GENERAL

FORESTS

Most of the tract of the Kolaba district is very hilly, rugged and in places highly precipitous with a general slope from east to west. The Western Ghats form the chief hill range running north-south and forming the eastern boundary of the area. There is another well-marked rugged belt of hills running along almost the whole of the west of the district and broken only by the rivers which flow through to Bombay harbour and the Arabian sea. They rise in the east to an average elevation of about 2,000 feet towards west. Forests are situated mostly on the higher slopes and spurs of these hills and the great deal scattered since lower slopes and flatter tops of the hills are invariably cultivated revenue lands or malki and inam forests. Thus the Government forests are mostly relegated to the middle, poorer and infertile slopes of hills which could not be of much use to the villages.

Deciduous Species.

With a rainfall varying from 13,110 to 24,417 mm. on an average with the exception of Matheran where there is an average rainfall of 36,379 mm. the major part of forest contains a wet mixed deciduous type of tree growth on the hill slopes with semi-evergreen to pure evergreen types on the tops and plateaus, particularly of the main ridge of the Western Ghats and some of its spurs. The chief deciduous species are teak (Tectona grandis) and its usual associates like Ain (Terminalia tomentosa), Dhavda (Anogeissus latifolia), Bondara (Lagerstroemia parviflora), Koshimb (Schlei-chera trijuga); Bibla (Pterocarpus marsupium), Khair (Acacia catechu), Nana (Lagerstroemia lanceolata), Sissum (Dalbergia latifolia), Hedi (Adina cordifolia), Kalam (Stephegyna parvifolia), Sawar (Bombax malabaricum) Asana (Bridelia retusa), etc. In the semi-evergreen regions Mango (Mangifera indica), Jambul (Eugenia jam-bolana), Asana (Bridelia retusa), Hirda (Terminalia chebida), Ain (Terminalia tomentosa), Beheda (Terminalia belerica), Kakad (Garuga pinnata), Varas (Heterophragma Roxburghii), Nana (Lagerstroemia lanceolata), Kumbhi (Careya arborea), and Umbar (Ficus glomerata) are predominating. There is a fairly profuse undergrowth of Ukshi (Calycopteris floribunda), Dhayti (Woodfor-dia floribunda), Karwand (Carissa carandas), Nirgudi (Vitex negun-do), Rewani (Helicteres isora), on the middle slopes and lower plains and that of Karvi on the upper slopes and tops. The growth of climbers is also fairly luxuriant in better quality areas and consists mostly of Gulwel (Tinospora cordifolia), Kuily (Mucu-na pruriens), Kusari (Jasminum arborescena), Palaswel (Butea superba), Chilar (Caesalpinia sepiaria), Gunj (Abrus precatorius), etc. Grasses like Fulari (Anthistirla ciliata), Kusali (Andropogon contortus), Bhuri (Aristida paniculata), Bhalekusal (Andropogon triticeus),, Kansal (Andropogon haleptensis), etc., are found mostly in the regeneration areas and blanks. Bamboos which used to be quite common have "become less prominent and both species (Bam-busa arundinancea and Dendrocalamus strictus) are found in moister parts along the rivers and big nallahs occasionally. Teak in this district is mostly of poor type except in Roha, Nagothna, Miryadongar and Dapoli where there is better teak.

Karjat Taluka (including Matheran Hill Station).

The total reserved forest area in charge of the Forest Department is about 51 sq. miles and that of protected forests is 6.5 sq. miles. Besides this there are two sq. miles of reserved forests and six sq. miles of protected forests in charge of the Revenue depart- ment and 42 sq. miles are private forests. The vegetation in this taluka is teak and its associates on the gentler slopes and evergreen on Matheran plateau and higher slopes. Because of railway facility and good metalled roads, the forest produce is easily transported to Bombay and Poona. This taluka also includes a forest area of about 10 sq. miles adjacent to Poona- district. This is situated at the foot of the Bhimashankar hill and mostly contains evergreen species. The forests in charge of the Revenue Department and private forests are not properly stocked and due to indiscriminate working denudation has also started.

Panvel Taluka.

