Population Structure and Community Analysis on Different Aspects of Sal Savanna forest Type in Outer Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

The population structure and community analysis of the Sal-Savanna forest of the Kalagarh Forest Division in the outer Himalaya were studied on four different aspect viz., North-East, North-West, South-East and South-West. The maximum density (500 trees/ha) and maximum total basal cover (32.98 m²/ha) were observed on the SW and NE aspects respectively. The tree diversity range in these forests varied from 0.5029 (on NE aspect) to 1.366 (on SE aspect). The maximum dispersion of tree individuals were seen on SE aspect which has indicated a more stable community comparatively. Due to more biotic and abiotic interference's, the population structure on other aspects has shown a degrading sustainability. The occurrence of grasses growth with Sal under these disturbed climatic condition and heavy biotic interference have represented this stage of retrogression in otherwise climax Sal type and are responsible for the formation of Sal-Savanna forest type.