Effect of forest fire on trees, shrubs and regeneration behavior in Chir Pine forest in northern aspects under Solan forest division, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Effect of forest fire on woody vegetation and regeneration behavior was studied in Chir pine forest situated between 1150-1800 m in Solan Forest Division in Himachal Pradesh, India. Four fire affected Sites and one control Site were surveyed for floristic composition, density, basal area, IVI, A/F, Shannon-Weaver index, Simpson’s Index of dominance (Cd), Species richness (d), Sorenson index (S) and natural regeneration potential of tree and shrubs. A total of 3 tree species and 10 shrub species were recorded on the five experimental sites. Fire resistant species were observed more in selected Chir pine forests. There was not observed any consistent trend for density, basal area, IVI, H. Sorenson’s index of similarity between fire affected and control sites for trees. Density and basal area in fire affected sites were lesser than control sites for shrubs. Contagious pattern of distribution for trees and shrubs was common. Seedlings density of trees and shrubs was higher on occasional fire affected sites than control sites. Density of saplings of trees was higher in control sites than fire affected sites.