Author(s):

Dinesh Gupta, Chandrakant Tiwari, BS Rajput, Sanjeev Kumar and Dushyant Sharma

Abstract: The Indian hazelnut (<em>Corylus jacquemontii</em> Decne.) belonging to family betulaceae is considered synonym of Turkish hazelnut (<em>C. colurna</em> L.). Indian hazelnut is sparsely distributed in small scattered group, varies from 10-15 ft bush form to 70 to 80 ft medium sized tree distributed in North-western temperate Himalayas form Kashmir to Kumaon between 1800-3300 m amsl. It is found associated with oak, fir, spruce, deodar, betula, maple and walnut in natural zone. In India, the species is little known except in high Himalayan regions where it is used mainly by the locals, grazier and the tribes (Pangwal and Bhot) as food. No literature/systematic work has been undertaken regard its distribution pattern, growth and regeneration potential, both natural as well as artificial till date in India. Beside valuable nuts, the species is extensively lopped for fodder and fuel along with maple (<em>Acer spp</em>.) and kharsu oak (<em>Quercus semecarpifolia</em>) in its natural zone. To access is natural regeneration status in wild the study was carried out in Hazel bearing forests of and of Himachal Pradesh. The manuscript describes the natural regeneration status of Indian hazelnut and associated species in selected hazelnut bearing sites in Sach (Pangi Forest Division) and Kotkhai Forest Range (Theog Forest Division) in district Chamba and Shimla of Himachal Pradesh. In all, eleven tree species were recorded form Pattidhank and Sali forest, while seven and ten species appeared in Gajta and Mindal forests, respectively. Natural regeneration was highest in Gajta (29.07%), followed by Sali (26.25%) forests distributed across two Forest Ranges i.e. Kotkhai (Shimla Circle) and Sach Range (Chamba Circle), respectively. Thus, proper silvicultural measures, along with in-situ conservation and large scale afforestation of this species with the participation of local communities is the need of the hour.

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