Inventorying bamboo diversity of Kokrajhar District, BTAD, Assam, India with emphasis on its uses by the Bodos and allied tribes

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Bamboo (Poaceae), an important non-wood forest resource has been interwoven with the lifestyle of the Bodos and allied tribes of this region since ages but there is as such no documentation of bamboos found in Kokrajhardistrict of Assam, India. Thus, here an attempted have been made to present diversity of bamboo species along with theirutilization by the resident tribes. METHODOLGY: Field visit were conducted for collection coupled with consultation with thepublished literatures, experts for proper identification and extensive interviews with the local people to record the uses andvernacular names. RESULTS: A total of 13 species, 2 varieties and 1 forma under 5 genera were recorded from Kokrajhar district.The genera Bambusa was found to be the most dominating with eight species, two varieties and one forma. The myriad uses ofbamboo by the local as construction material, raw material for pulp and paper industries, agarbati (incense sticks) industries,designing minor craft have also been presented. Of the total 9 species produces edible shoots which forms a favourite item for thetribes.