Bangalore Urban

The limits of this division are the same as that of Bangalore district. The forests of this division are essentially of the dry deciduous type and scrub type. Some of the important species of this type are Tectona grandis , Dalbergia latifolia , Terminalia alata , Terminalia paniculata , Pterocarpus marsupium , Hardwickia binata , Boswellia serrata , and Chloroxylon swietenia . The bambusa arundinacea sub type is found in areas alongside stream banks.

Sandal trees are found with host species such as Zizyphus species, Albizzia species, Wrightia tinctoria , Acacia species, Cassia species , Pongamia pinnata , Bamboos, etc. The Dendrocalamus strictus subtype deciduous forests is found in Ragihalli Reserved forests and in the Bannerghatta National park. Most of this is now destroyed due to the flowering of the bamboo. Regeneration has also been poor owing to fire and hacking. The Shorea talura sub-type forest is found in clayey soils. They are seen as patches in Kalkere State forest, Doresanipalaya and Bannerghatta reserves. The thorny scrub type forests are found in open low areas, predominated by species like Albizzia amara , Acacia species, Zizyphus species, Randia species, Dodonaea viscosa , W rightia tinctoria etc. In the valleys, the Riverine sub type deciduous forests are seen with an association of Terminalia arjuna , Pongamia pinnata , Syzygium species etc.

The cause for the degradation of the forest cover is largely due to injury by man and animals. Certain exotics like parthenium also pose problems. This city enjoys a vast area of parks like the Lalbagh, the Cubbon Park, Dhanvantarivana at Jana Bharathi etc. According to the forest inventory results, the 10 most abundantly found species of this division are Acacia auriculiformis , Eucalyptus , Acacia catechu , Diospyros tupra, Canthium parviflorum , Tectona grandis , Dendrocalamus strictus , Azadirachta indica , Pongammia pinnata and Lantana camara .

The intensity of the dry forests which was enumerated at 1% sampling intensity by the forest department reveals that mostly immature trees with smaller girth (less than 40cms) dominates in all the forests of Bangalore. In Jarakabande and Marasandra State forests, a total of 151313 and 234248 trees were enumerated.

The limits of this division are the same as that of Bangalore-Rural district. A range of hills from Kanakapura in the south to Nijagal on the north formed of coarse-grained granite is a prominent topographic feature. These hills are covered with scrub jungle. Forests constitute nearly 16.72% of the geographical area. The forests of this area are of the deciduous species topping thorny undergrowth. Most species are valuable as firewood. The growth is poor in these forests. Trees of Terminalia Pniculata , Dalbergia latifolia , Pterocarpus marsupium , Hardwickia binata , Vitex altissimia are more common in these forests. Bambusa bambos sub type of forests occurs in Sathnur range in association with Terminalia and Anogeissus species.

Hard wood species predominate in Thorny scrub type forests. Some of the typical species are Albizzia amara , Chloroxylon swietenia , Acacia pinnata , Acacia catechu , W rightia tinctoria, Acacia suma, Azadirachta indica , Canthium didynum , Erythroxylon monogynum , Zizyphusjujuba , Lantana , Randia , Pterolobium , Dodnea etc. The edaphic types- Hardwickia and Boswellia forests are seen in Sathnur, Kanakpura and Ramanagaram ranges.

Most of the forests in this division have undergone considerable degradation owing to human interferences. As part of the management programme, tree planting was taken up on a large scale. To meet the energy requirements, Firewood plantations have been raised in about 6325.22 ha. The species planted are that of Eucalyptus, Acacia auriculiformis and Casuarina.The rotation age fixed for extraction is 10 years.

Inventory results of the KFD based on 1% sampling intensity indicates the tree density to be 26.23 trees/ha and the corresponding volume to be 4.44 cum/ha. According to the Non-forest inventory Report-2000, published by the FSI, the entire non-forest area of Bangalore rural district has 12.5 million trees giving an average of 26.2 trees/ha. The species wise distribution of the total number of trees shows that Eucalyptus has the largest representation (17.2%) followed by Azadirachta indica (6.3%), Ficus (5.3%) Acacia arabica (2.6%) and tamarindus indica (1.2%). The distribution of the number of trees into different category of plantation shows that block plantations dominate the plantations having about (43.6%) followed by farm forestry (31.7%) and village woodlot (14.3%). The minimum trees were in canal side plantation (0.02%). The growing stocks of the species in various plantations are given in table 17.

Table 17: Growing Stock of Species in Various Plantations in Bangalore Rural Division

(Bangalore Rural Working Plan, 2000)

Farm forestry: Neem appears to be the most favoured species by the farmers under the Farm forestry which contributes to 13.07% of trees followed by the ficus species (12.07%), E ucalyptus species (7.82%), Acacia arabica (6.41%) and Tamarindus indica (2.06%). The rest of the species contribute less than 1% of the no. of trees under this category. Species wise distribution of stand and stock under Farm Forestry is given in table18.

