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STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY, VEGETATION DYNAMICS AND ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT ON
LESSER HIMALAYAN SUBTROPICAL FORESTS
OF BAGH DISTRICT, KASHMIR
HAMAYUN SHAHEEN1,
RIZWANA ALEEM QURESHI1 AND ZABTA KHAN SHINWARI2*
Abstract:
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-1day-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. A sharp decline in forest
vegetation attributes occurred with increased levels of human and
livestock interference.
1Department
of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
2Department
of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
*E-mail:
shinwari2002@yahoo.com
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