Silviculture Division

Activities

Creation of Seed Orchards and identification of Superior/Plus Tree species.
Standardizing Nursery Practices and Propagation through tissue culture techniques of Rare, Endangered and Critically Endangered species and restock in the natural habitat.
Protection and Conservation of Rare, Endangered & Endemic Plant Species through in-situ Conservation and protection from natural and biotic pressure.
Protection and Conservation of Rare, Endangered & Endemic Plant Species and Medicinal Plants through ex-situ conservation viz. Germplasm bank, creation and maintenance of herbal garden.
Conservation & Developing protocols of important tree and Bamboo species of the State.
Micropropagation and development of tissue culture protocols of Rare, Endangered & Endemic Plant Species including Orchids and Medicinal Plant, Nepenthes khasiana (Pitcher plant) and other plants.

Achievements

Standardizing Nursery Practices

The Division has standardized Nursery practices for:

Medicinal Plants

Taxus baccataAquilaria agallochaTerminalia arjunaTerminalia chebulaTerminalia bellerica

Rare & Endangered Species

Ilex khasianaPodocarpus nerifolia

Commercially Important Species

Michelia champacaToona ciliataChukrassia tabularis

Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory

The Department has established a state-of-the-art Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory at Upper Shillong with the following objectives:

Standardization of plant tissue culture protocol of rare and endangered plants, orchids, bamboo and medicinal plants of the region for large scale propagation.
Conservation of rare and endangered plants, orchids, bamboo and medicinal plants through plant tissue culture techniques.
Imparting knowledge of plant tissue culture techniques through training, workshops, etc. to students, farmers and Department officials.

Species for which tissue culture protocols have been standardized:

Rare, Endangered & Endemic Plants 6 spp.

Nepenthes khasiana, Ilex khasiana, Citrus indica, Nymphea tetragona, Gymnocladus assamicus, Citrus grandis

Orchids 19 spp.

Dendrobium nobile, D. chrysanthum, Vanda cerulea, Paphiopedilum insigne, P. villossum, P. hirsutissimum, Pleione praecox, P. maculata, Cymbidium cochleare, C. elegans, C. eburneum, Coelogyne corymbosa, C. fimbriata, Cymbidium iridoides, Dendrobium falconeri, D. longicornu, D. ochreatum, Cymbidium mastersii, Dendrobium primulinum

Medicinal Plants 9 spp.

Aegle marmelos, Acacia catechu, Aquilaria agallocha, Terminalia bellerica, T. chebula, Tectona grandis, Gmelina arborea, Panax pseudoginseng, Taxus baccata

Bamboo 4 spp.

Bambusa nana, Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Dendrocalamus strictus

Advantages of Tissue Culture Grown Seedlings:

High quality true to type seedlings

Rapid large scale mass multiplication

Round the year production

Production of disease-free seedlings

Easy transportation & lower cost

Propagation of plants that fail to produce seeds or have long dormancy periods

Conservation of endangered & endemic plants with poor germination capacity

Orchid seed germination feasible via tissue culture — otherwise very difficult

Protection of Areas with Rare & Endangered Plant Species

The scheme "Conservation of Rare and Endangered Plants" is implemented by the Silviculture Division. So far, 55 hectares of plantation area of rare and endangered plant species have been successfully raised and maintained in different centres of the State. Prominent species planted include:

Taxus baccataCarpinus vimineaPodocarpus nerifoliaRhododendron arboreumAquilaria agallocha

Ex-situ & In-situ Conservation of Nepenthes khasiana (Pitcher Plant)

The only pitcher plant found in India, endemic to Meghalaya. A straggling scandent insectivorous shrub growing in undisturbed subtropical and tropical forests at elevations of 1000–1500 m MSL.

Critically Endangered (IUCN) CITES Appendix I Wildlife Protection Act 1972 — Schedule VI

Medicinal Uses

The fluid in the unopened pitcher is used to treat eye, digestive and urinary ailments and for diabetes. The pitcher with its content is made into paste and applied on affected parts of leprosy patients.

