Forests are key element of terrestrial ecosystem that helps in maintaining ecological balance, biodiversity conservation, protection of watersheds, and control of soil erosion and provide various other ecosystem services. However, of late, forests have been adversely affected by tremendous pressure on account of numerous developmental and social needs such as diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, timber, fuelwood, NTFP and other goods and services. Insufficient allocation of resources and infrastructure has further aggravated the problems being faced by the forest sector. Lack of public awareness about multiple functions of forests, undervaluation of goods and services provided by forest ecosystems has led to allocation of grossly insufficient funds and facilities to forest departments. With this background the present study was undertaken to demonstrate the valuation of tangible and intangible benefits that the society derives from FRI estate. The results have shown that the selected use and non-use values, viz., forestry research, education and extension, contribution of research in biodiversity conservation, existence & bequest values contributed the maximum i.e., 57.34% followed by values on account of environment attributes such as aesthetic view, climate amelioration and unpolluted environment contributed 32.08% towards the total economic value, which was calculated as Rs.5.89 crore on annual basis. Other goods and services such as direct consumptive and productive benefits, recreational benefits and carbon sequestration accounted for 7.31, 2.76 and 0.50%, respectively. The study has successfully highlighted the importance of intangible benefits from forests and demonstrated the need for proper economic valuation of country’s forests for informed decision making on their management.

Mineralogy of fine sand and clay fractions at different locations in natural forests representing varied type of forest vegetation, parent material and altitude in Nainital, Ramgarh and Bhawali Range of Nainital Forest Division Uttarakhand was investigated. Light minerals constituted bulk of fine sand fractions and comprised quartz, feldspar and mica in order of their abundance. Heavy minerals contributed very small fraction and were dominated by opaque minerals followed by biotite, calcite, chloritized mica, garnet, zircon etc. The study suggests that quartz, tourmaline, opaque minerals and rutile were the resistant minerals. The most weatherable minerals were feldspar, biotite, mica, calcite, chloritized mica, hornblende etc. Clay fractions are characterized by micas and illite as the dominant clay mineral associated with appreciable amount of kaolinite and chlorite. The small amount of mixed layer silicate mineral, vermiculite, montimorillonite are also present in the clay fractions of these soils. Mineralogical composition showed that variations are mostly due to nature and composition of parent rock and degree of weathering stage. The study, therefore, indicates the presence of low to moderate amount of weatherable minerals suggesting their podzolic nature.

The study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of macro and micronutrients in litterfall of tree species existing in various agroclimatic zones of Punjab. Tree plantations were selected in three agroclimatic zones of the state viz., four species (Subabul, Shisham, Khair and Kikar) in sub montane zone, six species (Eucalyptus, Dek, Shisham, Siris, Subabul and Kikar) in semi arid zone and four species (Dek, Eucalyptus, Shisham and Arjun) in Central plain zone. Similarly, ten Poplar plantations i.e. five aged two years and five aged five years having fodder-wheat rotation were selected in Poplar growing belt of Punjab. Different macronutrients (N, P and K) and micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu) were determined in the litterfall of these tree plantations. The concentration of macro as well as micronutrients varied significantly among various tree species in all the agroclimatic zones. Concentration of N (0.94-1.36%) among macronutrients and that of Fe (942-1316 mg/kg) among micronutrients was higher than other nutrients in various zones. The concentration of N, P, Fe and Mn was relatively higher in Subabul and lower in arjun than the other tree species. In Poplar plantations, the nutrient concentration also varied significantly among different plantations. The concentration of all the macro and micronutrients was the highest in younger (N: 1.17 %, Zn: 3.91 mg/kg) than the older (N: 0.99 %, Zn: 3.35 mg/kg) Poplar plantations. The study would be useful to estimate the return of macro and micronutrients through litterfall of tree species.

