During
the course of biodiversity assessment of the natural ecosystems
of the Western Ghats (India) [Pascal 1982a, 1982b, 1982c, 1984,
1986, 1988; Pascal et al. 1988; Pelissier 1997;
Ramesh & Pascal 1997; Ramesh et al. 1997a, b] where species diversity
and endemism abound (Myers 1988; Nayar 1996),
it became obvious that tree diversity outside the forestlands also should
be assessed. This is because there is profound species diversity in the
managed ecosystems of this region (Kumar and Nair 2004),
as elsewhere in the tropics (e.g., Jacob and Alles 1987, Caron 1995 in Sri Lanka;
Leuschner and Khaleque 1987 in Bangladesh; Black et al. 1996 in Northeastern Thailand).
In addition, an enormous amount of traditional ecological knowledge on tree management
is inherent in these systems (Jose and Shanmugaratnam 1993). Such land-use systems
also reflect the farmers’ survival instincts and their strategies to satisfy the
basic needs in food (fruits, beverages, spices, vegetables etc.), energy (fuelwood),
building materials (timber) and other needs (medicines, crafts, fodder for livestock,
etc.) including cash income generation (Nair 1989; Tejwani 1994; Kumar 1999; Pathak
and Solanki 2002).
Diversified
production typical of such systems also acts as an insurance against the risk
of crop failures. Additional objectives include improvements in soil fertility,
protection or demarcation of croplands (biofences) or providing shade/shelter
for man and livestock are other important services provided by trees on farmsteads.
For instance, Prosopis cineraria, a nitrogen fixing tree, plays a key role in sustaining
soil productivity in the arid regions of India, besides providing fodder, fuel and fruits.
In the traditional homegardens of Kerala, which are predominantly fenced-in gardens around
individual houses, planted trees including fruit trees provide multiple benefits
(Kumar and Nair 2004). Adoption of a particular species or a management practice is also
dependent on socioeconomic considerations—profitability, feasibility and acceptability
being critical concerns in this respect. Planted trees are also important in carbon (C)
sequestration, C substitution and C conservation at the farm level (Schroeder 1992;
FAO 2000; Shepherd and Montagnini 2001; FAO 2003; Montagnini and Nair 2004),
a theme that has been emphasized recently.
Although trees in
agroforestry can contribute to sustainable land use (Moench 1991; Nair 2001; Depommier 2002), proper selection of
species and their optimal management are critical (Raintree 1983; Scherr 1992; Sanchez 1995).
Species effects on agroecosystem productivity also may be dependent on environmental factors
and resource availability (Nair 1985; Puri and Nair 2004). Yet, the relative merits of
introducing trees into production systems having disparate biophysical resources levels have
not been adequately elucidated. Although agroforestry research in India is now more than
quarter century-old and major initiatives such as ‘Diagnosis and Design’ were undertaken
by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research under the aegis of the All India Coordinated
Research Project on Agroforestry in the past, information on aspects such as choice of
species for differing resource levels and ecoclimatic conditions is only scarcely available.
Furthermore, most of the research on tree-based production systems done in South India remains
confined to technical reports (e.g., Annual Progress Reports of the All India Coordinated
Research Project on Agroforestry, New Delhi) and a few scientific publicaions (e.g., Jose
and Shanmugaratnam 1993; George et al. 1996; Thomas et al. 1998; Kumar et al. 1999; Sylvie 1999;
Divakara et al. 2001; Kumar and Divakara 2001; Shastri et al. 2002;
Depommier et al. 2003, Patil 2005a & b; Demenois et al. 2005).
In particular, little or no research has been published with a regional or agro-ecological
zone-level focus, especially in an electronic format which has the distinctive advantages
of quick retrieval and ease of use.
Possibly because
of the many indigenous species involved and the diversity of goods and services,
knowledge on dynamics, management and productivity of multipurpose trees from
South India is also not adequate. Considerable traditional knowledge existed in
this region on tree management practices; much of that, however, is fast disappearing.
And there is an urgent need to recognize such traditional knowledge (Ramakrishnan 2001).
This, in turn, necessitates diagnosis of the current tree planting methods; characterization
of species diversity in managed ecosystems and appraisal of the multiplicity of products
and services in different agro-ecosystems. In view of this, an attempt has been made to
develop a comprehensive database on multipurpose trees (MPTs) and MPT-based production
systems of South India, which may serve as a diagnostic tool that aid in future agroforestry
research, management and extension. The specific objectives of the study were as follows.
-
To document
the MPTs and the tree-based production systems in different agroecological
zones of three South Indian States (Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu)
-
to assess
the indigenous knowledge on tree management and utilization of tree products
-
to evaluate
the constraints associated with integrated tree-crop production systems, and
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to facilitate
species identification, catalog the tree management practices, and describe
the seedling characteristics and parts used with the help photographic illustrations
in a cost effective and easy-to-use electronic format.
© The
French Institute of Pondicherry, 11, Saint Louis Street,
Pondicherry - 605 001,
Telephone: +91 (0413) 2334168, 2334170. Fax: +91 (0413)
2339534
Email:
Santoshagouda V. Patil
