Ecological, Social and Commercial Role of Lichens in India with ...

Acdemia Arena 2010, Supplement 0201
http://www.sciencepub.net
sheep and goats belonging to several families from one or more villages. Grazers coming from
beyond adjacent areas often pick up sheep and goats from the villages they pass through on their
way to the KWLS. Such grazers often stay in local farmers fields. Their flock can manure the fields
while the grazers are given food and shelter in exchange. The grazers also are paid by the villagers,
often in kinds rather than cash, for taking their sheep and goats into the KWLS.
The impact of grazing on the KWLS areas is not fully known. However livestock’s are known
to transmit diseases to wild animals, encourage weeds growth, and prevent regeneration of trees in
low-altitude patches. Studies of the impact of grazing on forests have shown that the grazing of
livestock not only hinders regeneration of naturally dominant tree species, but it can also lead to
significant changes in the structure and composition of different plant species on the forest floor.
Lichen exploitation
The lichens are collected exhaustively throughout Himalaya and are frequently used as
ingredient of spices, Aurvedic medicines and other purposes. Every year about 10,000 tons of
lichen is collected from the Central Himalayan region of India. But in the protected areas like
KWLS, lichen exploitation is totally band. Commercially the lichens are sold in the name of
“Charrila” or “Jhoola”.
References
Champion, H.G. and Seth, S.K. (1968). A Revised Survey of the Forest Type of India.
Govvernment of India Publication India, Delhi. Sundriyal, R.C. (1992). Structure
productivity and energy flow in alpine grassland in the Garhwal Himalaya J. Veg. Sci. 3:
15-20.
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