Distribution of Prosopis cineraria on agricultural farmland in Western Rajasthan: Ecological and economic impacts of Bishnoi community-based conservation

Background/Question/Methods Prosopis cineraria, locally known as the Khejeri tree, is a keystone species in Western Rajasthan. Village communities depend on the Khejeri tree for subsistence and as a source of economic income. Rapid livestock and human population growth resulting in increased development threaten Khejeri tree populations and its role in traditional agriculture. Lopping and clearing of Khejeri is widespread across western Rajasthan as villagers seek economic gains from selling Khejeri wood while struggling to feed growing livestock populations. The Bishnoi people of Rajasthan hold the Khejeri tree sacred and are mandated to protect trees on their lands. While it has never been scientifically investigated villagers, local researchers, and Rajasthani government officials believe that Bishnoi lands hold more Khejeri trees than lands of non-Bishnoi people. This study seeks to quantify whether or not Bishnoi lands have more Khejeri trees than non-Bishnoi lands. Five 500m transects across agricultural lands were run in twenty villages, eight with Bishnoi populations and twelve without, to count the number of Khejeri trees present. Results/Conclusions Results show that there are significantly higher populations of Khejeri tree along transects on Bishnoi lands. We use these results to explain differences in actual and potential economic and agricultural productivity between caste groups and between villages. Such differences highlight the ecological and economic benefits of community-based conservation.