DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION STATUS OF A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED TREE SPECIES Dipterocarpus bourdillonii BRANDIS IN CENTRAL WESTERN GHATS

Abstract

In the family Dipterocarpaceae, the genus  Dipterocarpus is well known for the timber value of its species. The Indian species of the genus are  Dipterocarpus bourdillonii  and  D. indicus, both are endemic to the Western Ghats. The timber of the species has long been exploited for their softwood. Dipterocarpus bourdillonii  is a  flagship species identified as typical tree in composition and architecture of the low elevational evergreen  forests and its population is very low compared to  D. indicus.  As per the CAMP process the species has been given the „Critically Endangered‟ status. The future genetic value, the endemicity, the discontinuous distribution, and critically endangered status ofthe species underline the urgent need  for its conservation. Intensive field investigations in Central Western Ghats region shows that D. bourdillonii is largely confined to southern part of the Karnataka state (Kodagu or Coorg district) while D. indicus is widely distributed all through the state. Although the area of distribution of the species is restricted to Coorg, it is broken into a few disjunct patches, especially towards the northern half of the district.

very low compared to D. indicus (Pascal, 1988).  As per the CAMP process the species has been given the „Critically Endangered‟ status. Ramesh and Pascal (1991) assigned a „threatened‟ status and Sasidharan (2003) assigned „Low Risk‟ / „Near Threatened‟ status to the species.

The  future genetic value, the endemicity, the discontinuous distribution, and critically endangered status of the species underline the urgent need  for its conservation. With this context, the present study was conducted in Central Western Ghats (Karnataka) to know the distribution, population status and regeneration pattern of the species.