A Study on Deterioration of Bamboos in Reserve Forest Damtal and the Role of Bamboos in Social Forestry

Bamboos are valuable forests in Himachal Pradesh. Reserve Damtal (210 ha) in Nurpur is a major Dendrocalamus strictus bamboo reserve in the State which is being managed under proper working plans from 1903-04. Till 1954, this bamboo reserve was managed under the system of selection fellings and thinning preceded by cleaning, wherever necessary, and biennial fellings were prescribed. The bamboos were worked according to the prescription of working plan resulting in the marked improvement in the condition of the bamboo. In 1956-57 this bamboo reserve was leased out to M/s Gopal Paper Mill, Yamunanagar for 15 years. This firm did reckless irregular and over fellings violating all the rules and regulations. The cleanings were not done and biennial cutting proved to be disastrous with the result that this reserve forest has deteriorated to a great extent. These are more unbealthy culms in the clumps, new shoot production has heen seriously affected, number of culms in clump has decreased, size of culms including height, girth and length of internode has been reduced greatly and congestion is common in the clumps. There results have been compared with the private bamboos in Tika Duhg which have been regularly worked and cleaned scientifically and are in a good condition. Steps should be taken to improve the condition of this valuable forest and cleaning and thinning should be carried out beside restocking of the area. Dendrocalamus strictus is closely interlinked with the lives of rural people and this is an ideal species for Social Forestry Programme in the State.