International Journal of Chemical Studies 2018; 6(2): 3581-3586 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2018; 6(2): 3581-3586 Seasonal dynamics of herbaceous species along © 2018 IJCS Received: 16-01-2018 the topographic gradients under different Accepted: 20-02-2018 conservation regimes of Kashmir Himalaya Amir Bhat Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST- K, Benhama, Ganderbal, Jammu Amir Bhat, Khan PA, Qaiser KN, Mughal AH, Ara S and Mir SA and Kashmir, India Abstract Khan PA Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST- The present investigation entitled “Seasonal dynamics of herbaceous species along the topographical K, Benhama, Ganderbal, Jammu gradients under different conservation regimes of Kashmir Himalaya” was carried out in two protected and Kashmir, India areas viz., Dachigam National Park (DNP) and Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary (OAWS) along with their adjoining unprotected areas in Srinagar and Anantnag districts of Kashmir valley during the year 2014-15 Qaiser KN & 2015-16, respectively, with the aim to evaluate phytosociology and its dynamics in different seasons of Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST- protected and unprotected areas. These research objectives centered on two major goals, to assess the K, Benhama, Ganderbal, Jammu performance of protected areas and to study the feasibility of incorporation of adjoining unprotected and Kashmir, India areas. On the basis of different aspects, each protected and unprotected area was divided was into north and south aspects. Each aspect was further sub divided into three different altitudinal ranges viz., A1 Mughal AH (1600-2100m), A2 (2100-2600m) and A3 (2600-3100m) covering different forests of protected as well as Faculty of Agriculture, unprotected areas. 1x1m sample plots in each altitudinal range on different aspects of protected and SKUAST-K, Wadura, Sopore, unprotected areas were laid out to study the structural and functional parameters of herbs. The vegetation Jammu and Kashmir, India was studied across three different seasons. The results revealed that density (tillers/m2), basal area 2 2 Ara S (cm /m ) and frequency (%) of herbaceous vegetation in each protected and unprotected areas increased Division of Environmental from spring till summer and decreased thereafter. Among the seasons, summer recorded the maximum Sciences, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, density, basal area and biomass, followed by spring and autumn, whereas, middle altitude and north Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, aspect exhibited the highest values among different altitudinal ranges and aspects, respectively. The India study concluded that performance of protected areas was better as compared to unprotected areas and upper altitude unprotected areas (A2 & A3) on both north and south aspect are in a position to be merged Mir SA with respective protected areas in future. Division of Agricultural Statistics, SKUAST-K, Keywords: Protected area, dachigam national park, oveara-aru wild life sanctuary, phytosiology Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Introduction The inquisitiveness for shrinking biodiversity, as a result of increasing knowledge of interdependent ecosystems and scientific research establishing the new vistas of the uses of flora and fauna, is global. Mankind has realized the importance of biodiversity and its implications in the foundation and sustenance of life, concepts like sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, maintenance of gene pools, etc. have become sources of universal concern. This inquisitiveness has in turn led to the designation of special areas purely for sustainable conservation, in the case of developed as well as developing countries, known as [33] Protected Areas [PAS] (Rucha and Hussain, 2003) . Protected area is thus defined as an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other [17] effective means (IUCN, 1999) . These areas are assumed to guard forest from alterations and are recognized to maintain carbon sinks, protect biodiversity, and to help stabilize global climate (Munroe et al. 2007) [32]. Protected areas have been the principal defense of habitat, and will carry on playing the role in conserving the biodiversity especially the species with [13] extreme threat (Gaston et al. 2008) . They are known for their ability to serve as safe havens for species including ecological balance, which otherwise is difficult to achieve in intensely managed natural landscapes as well as providing room for natural evolution and possible Correspondence ecological restoration (Dudley et al. 2010) [10]. It is therefore vital to understand the Amir Bhat contribution which this system actually makes to biological conservation. Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST- K, Benhama, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India ~ 3581 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies Since protected areas signify the foundation of global Dachigam National Park lies between 34o 05′ N-34o 11′ N conservation efforts, garnering support for such conservation longitude and 74o 54′ E-75o 09′ E latitude and the area comes areas will need the robust social and economic ideas to under the civil jurisdictions of Srinagar, Anantnag and stimulate the political support for an adaptive action Pulwama districts. Its area comes in 2.38.12 (Himalayan (Balmford et al. 2003) [3]. International treaties call for the Highlands) bio geographical province, and 2A Bio- conservation of biodiversity in all its manifestations. geographic zone. It is 21 km north east to Srinagar, the Conservation efforts have focused on maintaining biodiversity summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir State situated in through establishment of networks of protected areas. Main Zabarwan mountain range of Great Himalayas. The total area goal of Japan conference on protected areas network of Dachigam national Park is 141 sq. km. Dachigam National specifically identifies the need to expand the number and area Park is divided in two zones Lower and Upper Dachigam. of protected areas to at least 17% of terrestrial protected areas. Dachigam National Park is known world-wide because it There are numerous ways to study the biodiversity; these holds one of the best populations of Asiatic black bear in Asia include inventory and documentation, diversity assessment, and the red deer sub species Hangul. Dachigam occupies population status and ecology, management and threat. Along almost half of the catchment zone of the famous Dal Lake and with vegetation type distribution, topographic variability, is the main source of water for the Srinagar city. The park is climatic gradients and biotic pressure, criteria of biodiversity foster mother nurturing rich assets of threatened as well as inventory also forms the cornerstone in conservation planning rare flora and fauna. Dachigam national park with adjacent and strategies. Apart from such advantages these areas can be conservation reserves and wildlife Sanctuaries makes Greater helpful in representing can be effective at representing Dachigam Landscape which harbors high level of additional aspects of biodiversity, such as ecological biodiversity. The natural boundaries to the park are two steep uniqueness, species distributions, species diversity and mountain ridges, one originating from Harwan water reservoir contiguous intact natural habitats (Wessels et al. 1999) [44]. on the south west side of the park and the other originating Any spatial and temporal changes in habitats are first from Dara/Khimber side with an elevation gradient of 2,600 observed in the vegetation. Vegetation classification and to 3,000m. Dachigam is bounded by Sindh valley to the north mapping currently are the most important tools for studying east, Tarsar, Lidderwath, Kolhai of Lidder Valley and Overa- varying ecological sysytems and helping in easing out the Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in the East, Tral range in the south interrelated complexity both in spatial as well as temporal east and Harwan, Brain and Nishat in the west and south-west aspects of (Mucina and Rutherford, 2006) [31]. The essential (Kurt, 1978) [24]. As per revised Champion and Seth (1968) [8], attributes of of forest ecosystem like, species composition, the vegetation of Dachigam National Park is typically structure and function are reflected in response to Himalayan moist temperate forest, sub-alpine forest and environmental as well anthropogenic variables (Shaheen et al. alpine forest type and can be classified into following forest 2012; Bisht and Bhat, 2013) [37, 6]. Protected areas are answer types: to the overall biodiversity loss (Jenkins and Joppa 2009) [19]. Moist temperate deciduous forest Parrotia (pohu) scrub forest Material and Method West Himalayan low level blue pine forest The present investigation was carried out during the years Western mixed coniferous forest 2014-15 and 2015-16. The physical and environmental Deciduous alpine scrub attributes of study area, materials used and methodology Keeping in view floral diversity among protected, the present adopted for the study are given below: study was undertaken to throw light on floristic variation in two different aspects along altitudinal gradient by Study Area investigating forests (Champion and Seth, 1968) [8] located at The study was conducted in two protected areas viz. different elevations as follows (Table 1). Dachigam National Park and Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary. Table 1: Forest area selected for vegetation and carbon stock estimation analysis S. No Protected/Unprotected area District