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One-fourth of the total tea production in India comes from smallholder tea estates, thus signifying the importance of this land use in biomass carbon management. As small-scale tea plantation management provides livelihood security to the growers, they prefer to manage such plantation over a long period of time and therefore maintaining a permanent sink of carbon. In the present study from Barak Valley part of North East India, such smallholder plantations were assessed for carbon stock in tea bushes, shade trees and soil compartment. Allometric equation for tea plants developed from this region was used for estimation of biomass carbon stock in tea bushes, while species-specific volume equations were used for shade trees. Carbon stock of biomass, litter layer and soil compartment in smallholder tea plantations were estimated as 30.50 Mg, 5.54 Mg and 122.17 ± 9.82 Mg C ha-1 up to 1 m depth respectively. Shade tree compartment contributed a dominant proportion (56.37%) of biomass and carbon stock compared to tea bushes (25.46%) and litter layer (18.17%). Collectively soil compartment holds maximum proportion (80%) of carbon stock followed by shade tree (11%), tea bush (5%) and litter (4%) compartments in the system. Comparatively carbon stock in smallholder tea estate is lower than many of the tropical and subtropical forestry and agroforestry systems. Nonetheless, the former sustains the livelihood of million of farmers across the tropical world and simultaneously maintains a permanent sink of carbon. Further studies are required to better understand the tea agroforestry arrangement to promote sink capability of smallholder tea estates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farming systems throughout the world are believed to be potential sinks to remove atmospheric CO2. Smallholder bamboo farming system in Barak Valley, Assam, which forms a part of the traditional homegarden system, holds promise in this respect. Occurrence of bamboo in all homesteads coupled with progressive increase in culm density over the years reflects its potential for carbon (C) storage. Hundred homegardens were selected from the study site and the total number of culms from all the different age classes per clump of Bambusa cacharensis, Bambusa vulgaris and Bambusa balcooa were recorded with their diameter at breast height. Harvest method was employed to estimate the aboveground biomass and from biomass values C stock was determined. C estimate in aboveground vegetation in bamboo farming system ranged from 6.51 (2004) to 8.95 (2007) Mg ha-1 with 87%, 9% and 4% of the total C stored in culm, branch and leaf respectively. The rate of C sequestration was 1.20-1.46 Mg ha-1 yr-1, with a mean of 1.32 Mg ha-1 yr-1. In bamboo farming system under selective felling regime, although the C stock and sequestration was low compared to other agroforestrysystems across the world, it represented a permanent stock. Harvesting of mature culms was balanced by C gain from new culms produced in the clump. Carbon assimilation ratio, an index to evaluate C sequestration potential per unit of C stock, exhibited bamboo farming as an efficient C sequester than other pure plantations or natural forests. Promotion of smallholder bamboo farming systems to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas levels to receive certified emission reduction is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the occurrence of gregarious flowering of a tropical semelparous bamboo Schizostachyum dullooa in Assam, India. It notes that the species is flowering at the entire forest range of Innerline Reserve Forest of Cachar district being seen in the culm ages present in the clump. Schizostachyum dullooa Majumber is present in the moist semi-evergreen forests of northeast India which forms the overriding vegetation in tropical and subtropical hill slopes in which it grows.

The article focuses on the role of bamboos in the management of carbon storage in the environment impacting climate change mitigation.

Storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in a long- term reservoir is one of the viable strategies to decelerate the climate change phenomenon. Terrestrial vegetation, especially forestry and agroforestry systems have been prioritized to stock CO2 through phototropic sequestration. Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), primarily managed for latex production, is explored in this contribution for its role in vegetation carbon stock management and climate change mitigation. The present study was carried out in selected Hevea stands aged between 5 and 40 years from Barak Valley, part of North East India. A total of 67 trees were harvested to estimate the biomass carbon stock in above- and below-ground components in plantations of different age groups. The study revealed that plantation density of 688-784 trees ha-1 is managed under plantations of different age groups. Total biomass (above and below ground) increased from 41 kg tree-1 under 5-10 years to 307 kg tree-1 under 30-40 years age group of plantations. Total vegetation carbon stock (Mg ha-1; above and below ground) ranged from 16.00 (5-10 years) to 105.73 (30-40 years), which is more than many tropical forestry and agroforestry systems across the world. Vegetation carbon sequestration rate revealed that 2.56 mg C ha-1 year-1 organic carbon is being accumulated in Hevea plantations. Considering the economic profitability from Hevea plantation management (through latex production) and its capability to stock high-biomass carbon, restoring degraded and secondary forests through this species will improve livelihood security and advance climate change mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information regarding bamboo species used, local name of the products, average life span of the products, cost of bamboo products, total number of items prepared per day, number of working days per year were gathered through field visits and interaction with villagers. It mentions that bamboo is traditional crafts which plays a significant role as an income generator for the rural poor.

The article focuses on the gregarious flowering species in woody bamboo Schrhizomesizostachyum dullooa in India and their regenerative ability in belowground rhizomes. Topics include the emergence of shoots from three clumps, their regenerative ability after flowering, and the important role of rhizome in the regeneration of the species.

The article discusses the restoration of wetlands by giving incentives to land managers via payment of ecosystem services. It examines the income, food security, livelihood and nutrition of the people living in and around the wetlands in Africa and Asia. It proposes wetlands as among the most environmentally sustainable systems despite their low yield caused by traditional management systems.