Conservation Prioritization of Habitats and Forest Communities in the Lahaul Valley of Proposed Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, North Western Himalaya, India

Abstract

Abstract. The rapid loss of biodiversity due to habitat degradation and over exploitation has necessitated the conservation prioritization of habitats, species and communities for conservation. The prioritization of habitats and communities through qualitative and quantitative assessment of vegetation is prerequisite for initiating any conservation and management programme. Therefore, an attempt has been made to; (i) identify the habitats and communities; (ii) evaluate habitats and communities for species richness, native, endemic, economically important and threatened species; (iii) prioritize habitats and communities for conservation. Fifteen (15) habitats and fourteen forest (14) communities distributed between 2490-4000m were recorded. Overall, 35.71% communities were broad-leaved, 57.14% coniferous and 7.14% mixed. The habitats and communities have been evaluated for the species richness, native, endemic, economically important and threatened species. Based on these attributes habitats and communities have been prioritized. Among communities Abies pindrow -Pinus wallichiana mixed, Fraxinus xanthoxyloides, Picea smithiana -Pinus wallichiana mixed and Cedrus deodara -Acer cappadocicum mixed showed highest CPI and habitats forest, shady moist showed highest CPI value. Regular monitoring of the prioritized habitats and communities has been suggested. Also, mass scale propagation of native, endemic, economically important and threatened species and their plantation in the Lahaul valley have been suggested.

Fuelwood consumption pattern and its impact on forest structure in Kashmir Himalayas

“…Tree density of Pinus wallichiana was recorded as 152.1 trees ha -1 , far less when compared with 875-929 trees ha -1 in Nepal (Pant 2013), 240 trees ha -1 in Gangotri India (Dhaulkhandi et al 2008), and 170 trees ha -1 in Uttarkhand India (Rawat and Chandhok 2009). Abies pindrow showed a density of 118 trees ha -1 , which is quite low, when compared with reported values of 440-550 trees ha -1 in Garhwal Himalaya (Sharma et al 2008) and 457 trees ha -1 in North Western Himalaya India (Singh and Samant 2010). The most alarming threat for the survival of Abies pindrow was its zero regeneration at all the investigated sites.…”

Regeneration Pattern of Tree Species in Forested Landscapes of Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalayan Region, India

“…It has also changed the distribution pattern and preferences of occurrence of various species [3]. As a consequence, structure and composition of forests are affected, which causes endangering of existing plant populations in the Indian Himalaya [4]. Such phenomena have put a challenge to conserve and maintain the sustainability of these valuable resources and ecosystems [5].…”

Floristic Richness and the Conservation Value of Tropical Humid Cloud Forests of Dothalugala Man and Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka

“…Many criteria based on floristic features have often been used in determining the conservation value of wilderness areas and prioritizing habitats for conservation. Some of these include the total species richness (Gentry, 1992;Trigas et al, 2013), endemicity of plants (Brooks et al, 2006;Gentry, 1992;Trigas et al, 2013), threat status of candidate species (Redding and Mooers, 2006) and rarity of species (Margules and Usher, 1981;Scott et al, 1993;Singh andSamant, 2010 andUsher, 1986). Total species richness per se may not truly represent the conservation value of a given area.…”