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Brey (Holly Oak)

  • Writer: Saryan Foundation
    Saryan Foundation
  • Jan 5
  • 2 min read

Quercus baloot (Holly oak) Vernacular name: Brey (in Kinnauri)

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Oak belongs to the genus Quercus of Fagaceae family. Of the 35 species of the evergreen oak trees found in the Himalayan region, 5 are found in the district of Kinnaur. The oaks of lower elevations of Kinnaur (Nichar block) are colloquially referred to as Morgang. Their leaves are relatively broader, longer, and softer, making them ideal fodder for cows and other cattle. In the middle elevations of Kinnaur, 3 species of oaks are present, and Brey (Quercus baloot) is one of them. Its leaves are relatively smaller, coarser, and pointed with bristled tips. Ecologically, oak forests of Kinnaur are a climax community of trees, meaning they are the final stage in ecological succession and represent a stable, mature ecosystem. These forests provide diverse microclimatic habitats that support a variety of ground flora and fauna, including caterpillars, beetles, weevils, and birds that feed on these insects. Socially, oak trees play a vital role in the lives of locals who use it as firewood and fodder in the winters. 

Major threats to oak trees: Overharvesting (fodder, firewood), forest fires, irregular seed production, predation (frugivory and herbivory), and damage to leaves and stems by pests/insects remain major causes for poor seed production and germination of oak trees. Thick leaf litter with a slow decomposition rate further slows down the regeneration of oak trees in Kinnaur.


In the Ralli village of Kinnaur, Brey collection is only permitted for 6 months (from Nov to April) to prevent excessive lopping. Are you aware of any such rules in Himachal or other states/countries that help prevent over exploitation of oak trees? 


References:

  • Rawat, Balwant, et al. "A comprehensive review of Quercus semecarpifolia Sm.: An ecologically and commercially important Himalayan tree." Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10 (2022): 961345.

  • Naudiyal, Niyati, and Joachim Schmerbeck. "The changing Himalayan landscape: pine-oak forest dynamics and the supply of ecosystem services." Journal of Forestry Research 28 (2017): 431-443.



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