Forest status under fire regime: A case study from Upper Kosi watershed in Almora district, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

The ever-increasing incidents of forest fire in the Himalayan region cause a threat to flora, fauna, livelihoods, and the environment. The Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) forests are especially susceptible to forest fires due to their resin-rich leaf litter. This study investigates forest structure, regeneration, biomass-carbon dynamics, leaf-litter, and soil physio-chemical properties in two Chir pine stands in the Upper-Kosi watershed, Almora district, Uttarakhand. Both stands exhibited lower tree density, good regeneration potential, biomass-carbon, and litter mass due to intense biotic pressure. Although, stand 2 has been subjected to oak-plantation in recent years and showed an improving status. The study revealed that Chir pine stands are subjected to fodder collection, grazing, and resin extraction, while its litter is susceptible to fire which leads to the release of a significant flux of biogenic carbon back to the atmosphere. This highlights the need to manage Chir pine stands on a priority basis. Recommendations for improving Chir pine stands with the support of village panchayats (i.e. Van panchayats) have been given.