Vegetation Composition, Structure and Diversity in Barandabhar Forest, Chitwan, Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3126/jist.v30i2.85639Keywords:
Biodiversity, Forest structure, Buffer zone, Species diversity, Family Importance ValueAbstract
The Barandabhar Forest, a vital corridor linking Chitwan National Park to the Mahabharat Range in central Nepal, supports diverse plant communities within a tropical ecosystem. However, increasing human migration and dependence on forest resources have contributed to vegetation decline. The present study explores the vegetation structure and diversity across four forest management regimes, viz., Buffer Zone Community Forest (BZCF), Community Forest (CF), Protected Forest (PF), and Buffer Zone Forest (BZ). This study assessed the structure, composition, and diversity of plant species across four forest management regimes using 256 concentric circular sampling plots (CCSPs) for trees (DBH ≥ 5 cm), shrubs, and herbs. A total of 90 plant species were recorded, comprising 30 trees, 26 shrubs, and 34 herbs, belonging to 37 families. Fabaceae represented the most species-rich family (16 species). Species richness in BZ, CF and PF was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the species richness of BZCF. Furthermore, the Community Forest (CF) exhibited the highest species richness, diversity, and maturity indices. Among trees, Shorea robusta showed the highest value for Importance Value Index (IVI), while Clerodendrum infortunatum dominated the shrub layer across all forest regimes. Dipterocarpaceae and Lamiaceae recorded the highest Family Importance Values (FIV) for trees and shrubs, respectively. The herb species Imperata cylindrica showed greatest prominence value among herbs across all regimes. These findings highlight variation in vegetation composition across management systems, emphasizing the importance of effective conservation strategies for maintaining forest biodiversity and ecological integrity.
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