Khasi Pine (Pinus kesiya Royle ex. Gordon): an overview on its Prospects in North - Eastern Region of India

Pines are the most economical groups of species found in the Himalayas. They provide valuable natural resources which contribute significantly to the local and industrial economy of the country and also protect the watersheds which sustains and regulates the water supplyfor the need of million that inhabit Himalayan river basins. Amongvarious valuable natural resources of conifers, khasi pine has an important role in the north - eastern region of India. It is very popular with the people of Meghalaya and in reality; the people of the area use every part of the tree. The needles are used for stuffing mattresses, chair cushions, and cheap pillows and even as cementing fibre in the mud plastered wall. The needle litter in the forest is collected, burnt and used as soil correctives in potato beds. The branches and small wood are used as firewood. The knot and the core of the dead branches are collected and used in the destructive distillation for resin. The resinous wood is used as touch wood. The timber is used for house construction and good quality furniture. The increasing demand for various products, thus, necessitates immediate measures to enhance productivity of khasi pine so that demand could be met without compromising the environmental stability of the northeast. In this region, khasi pine forests provide for not only timber and fuel to the local populations but also support demand for packing wood, stakes vegetable cultivation and its needles are used as bedding in cattle sheds.