Enhancing ecosystem services through promotion of Homegarden: A case study of Wadi system in Budhni, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

The ‘Wadi’ model of tribal development is based on agro-horti-forestry system in the central Indian forest landscape to enhance the ecosystem services. We conducted a detailed survey of ‘Wadi’ project sites in Budhni area of Madhya Pradesh. The study revealed the presence of forty-three tree species around 120 households in the study area. Tree species richness per ‘Wadi’ ranged from two to nine based on the size of the area. The agroforestry intervention has resulted into compound increase (83.33%) in the existing agroforestry biodiversity of majority of households. The species richness and the number of trees showed positive correlation with the increase in size of the Homegarden (Wadi). Such intervention in the fringe villages of forested area could prove to be one of the effective strategies to compliment forest landscape restoration apart from increasing biodiversity. The study also suggested the need of the supply of good quality planting materials especially of fruit yielding trees.