Live Fencing: An Ecofriendly Boundary Wall In Bhadrak District Of Odisha, India

Live fencing, an age old and traditional practice, commonly found in rural areas of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India, but its importance remains unexplored and not yet documented. Exploratory surveys conducted in Bhadrak district, indicated that traditional farmers have vast knowledge about their live fencing practices and the species used. A total of 61 plant species belonging to 53 genera under 24 families are used by the people as biofencing, besides food, timber, fuel wood, medicine etc. Two groups of species are observed on the fence. The first groups of species (Ipomoea carnea, Bambusa arundinacea, Bougainvillea spectabilis etc.) are used primarily for protection and the second groups of species (Annona squamosa, Borassus flabellifer, Moringa oleifera etc.) are utilized for medicine, fruits and vegetables. Some promising fence species of this region are Acacia nilotica, Annona squamosa, Bambusa arundinacea, Bambusa vulgaris, Borassus flabellifer, Casuarina equisetifolia, Erythrina indica, Euphorbia tithymaloides, Ipomoea carnea, Jatropha curcas, Pandanus fascicularis, Pilosocereus arrabidae and Vitex negundo. This traditional biofencing practice is playing an important role in biodiversity conservation.