WASTELAND REHABILITATION AND MANAGEMENT

The characteristics and descriptions of land use (agricultural, wastelands etc.) in the eight sub-basins of the Sharavathi upper catchment were given in the previous sections.

The main objective of proposed wasteland management is to meet:

The domestic requirements of fuelwood, fodder, timber forest produces in rural areas.
NTFP (non-timber forest produce) for rural population.
Soil conservation, to create shelter belts or wind breaks and to reclaim ravine and gullies.
Maintenance of ecological balance, biodiversity, ground water recharge and a healthy food web.

These purposes can be met by the selection of appropriate species in the sub-basin based on the land use, soil class or soil capability class, agro-climatic zone, temperature etc.

The factors for species selection includes:

Silvicultural characteristics.
Utilization potential.
Weightage for site-specific native species.
Avoiding exotic species as far as possible and only considered when the indigenous species are unable to thrive in degraded ecosystem.
Afforestation should involve a multi-species approach. This would be more resistant to pest and diseases, and equally efficient in utilizing environmental resources. This can also act as a soil cover and serve in regeneration of soil.
To generate rural employment and also to involve the local population in afforestation, farmer’s nursery movement needs to be promoted.
Wastelands under high-tension line need to be used for productive purposes. Village fodder farms and medicinal plant gardens may be started under the management of village Self Help Groups (SHGs). By bringing such lands under the local community management fire hazards can be prevented. Planting of moisture retaining plants would also assist in reducing fire hazards.
The plant species suggested for reforestation of open, fallow and degraded lands of low rainfall zones in the eastern part of the catchment are Acacia catechu, Acacia concinna, Butea monosperma, Pongamia pinnata, Schleichera oleasa, Madhuca indica, Emblica officinalis, Cassia fistula, Strychnos nux-vomica, Odina wodier, Dillenia pentagyna, Xylia xylocarpa, Buchanania lanzan, Careya arborea, Terminalia chebula, Pterocarpus marsupium, Phoenix sylvestris Mangifera indica, Dendrocalamus strictus, Bambusa arundinacea, Azadirachta indica, Cordia myxa, Aegle marmelos, Sapindus laurifolius and Spondias mangifera