Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Diversity, regeneration, and anthropogenic disturbance in major Indian Central Himalayan forest types: implications for conservation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biodiversity and Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding community structure together with regeneration and disturbance provides a holistic purview of forest health and the necessary management implications essential for conservation. These aspects were studied independently or under specific elevational zone in Central Himalayas; therefore, this study was undertaken to understand the key relations and to access the status of major protected Central Himalayan forest types. The parameters were accessed using standard quadrat technique in eight major reserved and protected forest types along an elevational gradient (333–3375 m). Tropical moist deciduous forest had the highest stem density (457 tree ha−1), species richness (21 species), richness index (Margalef’s index: 3.67) and diversity index (Shannon-Wiener index: 2.63). Quercus semecarpifolia-Rhododendron arboreum association forest had the highest total basal area (94.75 m2 ha−1). Species predominantly showed clumped dispersion pattern. Climax Himalayan species viz. Shorea robusta, Quercus oblongata, and Abies spectabilis have poor regeneration which have modified the community into decreasing to unimodal distribution. Total basal area explained 71.9% (p < 0.001) of the total variation in species dominance. Species richness, diversity, and evenness indices showed strong significant positive correlations which are also evident in the species-sequence curves with species diverse sites having wider spread. Anthropogenic surface fires in sub-tropical Pine forest while grazing and lopping for fuelwood requirements in temperate and sub-alpine forests are major disturbance parameters. The results signify that these forests have not yet attained maximum diversity. Monitoring the regeneration of important native and climax species along with co-operation from local communities is key for efficient management of these forests.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Source: https://en.climate-data.org/asia/india/uttarakhand-763/ Accessed 31 March 2020

Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this article and its supplementary file provided.

References

  • Adhikari B, Kapkoti B, Lodhiyal N, Lodhiyal LS (2017) Structure and regeneration of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in Shiwalik region of Kumaun Himalaya, India. Indian J for 40(1):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Agarwal SK (2017) Flora of Jaunsar Bawar (Chakrata Hills, Western Himalaya) with ethanobotanical notes. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun

  • Arya N, Ram J (2011) Forest disturbance and its impact on species richness and regeneration of Uttarakhand Himalaya. New York Sci J 4(6):21–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Bar S, Parida BR, Pandey AC (2020) Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 based Forest fire burn area mapping using machine learning algorithms on GEE cloud platform over Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya. Society and Environment, Remote Sensing Applications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2020.100324

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bhandari BS, Mehta JP, Tiwari SC (2000) Dominance and diversity relations of woody vegetation structure along an altitudinal gradient in a montane forest of Garhwal Himalaya. J Trop for Sci 12(1):49–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhat JA, Hussain A, Malik ZA, Todaria NP (2016) Fuelwood consumption of dhabas (temporary hotels) along an altitudinal gradient in a pilgrim and tourist affected protected area of western Himalaya. J Sustain for 35(2):133–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2015.1119702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth BD, Murphy SD, Swanton CJ (2010) Invasive plant ecology in natural and agricultural systems. CAB International, Oxfordshire 

  • Borchsenius F, Nielsen PK, Lawesson JE (2004) Vegetation structure and diversity of an ancient temperate deciduous forest in SW Denmark. Plant Ecol 175(1):121–135. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:VEGE.0000048095.29961.c5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Champion HG, Seth SK (1968) Revised survey of forest types in India. Manager of Publication Government of India, New Delhi, p 404

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauhan PS, Porwal MC, Sharma L (2003) Change detection in Sal forest in Dehradun forest division using remote sensing and geographical information system. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 31(3):211–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curtis JT, McIntosh RP (1950) The interrelations of certain analytic and synthetic phytosociological characters. Ecology 31(3):434–455. https://doi.org/10.2307/1931497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dar JA, Sundarapandian S (2016) Patterns of plant diversity in seven temperate forest types of Western Himalaya, India. J Asia Pac Biodivers 9(3):280–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2016.03.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das AK, Singha LB, Khan ML (2017) Community structure and species diversity of Pinus merkusii Jungh. & de Vriese forest along an altitudinal gradient in Eastern Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Trop Ecol 58(2):397–408

    Google Scholar 

  • De A (2007) Patterns of plant species diversity in the forest corridor of Rajaji—Corbett National Parks, Uttaranchal, India. Curr Sci 92(1):90–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhar U, Rawal RS, Samant SS (1997) Structural diversity and representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected area of Kumaun Himalaya, India: implications for conservation. Biodivers Conserv 6(8):1045–1062. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018375932740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyderski MK, Jagodziński AM (2020) Impact of invasive tree species on natural regeneration species composition, diversity, and density. Forests 11(4):456. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11040456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FSI (2002) The manual of Instruction for Field Inventory 2002. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Government of India, Dehradun 

