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The article explores the detrimental effects of expanding rubber plantations on the environment and local communities in Tripura, India. It highlights the conversion of natural forests, bamboo gardens, jhum cultivation, and farmland into rubber plantations, leading to deforestation and loss of biodiversity. The use of chemicals in rubber processing has resulted in soil degradation and contamination. Additionally, the rapid growth of rubber plantations has caused environmental degradation, including changes in temperature, rainfall, and soil quality. The study concludes that the negative impacts outweigh the benefits, as traditional livelihoods and biodiversity are at risk. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Adopting the circular economy (CE) notion in the supply chain perspective is necessary for the sustainability viewpoint. However, such practices are deficient, especially in developing countries like India, because of several obstacles. The purpose of this study was to create an approach for circular supply chain management (CSCM) adaption in Indian rubber industries by identifying and evaluating its associated obstacles. Design/methodology/approach: A hybrid approach of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the grey-based ELECTRE method had been employed in this research to obtain the mutual rankings of the identified obstacles based on their impressions on the CSCM prosperity criteria through a case study and involving diverse expert's opinions. Findings: Presented study's findings illustrate that "Lack of consumer knowledge and consciousness towards environmental sustainability" was found to be the top-ranked obstacle followed by "Unwillingness towards supply chain re-structuring". Research limitations/implications: The obstacles' prioritized rankings could help leaders to create sequential strategies for adapting a resilient CSCM structure by systematically eliminating these obstacles. Moreover, the pinpointed critical obstacles could be investigated further in separate studies and generate future studies' scope. Originality/value: During the extensive literature survey, it had been found that the CSCM practices are in the fledgling stage in the developing country's context. Moreover, studies related to CSCM adaption in rubber-based manufacturing industries were much lacking. Presented work is peculiar, aiming to accelerate the CSCM adaption in the industrial rubber sector in developing countries like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu is a significant producer of natural rubber in India. However, rubber cultivation is slowly becoming less profitable for the growers. Scientific research greatly aids in understanding the threats and opportunities to the development of any industry. The present study reviews the research carried out on the rubber plantations of the district. The low research interest and the research lacuna in rubber plantations of the district are identified. There is no previous research on the properties, utilization, or potential applications of rubberwood in the district. Underutilization of rubberwood can be considered a primary reason for the gradual decline of interest in rubber plantations of the district. Despite its uniqueness and good structural properties, people still view rubberwood as a waste or by-product. It has been mainly used as firewood or in single-use applications which require low or no value addition. Theoretical quantitative assessment of the district's rubberwood was done due to the absence of data. The present value of rubberwood in the district is understood from levels of value addition. This study serves as a base for further research by providing an overview of the rubber plantations in the district with detailed insight into rubberwood utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of climate change are more frequent due to global warming, which will negatively affect the production of natural rubber globally. There is a substantial lack of research on assessing the vulnerability of rubber plantations to extreme weather events in rubber-growing countries around the world. The traditional rubber-growing regions of Kerala state in India have been experiencing impacts of climate change like floods, landslides, droughts, and cyclones due to extreme weather events since 2016, which adversely affected the rubber plantations and latex production. Therefore, appropriate measures must be taken to prevent the frequent impacts of climate change on rubber plantations in the state that produce most of the rubber in the country (67%). It is vital to develop a climate change vulnerability map of rubber-growing regions to ensure the sustainability of rubber plantations. Climate change impacts on rubber plantations lead to permanent damages and substantial economic losses. A detailed review of climate change incidents affecting the state is presented, such as flooding, landslides, droughts, and cyclones, and the need to develop climate change vulnerability maps of rubber plantations. Developing a composite climate change vulnerability model based on multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) will help characterize rubber-growing regions based on climate change impacts and develop appropriate adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts on rubber plantations. Thus, the proposed model could be used as a geographic information system (GIS)-based scientific framework to