After reviewing general definitions of flora, vegetation, forest and systems of classification, the author suggests viewing vegetation according to the degree of development of a region and consequent density of human population. Four classes may be recognised-viz. urban, suburban, rural and tribal. Urban categories would be limited to gardens, parks and avenue trees. Suburban would include ruderal communities. Rural group would relate to croplands, weeds and wastelands. The tribal territory would comprise the habitats of Wildlife viz. Forests and Savannas. With vanishing Wildlife, the latter category is experiencing man-animal conflicts. The crux of the problem is to keep the poachers at bay, providing welfare schemes for the tribals. Problems raised by urban expansion into forest and mangroves have been pointed out.

Annual forest degradation rate in our country is about 0.15% or 95 thousand ha and out of total agricultural land in India a major part (105 million ha) is under rainfed agricultural practices. Thus there is a need to develop the degraded land to maintain the current rate of forest productivity. The traditional agricultural practices and forestry are constrained by their limited inherent capacity of productivity. Agroforestry, spanning both the land use systems – agriculture and forestry obviously a viable alternative which take care of the objectives of both systems i.e. food security and ecological stability of forest simultaneously. Through this study an attempt has been made to develop a suitable Agroforestry models for reclamation of the vast chunk of red lateritic wastelands in the State of West Bengal in association with the local NGOs and the indigenous people that is the need for the hour. It is found through this field experiment that with the right kind of technology and selection of better combination of different tree species and intercrops with little external input even the gravelly lateritic barren wasteland can be reclaimed as ecologically and economically productive ones.

The amount of litter production, litter standing crop and export of leaf litter were studied in Kuala Selangor Nature Park mangrove forest, Malaysia. The rates of leaf fall, small branches, bracts, flowers, propagules and total litter varied from 1.63-3.07 g/m2/day, 0.08-0.38 g/m2/day, 0.13-0.39 g/m2/day, 0.01-0.23 g/m2/day, 0.03-2.29 g/m2/day and 2.31-4.46 g/m2/day respectively. Comparatively higher rate of total litter fall was observed during the drier months of July 02, July 03 and August 02; and propagules contributed 31.00 to 52.00% of the total litter fall during the dry season. Relatively higher rate of leaf litter production was observed during February 02 followed by March 03 (intermediate seasons). The rate of total litter production and leaf fall showed significant (F, p<0.05) negative correlations with rainfall and relative humidity while positive correlations were observed with temperature. The amount of small litter standing crop at different seasons varies from 63.45 to 104.59 g/m2 and comparatively higher amount of leaf litter and bract was recorded during the intermediate seasons while relatively higher amount of propagules was observed during the dry season. The export of leaf litter varied from 19.46 to 50.00 % of total leaf fall during the wet and dry months respectively.

Rhododendron arboreum Smith. is a most beautiful species among the Rhododendron genus and used in multifarious purposes. Over exploitation of this species has caused a serious threat. Observing this a study on seed germination and propagation was laid out to evaluate the possibilities of large-scale cultivation in the Himalayas. Germination per cent of this species was (Mean) 69.25 + 4.871 %. It attained a mean height of 247.00 + 36.0 mm in 2 years 9 months after germination and can be transplanted in the field.

By maintaining plantation for 14 years, a difficult site Village Dhanawas, District Gurgaon, Haryana in arid Aravalli hills was reclaimed. The plantation was a major fodder source but was clear-felled in 1999 and leased out for agriculture. Freshly reclaimed site had potential of sustainable higher yields. The inputs used in the site and the income generation were studied for two years to assess the agricultural sustainability. The lessee farmer made enormous savings and earned handsome profits from crops. The farmer’s benefits were compared with those of three farmers cultivating adjoining fields. Although the advantage of the site amelioration was still evident in second year, but the fall in the monetary advantages indicated that benefit of site amelioration may be threatened. However, maintenance of sustainable yields may require additional periodic external inputs and rejuvenation.

In conventional system of national accounts, the depletion of natural capital is not accounted for. It is therefore, important to incorporate their contribution to the national income accounts correctly to indicate sustainable income. Applying user cost method resource depletion is estimated and (SNA) adjustment is made in this study. Two sustainability indicators of Pears-Atkison measure and World Bank’s genuine saving were carried out to measure the economic sustainability of Peninsular Malaysia with respect to forest resource extraction. A detail economic and environmental valuation may provide more accurate policy signal for sustainability. However, this may allow possible strong sustainability test to interface the economy and ecology.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a typical tropical climate receiving rains both from Southwest and Northeast monsoons. The climate and position of the Islands have facilitated the evolution of diverse and unique ecosystems. Most of the floristic diversity relates to the native species of Malaysia, Myanmar and India. Since the region is isolated from mainland, migration of species is not feasible and any disturbance may lead to their becoming extinct. Great Nicobar is the southern most tip and is considered one of India’s most precious biodiversity zones. It has numerous streams making it the only Island in the group with plentiful fresh water, providing congenial conditions for the growth of unique species. The study aims to assess the biodiversity value and the environmental importance of an interesting endemic tree fern species: Sphaeropteris albo-setacea (Bedd.) Tryon (Cyathea albo-setaeca Bedd.) encountered during ground data collection in the evergreen forests of Great Nicobar biosphere reserve. In consideration with observations made and the analysis performed it can be inferred that the tree fern species has a distinct pattern of distribution and the analysis indicates the dominance ratio of Sphaeropteris albo-setacea at varied locations. The study also attempts to correlate the potential of the satellite remote sensing in exploration and habitat assessment of such ecologically important species.

