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Abstract. This study has been undertaken to derive resource use impacts on the forest cover vegetation components (species composition, diversity, wood biomass and increment) of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR). Attempts have been made to seek valuable insight through data analysis along disturbance gradients in different altitudinal zones. Within the KBR landscape, sites corresponding to three levels of disturbances were identified: viz. i) Type III, ii) Type II and iii) Type I based on differing degrees of proximity to habitation. Data analysis revealed disturbance at different levels along all altitudinal gradients to be positively correlated with decrease in values of tree species density, basal area and importance value index (IVI). Generally, number of seedlings and saplings decreased towards proximity of different disturbance levels across all forest sites except in one case. Wood biomass and increment pertinently increased on undisturbed site. It was also observed that diversity is significantly correlated with increase in species richness. Such observations indicate that resource use pressures may lead to substantial impacts on KBR forest cover vegetation. So, in order to curb such future impacts, regular analysis of the ongoing changes and identifying gaps for conservation becomes imperative in this Biosphere Reserve (BR).
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