Forestry CDM projects involving afforestation and reforestation offer opportunities for CO₂ mitigation by removal of accumulated CO₂ in atmosphere, and sequester it in vegetation, soil and wood products. Besides being grown for longer periods, tree species of medicinal importance are associated with recurring benefits to the growers, on account of fruits, seeds and other products. The potential of involvement of low income communities in growing these tree species for sustainable economic returns make these plantations a promising activity under CDM framework. The present study on plantation models of tree species used for making Triphala, i.e., Amla (Phyllanthus emblica), Bahera (Terminalia belirica) and Harar (Terminalia chebula) has shown that there is a sequestration potential in the range of 2.83 to 12.85 tons of CO₂ per ha per year with corresponding carbon benefits of Rs. 650/- to Rs. 2954/- and Rs. 1300/- to Rs. 5908/- under carbon prices of $5 and $10 per ton of CO₂ respectively, on annual basis for a project period of 30 years. The study has further shown that the increase in returns due to carbon benefits can motivate the small farmers to opt for plantation of these species on farm bunds.

Prioritization of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) of commercial value as per people's perception has high implications for conservation as well increasing community incomes through domestication. Based on a study done in Western Arunachal Pradesh, where as many as 343 NTFPs are collected from wild habitats and used by five tribal communities, an exercise of community preference matrix for prioritization of best NTFPs for adoption in traditional farming systems was performed. It was accomplished through focused group discussion by assessing community choice and preferences of NTFPs along with a further prioritization of species by matching them with each other. The communities identified 23 potential NTFPs that can fetch high incomes to rural communities. Most preferred species were Illicium griffithii, Swertia chirayita, Panax bipinnitifedum, Taxus wallichiana, Picrorhiza kurrooa, Cordyceps sinensis, Gymnadania orchidis, Wallichia densiflora, Aconitum fetcherianum, Rubia cordifolia and Valeriana jatamansii. Among all Illicium griffithii was most preferred species that has high prospective to be domesticated. Status assessment of six species was also done. To meet community livelihoods from NTFPs, it desires a thorough domestication and management plan for these species which will help to increase community income and also conserve them in their natural habitats.

Isolation of good quality genomic DNA from the polysaccharide and phenol-rich leaf tissues were attempted from Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) and Palas (Butea monosperma) trees, to be used in PCR-based genetic diversity studies. Out of three different methods tried, a CTAB-based method adapted from Doyle and Doyle (1990) was found suitable for isolation of good quality genomic DNA from the young leaves of Kusum and Palas trees. The genomic DNA isolated from young leaves of Kusum and Palas through above method were found to have satisfactory purity index (>1.7) at 260/280 nm absorption and high yield as well. The genomic DNA isolated through CTAB method from the young leaves of Kusum and Palas were found suitable for RAPD-PCR reactions.

An efficient procedure for in vitro propagation through axillary bud proliferation has been developed for Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Arn. ex Munro. Best results for bud induction were obtained in liquid MS medium supplemented with 15µM BAP. MS supplemented with 10µM BAP was found to be optimal for shoot multiplication giving an average shoot multiplication rate of 9.13 folds. Multiplied shoots were further cultured onto MS medium supplemented with auxin for in vitro rooting. Optimal rooting (66.13%) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 25µM IBA in four weeks. The in vitro raised plantlets with well developed shoots and roots were subsequently hardened in green house conditions. A survival rate of over 90% was achieved on transferring the plants to field conditions where they exhibited normal growth.

Leaf area measurement can be a time consuming process and requires sophisticated electronic instruments. The objective of this research was to develop a simple, accurate, non-destructive and time saving predictive model for leaf area (LA) estimation in Neem and Pongamia. In the present study the authors have developed a regression equation (RE) and a fixed coefficient (FC) to calculate the LA of Neem and Pongamia plants of five year age class grown in natural conditions. The regression equation, Leaf area = L*W*0.6585 - 0.9828 for Pongamia and Leaf area = L*W*0.465x + 0.8781 for Neem was derived by taking actual leaf area as dependent variable and product of L and W, as independent variable (r = 0.97 for Pongamia and r = 0.86 for Neem.) The FC calculated by taking the ratio of actual to product of L and W was found to be 0.634 for Pongamia and 0.572 for Neem. The equation and coefficient was validated and was found significant. The study indicates that either FC or RE can be used with precision to determine LA of Neem and Pongamia grown in natural condition, non-destructively. This type of short cut, rapid method is highly useful when a large number of provenances are to be tested or in places where instrumentation facility is not available.

