SPECIES COMPOSITION, STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY, ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF WESTERN HIMALAYAN FORESTS OF BAGH DISTRICT, AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Abstract

Moist temperate and subtropical forests of Kashmir are very important ecological zones of western Himalayas. Local forest reserves are the most important natural resource of the area being the only source of fuelwood, timber, medicinal plants and livestock forage for the mountain communities. The forest cover of area has experienced about 75% decline due to multidimensional socio‐economic and environmental factors. Area deserves immediate and special attention for conservation and sustainable use of forest ecosystem. Present study was conducted in forest and alpines of Bagh district, Azad Jammu & Kashmir to investigate species distribution patterns, community structure, diversity, ethnomedicinal practices and anthropogenic pressure. 18 villages in upper and lower valleys of study area were surveyed to investigate the community dependence as well as utilization of forest ecosystem including herd size, grazing area, fuel wood consumption, timber extraction and ethnomedicinal practices. 13 moist temperate, 3 subtropical and 4 alpine sites were studied in detail by using stratified systematic sampling to collect the primary species data, geographical characteristics and anthropogenic interactions. A total of 171 species belonging to 56 plant families were recorded from the area. Tree layer was dominated by members of Pinaceae (Abies pindrow (12% IVI), Pinus Wallichiana (6%), Quercus dilatata (2%), Quercus incana (1.7%) & P. roxburghii (3%)); shrub layer by Viburnum grandiflorum (5%) & Sarcoccoca saligna (3%); whereas herb layer was dominated by Poaceae grasses (Poa alpina (6%), P. pratensis (4%) & Arthraxon prinioides (2%)) and herbs like Sibbaldia cunneata (2%), Fragaria nubicola (3%) and Trifolium repens (2%). Population showed a uniform monotonic response about the use of medicinal plants. A total of 94 plant species were reported of having ethnomedicinal utilization in local communities. Area population showed an average family size of 9; herd size, 3; land holding 2.2 acres; and grazing area of 0.41 acres/cattle. Annual fuelwood consumption of 10.2 metric tons/household; 2.97 kg/capita/day was recorded in the area. Timber consumption of 288.4 cft/house hold was recorded in post 2005 earthquake reconstruction activities with a further demand of 139.5 cft per household. Forest stands showed an average basal area of 69.01m2 and tree density of 190/ha. An immense tree felling activity was indicated by an average stem/stump ratio of just 1.62. Retarded forest regeneration patterns was indicated by a seedling count of 124/ha. Species richness for the whole area averaged 36; Simpson’s diversity, 0.91; Shannon‐Wiener’s diversity, 1.82; Menhinick’s diversity, 1.34; Species evenness, 0.51; and Degree of community maturity, 45. A persistent grazing pressure along with significant erosion activity was observed at all the sites. The impact of environmental factors (altitude, aspect, slope) along with anthropogenic disturbance stimuli (Tree felling, erosion, fuelwood extraction, overgrazing) on vegetation dynamics was investigated and correlated by multivariate analyses (CCA). CCA showed a total inertia of 3.308 accounting for 88.7% of species‐environmental correlation. Altitude and distance from the disturbance stimuli appeared to be the main factors controlling species distribution patterns. The quantitative phytosociological attributes and regeneration pattern of local forests and alpines were found to be far less than the other Himalayan regions in India, Kashmir, China and Nepal, indicating high anthropogenic pressure and disturbed community structure. The favourite fuelwood species and rare medicinal herbs are facing a persistent exploitation which can lead to their local extinction from the area. Governmental authorities do not have any conservation policy for the native flora and forest reserves which is resulting in continuous depletion of already under pressure forest. It is the need of hour to develop and implement a practical conservation management policy for the sustainable use of local forest reserves, so that they can be protected, rehabilitated and preserved for the future generations.