Table 1 Characteristic features of the buffer zone villages situated along an elevational gradient in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, India.
Parameter | Lower | Middle | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
Altitude (m) | 1900–2400 | 2400–2800 | 2800–3600 |
Transhumance | Not practiced | Practiced (short migration) | Practiced |
Cropping pattern | 3 crops per 2 years | 3 crops per 2 years | 1 crop per year |
Distance from NDBR core zone (km) | 5–8 | 3–4 | <1.2 |
Main occupation | Agriculture | Agriculture | Agriculture |
Subsidiary occupation | Animal Husbandry | Animal Husbandry | Animal Husbandry |
Horticultural trees | Present | Present | Present |
Number of cultivated agricultural crops | 14 | 12 | 10 |
Number of cultivated medicinal plant species | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Land under traditional crops (ha) | 105 | 61 | 107 |
Land under medicinal plants (ha) | 2.12 | 3.49 | 5.79 |
Total arable land (ha) | 107.12 | 64.49 | 112.79 |
Name of the villages | Lata, Reni and Peng | Tolma, Suki, Bhallagaon, Phagti and Laung | Malari, Dronagiri Garpak and Niti |