Lyonia: Volume-in-Progress (Private)

Date TBD

Lyonia 8(1) 2005

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Introduction

Articles

Ethnomedicine of Dolpa district, Nepal: the plants, their vernacular names and uses
Ripu M. Kunwar* and Nirmal Adhikari
Abstract An account of 58 medicinal plant species used by local people of Dunai, Juphal, Suu, Sahartara and Majphal villages of Dolpa district is given. Greater numbers of species were found to be used in fever (17 spp.) and diarrhea & dysentery (17 spp.). Roots and rhizomes of 29 species; leaves of 27 species; and stem and barks of 17 species were mostly used. Juice, raw items, paste and decoction of plant species were the common method of usages. The ethnomedicinal contribution from Nardostachys grandiflora 'Vulte', and Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora 'Katuko', each for eight ailments was important. Local people have adequate knowledge on ethnomedicine, while ethnomedicinal plants are under threat due to habitat destruction and over exploitation, indicating an urgent need for conservation... [Read Entire Article]

Vegetation and soil status on an 80 year old lava flow of Mt. Cameroon, West Africa
Fonge B. A.1*; Yinda G.S.1; Focho D.A.2;Fongod A.G.N.1 Bussmann R.W.3
Abstract Vegetation surveys were carried out in 2001-2002 on the 1922 lava flow on Mount Cameroon in order to assess species richness and soil status. A total of 102 species were recorded belonging to 47 families, including 21 tree species belonging to 13 families, 13 shrubs belonging to seven families, 20 herb species belonging to 10 families, seven climbers belonging to five families, 17 ferns belonging to eight families, five moss species, four lichen species, 13 orchids species and two fungi species. The family Orchidaceae was the most represented herb family while Rubiaceae was the most represented tree family. A total of 106 trees with dbh from 1 - 10 cm were recorded, with mean dbh of 6.65 cm and mean total BA of 1885.3 cm2 recorded. Syzygium guineense had the highest... [Read Entire Article]

Conservational status of plant seedlings in Ayubia National Park, Pakistan
Rizwana Khanum1 and S. Aneel Gilani2,
Abstract During recent and past Centuries, nature reserves and National Parks have been cornerstone in preservation of species and natural areas. However, as humans modify more and more of the earth, the mismatch in scale between present nature reserves and natural dynamics of ecosystem becomes more pronounced. To predict such influences studies have been conducted to observe conservational status of all of the trees of Ayubia National Park, taking simple parameters of number of seedling and samplings of these plants in selected plots. In this study borderline area has been divided into twelve regions. Total 240 number of quadrates (0.25 x 0.25m) have been laid. On the basis of number of seedlings and saplings each region is specified a category. Except one region all have some sort... [Read Entire Article]

A Silvicultural Approach to Restoration of Native Hawaiian Rainforests
Dieter Mueller-Dombois
Abstract Restoration of native Hawaiian rainforests should be based on a silvicultural rather than horticultural approach. A silvicultural approach applies knowledge from forest ecological research and focuses on simulating and enhancing natural processes for "low input management." Historically, a horticultural approach of planting alien trees was used to restore Hawaiian watersheds. This form of "high input management" was the result of insufficient understanding of how the Hawaiian rainforest perpetuates itself. It left out a major component, the change of substrate in mature rainforests. Mature rainforests usually have an abundance of decaying moss-covered nurse logs on the ground and a sufficient availability of tree fern trunks, both of which serve as the principal germination... [Read Entire Article]

Non-timber forest produces utilization, distribution and status in a trekking corridor of Sikkim, india.
NAKUL CHETTRI, E. SHARMA AND S. D. LAMA
Sikkim Himalaya is endowed with wide variety of non-timber forest produce (NTFP). The ethno-cultural fabrics of this tiny state are rich in traditional practices. As a result, the people living in the Khangchendzonga complex use these natural resources in various ways for their subsistence. The study recorded 94 odd numbers of NTFPs from the area. Above 50% of these species are marketed in the local Hats with a minimum price, which otherwise have good potential in local economy. Overexploitation of NTFP is bringing some visible threat to these species in these areas. About 10% of the total species distribution was found to be a concern for conservation. Some of the high value medicinal plants have potential for value addition as well as domestication. Therefore, a proper strategic plan is needed... [Read Entire Article]

Species diversity in Bhitarkanika Mangove ecosystem in Orissa, India
P K Mishra**, J R Sahu** and V P Upadhyay*
Mangroves forests serve as ecotones between land and sea and elements from both are stratified horizontally and vertically, between the forest canopy and subsurface soil. In India, mangroves occur in two groups, the mangroves of the West coast and those of the East coast. The present study is an effort to collect ecological information by carrying out field studies based on phytosociological methods at four forest sites in Mangrove Ecosystems of Orissa coast. 16 species were recorded from 11 families at Thakurdia site. The Dangmal forest block encompasses a total of 20 tree species belonging to 14 families at Dangmal, 24 tree species belonging to 13 families at Bhitarkanika and 17 tree species from 10 families at Kakranasi forest sites. The Bhitarkanika site has the highest number of species... [Read Entire Article]

Landslides as ecosystem disturbance - their implications and importance in South Ecuador
Pablo Lozano1*,Rainer W. Bussmann2 & Manfred Küppers3
Abstract Landslides along the Andean mountain chain produce serious damage with widespread environmental and economical effects for the Andean countries. Landslides have a particularly high significance in Southern Ecuador. Only few studies address the causes and effects of landslides, and much more data is needed to understand this phenomenon. In this paper the causes as well of landslides, their shapes in different environments and the environmental effects of landsliding are discussed from the biological and economical point of view. Special attention is given to South Ecuador, where constant landslides are characterized by a distinct vegetation and specialized pioneer flora. The lack of knowledge about gap size, seed bank and other internal or environmental factors does not allow... [Read Entire Article]

Land Use Conflict and Integrated Forest Management in Mountain Areas - Conservation Strategies for Mountain Forests in Africa
Sebastian Sanwo1 & Adeniyi Arimoro2
In Africa, land use and sustainable management schemes in highland areas and mountainous forest have become increasingly important and timely, as these areas, like the lowland forest, have come under serious exploitation and constant threat of disintegration, following the depletion of the majority of the lowland forest. Mountain forest, like most ecosystems, have been exploited and degraded mainly by anthropogenic activities either directly (through vegetation cover removed for timber/wood, construction, agriculture and other purposes) or indirectly (through pollution by environmental stresses such as hazardous gases/oils, global warming effects, heavy metal bioaccumulation and toxicity). These areas have also had their share of forest wildfire and defoliation, forest damage and decline by... [Read Entire Article]