  • FSI (2019) India State of Forest Report 2019. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Government of India, Dehradun

  • Gairola S, Sharma CM, Ghildiyal SK, Suyal S (2011) Tree species composition and diversity along an altitudinal gradient in moist tropical montane valley slopes of the Garhwal Himalaya, India. For Sci Technol 7(3):91–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/21580103.2011.597109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gairola S, Sharma CM, Ghildiyal SK, Suyal S (2012) Regeneration dynamics of dominant tree species along an altitudinal gradient in moist temperate valley slopes of the Garhwal Himalaya. J Res 23(1):53–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-012-0233-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • García JM, Diez JJ (2012) Sustainable forest management: an introduction and overview. Curr Res. https://doi.org/10.5772/45839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garkoti SC (2008) Estimates of biomass and primary productivity in a high-altitude maple forest of the west central Himalayas. Ecol Res 23(1):41–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-007-0355-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaur RD (1999) Flora of the District Garhwal, North West Himalaya: With ethnobotanical notes. TransMedia, Srinagar Garhwal 

  • Gautam MK, Manhas RK, Tripathi AK (2016) Patterns of diversity and regeneration in unmanaged moist deciduous forests in response to disturbance in Shiwalik Himalayas. India J Asia Pac Biodivers 9(2):144–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2016.01.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gogoi RR, Adhikari D, Upadhaya K, Barik SK (2020) Tree diversity and carbon stock in a subtropical broadleaved forest are greater than a subtropical pine forest occurring in similar elevation of Meghalaya, north-eastern India. Trop Ecol 61:142–149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-020-00061-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gokhale Y, Negi AK (2011). Community-based biodiversity conservation in the Himalayas. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) press, New Delhi 

  • Grubb PJ (1977) The maintenance of species-richness in plant communities: the importance of the regeneration niche. Biol Rev 52(1):107–145. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.1977.tb01347.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grytnes JA (2003) Species-richness patterns of vascular plants along seven altitudinal transects in Norway. Ecography 26(3):291–300. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0587.2003.03358.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grytnes JA, Vetaas OR (2002) Species richness and altitude: a comparison between null models and interpolated plant species richness along the Himalayan altitudinal gradient. Nepal Am Nat 159(3):294–304. https://doi.org/10.1086/338542

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S, Roy A, Bhavsar D, Kala R, Singh S, Kumar AS (2018) Forest fire burnt area assessment in the biodiversity rich regions using geospatial technology: Uttarakhand Forest Fire event 2016. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 46(6):945–955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbell SP (1979) Tree dispersion, abundance, and diversity in a tropical dry forest. Science 203(4387):1299–1309. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.203.4387.1299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain MS, Sultana A, Khan JA, Khan A (2008) Species composition and community structure of forest stands in Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Trop Ecol 49(2):167

    Google Scholar 

  • Huston M (1979) A general hypothesis of species diversity. Am Nat 113(1):81–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaloviar P, Sedmáková D, Pittner J, Jarčušková Danková L, Kucbel S, Sedmák R, Saniga M (2020) Gap structure and regeneration in the mixed old-growth forests of National Nature Reserve Sitno. Slovakia Forests 11(1):81. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11010081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kachhwaha TS (1993) Temporal and multisensor approach in forest/vegetation mapping and corridor identification for effective management of Rajaji National Park, Uttar Pradesh, India. Int J Remote Sens 14(17):3105–3114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaushal S, Baishya R (2021) Stand structure and species diversity regulate biomass carbon stock under major Central Himalayan forest types of India. Ecol Process 10(1):1–18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-021-00283-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimothi MM, Dasari A (2010) Methodology to map the spread of an invasive plant (Lantana camara L.) in forest ecosystems using Indian remote sensing satellite data. Int J Remote Sens 31(12):3273–3289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Thakur V (2008) Effect of forest fire on trees, shrubs and regeneration behavior in chir pine forest in northern aspects under Solan Forest Division. Himachal Pradesh Indian J for 31(1):19–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunhikannan C, Rao NR, Chandra S, Kamboj SK, Kumar S, Pachu AV (2012) Phytosociological studies of forests in Sankosh River basin, Bhutan. In Proceedings of the national seminar on Tropical Ecosystems: Structure, Function and Services, IFGTB, Coimbatore, India 

  • Kunwar RM, Sharma SP (2004) Quantitative analysis of tree species in two community forests of Dolpa district, mid-west Nepal. Himalayan J Sci 2(3):23–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luken JO (1990) Directing ecological succession. Springer, Netherlands, p 252

