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Diversity and utilization patterns of fodder resources in a Himalayan protected area

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Abstract

In the Himalaya, collection of fodder from protected areas by local communities for sustenance of their livestock is an integral part of mountain farming systems. Here, we assess the diversity and utilization patterns of fodder resources collected by local communities from Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary in Kashmir Himalaya. A multi-stage random sampling was employed to select sample villages (5) and households (81) for the survey. Data were collected through personal interviews of household heads administering an interview schedule and then analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression model. The results revealed that 74 fodder species were collected by the local communities from the sanctuary. The diversity and magnitude of fodder resource utilization varied across the study area. The fodder collection and utilization on per day and annual basis ranged from 25 to 90 and 2760 to 13,770 kg/household, respectively. Across the surveyed villages, the fodder was mainly collected by the females (60%). A positive but non-significant relationship was found between the number of persons collecting fodder and quantity of fodder collection/household/day, while a positive and significant relationship was found between the herd size and quantity of fodder collection/household/day. We also found a negative but non-significant relationship between the education status of respondents and the number of livestock holding. Based on our findings, we suggest policy and management interventions such as regulating livestock grazing, promoting plantation of frequently collected fodder species, and better use of agriculture byproducts to guide the sustainable management of fodder resources in this Himalayan protected area, with learning for elsewhere.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Head, Department Botany, University of Kashmir. Colleagues at BIOTA Laboratory, Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, University of Kashmir, are acknowledged for their kind support during the present study. We are also thankful to the participants for sharing their precious knowledge. We duly acknowledge the necessary permission granted by Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir Government to conduct this study. We are grateful to the esteemed Editor and the reviewers for their valuable comments and useful suggestions which has improved quality of the manuscript. Tajamul Islam acknowledges the University Grants Commission (UGC) under 924/(CSIRNET JUNE-2019) for providing financial assistance as Junior Research Fellowship

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Biodiversity & Taxonomy, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India

    Tajamul Islam, Liyaqat Ali & Anzar Ahmad Khuroo

  2. Plant Reproductive Biology, Genetic Diversity and Phytochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India

    Tajamul Islam & Irshad A. Nawchoo

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  1. Tajamul Islam
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Tajamul Islam: Conceptualization; methodology; data collection; curation and analysis; software; visualization; writing, original draft; revision. Liyaqat Ali: Data curation. Irshad A. Nawchoo: Conceptualization; investigation; supervision; validation; writing—review. Anzar Ahmad Khuroo: Conceptualization; methodology; supervision; validation; writing, original draft; revision.

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Correspondence to Anzar Ahmad Khuroo.

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The ethics regarding interviewing and data collection devised by Human Research Ethics Committees (https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/research-policy/ethics/human-research-ethics-committees) was followed. Informed consent was obtained verbally before each interview in order to clearly state the objectives of present study and to obtain their consent to participate. Each of the interviewees was informed beforehand of the confidentiality of this study, and of his/her right to withdraw its participation at any time, and of the objective of a publication under the form of a scientific publication.

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Islam, T., Ali, L., Nawchoo, I.A. et al. Diversity and utilization patterns of fodder resources in a Himalayan protected area. Environ Monit Assess 195, 1117 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11739-z

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