Bamboo Resource Scenario in the North - Eastern Part of Karbi-Anglong District, Assam: A Case Study.

Bamboos are the tallest grass of the world and widely distributed in India and abundantly occur in northeastern region of India. Bamboos play an important role in the day to day lives of common people of Assam in general and among the Karbis in particular. Bamboo is the most extensively used plant resource among the Karbis. The present study attempts to find out the importance of bamboo among the Karbi tribes, availability and utilization pattern of bamboo and to identify the hindrance of the economic gain. Field study was undertaken among the Karbis in different villages of Karbi Anglong District of Assam. Case study, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and SWOT analysis methods were used for collecting the relevant information. The primary data was collected by structured and unstructured interview. It has been observed that bamboo is the most popular and extensively used forest resource among the Karbis and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees is the most frequently used species in the hills while in the plains Bambusa tulda Roxb. and Bambusa balcooa Roxb. (Sil borua) are the commonly used species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]