ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND STRUCTURE OF WESTERN HIMALAYAN TEMPERATE FORESTS STANDS IN NEELUM VALLEY, PAKISTAN (original) (raw)
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Ecological Indicators, 2019
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Lower Himalayan conifers forests are the most diverse ecological locations on the globe. Six ecological parameters were investigated to study structural diversity in Ayubia national park, 210 stands at six different locations were selected and Quadrates method was used for sampling of vegetation. The size of the quadrates was 10×2m for tree, 5×2m for shrubs and 0.5×0.5 for herbs. There were six plants communities Picea-Vibernum-Plantago, Pinus-Rubus-Polygonum, Cedrus-Skimmia-Valeriana, Pinus-Rubus-Gerenium, Abies-Vibernum-Plantago and Cedrus-Vibernum-Trifolium were identified on the basis of an importance value index which ranges from 05.13 to 17.86. The average value of species richness was 0.846667; Simpson's and Shannon–Wiener's diversity values were 9.385 and the degree of maturity index was 65.37833, the unpalatable species dominated the local flora, indicating the heavy grazing pressure in the area. Development and implementation of regional conservation strategies are recommended to protect the threatened lower Himalayan biodiversity. Degree of aggregation in forests of Ayubia national park was recorded in relation to environmental variable and underlying anthropogenic influence. Aggregated species were dominant in the area with 51.85 value followed by the intermediate species with share of 33.33 and aggregate species with 13.58 share. Similarly regeneration capacity of the forest shows that Pinus wallichiana, Cedrus deodara, Abies pindrow and Picea smithiana were the regenerating species in the investigated area. The remaining Quercus dilatata, Cornus macrophylla, Taxus wallichiana, Prunus padus and Aesculus indica were not regenerating due to deforestation and overgrazing. These species are in endangered condition.
The present study deals with the phytosociological analysis, anthropogenic impacts and regeneration status of tree species in five dominant forest types along an altitudinal gradient in Paddar valley of Northwest Himalaya. The tree density varied between 179 to 245 trees/ha whereas the total basal area varied between 24.7 and 37.7 m²/ha in five forest types. The value of Shannon-Weiner index (H') was found maximum for western mixed coniferous forest (1.75) whereas Concentration of dominance (Cd) and Evenness (J') were found maximum for dry temperate deciduous forest (0.41) and dry deodar forest (0.32) respectively. The maximum disturbance was found in the dry temperate deciduous forests due to heavy dependence of the locals on oak, Quercus baloot for fuelwood and fodder. The results pertaining to regeneration status of 18 tree species shows 4 species with good regeneration, 6 species with fair regeneration and 5 species with poor regeneration status whereas 3 tree species were found to have no regeneration at all. The regeneration was good for mixed coniferous forest and birch fir forests, poor for broadleaved and coniferous forest and fair for dry temperate deciduous forest and dry deodar forests.
Objective: To report the patterns of species diversity, and regenerating capacity in the forest of Nikyal valley in relation to environmental variables and underlying anthropogenic influence. Methods: A study area was selected in a traditionally managed mountain woody pasture during July 2012 to June 2013. The area was sampled by quadrat method. The quadrats were laid down at regular intervals of 150 m. The size of quadrats was kept 10伊10, 5伊5 and 1伊1 m 2 for trees, shrubs and herbs respectively. Density, frequency and cover were recorded. Importance value index of each plant species was calculated and plant communities were named after the plant species having the highest IV. Then diversity, its components and regenerating capacity were calculated with their formulas. Results: Shannon's diversity ranged from 2.75 to 3.31, Simpson's diversity, 0.90 to 0.95; Menhinick's diversity, 0.83 to 1.19; evenness, 0.41 to 0.65; species richness, 4.89 to 6.08 and maturity index, 30 to 44 species distribution pattern. Diversity values were similar to the other Himalayan forests. Pinus roxburghaii was the only regenerating species whereas the remaining four tree species including Qurecus dilatata regenerate up to 100 cm; they are at extreme risk of elimination due to anthropogenic factors. Conclusions: Nikyal valley is under severe deforestation pressure for fuel and timber value. There is an urgent need to promote the ethics among the people that improvement and conservation of natural resources are critical for land and soil management.
Biodiversity loss is one of the world's most pressing crises. Biologically rich and unique habitats are being destroyed, fragmented, and degraded due to increasing human population, resource exploitation and environmental pollution. Conservation of forest biodiversity is fundamental for sustaining forests, and supporting the livelihoods of people and their economic well-being. The ecosystem services that benefit the society are improving air quality, climate regulation, carbon sequestration, water purification, pollination, and prevention of erosion, besides provision for useful biomass. Innovative and effective responses are necessary to meet the challenges of forest biodiversity conservation for the well-being of the people. Therefore, it is important to maintain the forests as ecosystem service provider systems for food, timber, energy, and biodiversity. This paper gives an overview of plant biodiversity, biodiversity conservation mechanisms, and carbon storage as an indicator of ecosystem services in forests of the Siwaliks in northern Haryana. The relationships between biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation, ecosystem services, and forest biomass production are emphasized. The role of integrated watershed management for human well-being for bioresource conservation in the Siwalik foothills are discussed.
Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2011
Patterns of species composition and diversity in the lesser Himalayan subtropical forests of Kashmir were studied in relation to environmental variables and underlying anthropogenic influence. Simpson’s diversity ranged from 0.85 to 1.96; Menhinick’s diversity, 1.49 to 1.37; evenness, 0.23 to 0.61; average species richness per site, 36 to 40 and maturity index, 41 to 44. Deterrended correspondence analyses (DCA) revealed the altitude as the most influential factor controlling species distribution pattern. Diversity values were similar to the other Himalayan forests, whereas density, basal area and seedling count were very low. 89.6% of the human population was dependent on forest resources for fuel and energy requirements. Annual fuel wood consumption was 6.7 metric tons, 2.2 kg capita -1 day -1 . High deforestation and disturbed regeneration patterns were indicated by a stem/stump ratio of 1.9; a tree density of 344ha -1 ; tree basal area of 69.3m²ha -1 and only 212 seedlings ha -1...
2020
Background The protected areas (PAs) of any region are contributing people’s livelihoods and are proving to be the backbone of all forms of biodiversity conservation. The reforms in protection rules at global level and legal protection at local level has contributed a lot to the conservation of forests and other associated biodiversity. However, due to various anthropogenic activities and other climatic changes, protected areas and other species rich sites are being exposed to a continuous threat. Realizing the future perspective of potential and economic value of these protected forests, the phytosociological investigations were carried out in protected forests of Jammu and Kashmir in Kashmir Himalaya. Results Floristically, a total of 84 species belonging to 71 genera in 39 families were recorded. The floristic analysis revealed that the dominant plant families in the study area comprises of Rosaceae with (14%) species, followed by Asteraceae (8%) species and Poaceae (7%) species....
Species composition and community structure of western Himalayan moist temperate forests in Kashmir
Forest Ecology and Management, 2012
Lesser Himalayan subtropical forests have unique species composition due to diverse climatic and topographic factors which create numerous microhabitats. Phytosociological characteristics, structural attributes and biological spectrum of plant communities in the forests of Himalayan foothills in Kashmir were analyzed. A total of 65 species belonging to 26 plant families were recorded constituting 6 plant communities. Average value of diversity recorded for the communities was 2.44; species richness 4.01; whereas evenness was found to be 0.48. The species data indicated random distribution of species with a hump shaped diversity pattern directly correlated with increasing altitude. Themeda anathera was the dominant species with an importance value percentage of 14.7% followed by Pinus roxburghii (9.6%), Mallotus philippenensis (5.2%), Malvastrum coromandelianum (5.1%), Acacia modesta (5%), Olea ferruginea (3.8%) and Oxalis corniculata (3.2%). Vegetation was dominated by Therophytes (30%) and megaphanerophytes (23.3) with dominant leaf spectrum as leptophylls (31.6%). Thirty seven percent plants had medicinal values followed by 31% having fodder values where as 12% used as fuel. Principal component analyses and cluster analyses revealed the association of dominant species with specific sites due to prevailing environmental conditions. The distribution of species in ordination diagrams indicated a continuous change in species composition along the altitudinal gradient. Key stone tree species were subject to immense tree felling resulting in deteriorating changes in forest structure. Visual indicators showed over grazing at all the studied sites evident from the dominance of unpalatable species. Local forest stands demand immediate attention of policy makers as well as forest management so that local diversity and floristic richness could be conserved and rehabilitated.
Forest Ecosystems, 2017
Background: The State of Arunachal Pradesh is part of the Himalaya biodiversity hotspots distributed over an area with the largest elevation gradients in the world, ranging from lowland tropical forests to alpine vegetation. Methods: The vegetation was surveyed along an elevation gradient ranging from 87 to 4161 m in 354 belt transects (500 m × 10 m in size) and analyzed using various ecological indices. Results: A total of 482 (458 identified, 24 unidentified) plants were recorded in the present study, of which 153 are nonwoody herbs and grasses (145 identified) belonging to 55 families, and 329 are woody trees and shrubs (313 identified) belonging to 74 families. The 458 identified species belong to 117 families and 251 genera, of which 94.10% are phenerogams (Angiosperms: 421 species [spp.] and Gymnosperms: 10 spp.) and 5.90% cryptogams (Pteridophytes: 27 spp.). The family Fabaceae contributed the greatest species diversity with a total of 27 plant species (Papilionaceae: 10 spp., Mimosaceae: 9 spp. and Caesalpinaceae: 8 spp.) followed by Poaceae (21 spp.), Ericaceae (20 spp.), Asteraceae (18 spp.), Lauraceae (17 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (16 spp.), Urticaceae (15 spp.) and 49 monotypic families. The most dominant trees were Castanopsis indica (24 individuals per ha), followed by Quercus semicarpifolia (12 individuals per ha) and Pinus roxburghii (12 individuals per ha) and some bamboos (Dendrocalamus strictus: 69 individuals per ha; Bambusa pallida: 16 individuals per ha). The studied forest stands were rich in various bamboos; a total of 14 different bamboos were recorded in the present study including Dendrocalamus strictus, Bambusa tulda, B. pallida etc. Common IUCN red-listed species were Aquilaria malaccensis, Begonia tessaricarpa, Gledetsia assamica, Gymnocladus assamicus, Livistona jenkinsiana, Rhododendron meddenii, Rhododendron thomsonii collected from the Dirrang, Tawang, Yamcha, Itanagar, Along and Mebo areas of Arunachal Pradesh. Conclusion: The results confirm that the Eastern Himalayan forests are very rich in terms of species diversity which decreases with increasing elevation. Species richness and distribution patterns of plants are largely regulated by altitude and other environmental factors. Intensive monitoring and management is needed to protect this fragile ecosystem from the ever-increasing anthropogenic pressure and changing climatic conditions.