Twelve populations of Jatropha curcas from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa were evaluated for genetic diversity using the RAPD markers. Twenty random decamer primers were used to assess genetic variation. A total of 118 amplified products were generated out of which 66 amplicons were polymorphic. The similarity index values ranged from 0.276 to 0.726 indicating the presence of high genetic diversity at molecular level among the 12 populations. The UPGMA dendrogram revealed the clustering of 12 populations of Jatropha curcas in 2 cluster. First cluster consisted of six populations i.e. TJC- 34, TJC- 35, TJC- 36, TJC- 38, TJC- 39 and TJC- 40. The second cluster consisted of six populations i.e. TJC- 4, TJC- 5, TJC- 6, TJC- 7, TJC- 52 and TJC- 23. The populations of Jatropha curcas showed high genetic diversity as evident by the wide range of the similarity coefficients.

Myristica dactyloides, the wild nutmeg, is an important Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) of the Western Ghats. The aril of this fruit is used as a substitute for nutmeg, Myristica fragrans. It serves the livelihood of local people living around the forest areas. However, in recent years large scale tree mortality of M. dactyloides has been observed in and around Uttara Kannada district in the Central Western Ghats, which has greatly affected the livelihood of the people. Survey conducted in six populations suggested that percentage mortality varied from 0 to 100 per cent. No apparent relation was observed between size class of tree and mortality of M. dactyloides. This study suggests that more than one causal agent (an insect pest and a tree pathogen) are involved in the mortality.

Studies conducted with Bambusa bambos on evaluation of seed pelleting treatment for production of quality seedling revealed that seed pelleting with Azospirillum @ 50 g kg-1 has improved the germination (74%) of the seed both at laboratory and at nursery up to the evaluation period of three months. Same way all the seed and seedlings quality parameters showed superior performs with Azospirillum than others with control both at laboratory at nursery.

Terminalia chebula is always listed in ayurvedic meteria medica. The fruit is used as an astringent and laxative, for local external application against chronic ulcers. Being a constituent of “Triphala” which is used as purgative and antihelmintic. Due to the increased utility with respect to medicinal value of the tree, the demand for the fruits is increasing in India rapidly. The commercial cultivation of Terminalia chebula is hindered by lack of feasible propagation techniques. Hence an attempt was made to standardize the propagation by seeds and grafting in Terminalia chebula at College of Forestry, Sirsi. The results revealed that Pre-treated seeds showed significantly higher germination percentage (63.33%) over control. The maximum germination per cent was in cow dung slurry treatment for 30 days (63.33%) followed by hand scarification with GA3 treatment (47.77%). Among four types of grafting techniques tried namely, epicotyl grafting, whip grafting, cleft grafting, whip and tongue grafting, the success per cent (66.67%), number of sprouts (2.47) and number of leaves (5.17) was maximum in epicotyl grafting followed by whip grafting.

In vitro plantlet production of Celastrus paniculatus Willd. was established using nodal segment as explants. The maximum shoot establishment was observed on the medium MS + 2 mglˉ¹ BA+ 2 mglˉ¹ Kin + 1 mglˉ¹ NAA. A wide range of variability was observed for per cent shoot establishment given by the two different genotypes of Celastrus paniculatus Wild viz., Dapoli-local and Talavali local. The maximum shoot establishment was observed in genotype Dapoli local and media combination of MS+ 2mglˉ¹ BA+2 mglˉ¹ Kin+ 1 mgˉ¹ NAA and MS+1 mglˉ¹ BA+ 1 mglˉ¹ Kin+ 0.5 mglˉ¹ NAA for Talavali local. The response for days to shoot initiation varied in the both genotypes. The genotype Talavali local had given the best response by taking minimum days to shoot initiation (8.89). Among the various media combinations MS+ 2 mgl ˉ¹ BA+ 2 mgl ˉ¹ Kin+ 1 mgl ˉ¹ NAA medium found to be better in regards to days to shoot initiation with average 9.43 days. The multiple shoot formation rate showed considerable variability between the different genotypes. The genotype Dapoli local (7.91) have higher shoots than Talayali local (6.92). Both genotypes more number of shoots on medium MS +2 mgl ˉ¹ BA+ 2 mgl ˉ¹ Kin +1 mgl ˉ¹ NAA. Among the genetic parameters studied, the magnitude of genotypic variance was greater than environmental variance for all the characters studied. The highest estimates for genotypic and phenotypic variance were found in shoot establishment. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters studied. The highest estimates of GCV and PCV were observed in shoot multiplication rate. Heritability was almost same for all characters studied. Genetic advance was higher for character shoot establishment followed by days to first shoot initiation.

