Jana Purna, Dasgupta Sabyasachi, Todaria Nagendra P
Department of Forestry & N. R., H.N.B, Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, 246174, India.
Environ Monit Assess. 2017 Aug 29;189(9):477. doi: 10.1007/s10661-017-6173-2.
The present study was conducted in environs of the sacred grove of Garhwal Himalaya, India, with a view to assess the impacts of sacred groves and forests on the quality and quantity of water and also to assess the effect of seasonality on perennial stream quality. Water samples were collected from three randomly selected stream spots of both the sacred grove dominated by deodar (Cedrus deodara) and the non-sacred patch dominated by oak (Quercus leucotrichophora). Water samples from both patches were within the World Health Organization (WHO) standard limits. Based on an already established water quality index, water quality of both patches was safe for domestic and irrigation purposes but needs treatment for drinking purposes. Results of the present study also showed a very prominent impact of forest type as well as management condition on water quality and quantity. The water discharge from an oak forest shows more consistency than the discharge from a deodar forest. Due to the presence of the sacred grove, the area has become the source of good quality water supply during lean season for the surrounding villages. Water quality and quantity differed along with the change in season. The sacred grove and the existing forest leave a great impression on local dwellers, as due to its presence, local dwellers never run out of water supply during the dry season. As a result, the villagers sincerely want to protect the area for the sake of their own well-being.
本研究在印度加瓦尔喜马拉雅山圣林周边地区开展，旨在评估圣林和森林对水的质量和数量的影响，以及季节性对常年溪流质量的影响。从以雪松（喜马拉雅雪松）为主的圣林和以橡树（白枝栎）为主的非圣林的三个随机选取的溪流地点采集了水样。两个区域的水样均在世界卫生组织（WHO）标准限值范围内。根据已建立的水质指数，两个区域的水质用于家庭和灌溉目的是安全的，但用于饮用目的则需要处理。本研究结果还表明，森林类型以及管理条件对水质和水量有非常显著的影响。橡树林的排水量比雪松林的排水量更稳定。由于圣林的存在，该地区在旱季成为周边村庄优质水源地。水质和水量随季节变化而不同。圣林和现有森林给当地居民留下了深刻印象，因为由于其存在，当地居民在旱季从未缺水。因此，村民们出于自身福祉真诚地希望保护该地区。
