POONAM JAISWAL, ANITA MALAV AND PRAGYA DADHICH
Abstract
Forests are the most valued renewable resources and play a vital role in local and regional communitiesâ economic and social well-being. In recent years, the loss of forest cover has emerged as a major problem, the major reason being deforestation. The contribution of forests to sustaining life on earth is dependent on both natural regeneration and human management. Natural regeneration in many places is hindered by various climatic, edaphic, and biotic factors. In Rajasthan, the long dry season resulting in low soil moisture and low precipitation is a major climatic reason for low regeneration in forests. Amongst biotic factors, grazing is the most hazardous factor that eliminates seedlings and saplings in regenerating forests. Cattle-rearing tribes in the western parts of Rajasthan cause trouble during the regeneration stages of the natural forests. Controlled and rotational grazing with restricted grazing during the regeneration stage may help to protect the seedlings/ saplings during early regeneration. It is suggested that assisted regeneration and implementation of restoration techniques in later stages are necessary to restore forests to their natural pre-disturbance status.