assess the vulnerability of rubber plantations to climate change impacts for rubber-producing countries worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-human primates are highly threatened as a result of habitat destruction, agricultural expansion, industrial development, large-scale build-ups and wildlife trafficking. Nearly 60% of all primates are threatened and many are found in habitats with some form of human modifications (e.g., croplands and plantations). The adaptability of primates to survive in human-modified habitats is thus a key to determine their persistence in anthropogenic landscapes. In this study, we examined the population number and age-sex composition of the ‘Endangered’ Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei in a rubber plantation in the Kokrajhar District in Assam, India in 2016, and compared with past data of the langur population and demographics from the same location to better understand the population dynamics, demographic characters and persistence of the Golden Langurs in the rubber plantation. In 2016, we recorded six groups of Golden Langurs totaling 78 individuals with a mean group size of 13.00±4.00SD. Of the total population, 10.29% were adult males, 41.18% were adult females, 32.35% were juveniles and 16.18% were infants. The overall population growth from 1997 to 2016 was estimated to be 5.54% per year. Habitat matrices of rubber plantations with natural forest patches are important in the fragmented landscape for the persistence of Golden Langur populations. They may also act as a corridor for the langurs to move between the fragments and as food resources, highlighting the importance of such matrices for the langurs outside protected areas. Population monitoring and ecological studies in such matrices would therefore be needed for the successful implementation of targeted management strategies for the conservation of these threatened langurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil carbon is one of the most affected variables to land-use change in tropics. The soil carbon flux plays a major role in regulating microbial activities and nutrient distribution in soil. This study aimed to evaluate the soil carbon stock in various land uses at different depths in the hilly terrain of Mizoram, Northeast India. Soil samples at 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm soil depths were collected from Rubber plantation (RP), Oil palm plantation (OPP), Teak plantation (TP), Bamboo Forest (BF), 5 years fallow (5YF), 10 years fallow (10YF), Tephrosia candida plantation (TCP), Horticulture garden (HORT), Homegarden (HG) and Natural forest (NF). Soil carbon stock varied significantly (p <0.05) across the land uses and depths. The soil under Tephrosia candida stand had significantly (p <0.05) higher values of C stock (73.66 Mg ha-1) which may be due to high biomass, dense vegetative cover and high C in root exudates. The minimum C stock estimated in Horticulture garden (43.28 Mg ha-1) is probably due to reduced soil organic matter. Soil carbon stock in Homegarden, Teak plantation, Bamboo forest and Rubber plantation ranged from 46.82 Mg ha-1 to 59.34 Mg ha-1 whereas 5 years and 10 years fallow land, Natural forest and Oil palm plantation ranged from 61.35 Mg ha-1 to 73.35 Mg ha-1. The study indicated that the land use change in the mountainous region significantly affected the carbon stock in the soil. A proper land use management strategies to increase the soil organic matter is recommended to enhance the carbon stock in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural environmental settings, in general, are considered by humans as the ideal ambience which makes them happy and reinvigorated especially within their mental realm. If this is the case, can we assume that all green spaces are synonymous to augmenting happiness? Biodiversity is expressed in terms of a system having number and abundance of different species. For resilience of various ecosystem services like food production, climate regulation, and pest management to take place, prevalence of such biodiversity is essential which can substantially contribute to sustained human well-being. In this study, we assessed the status of agrobiodiversity and subjective well-being of an indigenous community amidst the transition from shifting cultivation (SC) to monoculture of natural rubber (NR). Sampling the respondents from 18 villages of Dhalai, Tripura, a remotely located district in northeast India and bordered by Bangladesh, we used mixed methods research for in depth investigation. Findings revealed that in the SC landscape of study area, the cultivated crop species and livestock breeds were being largely replaced by encroachment from rubber plantation. We documented only 19 crop species on such a landscape which is otherwise known for its vast agrobiodiversity in the tropics. This kind of transition from SC to NR which is usually supported by the government development interventions, has severely affected the ecosystem services of such landscapes and banishing happiness from the indigenous communities, as perceived by them. Hence stabilization of rich agrobiodiversity and simultaneously ensuring the peoples' well-being is the only potential alternative for development in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When latex production declines after 35–40 y, clear-felling of rubber ( Hevea brasiliensis ) plantations is a common management practice around the world. Although clear-felling can lead