Table 18: Species-wise Distribution of Stand and Stock under Farm Forestry in Bangalore Rural Division.

(Karnataka Forest Department)

Owing to their larger size, the Ficus species alone contributes about 57% to the total growing stock in this category. Two other species that has significant contribution to the growing stock are Eucalyptus and tamarindus indica at 6% and 5% respectively.

Village woodlot: The trees under this category which are naturally growing tree species in the community land /private land obviously are composed of various species without the predominance of any particular species. Of them Azadirachta indica, Acacia catechu and Ficus species contribute 10%, 5% and 3% respectively to the growing stand. Species wise distribution of stand and stock under village woodlot is given in table 19.

Table 19: Species-wise Distribution of Stand and Stock under Village Woodlot in Bangalore Rural Division

(Bangalore Rural Division Working Plan, 2001)

To meet the fuel wood and small timber requirement of the people, nearly 6974 ha of fuel wood plantations have been raised in this division. These plantations are raised on notified forests or other government lands. The species commonly planted are cassuarina , Acacia auriculiformis , and e ucalyptu s. Some are monoculture plantations while others are a mix of the above species. The rotation age fixed for these plantations is 10 years.

Ghataprabha

The forests of this division spread over the taluks of Chikkodi, Athani, Raibag, Ramadurga and Saundatti and parts of Gokak and Hukkeri taluks. There are six territorial ranges in the division. The forests of the entire Ghataprabha division are classified as Southern Tropical Thorn Forests. These forests are largely composed of Acacias and other thorny bushes and trees. The growth is usually patchy and open in hills. Xerophytic species are predominant. The principal species are Hardwickia binata, Albizzia amara , Chloroxylon swietenia , Anogeissus latifolia , Diospyros melanoxylon , Cassia fistula, Albizzia lebbek , Cassia auriculata and Euphorbia nivullia .

These forests are reducing in area because of abuse by humans, over grazing, fire and invasion by Opuntia species and Lantana species. The species in Table 20 together constitute more than 50% of the total crop composition of the forest division.

Table 20: Species Composition in Ghataprabha Division

(Ghataprabha Division Working Plan, 2001)

From 1961-62 to 1999-2000 about 24129.41 ha of monoculture plantations of Eucalyptus , Acacia auriculiformis and Casuarina eqisetifolia species have been raised. Based on the inventorying done for 1985.06 ha, the plantations proposed for harvesting by 2000 is 1005.20 ha. Inventory results suggest that the extent of degraded forest is about 6% of the total geographical area. Some of the suggested species for the restoration of these forests are Ficus benegalensis , Azadirachta indica, Tamarind, Zizyphus etc. For the production of biomass to meet the demands of the local people, it is proposed to plant Eucalyptus hybrid, Acacia auriculiformis , Bamboo , S issoo etc with a rotation period of 8 years.

Belgaum

The forests of this division show considerable diversity in composition and quality owing to wide range of rainfall and too many edaphic variations. The forests of this division lie scattered over the southwestern part of the Belgaum district. The forests are situated on either sides of the section of the South Central Railway line from Alnavar to Londa in the south, to Raibag in the North. The forests of this division present a considerable diversity in composition and quality owing to the wide range of rainfall and edaphic conditions. Dry deciduous forest type is prevalent in this division. Most of the area in the Nagargali region is of deciduous type with abundant teak plantations. The forests of the area north of Belgaum spreading from Belgaum to Gokak and Daddi to Desnur are of the dry deciduous type. In the extreme east they are mostly thorny and scrubby as the conditions become arid, and human influence more pronounced. The forest failing in Hukkeri, Bilahongal taluk and Gokak taluk belong to the scrub jungle type. These forests are largely composed of acacias and other thorny bushes and trees. As per the forest policy of 1988 people's participation has been stressed in conserving the forests.

Bijapur

Most of the region is treeless and the forested area is about 35,694.05 ha. The better part of the forests is found in the Hangal Taluk abutting Uttara Kannada district. The important species are Terminalia tomentosa , Anogeissus latifolia, Lagerstroemia lanceolata , Pterocarpus marsupium , Terminalia paniculata and Tectona grandis . The forest tract of the division spreads into two pockets namely Mamdapur and Nidagundi. At Nidagundi, the vegetation is sparse and is mostly composed of Albezia amara , Cassia auriculata , Randia dumetorum and Euphorbia species. The forestland is largely subjected to injury by encroachment.

