Selected afforestation and reforestation interventions have been studied in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand with the objectives to assess their carbon sequestration potential, and cost-effectiveness exclusive and inclusive of carbon benefits. The excel spreadsheet model “Project Based Comprehensive Mitigation Assessment Process” was employed to workout the annual incremental carbon sequestration, cost effectiveness indicators and likely benefits under different carbon price scenarios for each selected afforestation and reforestation intervention. The results have shown a wide range of sequestration potential, which varied from 0.19 tC/ha/yr in case of Plum block plantation to 4.81 tC/ha/yr for Pine block plantation, calculated for the assessment period 2008-38. The plantation interventions involving horticulture species demonstrated much lower carbon sequestration potential as compared to long rotation tree species, such as Oak and Pine. Among the selected plantation interventions Pine block, Mixed species block and Oak-Pine-mixed species block were observed to be associated with maximum carbon benefits, viz., Rs. 4060/ha/yr, Rs. 3370/ha/yr and Rs. 3112/ha/yr respectively. The study has demonstrated that plantation interventions involving long rotation tree species associated with recurring non-carbon benefits are more likely to succeed as afforestation and reforestation CDM project interventions compared to the horticulture species, associated with slower woody growth and limited carbon benefits.

Deserts of cold are related more to the physiographic causes because of their location and are characterized by natural stress conditions such as high altitude, aspect, subzero winter temperature (-20o to -30oC), high daily and seasonal diurnal temperature variations, high IR and UV radiations, reduced O2 and CO2 levels, soil moisture frozen during early spring, etc., which hinder the photosynthetic activities. Under such stress conditions, only few species possess the capability to survive. The study deals with the estimation of the photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and water use efficiency of natural flora and the introduced species.

Researcher has estimated soil organic carbon simply as one of the soil attributes depending upon their objectives of the study. To calculated SOC pool from this data, one has to use some assumptions which lead to uncertainties. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate Soil organic carbon pool in forests as well as in other land uses in Nainital district as per the methodology of IPCC. Maximum SOC pool was estimated in the soils under Deodar forest (147.12 t ha-1) followed by Quercus (127.07 t ha-1), Chir (70.98 t ha-1), Miscellaneous (50.90 t ha-1) and the least was under Sal (42.25 t ha-1). In plantation land use, maximum SOC pool was estimated in the soils under Cypress (67.77 t ha-1), followed by Teak (46.01 t ha-1), Eucalyptus (45.91 t ha-1) and the least was under Chir plantation (44.86 t ha-1). Under Horticulture land use in Nainital district, maximum SOC pool was observed under Apple orchards (82.50 t ha-1), followed by Citrus (54.97 t ha-1), Mango (53.65 t ha-1), Litchi (39.63 t ha-1), and the least was under Guava (26.98 t ha-1). Under grass land of Nainital district, SOC pool was estimated 41.16 t ha-1. SOC pool under Deodar and Quercus were significantly different from the SOC pool under Miscellaneous, Sal, and Chir.  SOC pool under Chir was statistically significant different from the SOC pool of Sal. SOC pools between the different orchards were significantly different at 0.05 level.  SOC pool in the soils under forests was statistically significantly different with the SOC pool under horticulture, plantations and grasslands.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of inorganic and biofertilizers, alone and in combination, on biomass production of Dalbergia sissoo seedlings. The treatments comprised of all possible thirty-six combinations of three levels of nitrogen, three levels of phosphorus and four biofertilizers levels. Dual inoculation with Rhizobium and VAM resulted in significantly higher fresh and dry weight of shoot and root as against single inoculation of Rhizobium or VAM and uninoculated control. Inoculation with Rhizobium or VAM alone resulted in higher shoot fresh weight and dry weight as compared to control. Biomass production was increased with application of nitrogen and phosphorus. Dual inoculation of Rhizobium + VAM combined with application of 30 kg ha-1 and 75 kg P2O5 ha-1 produced seedlings with approximately three times more shoot and root biomass than uninoculated and unfertilized control.

Soil physicochemical and biological properties of restored rock phosphate mined area of Maldeota in Doon valley were studied to evaluate the impact of fire. The soil texture of Maldeota varies from sandy loam to loamy sand. Soil organic carbon and soil microbial biomass was studied in a natural forest area and in a restored mined area at Maldeota. Soils samples were collected from both fire affected and unaffected sites. The objective of the present study was to evince the changes in soil properties after fire. Microbial biomass carbon in the burnt restored area found to be greater as compared to that of natural area. Soil moisture content and soil microbial quotient reveals that natural forest has good soil quality whereas the rest of the sites are devoid of good microbial quotient and moisture content. The Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC) and soil organic carbon together can be considered more effective in estimating the reclamation efforts.

