#1Bamboo flowering in Mizoram: An ecological Analysis and management of resources F. Lalnunmawia Dept. of Botany, Mizoram University Aizawl - 796004, India#2Bamboo Resources of the North East India About 50 percent of India's bamboo resources are in the North Eastern India. There are 63 species of 20 genera in the region. This is 50 percent of India's bamboo species and 87 percent genera.#3Bamboo Resource of Mizoram Total Area of Mizoram BAMBOO DISTRIBUTION MAP OF MIZORAM Kolasib Aizawl Mamit : 21,087 Sq. Km Total area of bamboo forest 7091.66 Sq.Km Champhai Serchhip (33.63% of total geographical area) (Source: Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Lunglei Centre, Aizawl.) Number of bamboo species found: 25 species Melocanna baccifera Other bamboos : about 80 % : about 20 % Lawngtla Saiha N ↑ Bamboo forest Total area of Mizoram : 21,087 Sq. Km Total area of bamboo forest: 6,118 Sq. Km Percentage of bamboo forest: 29.03% Source: State Remote Sensing Centre Science Technology & Environment Planning Department Aizawl, Mizoram#4Bamboo flowering in Mizoram Bamboo in flower B. tulda; D. longispathus Thingtam Name of bamboo Years flowering 1880-1884 Melocanna baccifera Mautam 1910-1912 B. tulda; D. longispathus Thingtam 1928-1929 Melocanna baccifera Mautam 1958-1959 B. tulda; D. longispathus Thingtam 1976-1977 Melocanna baccifera Mautam 2007-2010#5BAMBOO DISTRIBUTION MAP OF MIZORAM MAP SHOWING BAMBOO FLOWERING AREA IN 2008 Kolasib Mamil Aizawl Serchhip Champhai Lunglei Lawngtla Saiha N ↑ Bamboo forest Total area of Mizoram: 21,087 Sq. Km Total area of bamboo forest: 6,118 Sq. Km Percentage of bamboo forest: 29.03% Source: State Remote Sensing Centre Science Technology & Environment Planning Department Aizawl, Mizoram BANGLADESH TRIPURA ASSAM MANIPUR Nart Tingle Things tien + MYANMAR Legend Non-Flowering Bamboo Flowering Bamboo New Bamboo Unclassified Major Rivers/Water Body Settlement International Boundary State Boundary District Boundary Scale 424 12X Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC)#6Bamboo flowering and rodents' population outbreak The rodents' population study was carried out in paddy fields for 3 years (2006-2008) 10 cages and 20 local traps provided to one family 5 families in each village 3 villages in each district A total of 9 villages and 45 families in 3 districts Random sampling adopted#7abunda ndance % species-wise 100 90.04 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Species -wise abundance of rodents Rattus rattus Niviventer spp Berulmys mackeziei Mus spp Leopoldamis edwardsae Tupaia glis 2.54 1.92 1.59 0.72 0.570.43 0.19 0.31 0.13 0.09 0.04 0.04 Cannomys badius Dremomys rufigenis Bandicota benghalensis Chiropodomis gliroides Rodent species Rattus exulans Rattus norvegicus Rhizomis pruinosus Rattus rattus (Black rat) Tupaia glis Different spp of rodents)#8Population increase of rodents in paddy fields during 2006- 08 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 No.of rodents captured 200 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Months 2006 2007 2008#9Pictorial representation to show the potential increase of black rats 312 62 2 12 6 weeks (19 weeks) 2nd Pulse (32 weeks) 3rd pulse Black Rats Harvest time of maize, paddy and other crops synchronizes with the so estimated 3rd and the 4th pulse of rats 1662 45 weeks 4th Pulse#10Synchronization of bamboo flowering with rodent outbreak October/November -- Flowering of bamboo starts January/February – Seeds production starts Till June July on wards - - Seeds remain available for rats - Seeds are geminated and becomes inedible 2000 1800 Attack maize 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 Attacks Early decreases maturing in exhaust rice of food Population Rats start 600 multiplying 400 200 0 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec#11Why do rodents increase? Abundance of food Increased fertility of female Natural irruptions triggered by rainfall and rain induced food availability Rats lose desire to eat pups Higher survival of the litters Leads to massive production of individual in successive generation in short time#12Bamboo seed production and regeneration Different management practices - Harvesting intensity, age of the culms, cleaning, fire etc A study was conducted on the influence of excessive disturbance and fire on the culms density, size and seed size and production rate.#13Table showing different growth parameters of bamboo (Melocanna baccifera) under different conditions Parameters Undisturbed Disturbed (Biotic pressure) Burned (bamboo area) Culm Density 140.33 82.67 119.67 (No. of culms per (±20.03) (±23.16) (±19.86) 25m²) Diameter of culm (mm) 27.4 23.6 (±0.39) (±0.71) 26.3 (±0.51) No. of seeds produced in one culm 12.89 8.72 (±2.77) (±1.23) 16.33 (±6.22) No. of seeds produced per quadrat (25m²) 1771.39 (±299.95) 709.84 (±171.96) 2698.48 (±311.31) Avg. weight of fruits 118.98 90.48 72.35 (gm) (±6.96) (±7.80) (±2.78) # Figures in the parenthesis are Standard Deviations.#14Bamboo seed production in different sites 3000 2500 2000 No. of seeds per quadrat 1500 1000 500 0 Disturbed Undisturbed Burned#15The regenerating bamboo seedlings require protection from fire and overgrazing.#16Bamboo based agroforestry Bamboo-based agroforestry could be a viable system to rehabilitate degraded lands, and to decrease pressure over the natural bamboo forests Bamboo can be used to repair soil damaged by overgrazing, shifting cultivation, erosions etc.#17Bamboo resource availability in Mizoram Bamboos are seldom harvested from the steep slopes or inaccessible areas in the forest. It has been estimated that only about 20-30 percent of bamboo area is accessible and as a result the resources of the steep slopes and inaccessible areas remain untapped. Labourers are always tempted to harvest bamboos from the easily accessible areas, usually from the banks of perennial streams (chara). Therefore, bamboos are over exploited in these accessible areas. Overexploitation causes a gradual degeneration in health and sizes of the bamboos.#18Threats to natural bamboo forests in Mizoram Shifting cultivation, agricultural extension, expansion of manmade forests. Biotic factors such as fire and grazing. The unscientific harvest and management of bamboo. Lack of efforts to take up compensatory planting of bamboo.#19Key Efforts Needed Strong capacity development initiative - Skills, Entrepreneurial Ability, Market Orientation Federated approach to production and marketing Overall involvement of artisans in sector from casual/marginal to continuing basis Induction of appropriate technology value addition of bamboo Induction of Livelihood Finance agency for credit Build strength in domestic market before considering exports Subsidy on transport through policy support#20"Bamboo is a Green Gold" THANK YOU