This taluka contains about 43 sq. miles of reserved forests, four sq. miles of pasture forests, two sq. miles of fuel and fodder reserves and two and a half sq. miles of protected forests, all in charge of the Forest department. About nine sq. miles of reserved and ten sq. miles of protected forests are in charge of the Revenue department. Besides these, there are about 24 sq. miles of private forests. The tree growth on the southern side is of moist deciduous type consisting of teak and its associates. Most of the forests are accessible and there is an easy transport by road. The forest produce easily finds a ready market in Bombay, which is nearer to this taluka.

Khalapur Peta.

The forest area in charge of the Forest department is 34 sq. miles of reserved and three sq. miles of protected forests. The Revenue department has two sq. miles of protected forests in its charge and 22 sq. miles of private forests. The forests in charge of Revenue department and private forests contain sparse tree growth. The vegetation in forests in charge of the Revenue department is of the type mentioned above. The taluka is well connected by roads thus providing facility of transport of forest produce. The nearest railway stations are Karjat and Khopoli which make easy the transport by rail.

Pen Taluka.

It contains 47 sq. miles of reserved forests, about two sq. miles of protected forests in charge of the Revenue department and two and a half sq. miles of private forests. The forests in this taluka can be divided into six blocks, beginning from the north and north-east, along the southern slopes of hills that separate Pen from Karjat taluka and have an estimated area of 5,500 acres and cover forests of eight villages of which Ashti is alienated. Towards the north-west, the slopes are somewhat bare. Further to the east there is some teak on the lower and some evergreen on the upper slopes, but yields very little timber. The next group of forests which may be called East Pen Block have an area of 5,500 acres on the extreme east of Pen that run across to the Poona border. This is a valuable forest chiefly for teak with some evergreen species in the upper slopes. Most of the produce finds its way by rail to Poona. Further north at the northern end of more eastern range of hills that divide the Bhima from the Pen river, there is another block of 1,600 acres. Though the area is small it is thickly covered with timber, almost all teak. In the more westerly part that borders East Pen Block, there is a belt of approximately 7,000 acres covering forests of seven villages, four of which are alienated. Of the rest, Kamarli has some useful teak and Aghai and Dhamani have a good mixture of teak and evergreen species. The rest of the forests are poor. Some produce finds its way to Poona by rail and some by sea to Bombay. To the south-west is the Miryadongar block of about 9,500 acres. Timber is pure teak on the lower slopes and evergreen on the upper slopes. There are also to be found some Hirda (Terminalia chebula) trees. To the east of the Nagothna Range in a belt of 16,000 acres a mixture of teak and evergreen species is to be found.

Alibag Taluka.

This taluka contains 43 square miles of reserved forests and five square miles of protected forests in charge of the Forest department, one square mile of reserved forests and three square miles of protected forests in charge of the Revenue department and 25 square miles of private forests. In this taluka there are some large and valuable forests on the slopes and on flat tops of the hills that run from north-west to the south-west. These forests can be divided into three blocks, viz. Kankeshwar in the north, Sagargad in the centre and Bidvagale-Beloshi in the south. Kankeshwar block having an estimated area of about 4,000 acres includes the forests of 17 villages of which 16 belong to. Government and Kankeshwar is alienated. The forests in this block are little more than brushwood except in the forests of Kavadi village where there is some marketable teak. The natural outlets for the forests produce are the ports of Mandva in the north and Revas in the north-east. Sagargad block includes the slopes of the range that rise beyond the valley to the south of Kankeshwar and stretches about nine miles southeast to Pir pass, the line of communication between Poynad and Revdanda. This block has an estimated area of 10,000 acres and includes forest lands of 30 villages of which three are alienated. The western slopes are at present bare of even brushwood. The rest of the slopes especially near Sagargad are well-wooded containing a large stock of teak. Much of it is gnarled and stunted except in Rule and Sagargad. Except some mango groves there is little of evergreen forests. The working of these forests is regulated as per prescriptions of the working plans and the produce passes either west to Alibag or to the east to Bhakarvat on the tributary of the Dharamtar creek. The third block Bidvagale-Beloshi includes the south-eastern section of Alibag hills which run parallel with it stretching about two miles north and five miles south. This block has an estimated area of 14,000 acres and includes the forest lands of 16 villages of which Kolgar ar is alienated. Except the lower slopes which are teak, the bulk of this forest is of evergreen species. The upper slopes and many of the hill tops are thickly covered with evergreen timber with a few tillage clearings and small hamlets of Dhangars, Thakurs and Katkaris. Gnarled and decaying timber is cut and taken out of the forests chiefly to Ramraj and Revdanda in the west and to Bhakarvat and Sambri ports in the east. The condition of the tree-growth in the private and Revenue department forests is not satisfactory.

