Impact of silvicultural system on natural regeneration in Western Himalayan moist temperate forests of Pakistan

Abstract

Site conditions (topography, aspect, moisture availability, humus thickness, light exposure, and grazing activities) play a vital role in the germination and regeneration process. The research was conducted in the Himalayan moist temperate forest. The research site was divided based on the silvicultural system (group selection system and single-tree selection system) into 148 plots and 150 plots, respectively. The group selection system was examined on the site of 2 ha which was clear-felled under a project in the 1980's. The present study examined the impact of silvicultural systems on regeneration. The frequency table was used, and relative frequency was calculated for the species and silvicultural system, density per m2 was also calculated. Diversity indices were calculated through taxa, dominance, Simpson’s index, Shannon index, evenness, equitability, and fisher alpha. Ten taxa were found in both silvicultural systems, with individual repetition of 17 and 15 taxa, respectively. Group selection is more compact visibly as compared to the single-tree selection system. The single-tree selection system is more diversified in species composition, stand structure, moisture availability, and less humus availability. The study also highlights future predictions for the conservation of these forests, which are highly sensitive and a hotspot for wildlife and climate change phenomena. Silvicultural practices such as silvicultural system, cleaning, weeding, thinning operations are regularly practiced, which can reduce the negative impact on these productive forests.

Effects of stand types on recreational preferences of society in the Sub-Alpine Zone, northern Turkey

“…The linkages between stand structures and recreational demands gain a greater importance in the subalpine zones where extreme growth conditions prevail (Dudek 2017). The silvicultural applications carried out in the primary and secondary forests in subalpine zones aiming to protect their original structures and hosting a vast biodiversity have a direct and indirect impact on the quality and diversity of recreation activities (Shelby et al 2005;Iqbal 2019). However, the knowledge of how people's recreational preference varies depending on stand structure following silvicultural disturbances, especially in recreational parks and city forests, is limited.…”

Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants of Himalayas, Pakistan

“…Prunus cornuta Wall. ex Royle (Rosaceae) and Quercus semicarpifolia Sm (Fagaceae) are widely found in the Himalayan regions of Pakistan and India [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. These plants contain numerous phytochemicals such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, and tannins.…”