Conservation Measures

Fire protection in dry months; habitat surveys conducted; tissue culture techniques standardised for multiplication; tissue culture grown plants used to restock natural habitat. Ex-situ conservation areas established at Laitkynsew, Mawsmai and Umkhuti.

In-vitro Multiplication of Orchids

The State of Meghalaya is famous for its beautiful orchids. About 300 species have been reported. A research laboratory was set up at Shillong to multiply and propagate orchids through tissue culture techniques. Tissue culture protocols of 19 orchid species have been standardized.

Orchids at Conservation Centre (70 species)

#	Botanical Name
1	Agrostophyllum brevipes King & Pantl.
2	Agrostophyllum planicaule Wall. ex Lindl.
3	Anthogonium gracile Lindl.
4	Arundina graminifolia D. Don
5	Bulbophyllum forrestii Seiderf.
6	Bulbophyllum gymnopus Hook.f.
7	Bulbophyllum striatum Griff.
8	Bulbophyllum umbellatum Lindl.
9	Cephalantheropsis obcordata Lindl.
10	Coelogyne corymbosa Lindl.
11	Coelogyne flaccida Lindl.
12	Coelogyne fuliginosa Lodd. ex Hook.
13	Coelogyne ovalis Lindl.
14	Coelogyne viscosa Rchb.f.
15	Cymbidium aloifolium Lindl.
16	Cymbidium bicolor Lindl.
17	Cymbidium cochleare Lindl.
18	Cymbidium eburneum Lindl.
19	Cymbidium elegans Lindl.
20	Cymbidium iridioides D. Don
21	Cymbidium lancifolium Hook.f.
22	Dendrobium aduncum Wall.
23	Dendrobium chrysanthum Lindl.
24	Dendrobium crepidatum Lindl. & Paxton
25	Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl.
26	Dendrobium devonianum Paxton
27	Dendrobium heterocarpum Wall. ex Lindl.
28	Dendrobium jenkinsii Wall. ex Lindl.
29	Dendrobium moschatum Buch-Ham
30	Dendrobium nobile Lindl.
31	Dendrobium ruckeri Lindl.
32	Dendrobium ochreatum
33	Eria bambusifolia Lindl.
34	Eria coronaria Lindl.
35	Eria lasiopetala Willd.
36	Eria paniculata Lindl.
37	Eria stricta Lindl.
38	Esmeralda clarkei Rchb.f
39	Flickingeria fugax Rchb.f
40	Gastrochilus calceolaris Buch-Ham. ex Sm.
41	Goodyera procera Ker-Gawl.
42	Liparis cordifolia Hook.f.
43	Micropera obtusa Lindl.
44	Micropera rostrata Roxb.
45	Neogyna gardneriana Lindl.
46	Otochillus fuscus Lindl.
47	Oberonia pachyrachis Rchb.f. ex Hook.f.
48	Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum Lindl. ex Hook.f.
49	Paphiopedilum insigne Wall. ex Lindl.
50	Paphiopedilum venustum Wall. ex Sims.
51	Papilionanthe vandarum Rchb.f
52	Phaius flavus Lindl.
53	Phalaenopsis taenialis Lindl.
54	Pholidota articulata Lindl.
55	Pleione humilis D. Don
56	Pleione maculata Lindl.
57	Pleione praecox D. Don
58	Porpax gigantea Deori
59	Phaius tancarvilleae L'Her.
60	Rhomba lanceolata Lindl.
61	Rhynchostylis retusa Lindl.
62	Schoenorchis gemmata Lindl.
63	Smitinandia micrantha Lindl.
64	Spathoglottis pubescens Lindl.
65	Tainia minor Hook.f.
66	Thunia alba Lindl.
67	Vanda alpina Lindl.
68	Vanda coerulea Griff. ex Lindl.
69	Vanda cristata Lindl.
70	Vanda undulata Lindl.

