• BONI ANIL KUMAR
• Dr,K.Usha Sri

A system of shifting cultivation commonly knows as podu has long been in practice in the forests of the Northern Eastern Ghats of India. This paper presents our study on influence of podu cultivation on floral diversity and productivity of forest lands with special reference to the Maredumili reserved forest area of Eastern Ghats, which is a fringe area of Papikondallu National Park, Andhra Pradesh. Studies on Vegetation and productivity where carried across the different age gradients of 0 -5, 6-10, 11-15 and 16 < above years of podu abounded lands compared to the less disturbed forest region. Results revealed the uniqueness of less disturbed forest lands in terms of both Species richness and productivity rates where podu abounded lands of age 0-5 Years showed less diversity and productivity rates. Field surveys and focus group discussions helped us in understanding the increased frequency of land Rotation cycles with intervention of Forest Rights Act in the region and in conserving the forest lands along with identification of Socio-Economic factors which influenced the Monoculture plantations in the recently abounded podu sites of the study area.

Podu cultivation, Floral Diversity, Productivity, FRA, Socio -Economics.

"Influence of podu cultivation on Floral Diversity and Productivity of Forest lands: A case study of Maredumilli Reserved Forest of Eastern Ghats", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 3, page no.205-209, March-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1803041.pdf

"Influence of podu cultivation on Floral Diversity and Productivity of Forest lands: A case study of Maredumilli Reserved Forest of Eastern Ghats", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 3, page no. pp205-209, March-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1803041.pdf