PAI, ASWINI1* and PRAVAT C. SUTAR2. 1Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Porter Hall, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA; 2VASUNDHARA, Pvt Plot No. 14/E, Gajapati Nagar, Near Press Chhak, PO Sainik School, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, India. - Survey of Agro forests in Madhya Pradesh, Central India.
Agro forests are indigenous land use systems wherein trees and shrubs
are grown or nurtured within the agricultural landscape. Agro forests
in India consist of preservation of trees along agricultural field
margins or bunds. We surveyed species composition of five agro forests
in the rural areas of Madhya Pradesh, a central Indian state. In each
agro forest, we recorded species names and girth at breast height
(GBH) of 100 trees randomly encountered along a 1 km long and 10m wide
belt transect. The trees were also examined for lopping or other signs
of destructive anthropogenic use. Results indicated that the agro
forests were composed solely of economically valuable species yielding
non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as Terminalia chebula
, Buchanania lanzon and Madhuca indica. Species
composition within the agro forests varied from the nearby forests.
However, regeneration of the agro forest species was absent within the
agro forests and was observed only in the adjoining forest ecosystems.
Populations of the trees in the agro forest areas consisted only of
adult, mature trees. Selective preservation and conservation of
species in an agro forest system can be contributed to factors such as
land ownership and economic use of species being observed. Though agro
forests are an indigenous means of conservation, lack of tree species
within these ecosystems is a concern. Agro forests are a viable means
of conservation only if embedded within a landscape of healthier plant
populations.
Key words: Agro forests, India, Madhya Pradesh, NTFPs