Bamboo resources of Sikkim Himalaya: diversity, distribution and utilization

Abstract

We recorded 8 genera and over 30 species of bamboo in Sikkim of the reported 23 genera and 125 species in India. Thirty percent of bamboo species were recorded in tropical forests (0–900 m), 40% of species in sub-tropical forests (900–1,800 m), 17% of species in temperate forests (1,800–2,700 m), 9% of species in sub-alpine forests (2,700–3,500 m) and 4% of species in alpine vegetation (3,500–4,500 m). Bamboo is used for various purposes and its versatility qualifies it to be a multiple-use alternative to timber, food for villagers and for tribal in particular. Bamboo is also equally important to Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens), the state animal of Sikkim. We develop a list of bamboos occurring in Sikkim with their vernacular names, distributions and uses in the Himalayan state. However, more extensive study is required to fully describe the bamboo diversity of the Himalayan state.

Keywords

bamboo / Dendrocalamus / diversity / uses / Sikkim

References

[1] Adkoli NS. Kumar A, Rao IVR, Sastry C. Indian bamboos in early 21st century. Bamboo for sustainable Development, Proceedings of the Vth International Bamboo Congress and the VIth International Bamboo Workshop, 2002 17 25

[2] Bhatt BP, Singha LB, Singh K, Sachan MS. Some commercial edible bamboo species of North East India: Production, Indigenous uses, Cost-Benefit and management strategies. The Journal of the American Bamboo Society, 2003, 17(1): 4-20.

[3] Boontawee B. Status of bamboo research and development in Thailand. Proceedings of the International Bamboo workshop held in Cochin, India, 14–18 November. 1988, Canada: Kerala Forest Research Institute and International Development Research Center, 1214.

[4] Brandis D. Indian Trees: An Account of Trees, Shrubs, Woody Climbers, bamboos and Palms Indigenous or Commonly Cultivated in the British India Empire. 1906, London: A. Constable

[5] Dransfield S. The Bamboos of Sabah. Sabah Forest Report, No. 14. Malaysia, 1992

[6] FSI Forest Survey of India. India State of Forest Report 2011. Sikkim, 2011 214 218

[7] Gamble JS. A Manual of Indian Timbers: An Account of the Growth, Distribution and Uses of the Trees and Shrubs of India and Ceylon with Descriptions of Their Wood-Structure. 1902, London: S. Low, Marston & Co. Ltd

[8] Holttum RE. The bamboos of the Malay Peninsula. The Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore, 1958, 16: 1-135.

[9] Hooker JD. Flora of British India, vol. VII. 1896, London: Forgotten Books, 724.

[10] Hore DK. Genetic resources among bamboos of Northeastern India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany, 1998, 22(1): 173-181.

[11] Johnson K, Schaller G, Hu J. Comparative behavior of red and giant pandas in Wolong Reserve, China. Journal of Mammalogy, 1988, 69(3): 552-564.

[12] Khoshoo TN. Plant Diversity in the Himalaya: Conservation and Utilization. G.B. Pant Memorial Lecture: III. 1992, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora: G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development

[13] Lepcha SR, Gurung R, Arrawatia ML. Traditional Lepcha craft Sumok-thyaktuk (Lepcha Hat) and its conservation in Dzongu Tribal Reserved Area (DTRA), Sikkim, India. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2012, 11(3): 537-541.

[14] Lobovikov M, Paudel S, Piazza M, Ren H, Wu JQ. World Bamboo Resources. A Thematic Study Prepared in the Framework of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. 2005, Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

[15] McClure FA. The Bamboos-A Fresh Perspective. 1966, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press

[16] Noltie HJ. Flora of Bhutan: Including a Record of Plants from Sikkim and Darjeeling Volume 3, Part 2. Edinburgh: Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh, and Royal Government of Bhutan, 2000

[17] Panthi S, Aryal A, Raubenheimer D, Lord J, Adhikari B. Summer Diet and Distribution of the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal. Zoological Studies, 2012, 51(5): 701-709.

[18] Pradhan S, Saha GK, Khan JA. Ecology of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in the Singhalila National Park, Darjeeling, India. Biological Conservation, 2001, 98(1): 11-18.

[19] Pradhan S, Saha GK, Khan JA. Food habits of the red panda, Ailurus fulgens in the Singhalila National Park, Darjeeling, India. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, 2001, 98(2): 224-230.

[20] Rai SN, Chauhan KVS. Distribution and growing stock of bamboos in India. Indian Forester, 1998, 124(2): 89-98.

[21] Reid DG, Hu J, Huang Y. Ecology of the Red Panda Ailurus fulgens in the Wolong Reserve, China. Journal of Zoology, 1991, 225(3): 347-364.

[22] Robert AY, Joseph RH. Bamboo in the United States: Description, Culture, and Utilization, 1961

[23] ZooGoer, 1992, 21 2

[24] Sharma TK, Sharma S. Medical plants of Sikkim. 2010, Gangtok: Sharma and Sharma Publication, 1 6

[25] Sundriyal M, Sundriyal RC, Sharma E, Purohit AN. Wild edibles and other useful plants from the Sikkim Himalaya, India. Oecologia Montana, 1998, 7: 43-54.

[26] Tamang B, Tamang JP. Traditional knowledge of bio preservation of perishable vegetable and bamboo shoots in Northeast India as food resources. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 2009, 8(1): 89-95.

[27] Tewari DN. A monograph of Bamboo. 1992, Dehradun, India: International Book Distributors, 495.

[28] Uchimura E. Bamboo cultivation. Bamboo Research in Asia, Proceeding of Workshop Held in Singapore 28–30 May 1980, 1980

[29] Varmah JC, Bahadur KN. Country report and status of research on bamboos in India (Indian Forest Record). Botany, 1980, 6(1): 1-28.

[30] Wei FW, Feng ZJ, Wang ZW, Hu J. Current distribution, status and conservation of wild red pandas Ailurus fulgens in China. Biological Conservation, 1999, 89(3): 285-291.

[31] Wei FW, Feng ZJ, Wang ZW, Hu J. Habitat use and separation between the giant panda and the red panda. Journal of Mammalogy, 2000, 80(2): 448-455.

[32] Wong KM. The Bamboos of Peninsular Malaysia. Malayan Forest Record, No. 41, 1995

[33] Yang YM, Wang KL, Pei SJ, Hao JM. Bamboo diversity and traditional uses in Yunnan, China. Mountain Research and Development, 2004, 24(2): 157-165.

[34] Yonzon P, Hunter ML. Conservation of the red panda Ailurus fulgens. Biological Conservation, 1991, 57(1): 1-11.