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Utilization of fuelwood species by the Bhangalis community of western Himalaya, India

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Abstract

The present study was conducted among the Bhangalis, a resident community of Chhota Bhangal (Himachal Pradesh), to document their fuelwood use and knowledge variations with sociocultural factors. For this, recordings were carried out with the Bhangalis (n = 240, from 6 villages) who were selected in a stratified manner to be representative of gender, age, and education of the community. A total of 29 fuelwood species were mentioned by the Bhangalis; however, only 22 of these were used as fuel. A significant difference in the mean number of species known to the Bhangalis (10.02 ± 0.2) and those used by them (4.99 ± 0.1) was revealed (Z = − 13.252; p < 0.001). The highest Informant Consensus Factor was recorded for Picea smithiana Boiss. (0.88) followed by Cedrus deodara G. Don (0.85). Seasonal variations in the quantity of fuelwood collected and used were recorded. Besides, we noted that larger families used significantly more quantity of wood than smaller families (p = 0.02). Also, males possessed significantly more knowledge of fuelwood species in comparison to females (H = 15.016; p < 0.05). Further, age of the informants significantly correlated with the number of fuelwood species known (rs = 0.284; p < 0.05) and used (rs = 0.179; p < 0.05). Thus, there is a need for creating awareness and devising locally driven conservation policies based on the traditional knowledge of the community.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the Director CSIR-IHBT for the facilities and the administrative authorities of Panjab University for the support. Faculty members of the Environmental Technology Division (erstwhile High Altitude Biology Division) are acknowledged for their constructive comments. Thanks are due to Er. Amit Kumar for helping with map work, and Ms. Aradhna for providing literature. The Authors are thankful to the Editor-in-Chief and the three anonymous reviewers whose comments helped in improving the earlier draft of the manuscript. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is thanked for financial support via NMHS project GAP-0199. Residents of Chhota Bhangal are thanked for their help and hospitality.

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The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is thanked for financial support via NMHS project GAP-0199.

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  1. Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, 176061, Palampur, India

    Alpy Sharma & Sanjay Kr. Uniyal

  2. Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    Daizy Rani Batish

  3. Department of Environment studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    Alpy Sharma & Harminder P. Singh

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AS carried out field surveys and data collection. SKU designed the study and approach. AS and SKU carried out data analyses and manuscript preparation. DRB and HS helped in data analyses and manuscript editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Sharma, A., Uniyal, S.K., Batish, D.R. et al. Utilization of fuelwood species by the Bhangalis community of western Himalaya, India. Environ Dev Sustain 25, 3577–3599 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02188-8

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