Anthropogenic Pressure on Forest Degradation and Deforestation for Fuel-Wood in Watersheds of Sirsi Taluk

The study was conducted in the watersheds of Sirsi taluk, Uttar Kannada district, Karnataka, India in the year 2016-2017 in order to assess the intensity of degradation and deforestation in forest. Sample plots (100*10 m) were laid near and away from the villages. The results indicate that 8.5 species were found lopped in watershed 5B1A5 and 9.8 in 4D4F5. It was 8.1 in the plots near the villages and 10.2 in the plots away from the villages. The number of trees lopped in watershed 5B1A5 was 30 and 29.4 in 4D4F5. It was 26.9 in the plots near the villages and 32.5 away from the villages. The volume of lopped wood was 0.756 m3 in watershed 5B1A5 and 1.309 m3 in 4D4F5. It was 0.958 m3 in the plots near the villages and 1.107 m3 away from the villages. The total number of stumps found in watershed 5B1A5 was 13.2 and 26.1 in watershed 4D4F5. It was 20.3 near the villages and 19 away from the villages. The volume of wood removed in watershed 5B1A5 was 0.954 m3 and 3.705 m3 in 4D4F5. It was 1.833 m3 in the plots near the villages and 2.826 m3 away from villages.