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Abstract

Forests are the cradle of life on earth for both humans and wildlife. Humans' survivals and livelihood on this fragile planet depends on forest structure and composition. Disentangling differences in forest structure and composition between Swat moist–temperate forest and Shangla moist–temperate forest was ascertained using the quadrat method. Tree density, diameter, height, diversity index, basal area, IVI, DBH, and regeneration status in moist–temperate forest's structure and composition of Swat and Shangla were examined to identify significant differences in forest structure and composition. The data was collected on above aspects from 18 random sample plots having a size of 500 m2 (20m x 25m), spread over six forest subdivisions (3 sample plots in each study site). The results revealed that forest stand density in both districts ranged from 660 to 800 trees/ha and the species number ranged from 2 to 11 in Swat district, and 4 to 12 in Shangla. The IVI ranged from 2.10 to 90.80% in Swat district, whereas in Shangla district it was 0.20 to 71.10%. Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine) was the most dominant species in Swat and Ailanthus glandulosa (tree of heaven) in Shangla moist–temperate forest. Tree diversity index (H’ = 3.109) and species richness (R1 = 2.840) was higher, and species evenness (E1 = 0.966) was lower in Swat moist–temperate. The regeneration rates in Swat moist-temperate forests ranged between 781 and 2,031 seedlings/ha, and in Shangla moist-temperate forests ranged between 625 and 2,187 seedlings/ha, which illustrates that Swat moist-temperate forests are richer in regeneration than Shangla moist-temperate forests. The findings of this study indicated that Swat forest was characterized by greater species diversity and species richness as well as greater IVI, DBH, mean height, and regeneration than Shangla forest

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