Floristic diversity and dominance patterns of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forests in North Western Himalayas: implications for conservation and sustainable management
The floristic composition of Sal forests is paramount for biodiversity and environmental resilience. Monitoring species diversity contributes to conservation and sustainable management. Considering this, the present study was undertaken to assess the floristic composition and diversity of Shorea rob...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2025.1524808/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849429785682378752 |
|---|---|
| author | Aditi Sharma D. R. Bhardwaj C. L. Thakur Naveen Katoch J. P. Sharma |
| author_facet | Aditi Sharma D. R. Bhardwaj C. L. Thakur Naveen Katoch J. P. Sharma |
| author_sort | Aditi Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The floristic composition of Sal forests is paramount for biodiversity and environmental resilience. Monitoring species diversity contributes to conservation and sustainable management. Considering this, the present study was undertaken to assess the floristic composition and diversity of Shorea robusta-dominated stands in the Paonta Forest Range of Himachal Pradesh. Sample plots of 0.1 ha were laid out (systematic random sampling) in seven compartments, recording 33 genera with 34 species belonging to 26 families. The results revealed that the flora of compartments catalogued with Lai C28 had the maximum (9) tree species, Kukron C15 and Rajban C10 had the maximum shrub species, and Rajban C6 and Rajban C7 had maximum herb species among all the compartments. S. robusta was the dominant species, with IVI varying between 126.72 and 156.59 in the compartments. The similarity index of trees in compartments ranged from 0.67 to 1.00. Rajban C6 and Rajban C7 had the maximum similarity index. This research focused on documenting the diversity of plants within the Sal Forest of Himachal Pradesh, India, and produced valuable scientific data and a fundamental understanding for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-014acb55dd1d4986b7d5fa1af36f2b52 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2624-893X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
| spelling | doaj-art-014acb55dd1d4986b7d5fa1af36f2b522025-08-20T03:28:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Forests and Global Change2624-893X2025-07-01810.3389/ffgc.2025.15248081524808Floristic diversity and dominance patterns of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forests in North Western Himalayas: implications for conservation and sustainable managementAditi Sharma0D. R. Bhardwaj1C. L. Thakur2Naveen Katoch3J. P. Sharma4Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, IndiaDepartment of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, IndiaDepartment of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, IndiaCSIR – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, IndiaDepartment of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, IndiaThe floristic composition of Sal forests is paramount for biodiversity and environmental resilience. Monitoring species diversity contributes to conservation and sustainable management. Considering this, the present study was undertaken to assess the floristic composition and diversity of Shorea robusta-dominated stands in the Paonta Forest Range of Himachal Pradesh. Sample plots of 0.1 ha were laid out (systematic random sampling) in seven compartments, recording 33 genera with 34 species belonging to 26 families. The results revealed that the flora of compartments catalogued with Lai C28 had the maximum (9) tree species, Kukron C15 and Rajban C10 had the maximum shrub species, and Rajban C6 and Rajban C7 had maximum herb species among all the compartments. S. robusta was the dominant species, with IVI varying between 126.72 and 156.59 in the compartments. The similarity index of trees in compartments ranged from 0.67 to 1.00. Rajban C6 and Rajban C7 had the maximum similarity index. This research focused on documenting the diversity of plants within the Sal Forest of Himachal Pradesh, India, and produced valuable scientific data and a fundamental understanding for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2025.1524808/fullfloristic compositionIVIphytosociologydiversity indicesreserve forest |
| spellingShingle | Aditi Sharma D. R. Bhardwaj C. L. Thakur Naveen Katoch J. P. Sharma Floristic diversity and dominance patterns of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forests in North Western Himalayas: implications for conservation and sustainable management Frontiers in Forests and Global Change floristic composition IVI phytosociology diversity indices reserve forest |
| title | Floristic diversity and dominance patterns of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forests in North Western Himalayas: implications for conservation and sustainable management |
| title_full | Floristic diversity and dominance patterns of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forests in North Western Himalayas: implications for conservation and sustainable management |
| title_fullStr | Floristic diversity and dominance patterns of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forests in North Western Himalayas: implications for conservation and sustainable management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Floristic diversity and dominance patterns of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forests in North Western Himalayas: implications for conservation and sustainable management |
| title_short | Floristic diversity and dominance patterns of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forests in North Western Himalayas: implications for conservation and sustainable management |
| title_sort | floristic diversity and dominance patterns of sal shorea robusta gaertn f forests in north western himalayas implications for conservation and sustainable management |
| topic | floristic composition IVI phytosociology diversity indices reserve forest |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2025.1524808/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aditisharma floristicdiversityanddominancepatternsofsalshorearobustagaertnfforestsinnorthwesternhimalayasimplicationsforconservationandsustainablemanagement AT drbhardwaj floristicdiversityanddominancepatternsofsalshorearobustagaertnfforestsinnorthwesternhimalayasimplicationsforconservationandsustainablemanagement AT clthakur floristicdiversityanddominancepatternsofsalshorearobustagaertnfforestsinnorthwesternhimalayasimplicationsforconservationandsustainablemanagement AT naveenkatoch floristicdiversityanddominancepatternsofsalshorearobustagaertnfforestsinnorthwesternhimalayasimplicationsforconservationandsustainablemanagement AT jpsharma floristicdiversityanddominancepatternsofsalshorearobustagaertnfforestsinnorthwesternhimalayasimplicationsforconservationandsustainablemanagement |