Gene-Pool Conservation of Medicinal Plants

The scheme "Conservation of Medicinal Plants" is implemented by the Silviculture Division. 96 gene-pool conservation plots and 5 hectares of plantation area have been raised and maintained at different locations in East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and East Garo Hills. Plots are of dimensions 6×6 m (herbaceous), 8×8 m (shrub) and 12×12 m (tree species).

Plant species conserved in these plots include:

Rhus semialataMyrica nagiGaultheria fragrantissimaRubus ellipticusPanax ginseng Potentilla fulgensMentha arvensisSwertia chirataSolanum nigrumAcorus calamus Abroma agustaAzadirachta indicaAverrhoa carambolaNepenthes khasiana Terminalia arjunaTerminalia chebulaTerminalia bellericaRauvolfia serpentina Asparagus racemosusAquilaria agallochaRhododendron arboreumTaxus baccata

Development of Bamboo

Meghalaya is well endowed with bamboo resources. 38 species from 11 genera are found in the state. Bambusetum of 10 hectares each established at Rongrengiri (East Garo Hills) and Lumsohpetbneng (Ri Bhoi). A 2-hectare bamboo nursery at each centre produces quality planting stock.

Bamboo Species at Bambusetum

#	Bamboo Species	#	Bamboo Species
1	Bambusa bambos (Linn.)	11	Bambusa balpakramii Naithani
2	Dendrocalamus hamiltonii	12	Dendrocalamus hookeri
3	Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.)	13	Gigantochloa albociliata (Munro)
4	Melocanna maclellandi (Munro)	14	Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.)
5	Phyllostachys manni	15	Schizostachyum mannii
6	Bambusa balcooa (Roxb.)	16	Bambusa cacharensis
7	Bambusa cacharensis	17	Bambusa multiplex
8	Bambusa polymorpha	18	Bambusa tulda (Roxb.)
9	Bambusa vulgaris	19	Bambusa vulgaris var. vittata
10	Bambusa vulgaris forma waminii

Nurseries

The Silviculture Division has created nurseries at Umsaw (Ri-Bhoi), Sangmein, Upper Shillong, Umkhuti and Rongrengiri (East Garo Hills). Some of the plant species raised include:

Podocarpus nerifoliaIlex khasianaIlex excelsIlex venulosaGymnocladus assamicus Aquilaria agallochaMagnolia lanuginosaMagnolia insignisMagnolia caveanaMagnolia punduana Taxus baccataTaxus wallichianaElaeocarpus prunifoliusAcer laevigatumCarpinus viminea Terminalia bellericaTerminalia chebulaTerminalia arjunaRauvolfia serpentinaRauvolfia tetraphylla Dillenia indicaOroxylum indicumPhyllanthus emblicaGarcinia pedunculataMyrica spp.

Permanent Sample Plots (PSPs)

Plot No.	Location / Reserved Forest	Range	Division	Year	Area (ha)	Target Species
PSP/MEG/01	Riat Khwan Reserved Forest	Shillong	East Khasi Hills	1978	0.20	Pinus kesiya (Khasi Pine)
PSP/MEG/02	Nongkhyllem Reserved Forest	Lailad	Ri-Bhoi Wildlife	1982	0.30	Shorea robusta (Sal)
PSP/MEG/03	Darugiri Reserved Forest	Darugiri	East Garo Hills	1980	0.25	Tectona grandis (Teak)
PSP/MEG/04	Riat Khwan Reserved Forest	Shillong	East Khasi Hills	1985	0.20	Schima wallichii
PSP/MEG/05	Nongkhyllem Reserved Forest	Lailad	Ri-Bhoi Wildlife	1990	0.30	Mixed Semi-Evergreen
PSP/MEG/06	Darugiri Reserved Forest	Darugiri	East Garo Hills	1995	0.25	Gmelina arborea (Gamhar)
PSP/MEG/07	Angratoli Reserved Forest	Baghmara	South Garo Hills	1988	0.20	Shorea robusta (Sal)
PSP/MEG/08	Pitcher Plant Sanctuary	Baghmara	South Garo Hills	2002	0.15	Nepenthes khasiana
PSP/MEG/09	Umiam Forest Block	Umiam	East Khasi Hills	2005	0.20	Pinus kesiya (Khasi Pine)
PSP/MEG/10	Upper Shillong Reserved Forest	Mylliem	East Khasi Hills	1975	0.40	Pinus kesiya / Cryptomeria
PSP/MEG/11	Nongkhyllem Reserved Forest	Lailad	Ri-Bhoi Wildlife	2010	0.30	Toona ciliata
PSP/MEG/12	Mawphlang Sacred Grove	Mawphlang	East Khasi Hills	2012	0.50	Subtropical Broadleaf Mixed

