Traditional practice of leaf litter harvesting and utilization by farmers in west-central Bhutan: Paving the way for sustainable management

Forest is an important resource for the farmers in soil fertility management and crop production in Bhutan. The tradition of leaf litter harvesting from the forests has been in practice since time immemorial. However, the continuous leaf litter harvesting has raised concerns on the sustainability of the leaf litter forests (Sokshing). There is a paucity of information about harvesting practices, utilization and management of forests. Hence, the presentstudy was aimed at generating information on how farmers perceive, utilize and manage leaf litter forests. Data were collected from two sub-districts Nahi and Limbukha in west-central Bhutan involving a total of forty farmers, using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and personal observations during field visits to the forests. The study found that despite having access to chemical fertilizers, soil fertility management for the farmers is mainly based on the use of leaf litters as farmyard manure (FYM). Given the labour intensive nature of FYM production, aggravated by labour shortages, farmers still preferred FYM over chemical fertilizers. Quercus griffithii, Q. lanata and Pinus spp. were the main leaf litter tree species in the studied areas; Quercus spp. being the most preferred by farmers. The complete removal of litters from the leaf litter forests as revealed by farmers will not only have negative effects on nutrient cycling in the leaf litter forests but also render the exposed ground vulnerable to erosion. During litter harvesting farmers’ clearing the regenerations in leaf litter forests as found in the present study, will exacerbate the already thinly populated litter forests resulting in declining productivity and ultimately the sustainability of leaf litter forests. Traditional practice of leaf litter harvesting will continue for perpetuity for the mountain farmers, therefore, sustainable management practices will have to be found and put in practice based on participatory approaches