to significant losses in system carbon (C), such losses have not been adequately quantified in rubber plantations in India. The objectives of this work are to (1) develop and test models for estimating rubber tree biomass and C storage in situations where diameter at breast height (D 1.3 m) cannot be measured precisely due to the tapping artefact, and (2) estimate losses in biomass C due to clear-felling of mature plantation. Five biomass estimation models were tested using a total of 54 trees destructively sampled from 35 to 40 y old plantations in North East India. Then the amount of biomass and the potential C losses following clear-felling were estimated. The tree biomass predicted by our models was within 0.2 and 5% of our measured tree biomass. The mean biomass was estimated at 376.9 and 23.9 kg per tree for above and below ground parts, respectively. On an area basis, total tree biomass was estimated at 286.1 Mg ha −1 , which was more than that under jungle rubber (147 Mg ha −1 ) but lower than the forests (384 Mg ha −1 ) in the tropical regions. According to our estimate clear-felling of mature plantation can on an average remove C at a rate of 135 Mg ha −1 , which represents most of the C stored in aboveground tree biomass. In order to conserve the biomass C and to maintain environmental integrity, we recommend selective felling of 20% of total growing stock starting from plantation age of 35 years and replanting at two year cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the current trend of land use/land cover (LULC) change taking place globally, several parts of northeast India are also showing signs of change in LULC pattern leading to forest loss. This study focusses on the expansion of monoculture rubber plantation (Hevea brasiliensis) in selected sub-watersheds in northeast India, and distributed in parts of north Tripura, Mizoram and a major portion in the Karimganj district of Assam. Remote sensing and GIS technique has been used to map and analyse the extent of rubber plantation using temporal IRS LISS III satellite data from 1997 to 2013. It has been observed that rubber plantation increased from 4.47 sq. km to 28.42 sq. km in various parts of the study area. The expansion was more rapid during recent times, i.e. during 2010 to 2013. The plantation took place in dense forest, open forest and degraded forest areas. The spread of the plantation was also observed in one reserved forest located within the study area. There are several instances of negative impacts of rubber plantation expansion in Southeast Asia. Similar expansion of rubber plantation has been observed in northeast India as well. Further spread of rubber plantations in the region needs to be regulated to avoid conversion of dense and reserved forest areas by fostering use of mixed cropping methods instead of rubber monocultures, and by adopting more sustainable land use and management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber plantations that measure over 20.23 hectares (50 acres) under a single ownership is treated as estates, and those whose area ranges up to 20.23 hectares are considered as holdings. This study is based on tappers of estates of Kanyakumari district alone. The objective of the study is to Identify the dimensions of labor management in rubber plantations and the dimensions of absenteeism in rubber plantations and to develop a scale for each of them. Eight estates of Vilavankode taluk, Kanyakumari district were selected randomly to get a sample of 150 tappers. The tapper satisfaction was studied across 20 statements whereas absenteeism was assessed by eleven statements both measured in five point scale. The developed scale will be helpful to measure the satisfaction of tappers on labor management practices in rubber estates and also identify factors for absenteeism in rubber estates. It is imperative on the part of estate management to identify the labour opinion on labour management practices and the reasons for absenteeism to improve upon existing work pattern and maintain a happy work force. In future similar scales can be developed for rubber tappers of other regions like Kerala and North East and also for tappers engaged in small holdings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a warming world, species distribution models have become a useful tool for predicting plausible shifts of a species occurrence enforced by climate change. Using maximum entropy (Maxent) model, we analysed present and future distribution patterns of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in two distinct bio-geographical regions of India: the Western Ghats having a good distribution of rubber plantations at present and the Brahmaputra valley, where rubber trees are recently being cultivated. The model-derived suitable regions of the Western Ghats and Brahmaputra valley provided good conformity with a satellite-derived rubber plantation distribution map. Annual range of temperature and mean temperature in the coldest months, temperature seasonality and rainfall in the warmest quarter would be the major decisive variables in the distribution of this species as revealed by the area under receiver operating curve. Interestingly, we predict that more areas will become suitable for rubber cultivation by the middle of the 21st century in the Brahmaputra valley, while some areas under current cultivation may become partially unsuitable for this species in the Western Ghats. This result can help planners in deriving a comprehensive