    Google Scholar 

  • Magurran AF (1988) Ecological diversity and its measurnment. Princeton University Press, Princeton, pp 145–146

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Malik ZA, Bhatt AB (2015) Phytosociological analysis of woody species in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and its adjoining areas in Western Himalaya, India. J Environ Sci 31(3):149–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Malik ZA, Pandey R, Bhatt AB (2016) Anthropogenic disturbances and their impact on vegetation in Western Himalaya, India. J Mater Sci 13(1):69–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-015-3533-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margalef DR (1958) Information theory in ecology, General systems. Real Academica De Ciencias y Artes De Barcelona 32:373–449

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra R (1968) Ecology workbook. Oxford and IBH Publ. Co., New Delhi

  • Montagnini F, Jordan CF (2005) Tropical forest ecology: the basis for conservation and management. Springer, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/b138811

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mori AS, Komiyama A (2008) Differential survival among life stages contributes to co-dominance of Abies mariesii and Abies veitchii in a sub-alpine old-growth forest. J Veg Sci 19(2):239–244. https://doi.org/10.3170/2008-8-18364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris EK, Caruso T, Buscot F et al (2014) Choosing and using diversity indices: insights for ecological applications from the German Biodiversity Exploratories. Ecol Evol 4(18):3514–3524. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1155

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nandy S, Kushwaha SPS, Dadhwal VK (2011) Forest degradation assessment in the upper catchment of the river Tons using remote sensing and GIS. Ecol Indic 11(2):509–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2010.07.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nandy SN, Dhyani PP, Samal PK (2006) Resource information database of the Indian Himalaya. Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Monograph 3:1-123

    Google Scholar 

  • Negi SS (1995) Uttarakhand: land and people. MD Publications Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, p 149

    Google Scholar 

  • Odum EP (1971) Fundamentals of ecology. Saunders, Philadelphia  

  • Pala NA, Mathur M, Iqbal K, Negi AK, Shukla G, Chakravarty S (2017) Community dynamics: competition and facilitation studies of tree species in temperate forests of the Indian Himalaya. Indian J Ecol 44(2):279–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Peet RK (1974) The measurement of species diversity. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 5(1):285–307. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.05.110174.001441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips OL, Hall P, Gentry AH, Sawyer SA, Vasquez R (1994) Dynamics and species richness of tropical rain forests. Proc Nat Acad Sci (USA) 91(7):2805–2809. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.91.7.2805

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pielou EC (1975) Ecological diversity. Wiley, New York, p 165

    Google Scholar 

  • Pokhriyal P, Chauhan DS, Todaria NP (2012) Effect of altitude and disturbance on structure and species diversity of forest vegetation in a watershed of central Himalaya. Trop Ecol 53(3):307–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Purohit AN, Dhar U (1997) Himalayan tree diversity-an update. Proc Indian Nat Sci Acad B 63:187–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman M, Nishat A, Vacik H (2009) Anthropogenic disturbances and plant diversity of the Madhupur Sal forests (Shorea robusta CF Gaertn) of Bangladesh. Int J Biodivers Sci Manag 5(3):162–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rai H, Khare R, Gupta RK, Upreti DK (2011) Terricolous lichens as indicator of anthropogenic disturbances in a high altitude grassland in Garhwal (Western Himalaya), India. Botanica Orientalis 8:16–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rai ID, Adhikari BS, Rawat GS (2012) Floral diversity along sub-alpine and alpine ecosystems in Tungnath area of Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. Uttarakhand Indian Forester 138(10):927–940

    Google Scholar 

  • Rai ID, Singh G, Rawat GS (2017) Plants of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalaya: A Field Guide. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun 

  • Ralhan PK, Saxena AK, Singh JS (1982) Analysis of forest vegetation at and around Naini Tal in Kumaun Himalaya. Proc Indian Nat Sci Acad B 48(1):121–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Ram J, Kumar A, Bhatt J (2004) Plant diversity in six forest types of Uttaranchal, Central Himalaya. India Curr Sci 86(7):975–978

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao P, Barik SK, Pandey HN, Tripathi RS (1990) Community composition and tree population structure in a sub-tropical broad-leaved forest along a disturbance gradient. Vegetatio 88(2):151–162. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044832

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rawal RS, Gairola S, Dhar U (2012) Effects of disturbance intensities on vegetation patterns in oak forests of Kumaun, west Himalaya. J Mater Sci 9(2):157–165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-012-2029-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rawat AS (2002) Garhwal Himalayas: a study in historical perspective. Indus Publishing, New Delhi, p 310