An experimental trial was conducted to study the effect of different pre-sowing treatment for overcoming seed dormancy in seeds of Fraxinus xanthoxyloides (Wall. ex G. Don) DC. The seeds were collected from the naturally growing trees in Kirunkhud area of Pooh Block of Kinnaur district during October 2007. The seeds were subjected to seven pre-sowing treatment having different concentration of gibberellic acid ranging from 500ppm to 3000ppm including control to study their effect on germination behavior. Significant differences were observed for all the germination parameters viz., germination percentage, mean daily germination (MDG), peak value (PV), germination value, germination speed and germination energy percent of the seeds treated with different concentration of gibberellic acid. The result indicates that seeds of Fraxinus xanthoxyloides treated with GA3 1500ppm for 24 hours recorded highest germination percent, germination energy percent, germination speed and mean daily germination (MDG) and proved to be best treatment for overcoming seed dormancy and also to improve seed germination. The best treatment registered a 54.34 % increase in germination percent over control.

To conserve Alnus nitida species a micropropagation technique was developed using shoot apices/nodal stem segments as starting material for establishment of axenic shoot cultures on cytokinin supplemented MS medium. The established shoots were transformed into multiple shoot cultures on a multiplication medium consisting of MS/B5 medium augmented with a combination of BA/Kn (2.5-10 µM) and IAA/NAA/IBA (2 µM). A combination of BA (5 µM) and NAA (2 µM) in MS medium lead to formation of a maximum 32.2±0.6 shoots/explant after 8 weeks culture period. The sufficiently elongated microshoots were later on rooted on an auxin enriched half strength MS medium. The microplants were demonstrated to show 70% survival upon being transferred to small pots containing vermiculite sand mixture.

Experiments were conducted employing six different types of sieve sizes of wire-mesh (5.8 mm2 or 3 square hole cm-2, 4 mm2 or 6 square hole cm-2, 3.3 mm2 or 9 square hole cm-2, 3 mm2 or 11 square hole cm-2, 2.5 mm2 or 16 square hole cm-2 and 2 mm2 or 24 square hole cm-2) for preparation of growing media to grow planting stock of four tropical broadleaved forestry species Acacia catechu, Azadirachta indica, Phyllanthus emblica and Pongamia pinnata in root trainers. Morphological (height and root collar diameter), biomass (shoot biomass, root biomass and total biomass) and seedling quality parameters (sturdiness quotient, root-shoot ratio, volume index and Dickson quality index) of the raised seedlings were recorded after four months of growth. Significant positive correlation of increase in sieve size of wire –mesh and combined biomass (r= 0.876, p <0.05) and volume production (r= 0. 966, p <0.01) in all the species was recorded. The sieve size of wire-mesh having 5.8 mm2 or 3 square hole cm-2 appeared to be the best for preparation of uniform growing media with appropriate physical structure to raise planting stock of Acacia catechu, Azadirachta indica, Phyllanthus emblica and Pongamia pinnata in root trainers.

The present paper incorporates the woody plant diversity along the Tons river forest ecosystem from Naitwar to Tiuni (42km). This study is restricted to 100m from either side of the river. Tons riverine forest ecosystem supports 156 species, 122 genera and 62 families. The growth habit of the woody flora indicates high percentage of shrubs 50% followed by large trees 39%, woody climber 6% and small trees 5%. The study site indicates rich woody vegetation showing interconnectivity of high altitude and low altitude specific plant species.

A detailed ecological analysis of woody species of the Chaupal Forest Division, Himachal Pradesh, was carried out at five sites under different altitudes and aspects. The study revealed that the total basal area covers of the forests varied between 0.093 m2/ha (Alnus nepalensis) at Site-IV whereas 46.682 m2/ha at Site-V (Cedrus deodara). The distribution pattern was found regular, random and contagious. Species diversity index was found maximum 1.595 at Site-IV and minimum 0.574 at Site-I whereas species richness was found highest 9 (Site-V) and lowest 2 (Sites -I and II).

