An assessment of population structure and regeneration status of Magnolia punduana Hk. f. & Th.(Magnoliaceae) in fragmented forests of northeast India

The population structure and regeneration status of Magnolia punduana Hk. f. & Th., an endemic tree species of northeast India were investigated in fragmented forests in the Jarain Hills and in adjoining areas of Meghalaya state. The population structure was discontinuous in all the fragments with the absence of individuals in higher diameter classes. The number of individuals increased with the size of the fragment patches(p < 0.004). The density of mature trees(≥5 cm dbh) was high(24–30 individuals ha-1) in the largest fragment(>105 ha). The number of seedlings and saplings were also higher in the larger fragments. Human-related disturbances had a negative impact on the species population(p<0.002). Variation in the population density in different forest patches has been attributed to fragment size, site characteristics and ongoing human disturbances. The restricted distribution of the species coupled withexploitation and habitat destruction underlines the need for its conservation.

Effect of traditional management practices on woody species composition and structure in montane subtropical forests of Meghalaya,Northeast India

In Meghalaya, northeast India, the local people have the tradition of managing forest resources since early ages. The management practice varies and there are forests with high degree of protection, where no extraction(sacred forests) is allowed. There are also forests with moderate-level of protection and-extraction(reserved forests) as well as forests with low level of protection and open extraction(village forests). The present study was conducted to understand the impact of this traditional management system on the level of human disturbance, and on community composition and structure of the forests in Khasi hills of Meghalaya. The result revealed that disturbance index was low, whereas species richness, density and basal cover were significantly high in forests with high degree of protection(sacred forest) than those with low protection(reserved and village forest). Majority of endemic and threatened plant species were restricted to sacred forests as compared to the other forest types. Though these practices have ensured the sustainable use of forest resources by the local people but due to increased human-pressure and-disturbances, more effective conservation strategies need to be undertaken. Therefore, providing alternatives for fuelwood to local people, environmental education, encouraging afforestation and developmental activities involving local communities are recommended.

Assessing the effectiveness of community managed forests for plant diversity conservation in Meghalaya,Northeast India

In the state Meghalaya,northeast India,>80%of the forest lands are owned by local communities and managed by traditional institutions.These forests are under severe threats due to a number of human disturbances.The present study was conducted to assess the plant diversity and identify the community forests for priority conservation in Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.Floristic explorations carried out in the 87 forests reveals the presence of 1300 plant species of which 400 are either rare,endemic or threatened.Of the different forest categories,reserve forests had the highest number of species(1190),followed by sacred forests(987 species)and village forests(786 species).Majority of the forests(56)had high-species richness,irreplaceability level(42 forests)and vulnerability level(54).In terms of area,13.8%(1666.8 ha)fall under low risk while 1855 ha under high risk zone.High risk zone was mostly represented by village forests.An area of 7661.56 ha of community forests falls under high priority category and hence calls for immediate conservation actions.The conservation priority map generated in the present study will help to concentrate the protection strategy to the demarcated and adjoining areas and help conservationists and planners to evolve effective strategies for conservation of the community forests.

Abundance and habitat-suitability relationship deteriorate in fragmented forest landscapes:a case of Adinandra griffithii Dyer,a threatened endemic tree from Meghalaya in northeast India

Introduction:A strong positive‘abundance and habitat-suitability’relationship is crucial for conservation of species.Nevertheless,anthropogenic alteration of natural landscapes leading to land use and land cover change,habitat loss,and species extinctions(may)have putatively disturbed this relationship.Hence,it is important to study the nature of the relationship in such human influenced landscapes.Methods:In this study,we endeavored to understand the consistency of the relationship in the fragmented natural landscapes in the Khasi,Garo,and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya in northeast India,with Adinandra griffithii(an endangered endemic tree)as a model species.We reconstructed the distribution of its suitable habitats as a function of the remotely sensed vegetation phenology(i.e.,EVI data),using point occurrence data and ecological niche modeling(ENM)tool.Estimation of the abundance and habitat characterization was done through field surveys following standard methods.Results:The study revealed that remotely sensed landscape-level vegetation phenology could effectively discriminate the suitable and unsuitable habitats of threatened species.Linear regression model showed a weak positive correlation between abundance and predicted habitat suitability for adult trees indicating(plausible)deterioration in the relationship.However,sapling and seedling populations did not show a precise trend in this respect.Field-based studies revealed that removal of the species from the suitable habitats because of anthropogenic disturbances possibly weakened the abundance-suitability relationship.Conclusions:The findings of the study enjoin the need for re-establishment of the species in the suitable areas for its conservation and perpetuation.