Training and demonstration play a vital role in facilitating various target groups technically and scientifically for effective dissemination of technology to farmers field. It is indirectly linked with increase in production and building capability and enhancing people’s participation in environment protection. Paper deals with analyzing the impact of various types of training, ranking of constraints, village level fuel-wood, fodder and timber requirement, evaluating the perception and attitude of villagers for tree plantation before and after training in two clusters of villages. In Cluster I small land holding followed by open grazing and harsh climate, frequent draught and in Cluster II Long gestation period open grazing and harsh climate were the most prominent reasons for not planting tree. About 50 % trees would have not been planted, if the training were not imparted to villagers.

Xylaria symplocosii sp. nov. is being described for a root inhabiting gigantic form of Xylaria from Western Ghats of India.

The present study was conducted to investigate the variations in herbage production under Chirpine stands at four locations viz. Barog, Deothi, Dharampur and Tatul of Solan Forest Division, Himachal Pradesh, India during 1998.  Each location had four sites three representing different ages of Chirpine stand viz. sapling, pole and tree whereas fourth one represented an open grass land.  Herbage vegetation characteristics viz. biomass production and LAI increased from July to August/September and thereafter showed a continuous decrease up to November in all the sites. Among different species, Themeda anathera, Panicum maximum, Chrysopogon montanus and Pollinia argentea were found to be the major contributors to the biomass production. Values for biomass production and LAI of herbage were higher in open grasslands as compared to Chirpine inhabited sites.  LAI was significantly related with the aboveground biomass.

Deterioration in the fatty acid level of Prunus amygdalus and Pinus gerardiana during infestation with toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus was studied. The methyl esters of mixed fatty acids were subjected to Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC). The number and concentration of fatty acids reduced in the oil of infested sample and some of the peaks disappeared while one new peak i.e. gadoleic acid appeared in the infested sample. This might be due to the microbial conversion of fatty acids. Depletion in fatty acid content under infestation may be attributed to their utilization or degradation into simpler forms. Increase in the conc. of capric acid in P. gerardiana and palmitic acid in P. amygdalus might be due to accumulation of fatty acids produced by the fungal mycelium.

Ten different national provenances and four different seedling (RT, PB, PT & RS) raised plantations of Gmelina arborea were screened against bark eating caterpillar Indarbela quadrinotata. Ghotil, Maharashtra provenance and root shoot seedling raised plantations were found to be more resistant showing 6.66% and 5% infested plants with least number of holes and less penetration. Other bio-physical test parameters like diameter of the tree trunk, height or age of the plants and the moisture content of the bark play an important role in imparting resistance of G. arborea to I. quadrinotata.

Scapaniaceae Migula, a well known group of Jungermanniales from Himalayas made its debut in South Indian bryoflora through Diplopyhllum nanum Herz., thus extending its range of distribution.

Survival of different plant species in saline-alkali soil was monitored after supplying various reclamative amendments. Plant survival rate got improved by the amendments, which decreased the saline-alkali soil stress conditions like pH and salt concentration. The effect of amendments on plant survival was independent of plant species. Inoculation of Glomus sp. RR1 (an indigenous mycorrhizal species isolated from the saline-alkali soil) in plants enhanced their survival rate. Maximum plant survival was observed when Glomus sp. RR1 inoculated plants were grown in gypsum or farm yard manure amended saline-alkali soil.

Each colony of the termite has its own peculiar odour. Every member of the colony recognizes this odour and avoids entering in the nests of others colony. Experiments were made to alter the memory of colony odour of the termite Microcerotermes beesoni Snyder. The memory of colony odour cannot be easily altered, however if slightly reduced by some technique, resulted in the dullness or death of the termites. Colony odour seems to be genetic in origin and environment probably does not play any role in its development.

Softwood nodal cuttings of 32 months old were rooted under mist to investigate the influence of location of cuttings on rooting ability in different clones of Dalbergia sissoo. As compared to 0-15 cm height of stump, 15-30 cm of stump height produced maximum shoots, shoot length and number of cuttings with maximum propagule production. Overall, rooting and sprouting percentage, root number, root length, sprout number, sprout length, leaf number, fresh and dry weight of sprouts were better at 15-30 cm height, while fresh and dry weights of root were better at 0-15 cm. Location of cuttings within shoot influenced rooting and growth. Cuttings from central position of shoot were better while sprout length, fresh and dry weight of sprouts were better in terminal cuttings. Marked interclonal variations were observed regarding rooting and subsequent growth.