The present study was envisaged to conduct a quantitative analysis of various ecosystems of Attappady, Kerala to document plant diversity and structural parameters. Floristic composition and structural features of evergreen forest revealed that the occurrence of a total 42 species belonged to 25 families. Euphorbiaceae represented maximum genera of 6 species. Importance value index recorded maximum for Cullenia exarillata, which is the most dominant species of this evergreen community. This forest is identified as the only natural habitat from which Vateria macrocarpa, the rare endemic tree of Western Ghat is recorded. Structural analysis of moist deciduous forest revealed that a total 36 species belonging to 24 families. Wrightia tinctoria was the most dominant species in this community, as it constituted highest IVI. Other dominant species in this community were Terminalia bellirica and Grewia tiliifolia. Taxonomic inventory of dry deciduous forest revealed that occurrence of a total 27 tree species belonging to 18 families. Euphorbiaceae represented maximum genera of 4 species. Structural analysis showed that though the density was reported maximum for Albizia amara, the species with highest basal area (Givotia moluccana) represented the maximum importance value index. The canopy levels of the forests were relatively few with predominance of Albizia amara and Cassine albens. Plant diversity of these forest ecosystems indicted that the evergreen forest had highest diversity as indicated by maximum value for Shannon Weiner index and Simpson’s index followed by moist deciduous forest. Dry deciduous forest registered lowest values for all diversity indices.

Peltophorum pterocarpum a multipurpose tree species produces hardcoated and light brown colour seeds. Seed has physical dormancy due to hardiness of testa. Suitable pretreatment to break the dormancy was investigated. Germination was enhanced from 19.50 % (untreated) to 92.30 % (mechanical scarification). Although mechanical scarification treatment gives early, uniform and highest germination but it is not practicable in large-scale purposes. Therefore, hot water soaking for 24 hours or sulphuric acid for 30 minutes soaking is recommended.

The effect of lunar phases on insects belonging to four orders viz., Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Homoptera, trapped during the operatin of light traps have been discussed in this paper.

The present paper deals with floristic composition and status of natural regeneration of 34 sacred groves belonging to 20 villages from Ambegaon taluka of Pune district, Maharashtra State. Area of sacred groves varies from 0.01 ha to 6.07 ha and thick clumps of wild Bamboo are observed.  Natural regeneration of tree species like Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeel, Terminalia chebula Retz. and climber of Clematis gourina Roxb. were recorded. 200 old trees of Tectona grandis L. in Sagdara sacred grove is a unique feature of monotypic sacred grove.

Plagiochila hyalodermica Grolle & M.L.So, a taxon so far known from Nepal and China, is described for the first time in Indian bryoflora from North district of Sikkim.

Memecylon minutiflorum Miq. (Memecylaceae) from the Mount Harriet National Park, Bay Islands is a new distributional record for India. A short description with herbarium image is provided here for further collection and identification.

Ceropegia bulbosa var. lushii, reported by Roxburgh (1795) from Andhra Pradesh is collected recently from Greater Hyderabad. The species is described and discussed its distribution in Andhra Pradesh.

The genus Pseuduvaria Miq. is represented by three species in Andaman and Nicobar Islands of which P. reticulata (Blume) Miq. is reported as an addition to the flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Zeuxine goodyeroides and Z. nervosa are two closely related but distinct species of terrestrial orchid. Despite having significant distinguishing characters, these have been misidentified and wrongly reported in some recent works. The present paper deals with the correct identity of these species.

Lejeunea tuberculosa Steph. (Lejeuneaceae) has been recorded for the first time from peninsular India (Devala, Nilgiri hills). The species was earlier reported from Western as well as Eastern Himalayas. The species is easily separable from other 22 known Indian species of the genus in their perianth morphology which is ornamented by mammillose cells (tubercules) on the keel.

The paper deals with the Pteridophytes of Budha Kedar and surrounding areas in Tehri District. A total of 66 species under 33 genera and 20 families from the area are being reported in the present communication.

Combretum razianum K.G. Bhat is reduced to a subspecies of C. pilosum Roxb. ex G. Don.

A new species, Indigofera karaiyarensis is described and illustrated.

Two sedge taxa, Fimbristylis aestivalis Vahl var. major Trimen and Fimbristylis dichotoma (L.) Vahl ssp. glauca (Vahl) T. Koyama have been reported as new distributional records for the state of Andhra Pradesh. Brief description, phenology, distributional pattern and illustrations of the taxa are provided.

Symplocos kanarana Talbot (Family: Symplocaceae) is an evergreen tree species of the Western Ghats. During the nursery study, three twin seedlings of S. kanarana are recorded and it contributed 5% abnormality to the entire seedling lot.

The occurrence of Swertia teres (G. Don) J. Shah (Gentianaceae) has been recorded for the first time from Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Detailed taxonomic description along with illustration is provided.

During the botanical exploration of Rajiv Gandhi National Park between 1999 and 2004, a total of 107 endemic plants were collected which are listed here with detailed information. Of these, 72 angiosperms and 1 pteridophyte are restricted to Peninsular India and the remaining 34 species occur in other parts of India (including Peninsular India).

A new species Scleria indica is described from South-West India. It is characterized by its perennial habit, unisexual spikelets, oblong hypogynous disc lobes and umbonulate scrobiculate nuts.