Mapping & Growing Stock Assessment of Bamboo in Mizoram using Remote Sensing & GIS (Pre-Bamboo flowering)

The first-phase report of the project “Mapping and Growing Stock Assessment of Bamboo in Mizoram using Remote Sensing and GIS” presents a State-wide assessment of bamboo resources representing the pre-bamboo flowering period, prior to the culmination of widespread gregarious flowering during 2006–2007. The study was undertaken by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC) under the Science and Technology, Planning Department, with sponsorship from the Environment & Forest Department, Government of Mizoram. Its principal objective was to quantify the spatial extent, distribution, culm population and growing stock of bamboo across Mizoram and to establish a geospatial baseline for scientific resource management, utilization and subsequent monitoring.

The assessment integrated IRS-1D LISS-III satellite data from 2003, 2005 and 2006 and PAN data from 2003, Survey of India topographic sheets at 1:50,000 scale, existing land-use and forest-resource information and intensive field sampling. Satellite imagery was geocoded, enhanced and fused to generate a statewide False Colour Composite mosaic, followed by visual interpretation, ground verification and GIS-based analysis. Field measurements included bamboo diameter, height, weight and culm density, supported by GPS observations. Bamboo areas were classified into Pure, Mixed and Young bamboo forests, and corresponding statistics were generated at district, watershed and forest-division levels.

The study estimated a total bamboo-bearing area of 9,029.57 sq. km, equivalent to 42.82% of Mizoram’s geographical area, confirming bamboo as one of the dominant forest resources of the State. The total above-ground green growing stock was estimated at 26.93 million metric tonnes, with an average stock density of approximately 2,982 MT per sq. km. Pure bamboo accounted for the overwhelming share, with about 25.23 million tonnes, compared with 0.91 million tonnes in mixed bamboo and 0.79 million tonnes in young bamboo. The statewide culm population was estimated at approximately 6,867.82 million culms, of which more than 6 billion occurred in pure bamboo forests.

Spatially, Lunglei District recorded the largest bamboo area at 2,146.48 sq. km and also the highest growing stock at approximately 6.54 million tonnes, representing 24.29% of the State total. Kolasib showed the highest proportional bamboo cover, with 66.50% of its district area under bamboo, while Champhai recorded the lowest proportional coverage at 18.28%. Tlawng watershed contained the largest absolute bamboo area, whereas Tuiruang watershed recorded the highest proportional watershed coverage at 65.56%.

Overall, this first-phase assessment established a critical pre-flowering benchmark for Mizoram’s bamboo resource base. The report also recognized threats from shifting cultivation, forest fire, biotic pressure and the impending large-scale flowering event. The generated bamboo maps, growing-stock estimates and spatial databases therefore provide an essential reference for sustainable harvesting, plantation planning, industrial raw-material assessment, forest management and for evaluating subsequent post-flowering depletion and regeneration.

Summarized Metadata

Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 

Satellite data & Year: IRS 1D LISS III (2003, 2005, 2006), IRS 1D PAN (2003).

Thematic sub-category: Forestry & Environment

Collaborating/Funding Agency: Environment & Forest Department, Government of Mizoram.

Report Publication Month/Year: December, 2008