Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

BIODIVERSITY AND SOCIO-CULTURAL STATUS OF KHATANA AND WAGHAI FORESTS, SOUTH GUJARAT, INDIA

J.I. Nirmal Kumar, Rita N. Kumar, B.S. Hiren Kumar and Gohil Amit N. N.V. Patel

Abstract

The paper deals with Biodiversity and Socio-cultural aspects of Khatana and Waghai forests of Gujarat. The sociocultural aspects such as agriculture, tradition, community, occupation, religion and biodiversity including flora and fauna are documented in both the study areas. The relationship and interaction between biodiversity and sociocultural aspects are well-narrated. It has been further noticed that Khatana forest with reference to its biowealth much disturbed and interrupted as compared with Waghai forest. On the contrary, flourishing flora and fauna perhaps reveal undisturbed nature of Waghai forest.