Roha Taluka.

It contains at present two Ranges, viz., Roha and Nagothna. The latter is formed partly out of Roha taluka forests and partly out of Pen taluka forests but the forest areas of the Nagothna Range have been shown under this taluka as separate figures for Pen and Roha talukas are not available since the abolition of Nagothna mahal in about 1918-1919. The forest areas of reserved and protected forests in charge of the Forest department are 117 sq. miles and two sq. miles respectively and those in charge of the Revenue department are 54 acres and one sq. mile. Besides these, there are about 34 miles of private forests.

About half way across the district, a range of hills separates Nagothna and Alibag on the north from Roha on the south, and sends a spur northwards which for about six miles divides Nagothna from Alibag. The forests on these hills cover an area of about 31,500 acres. The eastern section of the forest is somewhat broken and irregular. The species on the northern slopes is chiefly teak. On the central and northern spurs, the timber on the eastern or Nagothna side and on the western or Alibag slopes is almost entirely evergreen. The western slopes of this spur are the most thickly wooded. In short in western section, the forests on the north or Alibag slopes are chiefly evergreen and those on the south or Roha side are teak. The whole produce of the part passes through the Roha and Nagothna creeks.

The Roha Range forest lands are chiefly found along the two lines and on some connecting spurs and peaks. The two lines of hills are the low ranges that run parallel and close to the left bank of the Roha river, from Rathvad about four miles south of Kolad to Shedashi, about five miles west of Roha. The other line of hills is in west running north and south separating Roha from Habsan. Behind Roha between the Roha Range and the Habsan hills, there is much rough country with some fairly wooded hill sides. The area of this block is about 17,000 acres. Almost the only produce from these lands is stunted teak. The section to the west of Roha is covered partly with teak and partly with evergreen timber. The produce goes to Bombay by Roha and Mandale creek. The condition of the private forests is far from satisfactory.

Uran Peta.

There are no forests either in charge of the Forest department or in charge of the Revenue department. There are, however, 16 square miles of private forests.

Mahad and Mangaon Talukas.

The forest areas incharge of the Forest department are about 46 sq. miles of reserved forests, four sq. miles of protected forests and those in charge of Revenue department are one sq. mile of reserved forest and five sq. miles of protected forests in Mangaon taluka and 45 sq. miles of reserved and five sq. miles of protected forests in Mahad taluka are in charge of the Forest department while one sq. mile of reserved and two sq. miles of protected forests are in charge of the Revenue department. The forest areas in these two talukas with lower and mostly sloping hills, a denser and probably smaller area under rice, are thinly wooded and have a few forests. Most of the hill slopes are covered with coarse grass except in some patches.

Besides the above talukas there are four more talukas, viz., Sudhagad, from ex-Bhor State and Murud Mhasla and Shriwardhan of ex-Janjira State.

Sudhagad Peta.

The forest areas in charge of the Forest department are fifty-six sq. miles and there are about twenty-seven sq. miles of private forests. Majority of the forest areas lie under the towering heights of the mountain cliffs and hence spread out along the irregularly running spurs issuing out from the main hill range. The forests cover the upper reaches of these spurs with curved ridges or the terraces surrounding them and a few of them are situated inland on the crests of the low-lying hillocks that are outlying parts of the western ghats. The forests are, therefore, confined to hills and billy regions of heights varying from 2000' to 3500' with a general slope from east to west. The inland forests, however,, do not constitute one stretch of area due to their relegation to hill tops in big or small patches intervened by malki lands that often extend to the lower slopes.

