Page 1 of 16

European Journal of Business &

Social Sciences

Available at https://ejbss.org/

ISSN: 2235-767X

Volume 07 Issue 05

May 2019

Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 115

Emerging issues regarding environment and need of Environmental

Management in Shivalik foothills

Loveneet Kaur

Assistant Professor,

Department of Botany & Environment Science,

Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab (India).

E-mail: loveneet.bhangu@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

The purpose of this chapter is to accentuate the needs and methods of environmental

management to save the natural region of Shivalik foothills from further deterioration. The study

was conducted in various areas of the foothill region from Una to Ropar. Stratified random

sampling method was adopted for studying different sized quadrates. Ecological computation

methods were used for the analysis of vegetation of various life forms in different areas of the

foothills region. Floristic of the region was analyzed by laying quadrates of 10m*10m size for

trees, 5m*5m for shrub layers and 1m*1m for herb. Quadrates were laid at random in selected

areas of the region.

Himalayan regions are under high degree of pressure due to excessive exploitation of

natural resources above the carrying capacity of the region. Deforestation is being carried out at a

much faster rate than natural regeneration process of these trees. Large scale erosion, loss of

biodiversity, construction of roads and dams, industrialization and siltation further intensify the

problem. Moreover these factors lead to many natural disasters in the region like landslides,

floods, forest fires etc. which leads to crores of loss of country in form of life and property. So,

these problems are to be seriously dealt with before it is too late and here arises the need of

environmental management.

Key Words: Biodiversity, Conservation, Deforestation, Environmental Degradation, Floristic,

Management, Siltation.

Page 2 of 16

European Journal of Business &

Social Sciences

Available at https://ejbss.org/

ISSN: 2235-767X

Volume 07 Issue 05

May 2019

Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 116

Introduction: Shivalik hills are considered to be recently evolved and show a lot of variation in

their height and topography. Irregular hill tops, uneven clefts and slopes form the important

features of the feeble soil and vegetation [1].

Shivalik hills continues in a stretch of about 1000 km in the north-west to south-east direction of

India between 72o

-30’ to 81o

east longitudes. Longitudinally, the North West Shivalik Foothills

can be divided into Punjab Shivaliks from Indus to the Sutlej and Kumaon Shivalik from Sutlej

to the Kali. This belt varies in the width from about 280-650 km between the north latitudes of

about 29o

-37’ and transverses from west to east mainly the states of Jammu & Kashmir and

Himachal Pradesh and the hilly to sub-hilly regions of Punjab, Haryana and the Uttar Pradesh

[2].

However, the present study is conducted in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab covering hilly

to sub hilly regions of Una (adjacent part of H.P. with Punjab) to Ropar in the total length of

about 200 km covering upto 5 to 20 km interior of hills. The low hills of, Anandpur Sahib,

Kiratpur Sahib, Bharatgarh and Ropar were surveyed to investigate pattern and soil profile

particularly erected from the base of hills to the height of 250-550 ft. from foot of hills covering

base camps towards Punjab.

This region occupies very significant place in the geography of India and gives birth to

important rivers like Sutlej and Ghaggar. The rich soils of Punjab are the product of alluvial

deposits brought by these rivers from the Himalayan hills and are nourished with higher

catchments areas [3].

The Rolling Plains of the region primarily lie in Roopnagar, Anandpur Sahib and Daroli

area and are comprised of piedmont plain, the upland plain and the flood plain corresponding to

descent in the gradient of North West Himalayan foothills [4].

Now the North West Himalayan Foothills are found to be sparsely forested but according

to [5] they probably carried a very rich vegetation in the preglacial times, the evidence of which

comes from the luxuriant and discrete flora and fauna discovered from wide and distant localities

in this area [6]. The account of the present day flora and fauna shows that much has been lost

more so in the last 150 years.

Findings:

Page 3 of 16

European Journal of Business &

Social Sciences

Available at https://ejbss.org/

ISSN: 2235-767X

Volume 07 Issue 05

May 2019

Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 117

The low foothills area of Una, Nangal, Anandpur Sahib, Kiratpur Sahib, Bharatgarh and Ropar

were surveyed. These areas are under high pressure of human interference. The population of

this region is almost entirely rural and about 94.2 percent of the people agriculturists on small

piece of lands. Their needs with respect to agricultural pursuits consist principally of wood for

implements, looping for fodder and litter, and grazing for their cattle. Timber is required for

houses and less useful woods of fuels for domestic requirements. Consequently the forests form

an integral part of the economic fabric of the population along entire course of low hills and their

surroundings. Along these uneven hilly tracts, particularly at higher altitudinal ranges the soil is

poor and stony and the slopes are too steep for economic farming. As the people inhabiting

between Una to Ropar own few Kanals to hectares of land hence food produced locally is

insufficient to meet the local requirement. In spite of that, almost all available cultivable land has

been brought under plough. Population cannot live on agriculture alone and they have been

forced to keep large herds of cattle as cows and buffaloes and flocks of sheep and goat for milk

and milk products.

Excessive grazing

In a period of 10 years from 2008 to 2018, let us take the example, livestock population

of Himachal Pradesh has been increased by about by 600,000 heads. In Punjab also, the pressure

of grazing gets heavier and heavier as the cattle population increase, and areas available for

grazing either diminish in extent or deteriorated in quality. Much of the live stocks in Una,

Nangal, Anandpur Sahib, Bharatgarh, Sisawan regions are pastoral and more than 90% of them

move here and there in search of food with the flocks during winter and dry seasons and to

augment their income. Grazing in the region vis-à-vis preservation of the forests is a very

complex socio-economic problem bristling with numerous difficulties. Inspite of best efforts, no

satisfactory solution has been found and it still continues to be baffling.

Unfortunately, it is due to the wrong social concepts that the trend has developed to fell a

tree without replacing it. Unrestricted grazing with an ever increasing number of cattle have been

carried out on the assumption and presumption that’s forests have unlimited capacity and think a

reservoir to support grazing. Those living near the forests have the absolute right to avail this

cheap and easily available opportunity and may consider this gift even bi misuse or abuse.