rubber plantation policy for India considering the existing land-use scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the growth dynamics of fine roots and their contribution to soil organic carbon and nutrient pools is crucial for estimating ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling and how these are influenced by climate change. Rubber is cultivated in more than 10 million hectare globally and the area under rubber cultivation is fast expanding due to socio-economic reasons, apart from the importance given to this species for eco-restoration of degraded lands. An experiment was conducted to quantify fine root production, fine root turnover and carbon and nutrient cycling through fine roots in rubber plantations with different soil nutrient status and rainfall pattern. Fine root production was estimated by sequential coring and ingrowth core methods. Fine root decomposition was determined by the litter bag technique. Carbon and nutrient contents in fine roots were determined and their turnover was computed. Fine root biomass in the top 0–7.5-cm soil layer showed significant seasonal fluctuation and the fluctuations were particularly wide during the transition period from the dry season to the rainy season. Fine root production estimated by the different methods was significantly higher at the lower fertility site and during the higher soil moisture stress year. Fine root turnover ranged from 1.04 to 2.29 year−1. Root carbon and nutrient status showed seasonal variation and lower status was observed during the rainy season. The annual recycling of C, N, P, K, Ca and Mg through fine roots ranged from 590 to 1758, 30 to 85, 3 to 12, 13 to 31, 11 to 35 and 6 to 13 kg ha−1, respectively. Substantial quantities of carbon and nutrients were recycled annually in rubber plantations through fine roots. When soil moisture and nutrient stress were more severe, fine root production, turnover and carbon and nutrient recycling through fine roots were higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of rubber plantation litter floor as the breeding and feeding habitat of the home invading nuisance pest, Luprops tristis (Fabricius) and presence of its egg, larval forms and pupae in litter layers leads to the possibility of using litter dwelling predatory ants as a potential biocontrol agent to control its population build up. Search for data on the predatory litter ant species associated with rubber plantations revealed that no data exists on the species composition and abundance of litter ant community associated with the rubber plantation forests of the Western Ghats. In the present study, collection of litter ants from the rubber plantations were done following the annual leaf shedding employing pit fall traps and with traps baited with live mobile and immobile L. tristis beetles to identify the ants that may prey upon the beetles. Results revealed low abundance and species richness of litter ants in rubber plantation litter habitat and none of the ant species present in the rubber plantation litter could be used as a biocontrol agent to control L. tristis as all are deterred either by the defensive gland secretion or by the larger size and the active movement of L. tristis beetle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising demand, steep rise in the price of synthetic rubber and reduced supply from some previously dominant rubber-producing countries have contributed to a sharp rising trend of the price of natural rubber over the last decade. The price rise has naturally induced steps for increased production. In India, the scope of further area expansion in traditional areas being limited, there has been some effort to extend rubber plantation to nontraditional areas, such as Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya in the northeastern part of the country. The present study on rubber production in Goalpara District of Assam is induced by the necessity to examine the economic viability and sustainability of the activity in such nontraditional areas. Backed by the Rubber Board, rubber production in Goalpara has recorded impressive growth. Investigation at the farm level shows that the rate of returns on investment in rubber is highly impressive under the prevailing price scenario and remains economically viable and sustainable even at much worse price scenarios. The fact that small and marginal landholders, especially from tribal communities, are the majority participants in the rubber plantation in the district, implies that this new form of economic activity has contributed significantly to economic empowerment at the grassroots. However, there are some ambiguities regarding ownership of land holdings under group growers, which need to be sorted out to avoid longterm adverse consequences on land use in the district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which determines the food preferences of Luprops tritis, a nuisance litter beetle found in rubber tree plantations in Western Ghats, India. The study was conducted at the Devagiri College in Kerala, India from January to April 2005 wherein the food preferences of larval, young and adult beetles towards different leaves were analyzed. The result shows that larval, young and adult beetles have stronger appetite on tender leaves than on senescent ones.