With an incidence of rainfall varying from 16,387 mm. to 26,219 mm. the type of forests is moist deciduous. The natural seedling and coppice regeneration is generally profuse and its vigour and exuberance is more pronounced in the south-east, north-west and north-east corners of the tracts such as at Nagshet, Dhokshet, Dahigaon, Mangaon and Kalamb. At present, however, trees of 1,220 centimetres and above in height and 71 centimetres and above in girth are not seen due to fellings carried out at shorter felling cycles during the old State regime. The whole crop is, therefore, not even in the pole stage. The most characteristic species is teak (Tectona grandis). Its percentage, however, varies considerably in different localities. Towards the mountain base in the east, the percentage is 25 and it gradually increases to a maximum of 35 from east to west. The growth of teak is generally superior in valley regions having deep loamy soil, but a medium type is found on harder soil crusts that occupy the tops of terraced parts. This main species is associated with Ain (Terminalia tomentosa), Nana (Lagerstroemia lanceolata), Dhavda (Anogeissus latifolia), Sissum (Dalbergia latifolia), Sawar (Bombax malabaricum), Hedi (Adina cordifolia), Kalamb (Mitragyna parvi-lora), Amba (Mangifera indica) which forms small and large groves, Beheda {Terminalia belerica), Moha (Bassia latifolia), Bondara (Lagerstroemia parviflora) and Tembhurni (Diospyras melanoxylon).

The species forming the middle storey are Asana (Bridelia retusa), Gela (Randia dumetorum), Katekumbhal (Sideroxylon tomentosum), Palas (Butea frondosa), Karambel (Dillemia pen-tagyna), in watery localities, Khair (Acacia catechu), Apta (Bauhinia racemosa), Kumbhi (Careya arborea), Shivan (Gmelina arborea), Tetu (Oroxylum indicum) and all varieties of Kuda (Wrightia species and Hollarrhena antidysenterica). Pangara (Erythrina indica) arid Kandol (Sterculia urens) also make their appearance on hard crust of soil.

The undergrowth is made up of Dhaiti (Woodfordia floribunda), Karvand (Carissa carandus), Tambat (Flacourtia sepiaria), Murudshing (Helecteres isora), Lokhandi (Ixora parviflora), Pitkuli (Ixora coccinea) and climbers like Kuily (Mucuna pruriens), Kusari (Jasminum arborescens), Ghotwel (Smilax macrophylla), etc. Ghaneri (Lantana camara) is seen to invade western exposed lands of villages Chandragaon and Mahagaon adjoining Nagothna and Pen ranges, due to cuttings done for kumri cultivation in the past.

The chief consuming centres for major and minor forest products are Bombay and Poona, as they are 80 miles away via Khopoli situated in Pen range. Being a part of a backward State with slender resources before merger, the means of communications and transport remained primitive and undeveloped..

Janjira may be considered to have been made up of two distinct topographical regions, Rajapuri-Mhasla creek separating the two. The northern portion forms the revenue territory of Murud mahal and Mhasla and Shriwardhan mahals constitute the southern region. Murud and Shriwardhan mahals form part of the western coast of India while Mhasla is a bit in the interior.

The entire tract lies at the foot of the Sahyadrian hill range on the western side. Even though, most of the region forms part of the western coast, there are several irregularly running spurs with curved ridges or terraces surrounding them covered with green picturesque vegetation. The country is generally undulating with pronounced westerly aspect. It gradully sinks into the sea from an elevation of about 21,336 centimetres above the mean sea level. The configuration varies from solitary peaks of 27,432 centimetres in the east to almost mean sea level in the west over a distance of hardly ten miles. The highest peak is 39,624 centimetres and is situated in the village Vave of the Mhasla range.

With an average of rainfall varying from 16,059 mm. to 21,795 mm. the forests are of a moist deciduous type. Two broad sub-types can be recognized-(i) teak-bearing areas and (ii) fuel areas. The most characteristic species of the teak-bearing area is Teak (Tectona grandis) and of fuel area Ain (Terminalia tomentosa) and Kinjal (Terminalia paniculata). In the former, sub-type teak (Tectona grandis) and its associates occur in the following order of incidence: Ambani (Trewia nudiflora), Ain ' (Terminalia tomentosa), Dhavda (Anogeissus latifolia), Shiris "(Albizzia lebbek), Ranbhendi (Tetrameles nudiflora), Bibla (Pterocarpus marsupium), Sawar (Bombax malabaricum), Kinjal (Terminalia paniculata), Sissum (Dalbergia latifolia). The pre-ponderance of teak is overwhelming in all the teak-bearing areas, the percentage being above 60.

