Abstract
Pinus gerardiana an economically important and ecologically significant coniferous tree species grows in the dry temperate forests of Kinnaur in Western Himalayas. Natural regeneration of the species is deficient as every single cone is harvested from the tree and no seed is allowed to fall on the ground. Present study throws light on its distribution and the status of natural regeneration in its natural zone of occurrence. The species is distributed from an average altitude of 1,960 m to 3,365 m above msl, but dominates the community 2,900 m upwards. In most of the sites it was contagiously distributed except one site where it had random distribution. From stand structure as revealed by frequency distribution, it is evident that P. gerardiana stands are unmanaged. In general, regeneration was poor and there was preponderance of mature and over-mature trees.
Keywords
Economical importance, Coniferous tree, Temperate forests, Seedlings, Edaphic factors, Quadrats, Biotic disturbances