montana

Bakul Elaeagnus conferta

Jamun / Jambhul Syzygium cumini


Kajra Strychnos nux-vomica

Karambel / Karbel Dillenia pentagyna

Katekumbal Xantolis tomemtosa

Katesawar Bombax ceiba

Kumbha Careya arborea

Nanya Lagerstroemia microcarpa

Teak / Saag Tectona grandis

Ain Terminalia elliptica

giant tree project summary vanzole village, … · the giant tree project is initiated in vanzole,...

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