On moving from West to east of the division, there is a change in the type if vegetation to southern dry mixed deciduous type. These forests are subjected to regular ground fires. The important species are Tectona grandis , Anogeissus latifolia , etc. The eastern part of the division comprising of the taluks of Ranebennur, Haveri, and Byadagi receive less rainfall. Scrub forests are mostly found in this region. The important species are Acacia latromun, Acacia leucophloea and ocassionally Acacia arabica . Secondary dry deciduous forests dominate lands that were once cultivated or subjected to shifting cultivation.

Bagalkote

The limits of the Bagalkote division are the same as that of the revenue district. A major part of the division is covered with south Indian dry deciduous forests. But the crops are of stunted growth because of the poor quality of the soil, scanty rainfall and dry climate. Some of the important species of this region are Chloroxylon swuetenia , Albizzia amara , Acacia catechu , Wrightia tinctoria and Anogeissus latifolia. Euphorbia species is seen on open degraded lands. The vegetation is somewhat better preserved in some parts of Badami, Makut, Aihole, Bhimgad, Nandi Keshwar, Kelur, Bilagi and Ambalzer areas. These forests are at present in a deteriorated state on account of reckless grazing and hacking. Farm forestry is practised in this area. The species commonly cultivated on the agricultural lands are Acacia nilotica , Melia azadirachta , Ailanthus excelsa , Melia dubia, Aegle marmals , Acacia ferrgini , Tamarindus indica , Tectona grandis and Bamboo. This division has 1887.35 ha of eucalyptus plantations. A 10-year rotation period has been fixed for the miscellaneous plantations. Social forestry has caught up well in this division. The afforestation activities undertaken in the non-forest areas like, canal banks, roadside, schools, C and D lands, Gomals and tank foreshores have added more greenery to the division.

Chikmagalur

The forests of this division extend over Mudigere, Chikmagalur and Kadur taluks. The Balur State forest, the Mudremane Teak Reserve, and the Tatkola State forests are located in Mudigere taluk. Sindigere State forest is situated in Kadur and Chikmagalur taluks. Udegere State forest is situated in Kadur taluk. The forest belt of this division stretches from the border of Dakshina Kannada district on its southern side exhibiting great diversities in the topological features of the landscape. Southern Tropical evergreen forests, semievergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests and dry deciduous forests compose this forest division. The Balur State forest has evergreen vegetation that forms a narrow belt in the Western Ghats. The principal trees of this forest are Dipterocarpus indica , Canarium strictum , Vateria indica , Callophylum tomentosum , Holigarna arnottiane , Artocarpus fraxinifolias , Hopea weightiana , Cedrela toona and Myristica magnifica . Cane occurs in the moist valleys.

The semi-evergreen forests are found along the Tungabhadra river basins at altitudes of about 600-900m. Some of the important species of this type occurring in this region are Chrysophyllum lanceolatum , Pterospermum personatum , Canarium strictum , Persea macrantha, Hopea parviflora, Ficus , Microcarpa. . The Sargod and Tatkola forests are of the deciduous type. The commonest species of these forests are xylia xylocarpa found especially on the slope of hills, where it forms pure patches as in the Tegurgudda Gangegiri State forest. These forests are subjected to destruction by fire, grazing, encroachment, animals and man. The mixed deciduous forest is seen in Maskali State forest. It is characterised by the presence of large quantities of Dendrocalamus strictus . The dry thorny scrub forests are spread over the areas falling in Chikmagalur and Kadur taluks. Churchigudda, Kamenalli, Kalasapura, Yemmedoddo, Udegere etc are some of the forests of this type. About 30% of the total forest area of the division is degraded. This division has a growing stock of 44.98cum/ha. Some of the indicators of growth and yield of the forest division of Chikmagalur are given in table 21.

Table 21: Indicators of Growth and Yield in Chikmagalur Division

(Chikmagalur Division Working Plan, 2001)

To meet the fuel wood demand and the small timber requirement of the local people, about 659 ha of fuel wood plantations are raised. Almost all the plantations are of Acacia species. Social forestry has been taken up in 3050.53 ha, planted with Eucalyptus , Acacia auriculiformis , and Casuarina plantations. The rotation age fixed for extraction of Acacia auriculiformis and Casuarina are 9years. Approximate 33,068.16 ha of bamboo is grown in the division with an average of 13.98 clumps per ha. The average exploitable bamboo clumps per hectare is 47.53. For bamboo a felling cycle of 2 years has been prescribed.

Forests of this division are spread over the north western parts of Chikmagalur district, in Narasimharajapura, Sringeri, Koppa, Mudigere and Chikmagalur taluks. The forests of Kalasa, Sringeri and Koppa ranges are of the evergreen to semi-evergreen type. The hilltops are covered with grass whose fringes are flanked by Shola forest. The catchment area of Tunga and Bhadra rivers are composed of forests of the above type.