Strategic reintroduction and eco-physiological assessment of wild edible fruit species in Podagada, Nayagarh forest, Odisha

This study investigates the reintroduction and survival of six significant wild edible fruit species in theEastern Ghats of India. The species were transplanted during the monsoon season in 2023, and theirmorphometric, physiological, and biochemical parameters were observed over 180 to 360 days. Theresults showed an average survival rate of 82.4% at Podagada, significantly higher than the control site.Carmona retusa, Eugenia roxburghii, and Glycosmis pentaphylla were the best at establishingthemselves and growing among the species. Biochemical tests showed Carmona retusa and Antidesmaghaesembilla saplings had strong antioxidant power and could handle stress well, demonstrating theiradaptability to the local environment. However, research on their field reintroduction success, adaptivephysiology, and long-term survival in natural environments remains inadequate. Previous studies haveprimarily focused on ethnobotanical documentation, species distribution, and propagation methods incontrolled settings, leaving a significant gap in understanding the performance of these species aftertransplantation into degraded forest ecosystems. The role of community involvement in sustainingthese reintroduction initiatives is also insufficiently studied. A focused investigation on survivalefficacy, physiological health, and community-based management of these species is crucial fordeveloping effective strategies for biodiversity restoration and sustainable forest resourcemanagement in Odisha's Eastern Ghats.