Diversity of Arboreal Spermatophytes in three MPCAs of India: With Special Reference to West Bengal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2021/v147i12/158451Keywords:
Arboreal Spermatophyte, Indices, IUCN, MPCAs, NTFPs.Abstract
Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas (MPCAs) are the patches in protected forests with rich indigenous medicinal plant species. Arboreal spermatophyte heterogeneity and floristic arrangement of three Medicinal Plant Conservation Area (MPCAs) of West Bengal were assessed with an aim to acquire a baseline data assumption for medicinally important trees and their proper in situ conservation strategies for the floristically affluent ecosystem. The study was made during the period of 2014-2020 by following standard sampling method and by random quadrates. It was observed that study areas are quite enriched with about 164 trees species representing 52 families and maximum species are found to be used to treat various ailments in Indian system of medicines. Various diversity indices were calculated to understand the community structure for the tree layer and it was found quite significant. These quantitative measures pointed the diversity of the arboreal spermatophytes of the study area in its structure, composition, function and vegetation dynamics. The present study also highlights various types of anthropogenic intervention, including NTFPs (Non Timber Forest Products) collection and artificial forest-fire causing dangerous threats for the maintenance of its original vegetation and survival of numerous threatened and endangered species in all the strata of the vegetation.References
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