studies on vegetational status of zabarwan forests kashmir

Abstract

newline ABSTRACT newlineTHE GLOCAL UNIVERSITY PhD THESIS newlineABSTRACT newlineTo study the phytodiversity of Zabarwan forests of Kashmir valley a study was carried out during the year 2016 to 2018. The main objective of the study was to study the vegetational status of Cheshmashahi area of Zabarwan forests with respect to the frequency, density, abundance and importance value index (IVI), species diversity, species dominance, and to document woody flora. Analysis of cumulative data revealed that this area hosts 43 families (40 Angiosperms and 3 Gymnosperms, 74 Genera (70 Angiosperms and 4 Gymnosperms) and 88 species (80 Angiosperms and 8 Gymnosperms) out of which 58 were herbs, 12 were shrubs and 18 were tree. Dicotyledons contribute about 92% of the total angiosperms observed at study site.. However, analysis of cumulative data revealed that Viola odorata, Berberis lyceum and Cupressus torulosa formed dominant plant community on lower altitude, Artemesia absinthium and Taraxacum officianale, Paratiopsis jacquemontiana and Cedrus deodara on middle altitude and Sorghum helepense, Paratiopsis jacquemontiana and Cedrus deodara was the principal plant association on upper altitude. Present study revealed that flora of Zabarwan forests provides information about the total number of species present in the forest area that could be used as a source of basic data including their identification, composition, distribution, medicinal values and their utility for the future management and conservation planning. newlineKeywords: Forests, Flora, Vegetational status, Zabarwan forests.