5.OBSERVATION ON SOME ENERGY PLANTS AMONG THE RURAL PEOPLE IN JAMBUDIA OF SAURASHTRA REGION, GUJARAT, INDIA BY R. P. DAVE AND R.S. PATEL

Abstract

The uses of plant wood as a fuel or energy source for heating is much older that civilization and was used
by Neanderthals. Use of wood heat declined in popularity with the growing availability of other, lesslaboured
intensive fuels. Wood heat was gradually replaced by coal and later by fuel oil, natural gas and
propane heating except in rural areas with available forests.
Gujarat is one of the biodiversity rich states in India. The forest types ranges from dry deciduous, moist
deciduous to thorn forests and grasslands. Champion and Seth (1968) have classified the state forests in
the 23 forest types for the state SFR 2009. Gujarat state has four sub groups of forests. The forest of
Saurashtra region is surveyed during our study area: Dry grassland, dry mixed deciduous forest, dry
deciduous scrub forests, dry savannah forest.
The forests of study area Jambudia are not quite rich in raw material for timber, firewood, medicinal and
other economical plants and plant products. But one of the observations during study, a large number of
rural population, tribals and local people of Jambudia and surrounding villages are dependent on the
forest resources of the state for firewood and charcoal. They collect and utilize many wild woody shrubs
and trees from their surrounding forest’s areas for fuel wood purpose.
They also sell fuel wood in the local market for their earning. The study revealed that nearly 85 wild
plant species are commonly exploited for fuel wood by the rural population of Jambudia at Saurashtra
region, Gujarat.
KEY WORD: Energy plants, Fuelwood.