Species composition and structure of non-timber forest products in the Sirsi forest range, central Western Ghats, Karnataka, India

In India, it is estimated that 275 million people are from the rural background, which is 27 percent of the total population, depend on Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) for their subsistence and livelihoods. NTFPs play a vital role in the social and cultural values of millions of rural and tribal populations. The Uttara Kannada district, situated in the central Western Ghats, is home to one of the region's most biodiverse forest zones. Although sustainability concerns and challenges are becoming increasingly prevalent in policy debates worldwide, NTFP harvesting practices in the Western Ghats have rarely been examined. Developing long-term management regimes for these products is critical. In this context, the present experiment was carried out to study the tree diversity and ecology of NTFP-yielding species in the study area, which is essential for understanding the population status of these species. A total of forty quadrats of 20 × 20 m (400 m²) dimensions were laid out using a compass, tape, and rope as per standard procedures. All woody species above 30 cm GBH (girth at breast height) at 1.37 m height were enumerated. Among NTFP species, the Sirsi forest mainly consisted of Caryota urens, Aporosa lindliana, and Syzygium cumini communities. It was found that among the dominant species, Olia dioca and Aporosa lindliana had wider adaptability. The family composition of the Sirsi forest range was dominated by members of the family Euphorbiaceae (FIV=24.86), Among the NTFP species, Anacardiaceae (19.26) was highest. The total tree density in Sirsi was 155 m²/ha. This variation might be due to the basal area contribution, which is highly dependent on the presence of large individual trees within the sample areas. The study provides useful information on the current state of woody species diversity and structure, which can help formulate management policies for forestry practices.