The species forming the middle storey are:-Dhaman (Grewia tiliafolia), Shivan (Gmelina arborea), Hedi (Adina cordijolia), Kumbhi (Careya arborea), Pangara (Erythrina indica), Sterculia species, etc.

The undergrowth mostly consists of Karvi (Strobilanthus callosus), Kuda (Holarrhena antidysenterica), Kalkuda (Wrightia tinctoria), Kevni (Helecteris isora), Karvand (Carissa carandus), Ghaneri (Lantana camara), etc.

This is the only type of forest which gives some timber. The timber is not exported but is locally consumed. The timber produced is mostly of the size of rafter (I class and II class). The sawing operations are only done in the saw-mill at Murud.

Fuel forest is characterised by high percentage of Kinjal Terminalia paniculata) and Ain (Terminalia tomentosa) which are assiciated with Sawar (Bombox malabaricum), Amba (Mangifera indica), Hirda (Terminalia chebula), Bibla (Pterocarpus marsupium), Hedi (Adina cordijolia), Kalamb (Mitragyna parvi-flora) and Wavla (Holoptelia integrifolia). Over large areas, Kinjal (Terminalia paniculata) forms over 60% of the composition. The middle storey and the undergrowth are the same as for teak areas described above.

As a sub-type of fuel forests, the various evergreen patches spread all over the area need special mention. A part of village phansad (area about 100 acres) contains Anjan (Memecylon edule) as -principal species and is found mixed with its usual associates like Jambul (Eugenia jambolana), Amba (Mangifera indica), etc. The other evergreen groves are principally composed of Amba (Mangifera indica), Phanas (Artocarpus integra), etc. As in case of fuel forests, the middle storey and the ground-floor is nearly the same as for teak forest areas described above. These pockets in sheltered localities have alone reached the climax evergreen type, as they are relatively free from adverse biotic influences bringing about retrogression.

Murud Peta.

The reserved and protected forests in charge of the Forest department are 23 sq. miles and four sq. miles respectively. The vegetation is of the type mentioned above.

Shriwardhan Peta.

About 11 sq. miles of reserved forests and 70 sq. miles of protected forests are in charge of the Forest department. The tree-growth is of the type mentioned above.

Mhasla Peta.

The forest areas in charge of the Forest department are 18 sq. miles of reserved forests and five sq. miles of protected forests. The vegetation is of the type mentioned above.

The chief yield from these forests is firewood. Very little timber is actually produced although the forests judged from their productive capacity are capable of producing better-sized timber (both teak and injaili). So far as timber is concerned, it is all consumed locally roundabout Murud and no timber of any magnitude is exported. Trees of over 9,144 centimetres are few and as a consequence the timber produced, mostly first-class rafters, is consumed locally. The main market for the firewood is Bombay which is easily accessible by sea. The firewood is brought either up to Murud, Mhasla or Shriwardhan by motor trucks or bullock carts and is sent to Bombay by sea. Some firewood from Parpoli round of the Mhasla range goes to Ratnagiri via Dasgaon creek. The road communications are poor.

Minor Forest Products.

The following is a list of the chief minor forest products from the Kolaba district:―

Apta: (Bauhinia racemosa Lam.) Leaves for bidis.

Bahava: (Cassia fistula Lam.) Pods.

Chilian: (Cæsalpinia sepiaria Roxb.) Bark.

Harda: (Terminalia chebula Retz.) Fruit.

Shemb: (Cæsalpinia digyna Rottl.) Bark.

Shikekai: (Acacia concinna DC.) Pods for hair-wash.

Tad: (Borassus flabellifer Linn) Leaves for thatching.

Timru: Leaves for bidis.

Palas flowers: Used for medicinal purpose.

Dhaiti flowers: Used for medicinal purpose.

Chief Trees.

List of trees, shrubs, climbers, Bamboos, grasses occurring in the forests of Kolaba District

Herbs.

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