Impact of Root Harvest on the Population Status, Survival, Yield and Reproduction of the Woody Climber Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn. in Savandurga Reserve Forest, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Overharvesting of the plant resources unscientifically or destructively leads to negative consequences, affecting the population and placing it in a threatened category (IUCN). The roots of the endemic, endangered, woody climber Decalepis hamiltonii are used as a substitute for Hemidesmus indicus. The demand now is increasing as it is also a source of vanillin due to the presence of the flavour molecule 2-Hydroxy-4-Methoxybenzaldehyde (2HMB). The current population is under threat due to increasing demand for roots which effects the wild sources in the absence of cultivation. Thus, raising the question on the health of the existing population status. There is a prominent knowledge gap in ecology of D. hamiltonii, especially in quantifying the population size, density, demography, threats, intensity of harvest, impact of harvest, problems the population is facing due to root harvest in terms of survival, reproduction and growth remains to be addressed. In my Ph.D. thesis I address the knowledge gap in the ecology of D. hamiltonii, by capturing the impact of root harvesting on the population studied from one site Savandurga Reserve Forest.