Community structure and regeneration potentialof natural forest site in Gangotri, India

ABSTRACT

The article reported the regeneration potential and community structure of natural forest site in Gangotri, Uttarakhand. A total of seven tree species were recorded from the site. Among the trees, Picea smithiana was the dominant and Cedrus deodara was found co-dominant species. However, the highest [240 trees/ha] density was reported for Pinus wallichiana while least number of individuals [30 trees/ha] were recorded for Acer caesium and Pinus wallichiana. In tree layer the most of the species [65.16%] were distributed contagiously and few [34.84%] were distributed randomly. However, none of the species should regular distribution pattern. Artemesia gamillinea and Cotoneaster gilgitansis were the most and least dominant shrub species respectively. All species of shrub layer were distributed contagiously [100%]. In the seedling stage, maximum number was observed for Pinus wallichiana [1080 seedling/ha] followed by Picea smithiana [1040 seedling/ha] which was recorded just after in sapling stage, because it shows more survival rate of Picea smithiana [600 sapling/ha] as compared to Pinus wallichiana [520 sapling/ha]. As far as regeneration status was concerned, 71.4% species showed good regeneration, 14.3% species were facing the problem of poor regeneration whereas, only 14.3% species were not regenerating