Sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and associated livelihood security can be compromised by changes in the broader ecosystem. This study investigates mistletoe infection of Amla, Phyllanthus emblica and Phyllanthus indofische7i, an NTFP of significant livelihood importance, in the Biligiri Rangaswarny Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary in southern India. Infection patterns of the Loranthaceae mistletoe, Taxillus tomentosus, were characterised across the Amla population and their underlying mechanisms explored. Two alternative management approaches were investigated, and traditional ecological knowledge documented and assessedfo r its concordance and additionality to scientific data. A high prevalence of infection, and the apparent greater susceptibility of the more significant resource species, suggests that mistletoe infection has serious implications for Amla sustainability. Traditional knowledge provided novel information on infection spread, and highlighted failings in current population assessments, emphasising the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to assessing sustainability. Traditional approaches to management conflict with current institutional perspectives, but may be somewhat more effective and require further investigation. However, existing data, both from scientific studies and traditional knowledge, are insufficient to prescribe with certainty the best approach to mistletoe control. The participatory implementation of an active adaptive management programme may offer benefits over alternative management options for securing Amla as a viable NTFP harvesting system.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:501490 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Rist, Lucy |
| Publisher | Imperial College London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/8344 |
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