Impact of forest management on structure, composition, biomass and carbon stock in Chir-pine (P. roxburghii) forest, Western Himalaya

Abstract

This study performs a comparative analysis of tree composition, biomass, and carbon stock across different management regimes namely, Van Panchayat forest (VP), Reserve forest (RF), and Civil & Soyam forest (C&SF) in the state of Uttarakhand, with a focus on P. roxburghii (Chir-pine) forests. Collectively, these management regimes cover approximately 60 % of the forest area in the state. In this assessment, a total five tree species (Pinus roxburghii, Quercus leucotrichophora, Myrica esculenta, Acacia catechu, and Pinus wallichiana) were identified across the management regimes. The Pinus roxburghii emerged as the dominant species across all management regimes, with relative density of 92.79, 94.39, and 92.31 % in Van Panchayat forest, Reserve forest, and Civil & Soyam forest respectively. However, co-dominant species are varying across the sites. The total tree biomass and carbon stock were notably higher in Van Panchayat forest (236.31 & 112.25 t ha−1) compared to Reserve forest (224.85 & 106.80 t ha−1) and Civil & Soyam forest (193.58 & 91.95 t ha−1). These findings suggest that Van Panchayat forests exhibit a superior status in terms of density, biomass, and carbon stock as compared to Reserve and Civil & Soyam forests. Pinus roxburghii emerges as a crucial species, underscoring its ecological significance in the region. These findings underscore the critical role of effective forest management practices in fostering sustainable biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration in the Himalayan Chir-pine forests. Thus, it helps to mitigate the impacts of climate change and biodiversity conservation, and sustainable management of forests.