Tree Species Structure, Composition and Regeneration in Van Panchayat Forests of Kumaun Himalaya, India

Abstract

Present investigation was carried out to assess the structure, composition and regeneration of tree species along the altitudinal gradients of van panchayat (VP) forests in Kumaun Himalaya. The objective ofpresent study was to assess the VP forests in the context ofexisted disturbance level based on tree canopy cover, density, collection and lopping pressure in each selected VP forest. The density of trees, saplings and seedlings was 747-910, 507-1290 and 1553- 6660 ind.ha' in sal, 443-683, 137-207 and 1003-8843 ind.ha ' in pine and 773-873, 237-937 and 1193-1233 ind.ha ' in oak mixed VP forests, respectively. The sal mixed (site-1) and oak mixed (site-5) VP forests had shown good regeneration. The teak mixed (site-2), pine mixed (site-3 and site-4) and oak mixed (site-6) VP forests had depicted the fairregeneration, it showed that the existed seedlings were unable to shift in the higher class i.e. sapling stage. The girth class structure in site-1 and site-5 VP forests had clearly indicated good regeneration potential. In contrast, site-3 VP forest had depicted the fair regeneration because ofanthropogenic disturbance resulted change in the structure of VP forest. Thus it is very imperative to upgrade the management strategies of VP forests so that these forests could be conserved and managed in ajudicious and sustainable ways and also increase the active participation of villagers for conservation, management and efficient use of forest tree resources.