Assessment of Ecological Health and Resources from an Ecorestored Forest-Gurguripal, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal

Abstract

The current scale of deforestation in tropical regions and the large areas of present degraded lands underscore the urgent need for interventions to restore biodiversity, ecological functioning, and the supply of goods and ecological services. This article attempts to highlight the after-effects of ecorestoration on a tropical deciduous forest, leading to rejuvenation of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The study covered aspects like- phyto-diversity, vegetation structure, phytosociology, wetland characterization and faunal components of Gurguripal forest located in lateritic tracts of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India. It aims to monitor the quality of soil and water as vital resources of the area. The forest has been found to support 21 species of fauna, 26 species of flora (including ferns, fungi, macrophytes and trees), zooplankton and phytoplankton. Almost 10 water bodies (varying hydrology) and 18 quadrats were considered for the analyses. After studying several samples from the study site, it could be deduced that the soil was low in nutrient quality, moderately acidic in nature but water table was sufficiently high due to water conservation. Water bodies were mostly turbid in nature. Average height of dominant Sal trees was 30 feet, shrubs and herbs were abundant in the zone and macrophyte coverage was low. Overall, it was unexpected that the forest supported low faunal diversity, which was mainly due to lack of food plants within the forest as compared to the surrounding villages where fruiting or flowering plants were deliberately planted. In spite of anthropogenic activities, such as, illegal felling, chopping, collection of leaf, litter, medicinal plants, various plant parts and expansion of agricultural fields occurring in forest, the present health of Gurguripal stands to be relatively undisturbed, less polluted and ecologically stable.