Preservation Plots (PPs)

Plot No.	Location / Reserved Forest	Range	Division	Year	Area (ha)	Forest Type
PP/MEG/01	Nongkhyllem Reserved Forest	Lailad	Ri-Bhoi Wildlife	1974	4.50	3C/C1a Active Sal Forest
PP/MEG/02	Riat Khwan Reserved Forest	Shillong	East Khasi Hills	1976	2.80	9/C2 Subtropical Pine Forest
PP/MEG/03	Darugiri Reserved Forest	Darugiri	East Garo Hills	1981	3.20	3C/C3 Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest
PP/MEG/04	Saipung Reserved Forest	Saipung	East Jaintia Hills	1985	5.00	2B/C2 Semi-Evergreen Forest
PP/MEG/05	Narpuh Reserved Forest	Narpuh	East Jaintia Hills	1988	6.20	1B/C1 Assam Valley Evergreen Forest
PP/MEG/06	Tura Peak Reserved Forest	Tura	West Garo Hills	1983	3.50	8B/C1 Subtropical Broadleaf Forest
PP/MEG/07	Nongkhyllem Reserved Forest	Lailad	Ri-Bhoi Wildlife	2001	4.00	3C/C1b Moist Deciduous Forest
PP/MEG/08	Riat Khwan Reserved Forest	Shillong	East Khasi Hills	2003	1.50	9/C2 Subtropical Pine Forest
PP/MEG/09	Baghmara Reserved Forest	Baghmara	South Garo Hills	1992	3.00	3C/C3 Moist Deciduous Forest
PP/MEG/10	Saipung Reserved Forest	Saipung	East Jaintia Hills	2007	4.80	2B/C2 Semi-Evergreen Forest

Seed Production Areas & Orchards

Site Name / Location	Division	Year	Area (ha)	Tree Species	Type of Facility
Jyrngam SPA	West Khasi Hills	1994	10.00	Pinus kesiya (Khasi Pine)	Seed Production Area
Lailad SPA	Ri-Bhoi Wildlife	1996	15.00	Shorea robusta (Sal)	Seed Production Area
Darugiri Teak Orchard	East Garo Hills	1991	8.00	Tectona grandis (Teak)	Clonal Seed Orchard
Jyrngam Seed Orchard	West Khasi Hills	1998	5.00	Pinus kesiya (Khasi Pine)	Seedling Seed Orchard
Umdiker Seedling Orchard	Ri-Bhoi	2002	4.50	Gmelina arborea (Gamhar)	Seedling Seed Orchard
Mawphlang SPA	East Khasi Hills	2005	12.00	Schima wallichii	Seed Production Area
Lailad Gmelina SPA	Ri-Bhoi Wildlife	1999	6.00	Gmelina arborea	Seed Production Area
Darugiri Teak SPA	East Garo Hills	1989	20.00	Tectona grandis (Teak)	Seed Production Area
Saipung Pine Orchard	East Jaintia Hills	2006	7.50	Pinus kesiya	Clonal Seed Orchard
Baghmara Sal SPA	South Garo Hills	2000	11.00	Shorea robusta (Sal)	Seed Production Area

Forest & Environment Department