Research Article | Published: 01 December 2016

Effect of Adult Tree Density and Nearness to the Natural Forest on the Restoration of Degraded Deciduous Forests of Attappady, Western Ghats, Kerala

Ajithakumari Sethukumaran Pillai Anusree, Puthiya Veedu Karunakaran and Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 39 | Issue: 4 | Page No. 309-315 | 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2016-362F4C | Cite this article

Abstract

Studied on the effect of adult tree density and the proximity to the natural forest on restoration success in one of the most exploited tropical deciduous forests, Attappady, Western Ghats. Random quadrats were laid and surveyed for trees and saplings in remnant tropical deciduous forest patches (hereafter called as fragmented forest and the sites being restored here after called as restoration patches) to determine floristic composition, species turnover among sites and the influence of adult tree density on sapling density. Forests composed of deciduous and evergreen trees with an average species richness of 28 and alpha diversity of 2.671 in a 0.2 ha plot. Similarity of restoration patches with natural forest increased as distance between them decreased and regeneration of native species were more efficient in sites with more number of adult trees. Local (adult tree density) and landscape level (isolation of patches) factors are both important in determining the restoration success of deciduous forests of Attappady.

Keywords

Adult Tree Density, Ecosystem Restoration, Isolation, Regeneration, Tropical Deciduous Forests. Attapady, Westren Ghats, Kerala

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Fig. 1

Location map of the study area and study sites - three deciduous forest fragments, Bommiyampadi (B-Nf), 780m asl, 1100mm-RF, in western Attappady; Thoova (T-Nf), 720m asl, 1241mm-RF, in the Eastern boundary and Manjikkandi (Mj-Nf), 1100mm-RF, located near B-Nf.

Fig. 2

Schematic representation of study sites.

Fig. 3

Dendrogram showing similarity in tree species composition of the 7 forest sites (3 forest fragments – B-Nf, T-Nf and Mj-Nf and 4 restored sites - T-IV, T-VI, B-IV and B-I).

Fig. 4

The relationship between log adult density and log sapling density in two deciduous forest fragments (a & b) and restored sites (c & d).

Fig. 5

Sampling site in the study area showing undulation of the terrain.

Fig. 6

Degraded forest site.

Fig. 7

Forest fragment being restored.

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How to cite

Anusree, A.S.P., Karunakaran, P.V. and Parthasarathy, N., 2016. Effect of Adult Tree Density and Nearness to the Natural Forest on the Restoration of Degraded Deciduous Forests of Attappady, Western Ghats, Kerala. Indian Journal of Forestry, 39(4), pp.309-315. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2016-362F4C

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 December 2016

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