Changes in the Population Structure and Growing StockDifferent Deodar Forests of Garhwal Himalaya: A Re-visitation Study Over 15 Years

Abstract

The present study was conducted by recognizing GPS location of the earlier study as the re-visitation study, which was aimed to understand the changes in population structure and growing stock of Cedrus deodara forests of Garhwal Himalayas over a period of 15 years. The changes in population structure and growing stock was assessed by laying out five 0.1 ha sample plots on each location. Thus, a total of 25 sample plots (five on each site) were laid out to observe the changes in structure of growing stock under different sets of environment conditions. Enumeration of trees for volume, population structure and growing stock variation was done by measuring girth and height individually for all the tress in the sample plots. The results have shown that the highest total growing stock value (1132.8 ± 35.58 m 3 /ha) among all the diameter classes was recorded in Dewarikhal area (2300 m amsl) in Uttarkashi district with the highest total basal cover (T.B.C.) (79.61 ± 1.78 m 2 /ha) of C. deodara . On the other hand, the lowest growing stock value (484.32 m 3 /ha) was observed in Devidhar area (1900 m amsl) in Rudraprayag district where as the lowest T.B.C. (53.22 ± 8.38 mm 2 /ha) and highest density (420 ± 8.94 trees/ha) of C. deodara was also recorded in Devidhar. There was a net increment in growing stock of 218.08 m 3 /ha at Ghimtoli, 302.8 m 3 /ha at Dhanolti, 371.15 m 3 /ha at Dewarikhal, 216.57 m 3 /ha at Devidhar and 484.32 m 3 /ha at Jhandidhar in a re-visitation study over 15 years.