    Google Scholar 

  • Risser PG, Rice EL (1971) Diversity in tree species in Oklahoma upland forests. Ecology 52(5):876–880. https://doi.org/10.2307/1936036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha S, Rajwar GS, Kumar M (2016) Forest structure, diversity and regeneration potential along altitudinal gradient in Dhanaulti of Garhwal Himalaya. For Syst 25(2):2

    Google Scholar 

  • Sapkota IP, Tigabu M, Odén PC (2009) Species diversity and regeneration of old-growth seasonally dry Shorea robusta forests following gap formation. J Res 20(1):7–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-009-0002-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sati VP (2020) Himalaya on the Threshold of Change. Springer, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14180-6

  • Saxena AK, Singh JS (1982) Quantitative profile structure of certain forests in the Kumaun Himalaya. Proc Indian Acad Sci (plant Sci) 91(6):529–549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saxena AK, Singh JS (1984) Tree population structure of certain Himalayan forest associations and implications concerning their future composition. Vegetatio 58(2):61–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Semwal DP, Saradhi PP, Nautiyal BP, Bhatt AB (2007) Current status, distribution and conservation of rare and endangered medicinal plants of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Central Himalayas. India Curr Sci 92(12):1733–1738

    Google Scholar 

  • Shankar U (2001) A case of high tree diversity in a sal (Shorea robusta)-dominated lowland forest of Eastern Himalaya: floristic composition, regeneration and conservation. Curr Sci 81(7):776–786

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma BK, Pokharel CP, Shrestha L (2015) Forest diversity and carbon sequestration in Resunga sacred grove, Gulmi. Nepal J Nat Hist Museum 29:60–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma CM, Baduni NP, Gairola S, Ghildiyal SK, Suyal S (2010) Tree diversity and carbon stocks of some major forest types of Garhwal Himalaya. India for Ecol Manag 260(12):2170–2179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.09.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma CM, Suyal S, Gairola S, Ghildiyal SK (2009) Species richness and diversity along an altitudinal gradient in moist temperate forest of Garhwal Himalaya. J Am Sci 5(5):119–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma CM, Tiwari OP, Rana YS, Krishan R, Mishra AK (2018) Elevational behaviour on dominance–diversity, regeneration, biomass and carbon storage in ridge forests of Garhwal Himalaya, India. For Ecol Manag 424:105–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.04.038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma N, Raina AK (2013) Composition, structure and diversity of tree species along an elevational gradient in Jammu province of north-western Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir. India J Biodivers Environ Sci 3(10):12–23

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson EH (1949) Measurement of diversity. Nature 163(4148):688. https://doi.org/10.1038/163688a0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh G, Rawat GS (2012) Quantitative analysis of tree species diversity in different oak (Quercus spp.) dominated forests in Garhwal Himalaya, India. Not Sci Biol 4(4):132–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh JS, Singh SP (1987) Forest vegetation of the Himalaya. Bot Rev 53(1):80–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh KK, Prakash A (2002) Flora of Rajaji National Park Uttaranchal. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun 

  • Singh P, Thapa RS (1988) Defoliation epidemic of Ascotis selenaria imparata Walk (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in Sal forest of Asarori Range, West Dehra Dun Division. Indian Forester 114(5): 269–274  

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh S, Malik ZA, Sharma CM (2016) Tree species richness, diversity, and regeneration status in different oak (Quercus spp.) dominated forests of Garhwal Himalaya, India. J Asia Pac Biodivers 9(3):293–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2016.06.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh SP (1998) Chronic disturbance, a principal cause of environmental degradation in developing countries. Environ Conserv 25(1):1–2. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892998000010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh SP, Adhikari BS, Zobel DB (1994) Biomass, productivity, leaf longevity, and forest structure in the central Himalaya. Ecol Monogr 64(4):401–421. https://doi.org/10.2307/2937143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh SP, Rawat YS, Garkoti SC (1997) Failure of brown oak (Quercus semecarpifolia) to regenerate in central Himalaya: a case of environmental semisurprise. Curr Sci 73(4):371–374

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh SP, Singh JS (1986) Structure and function of the Central Himalayan oak forests. Proc Indian Acad Sci (Plant Sci) 96(3):159–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh V, Chauhan DS, Dasgupta S (2018) Effect of stand structure and aspect on the regeneration of banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) forest along disturbance in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Forestry Studies 68:33–39. https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2018-0003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spellman FR (2018) Environmental engineering dictionary. Bernan Press, Maryland