Small Cardamom is a pseophytic cash crop grown on plantation scale under the shade of natural evergreen forests of Western Ghats of South India. The shade canopy provides suitable environment by maintaining humidity and evaporation at suitable level. Trees belonging to 32 families of Angiosperms constitute the major tree flora in the Cardamom hills of South India. It is desirable to maintain a mixed population of medium sized shade trees that facilitate shade regulation and to maintain more or less optimum conditions throughout the year. The main considerations while selecting shade trees are adaptability to climate, rate of growth and ease of establishment. The major shade trees that are suitable for the cardamom tracts of Kerala state of India are Artocarpus heterophyllus, Toona ciliata, Acrocarpus fraxinifolius, Dysoxylum malabaricum, Palagium ellipticum, Terminalia tomentosa, Terminalia paniculata, Pterocarpus marsupium, Canarium strictum, Vitex altissima, Hopea parviflora and Grewia tiliaefolia.

The present article attempts to highlight the issue of Non-Timber Fruit Products (NTFPs), especially in the Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand, Garhwal Hills are an important source of wild non-timber fruit species. Many of the non-timber fruit varieties are eaten raw and used, but not yet been considered as a source of alternative food products. The results reported here are the outcome of extensive study of the literature on Garhwal flora, its uses and future benefits. Information has also been gathered from local people by an ethnobotanical survey in parts of some Kedar valley villages like Triyuginarayan, Guptkashi, Phata Rampur etc. district Rudraprayag, and Chamoli. region of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarkhand.

The paper deals with the fern flora of Ghat, a botanically rich area of Chamoli district in Garhwal Himalaya. A total of 86 species belonging to 36 genera and 22 families from the area are being reported in this communication.

The present study emphasis the potential of the 24 species of wild edible roots and tubers and the need for the documentation of traditional ecological knowledge pertaining to the food plants utilization for the greater benefit of mankind.

The woody species composition of the main campus of Banaras Hindu University which spreads over an area of 1,300 acres, was analyzed. A total of 309 species were collected of which 299 are Angiosperms while the remaining 10 are that of Gymnosperms. Trees are the dominant constituents of the woody species composition of the Banaras Hindu University campus. The number of evergreen woody species exceeds the deciduous woody species. The Leguminosae, Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae are the dominant families of Angiospermic flora of the campus.

In the present paper 13 species are used for curing various diseases and disorders and 18 species are used for protection of agri-horticulural crops in Thane and Ratnagiri district of Maharshtra state.

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) one of the mega biodiversity hotspot recognized as best habitat for various medicinal plants. Himachal Pradesh, the part of IHR has such a suitable habitat which is rich in medicinal plant diversity. The present communication highlights the medicinal plants used by the inhabitants in various ailments/diseases of Barmana region in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, North-Western Himalaya. Information on 63 species of medicinal plants belonging to 35 families and 57 genera were recorded. Among these plant species, shrub (20 spp.), tree (24 spp.), herb (19 spp.) were recorded. Different parts of these species, such as whole plants, roots (including rhizomes and tubers), leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds and stems were used by the inhabitants of the area for curing various diseases. Diseases like asthma, antifertility, cancer, cough and cold, fever, diarrhoea, dysentery, skin disorders, jaundice, rheumatism, etc. mostly treated with these plant species.

Study was conducted at Bhota Research Station of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, India to estimate the variability in seeds of Acacia catechu (Khair) collected from plus trees located at 24 provenances in Himachal Pradesh, India, during 2000-2001. Significant variations in germination (%) of seeds in nursery and seedling characters viz., collar diameter, plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of roots and root length was recorded among the 24 seed sources. However, seeds collected from provenances S₄ (Wahad) and S₈ (Bhatian) performed better than others. The estimates of heritability and coefficient of variation revealed that germination percent is highly heritable. Number of leaves in A. catechu exhibits high coefficient of variability, genetic advance and genetic gain.

Lichens are one of the most important biodeteriogens that grow on old building of historical and religious importance and damage a lot. During this study hindeterioration caused by Lichens on the historical monument of Doon valley was studied. This study was conducted on five monuments of Doon valley viz. Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib, Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Forest Research Institute, Ashokan Edict and Virbhadra Temple. The study was conducted in rainy, winter and summer seasons. A total number of eight genera are collected from these five monuments. Maximum numbers of genera were collected during rainy season from these monuments in which genera of Crustrose and Foliose were more common.

The paper embodies detailed taxonomic account of five species of the genus Phymatopteris Pic.-Serm from Eastern Garhwal of Uttarakhand state. Artificial key, correct nomenclature, diagnostic features and microphotographic illustrations of all the five species have been provided to facilitate easy identification.