Browsing by Author "M.L. Khan"

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Assessing population diversity and compositional structure in forests in Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, Central India
(Ecological Society of China, 2024) Gajendra Kumar; Amit Kumar; Purabi Saikia; M.L. Khan
The escalating impact of anthropogenic and climatic forces on forest bioresources poses significant challenges to the effective implementation of forest management plans, necessitating rigorous field investigations to provide the precise data required for developing effective conservation policies and ensuring ecosystem stability. This study addresses this need by presenting a comprehensive, field-based baseline framework that evaluates the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on floristic composition, tree diversity, and regeneration dynamics across tropical deciduous forest patches in Central India. Using a stratified random sampling approach with belt transects in 62 sites (0.5 ha each), the research documents 190 plant species, including 85 trees, 23 shrubs, and 82 herbs, with 37.89% listed on the IUCN Red-List, underscoring their conservation significance in Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR). The findings reveal moderate tree density in the forests (386 individuals per hectare) dominated by Chloroxylon swietenia, and statistically significant correlations between disturbance index and biodiversity metrics including indices of diversity (H′), dominance (CD), evenness (E) and richness i.e., Dmg and Dmn. The study highlights a concerning trend of either poor or no regeneration in 67% of tree species in PBR, linked to increasing anthropogenic pressures such as logging and fuelwood collection. The study also recorded 737 cut stumps across 45 forest patches (72.58%), with a disturbance index of 5.54, signaling an urgent need for conservation interventions. This research provides critical baseline data on the floristic composition and species richness of these forests, offering valuable insights for developing effective management strategies. Sustainable biodiversity management in the Biosphere Reserve requires targeted rehabilitation, protection, and intensive regeneration efforts to preserve this ecologically rich yet vulnerable ecosystem. © 2024 Ecological Society of China
Evaluating the 2018 extreme flood hazard events in Kerala, India
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2020) Preet Lal; Aniket Prakash; Amit Kumar; Prashant K. Srivastava; Purabi Saikia; A.C. Pandey; Parul Srivastava; M.L. Khan
The very high anomalous precipitation (more than 500 mm) and release of water from reservoirs located in an upper catchment resulted in severe flood inundation situation in downslope regions of Kerala State in August 2018. In the present study, the satellite-based precipitation was analyzed on a daily to weekly basis during the flood duration in Kerala. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) based precipitation pattern indicated very high rainfall (more than 60 mm day–1) in the central parts of Kerala on 14 and 15August 2018. The climate research unit (CRU) based long-term mean cumulative precipitation (1901-2017) indicated high (300-400 mm) to very high (more than 500 mm) anomalous precipitation in parts of Kerala during August 2018 leading to severe flood inundation in major parts of the state. The Sentinel-1A Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) based inundation mapping exhibited flooding of 1100.4 km2 area (5.80% of total area) during August 2018, which severely affected Alappuzha, Thrissur, and Kottayam districts. Cropland (218.69 km2), settlement (115.23 km2) and shrubland (79.46 km2) were the most affected land-use/land-cover in the region. The study warrants the restoration of ecological stability and augmentation of resilience to flooding hazard primarily in the upper catchments (the Western Ghats). © 2020, © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Traditional Agroecosystems of Northeast India and Their Role in Climate Change Mitigation
(wiley, 2024) Subhashree Patra; Shilky; Purabi Saikia; Amit Kumar; M.L. Khan
Northeast India is known for its distinctive traditional agroecosystems and abundant biodiversity that have been used for millennia by indigenous tribes. Their agroecosystems are maintained with a range of unique traditional agricultural practices varied from taungya, jhum, paan jhum, and home garden to settled agriculture of rice and other cash crops. In addition to supporting the local population, these agroecosystems serve as vital strategies for reducing climate change consequences and the impact. It is the combination of managing forests, raising livestock, and cultivating crops that are specific to the climate and topography of the area. Thus, it is characterized by varied and sustainable agricultural practices. Agroforestry is another essential component that improves soil fertility, acts as windbreaks, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by sequestering atmospheric CO2. Likewise, integrated livestock management is another vital component of traditional agroecosystem practices that lessens the need for synthetic fertilizers and contributes to carbon sequestration by preserving grasslands and preventing the encroachment of forests. Chemical fertilizers, hybrid varieties, and a range of weedicides, insecticides, and fungicides are being utilized as a result of modern advancements in agriculture to increase productivity, which eventually worsens the condition of agroecosystems. Therefore, it is important to focus on the traditional agroecosystems. It not only maintains biodiversity and soil health but has a significant role in climate change mitigation by reducing the global carbon footprint. It has the potential to create synergies between initiatives to reduce climate change, conserve rare plant species, and assist vulnerable populations in coping with the adverse effects of climate change. Thus, recognizing the importance of traditional agroecosystems and encouraging their continuation will be an important factor in the area of sustainable agriculture and also aid in the attainment of various Sustainable Development Goals. © 2024 Scrivener Publishing LLC.