  • Taylor AH, Zisheng O (1988) Tree replacement patterns in subalpine Abies-Betula forests, Wolong Natural Reserve. China Vegetatio 78(3):141–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari OP, Rana YS, Krishan R, Sharma CM, Bhandari BS (2018) Regeneration dynamics, population structure, and forest composition in some ridge forests of the Western Himalaya. India for Sci Technol 14(2):66–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/21580103.2018.1447517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari OP, Sharma CM, Rana YS (2020) Influence of altitude and slope-aspect on diversity, regeneration and structure of some moist temperate forests of Garhwal Himalaya. Trop Ecol 61(2):278–289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-020-00088-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari OP, Sharma CM, Rana YS, Krishan R (2019) Disturbance, diversity, regeneration and composition in temperate forests of Western Himalaya. India J for Environ Sci 35(1):6–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi AK, Shankar U (2014) Patterns of species dominance, diversity and dispersion in ‘Khasi hill sal’forest ecosystem in northeast India. For Ecosyst 1(1):1–20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-014-0023-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNFCCC (2015) Measurements for estimation of carbon stocks in afforestation and reforestation project activities under the clean development mechanism: a field manual. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Germany 

  • Uniyal P, Pokhriyal P, Dasgupta S, Bhatt D, Todaria NP (2010) Plant diversity in two forest types along the disturbance gradient in Dewalgarh Watershed. Garhwal Himalaya Curr Sci 98(7):938–943

    Google Scholar 

  • Uttarakhand at a Glance (2020) Uttarakhand at a Glance 2018-19. Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Department of Planning, Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun

  • Valdiya KS (1980) Stratigraphic scheme of the sedimentary units of the Kumaon Lesser Himalaya. In: Valdiya K.S. and Bhatiya S.B. (eds) Stratigraphy and Correlations of the Lesser Himalayan Formations. Hindustan Publication Corporation, Delhi 

  • van der Maarel E (1993) Some remarks on disturbance and its relations to diversity and stability. J Veg Sci 4(6):733–736. https://doi.org/10.2307/3235608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wangda P, Ohsawa M (2006) Structure and regeneration dynamics of dominant tree species along altitudinal gradient in a dry valley slopes of the Bhutan Himalaya. For Ecol Manag 230(1–3):136–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.04.027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb EL, Sah RN (2003) Structure and diversity of natural and managed Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forest in the Terai of Nepal. For Ecol Manag 176:337–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(02)00272-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitford PB (1949) Distribution of woodland plants in relation to succession and clonal growth. Ecology 30(2):199–208. https://doi.org/10.2307/1931186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker RH (1975) Communities and ecosystems, 2nd edn. MacMillian Publishing Company, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker RH (1977) Evolution of species diversity in land communities. Evol Biol 10:1–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodall CW, Oswalt CM, Westfall JA, Perry CH, Nelson MD, Finley AO (2009) An indicator of tree migration in forests of the eastern United States. For Ecol Manag 257(5):1434–1444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2008.12.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav BK, Nandy S (2015) Mapping aboveground woody biomass using forest inventory, remote sensing and geostatistical techniques. Environ Monit Assess 187:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4551-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yousaf Z (2017) Plant ecology: traditional approaches to recent trends. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/65821

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge the assistance and necessary field permissions from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Chief Wildlife Warden), Uttarakhand; Director Rajaji National Park, DFOs for Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Chakrata and Dehradun forest division. The authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Botany, University of Delhi for providing the necessary facilities to conduct the study. The authors also acknowledge the assistance by Ravi Kumar and Aakash Goswami in the field. We duly acknowledge the cartographic help from Sharanjeet Kaur. The authors also thank the anonymous reviewers whose constructive comments helped to shape this manuscript to its present form.

Funding

The authors are thankful to the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India for providing complete financial assistance through the research Project No. EEQ/2016/000164. The first author also thanks the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi for providing Junior Research Fellowship. The corresponding author also acknowledges and thanks the Institution of Eminence (IoE), University of Delhi for providing Faculty Research Programme (FRP) grant for the year 2020–21.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecology & Ecosystem Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Siddhartha Kaushal, Anshu Siwach & Ratul Baishya

Authors
  1. Siddhartha Kaushal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anshu Siwach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ratul Baishya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ratul Baishya.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by Mukunda Dev Behera.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article belongs to the Topical Collection: Forest and plantation biodiversity.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 71 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kaushal, S., Siwach, A. & Baishya, R. Diversity, regeneration, and anthropogenic disturbance in major Indian Central Himalayan forest types: implications for conservation. Biodivers Conserv 30, 2451–2480 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02203-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02203-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation