Plants for reclamation of wastelands

Advancing desertification, caused by environmental degradation, such as defores tation, soil-erosion, salinization and flooding, has become a global concern. The intimate association between plants and animals and their interaction with soil make the soil dynamic and enrich it with nutrients; and these keep desertification at bay.
India possesses about 175-million hecatres of wastelands or wasted lands. Phased recla mation of these lands may not only improve the soil but meet the requirement of food, fodder, fuel and timber and other economic products. Several reclamation programmes have been launched by the Government, voluntary organizations and international agencies, but they are insufficient to meet the problem of such a magnitude.

This book describes briefly various types of wastelands, their characteristics, causes, the importance of green cover, role of nitro gen-fixing plants and energy-crops, and other related issues. Keeping in view the growing need for timber, fuel and fodder, this book attempts to bring together information on as many wild or not-so-wild plants as possible, which, besides being useful in reclamation, also yield other economic products.

Out of the 1003 species dealt with, the major ones are described in their alphabetical order with emphasis on reclamation. The minor species are given in a Table. Classified lists of plants according to their suitability for the different types of wastelands and also according to their economic value are provid ed A short account on the reclamation of mined wastelands is also included.
An indispensible book for those concerned with environment, ecology, reclamation and afforestation; also useful for researchers and planners.