The active root distribution pattern of mature rubber ( Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) up to a lateral distance of 250 cm from the tree and to a soil depth of 90 cm was studied in an oxisol by employing 32P soil injection technique in Kerala, the state which accounts for 83% of rubber cultivation in India. The trees were aged 18 years and grown at a spacing of 4.9 × 4.9 m. The extent of absorption of applied 32P by the tree from various placements was assessed by radio assay of leaf and latex serum. Latex serum registered higher counts and variability was less compared to leaf indicating the suitability of latex serum as a potential source for radio assay for 32P studies in rubber. The results revealed that rubber is a surface feeder with 55% of the root activity confining to the top 10 cm of soil layer. Root activity declined with increasing depths and the concentration of physiologically active roots at 90 cm depth was only 6%. A more or less uniform distribution of root activity was noticed with respect to lateral distance indicating more extensive spread of lateral roots. Concentration of physiologically active roots in the surface layer suggests the possibility for competition under intercropped situation in mature plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Evergreen forests, degraded evergreen forests, clove and rubber plantations were sampled for bryophyte species diversity in the Southern Western Ghats. Evergreen forests have the highest diversity followed by degraded evergreen forests, clove and rubber plantations. Besides, evergreen forests have the highest number of exclusive species whereas degraded evergreen forests, clove and rubber plantations have more generalized and light-tolerant species such as Fissidens ceylonensis, Hyophila comosa, H. involuta and Frullania acutiloba. Monoculture plantations and degraded evergreen forests as a result of human interference enable the invasion of such generalized and light-tolerant species which would sooner or later replace species with restricted distribution in evergreen forests if human interference continues unabated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber production has been extended to many sub-optimal environments worldwide during late 1970s. Prominent among them are northeast India, highlands and coastal areas of Vietnam, southern China and southern plateau of Brazil. In addition to near-ideal growing conditions, these areas offer stresses like low temperature, higher altitude, diseases and wind. South China experiences all these stresses due to expanse of land mass and extremely diverse climate. A number of rubber clones are being evaluated along with derivation of new recombinants adaptable to these areas. Rubber clones are seen to exhibit specific adaptation in these areas. A negative relationship of yield with minimum temperature, wind velocity and evaporation is very distinct in all clones in Tripura (NE India). While RRIM 600 can be adjudged as a universally adapted clone with moderate yield under all these sub-optimal environments, specificity in yield adaptation goes in favor of PB 235, RRII 208, RRII 203 and HAIKEN 1 (India); RRIM 600, GT 1 (Vietnam); REYAN 8-333, PB 235 (China) and PB 235, FX-3864 (Brazil). Though PB 235 gave higher yield in these areas, recommendations for commercial cultivation are impeded as a result of high wind damage. Clonal specificity for adaptation is distinct. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Massive seasonal invasion of the litter dwelling beetle, Luprops tristis (Fabricius, 1801) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Lupropini), into the residential buildings and their prolonged stay in a state of dormancy during the rainy season has been a serious nuisance in the rubber plantation belts of Kerala for the last three decades. The deterring defensive secretion of the beetles is the prime reason for the non-predation by any of the vertebrate or non vertebrate predators present in the breeding habitat or in the aggregation shelters. Recent efforts revealed that the weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius, 1775) could be a potential bio-control agent of Luprops beetles. However, the possibility of its failure as a bio-control agent remains as repeated feeding on a prey item with repelling defensive gland secretion leading to development of predator reluctance and prey rejection. The present work ascertained the effect of repeated feeding of weaver ants on Luprops and the results indicate that repeated feeding did not lead to predator reluctance and point out the potential of weaver ants as an effective bio-control agent against Luprops. Low abundance of weaver ants in rubber plantations in contrast to their higher incidence in the scarce native trees in rubber plantation belts indicates that rubber tree is not a preferred host plant for weaver ants. Further, the possibility of regular feeding on Luprops that are readily available in rubber plantations, leads to questions about prey suitability and the effects on the rates of development, reproduction or survival of weaver ants which calls for post-evaluation studies in field conditions after the preliminary field trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a sense of place and sense of displacement in the book "The Glass Palace," by Amitav Ghosh. It cites the factors that stimulated large scale migrations of Indians to rubber plantations or sugar plantations during the colonial period, including poverty. It notes the interest of the author in writing about the Indian Diaspora. Also mentioned is his effort to address the sensitive yet crucial dilemmas facing immigrants.