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

The second-phase report of the project “Mapping and Growing Stock Assessment of Bamboo in Mizoram using Remote Sensing and GIS” presents the post-flowering assessment of bamboo resources and natural regeneration following the widespread gregarious flowering of 2006–2007. The study was undertaken to reassess the bamboo resource base after flowering, map regenerating areas, evaluate the regenerative capacity of bamboo forests and estimate the likely growing stock once the new bamboo crop reaches maturity. The report therefore complements the first-phase pre-flowering assessment by providing a post-flowering perspective on the condition and recovery potential of bamboo resources across Mizoram.

The assessment used IRS-1D LISS-III satellite imagery acquired in 2008 from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, together with Survey of India topographic sheets at 1:50,000 scale, existing land-use and road information, previous bamboo inventories and intensive field observations. Ground surveys recorded the number of culms, diameter, height, age and species composition of regenerating bamboo. Remote Sensing and GIS techniques were used to correct and update bamboo-cover maps, distinguish post-flowering areas from the limited non-flowering patches, and generate district-, watershed- and forest-division-wise estimates of area, culm abundance and predicted growing stock.

The analysis estimated a total bamboo-bearing area of 7,091.66 sq. km, equivalent to 33.63% of Mizoram’s geographical area. On the basis of regeneration surveys and expected growth to maturity, the total bamboo growing stock was predicted at approximately 24.01 million metric tonnes, with an average of 3,386.25 MT per sq. km and an estimated 6,123.86 million culms statewide. Among the districts, Lunglei contained the largest bamboo area at 1,956.59 sq. km and the highest predicted growing stock at approximately 6.109 million tonnes. Mamit followed with about 4.164 million tonnes, while Aizawl was estimated at 4.004 million tonnes. Champhai recorded the lowest district-level growing stock at approximately 1.163 million tonnes.At the watershed level, the Tlawng watershed was projected to contain the highest growing stock at about 3.225 million tonnes, while Tiau recorded the lowest at about 0.148 million tonnes. Among forest divisions, Thenzawl showed the highest predicted stock at about 3.809 million tonnes.

A key finding of this second phase is that extensive natural regeneration of bamboo occurred after flowering and seed fall, demonstrating considerable recovery potential. However, this regeneration remains highly vulnerable to shifting cultivation, forest fire and other biotic and abiotic disturbances. The report therefore emphasizes protection of young regenerating stands, systematic bamboo plantation, improved management and continued monitoring.

Overall, the report establishes an important post-flowering baseline for Mizoram’s bamboo resources. Its updated maps, regeneration data and predicted growing-stock estimates provide essential information for bamboo rehabilitation, sustainable harvesting, plantation programmes, industrial raw-material planning and long-term resource monitoring. Importantly, the growing-stock figures represent predicted mature stock from regenerating bamboo, rather than the standing mature biomass present immediately after flowering.

Summarized Metadata

Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 

Satellite data & Year: IRS 1D LISS III (2008).

Thematic sub-category: Forestry & Environment

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

Report Publication Month/Year: March, 2009