Forest Conservation and Management

The book is a culmination of efforts to collect all relevant information on forest management and conservation especially that will help us to correct the harmful effects of strategies and policies adopted in the past and pursue management practices that will safeguard the ecological balance of the region and provide livelihood security for the indigenous people who are dependent on forests.Contribution to this book come from well known scientists/ researchers and academicians and represents a collection of well-written articles on the topics covered. The book is divided into five sections: First section on biodiversity consists of eight articles covering the diverse biotic forms starting from microbus, fungi and angiosperms. The only paper on faunal diversity is the one that deals with the spider species and their conservation aspects.The second section on forest conservation vis-à-vis soil water conservation includes three articles. One of them also gives an insight into the role of earthworms in soil management.

The third section on multidisciplinary approaches on forest conservation and management includes twelve articles on the role of agro forestry systems in sustainable development of hilly regions. Forestation techniques that help in amelioration of degraded hills of western Himalayas are discussed by Bhardwaj and Panwar from Y.S.P.U.H.F., Solan. Section four of the book deals with participatory forest management. Two articles included in the section emphasize the need for involving forest dwellers in decision making concerned with any developmental activities. The last section of the book is on ethno botany, rural development and forest conservation strategies. This section includes thirteen articles, which through light into the traditional systems of medicine practice by tribal communities in India. It also covers some articles on the traditional forest resources and conservation aspects. Most of the articles published in this book come from Indian authors and deal mainly with trends in conservation strategies for sustainable management of Indian forests.

This book, the editors' hope, will help the Scientists, Researchers, Students, Planners alike formulating various strategies and policies for the sustainable management and conservation forest resources.