Assessing population diversity and compositional structure in forests in Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, Central India

Abstract

The escalating impact of anthropogenic and climatic forces on forest bioresources poses significant challenges to the effective implementation of forest management plans, necessitating rigorous field investigations to provide the precise data required for developing effective conservation policies and ensuring ecosystem stability. This study addresses this need by presenting a comprehensive, field-based baseline framework that evaluates the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on floristic composition, tree diversity, and regeneration dynamics across tropical deciduous forest patches in Central India. Using a stratified random sampling approach with belt transects in 62 sites (0.5 ha each), the research documents 190 plant species, including 85 trees, 23 shrubs, and 82 herbs, with 37.89% listed on the IUCN Red-List, underscoring their conservation significance in Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR). The findings reveal moderate tree density in the forests (386 individuals per hectare) dominated by Chloroxylon swietenia, and statistically significant correlations between disturbance index and biodiversity metrics including indices of diversity (H′), dominance (CD), evenness (E) and richness i.e., Dmg and Dmn. The study highlights a concerning trend of either poor or no regeneration in 67% of tree species in PBR, linked to increasing anthropogenic pressures such as logging and fuelwood collection. The study also recorded 737 cut stumps across 45 forest patches (72.58%), with a disturbance index of 5.54, signaling an urgent need for conservation interventions. This research provides critical baseline data on the floristic composition and species richness of these forests, offering valuable insights for developing effective management strategies. Sustainable biodiversity management in the Biosphere Reserve requires targeted rehabilitation, protection, and intensive regeneration efforts to preserve this ecologically rich yet vulnerable ecosystem. © 2024 Ecological Society of China