Abstract
The study was conducted to appraise the status of natural regeneration of Juniperus macropoda at three different sites located in Ladakh, the high altitude cold desert of Jammu and Kashmir. Presence of middle diameter class trees at sites I and II indicated that there was potential for natural regeneration at these sites. However, presence of few or no seedlings and saplings at all, at these sites alluded to some forces operating there to nullify this potential. At site III very uneven size class distribution of stems gave an impression of completely irregular stand. Preponderance of mature and over-mature trees at all the three sites and biotic pressures in the form of over-grazing and lopping of twigs, leaves and cones for burning as incense were identified as major factors responsible for very poor natural regeneration of J. macropoda on these sites.
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