Impact of overgrazing and documentation of wild fodder plants used by Gujjar and Bakerwal Tribes of district Rajouri (J&K), India

Abstract

The present study aims to documents the wild plants used as fodder by Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes and their impact of utilization and overgrazing in the forests of district Rajouri (J&K), India. During the study period two blocks which were densely inhabited by Gujjar and Bakkerwal tribes were selected (Nowshera and Budhal) and frequent field trips were also made on other blocks of the district where the tribal people may reached. A total of 63 plants species were reported from the study area belong to 33 families and 51 genera, of all these 63 species, 22 were trees, 11 were shrubs and 30 were herbs. During the study it was observed that, due overgrazing, lopping, and cutting of forest plants in large scale by the tribes and local inhabitants for the expansion of agricultural lands and local settlements outside and inside of the forests and the number of livestock reported much more than the carrying capacity of forest, which resulted into the threatening of some plant species. It is also observed that some species like Pinus wallichiana and Cedrus deodara were not be reported in the area due to their commercial utilization and overgrazing purposes, and also due to their more litter fall which is not good for the growth of ground flora. The tribes sometimes also employ forest fire for better fodder, which leads to great loss to the regeneration of forest plants.