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Sikkim
Sikkim is located in the Eastern Himalayan region with a geographical area of 7096 sq.km. The State being a part of the inner ranges of the Himalayas has no open valley or plains. The altitudinal zone ranges from 300 m to 8353 m above mean sea level comprising of lower hills, middle and upper hills, alpine regions and snow bound areas. The highest elevation in the State is the mountain Kanchendezonga. The climate of the State can be broadly classified into the Sub-Tropical, Temperate and alpine zones. For most of the year, the Climate is cold and humid as rainfall occurs in almost every month.
Bamboo is one of the most important forest resources in Sikkim. Its wide range of uses and its great versatility qualifies it to be a multiple use alternative to timber, food to the rural poor and tribal in particular. The main genera found in the State are Arundinaria, Bambusa, Cephalostachyum, Dendrocalamus, Phyllostachys etc.
Bamboo are usually found in the moist valleys, sheltered depressions, along the streams and the lower hill slope of the Sal forests, moist deciduous forests, wet temperature forests and sub-alpine coniferous forests of the State. In the forests areas, Arundinaria species are found in substantial areas as undergrowth in the middle hill, temperate and sub-alpine zones. Dendrocalamus hamiltonii occurs over extensive areas as undergrowth in lower hills forests. Substantial Bamboo stocks are also available in contiguous agricultural land areas. Large size bamboo occurs along the streams. Sal belt, Gorucharan and Khasmal forests lands roadside, private land areas and in the homestead gardens. The cultivation of Bamboos in rural areas is restricted to margins of watercourses in the agriculture sector, corner or borders of dry farming lands of field bunds and homesteads. Some important Bamboo species occurring in the State are as under:
Species
|
Common Name
|
Altitude(in meter)
|
Arundinaria mailing Gambel (Arundinaria recemosa) |
Mailing |
|
Arundinaria Suberects munro |
Sanu Mailing |
|
Bambusa nutans wall |
Mala Bans |
|
Bambusa Pallida munro |
Deu Bans |
|
Bambusa tulda Roxb |
Karanti bans |
Up to 900 |
Bambusa vulgaris schard |
Bongshingh / Lota bans |
|
Cephalostachyum capitatum Var.decomposita |
Cope bans |
|
Cephalostachyum fuchsianum Gamble |
Palom |
|
Cephalostachyum latifornum Gamble |
Cope bans |
|
Cephalostachyum hookernia Gamble |
Pareng/Singhana |
|
Cephalostachyum intermedia (A intermedia Munro) |
Tita Nigalo |
|
Cephalostachyum Polystachya |
--- |
|
Demdracalamum hamlintoniii |
Choya bans |
Up to 900 |
Dendrocalamus hookery |
Kao Bans |
Up to 900 |
Dendrocalamus Patellaries Gamble |
Pajiok Pao |
|
Dendrocalamus Sikkimensia Gamble |
Bhalu bans |
|
Neohouzeous dullooa (Teinostachyum dollooa) |
Tokri bans |
|
Pseudostachyum polymorphum Munro |
Pheling |
|
Semiarundinaria patingli |
Mailing |
|
Thanocalmus aristatus (Arundinaria aristata) |
Rato Nigalo |
|
Teinostychyum falconeri |
Phurse Nigalo |
|
Phyllostanchys edulis |
Katta bans |
|
Chimnobambusa quadrangularis |
Nigala bans |
|
Cephalastachuyum hookeriana |
Singhani bans |
|
Thamanocalamus aristatus |
Ghode Nigalo |
|
Pseudostachyum polymorophum |
Filling bans |
|
Access and Regulatory Regime:
Promoting cultivation of bamboo in private, non-forest and agricultural areas would be facilitated if the regulations on cutting, transport and use of bamboos under the Forests laws are relaxed and better return and market to the development of bamboos. The export of bamboos would provide better return and market to the farmers. In this respect vide circular NO. 12/F/FEWD dated 4.4.2001, the royalty imposed on villagers for bamboo for their bonafide use has been withdrawn and had been made free, but for commercial / industrial use purposes supplied by the villagers the existing rate of royalty continue. To promote the bamboo cultivation on private lands as well as on forest lands through the JEMCs and EDC’s, the State Government had decided the followings in respect of bamboos development, marketing and export of bamboos.
Effective from 1st April 2004 the State Government has modified the access and regulatory regime as follows:
- For bonafide use by villagers from private holding, it would be free of royalty and for commercial sale / Industrial use, the existing rate of royalty would continue. Those villagers / persons who are the members of JFMCs / EDC’s and have actively been involved in bamboos from their private holdings on sale.
- For bamboos extracted from the forest areas, the existing rate of royalty would continue.
- All transit permits for bamboo within state shall be issued by the Divisional Forest Officer (T) concerned after the verification report from the concerned Range and Punchayats as per the (i) & (ii) above.
- The export of bamboos and bamboo product out side the state shall be permitted on the existing rate of royalty and the export license and permit would be issued by the office of the Conservator of Forest (Territorial). The License fee charged shall be the rate of royalty of bamboo as per the quantity of license required by the licensee per year.
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