An effort was made to develop local tree volume equations based on diameter at breast-height (dbh) for Acacia auriculiformis in Thiruvananthapuram and Punalur Forest Divisions in Kerala. Trees of different size classes were sampled from plantations of age between 7 and 18 years. Measurement of girth at breast-height (gbh) was taken before felling. The dbh varied from 5 to 58 cm. Girth measurements (both over-bark and under-bark) were taken at the middle of each billet of length 3 m starting from the base. When the terminal billets fell short of 3 m, their lengths were recorded separately along with the girth measurements required for computation of volume. Billet volume was computed using Huber’s formula. Total commercial volume (over-bark) and pulpwood volume (under-bark) down to a lower limit of 15 cm girth were computed. The equations were based on data from 52 trees. Additionally saleable timber volumes (both over-bark and under-bark) down to a lower limit of 70 cm girth (over-bark) were also computed. For computing the saleable timber volume, trees of girth at breast-height greater than or equal to 70 cm (over-bark) alone were considered. Altogether 28 trees were used for this purpose. Volume prediction equations were established using regression analysis. Dbh of the tree alone was included as a predictor variable as the equations based on diameter were good enough. Additionally, dbh is simple to measure and its measurement involves minimum error. The equations developed can predict the total commercial volume, pulpwood volume and saleable timber volume with justifiable precision. The prediction equations were reasonably stronger. The equations are applicable only within the range of data used for the study. Local volume tables in terms of commercial, pulpwood, saleable timber and firewood volumes were prepared for the species based on developed equations.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi and kharif season, 2009-10 at main Experiment Station (Forestry), Kumarganj, Faizabad, U.P. to evaluate the performance of Wheat and Paddy intercropped under Casuarina equisetifolia based Agri-silvicultural System. The system comprises three varieties of wheat (NW-1067, NW-1014, and HD-2643) and three varieties of Paddy (Sarjoo-52, Narendra Usar-2 and Narendra Usar-3). The experiment was laid in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. . Under this study plant height and straw yield were found better for Wheat variety HD-2643 (plant height 96.00 cm and straw yield 2.47 t ha^-1) and Paddy variety Narendra Usar -2 (plant height 94.33 cm and straw yield 2.41 t ha^-1), when the crop was grown 1 m away from tree base. However, maximum number of per ear/ panicle, test weight (1000-grain weight) and grain yield were recorded in case of Wheat variety NW-1067 (1.26 t ha^-1) and Paddy variety Narendra Usar-2 (1.65 t ha^-1), when the crop was grown in open area. Amongst different varieties, Wheat variety NW-1067 and Paddy variety Narendra Usar-2 were found better for cultivation under this study.

Regeneration status differs place to place and species to species in the Sandaracs. It depends on the different ecological conditions of the Sundarbans. The locations are Baniakhali, Chunkuri, Kalabogi, Kasiabad, Bojboja and Supati. Number of trees, seedlings up to 3 years and saplings above 3 years of all major species were recorded in each plot. The highest regeneration were recorded at Baniakhali 76997 per/ ha, 37333per/ ha at Supati and lowest at Chunkuri 34666 per/ ha. Pasur (Xylocarpus mekongensis) is a valuable timber yielding and highly useful tree species in the Sundarbans. It has great commercial value. It is found mainly in the saline areas on the North-Western part of the Sundarbans in association with other mangrove species. Pasur, a commercially valuable deciduous multipurpose tree species is affected by heart rot problem. As a result, it is characterized by the gradual death of the crown starting first with small twigs and then gradually larger branches die and lignin portion of the stem becomes useless. Heart rot is generally regarded as a condition locally known as “dhor.”. The fruit body, gall and cankers are developed on the different portion of the standing trees. It was observed and enumerated heart rot infestation status of different locations in the Sundarbans. It is affected (Less than 50% top dead and more than 50% top dead or heart rot (Dhor observed) severely at Kalabogy, Baniakhali and Bozbosa are heavily affected in the moderately saline water zone. The result shows that the percentage is 64%, 62% and 60% respectively. Then followed by Kasiabad 54% and Chunkuri 48%. Very low number of trees are affected at Supati covering 17% in the fresh water zone of the Sundarbans. The factors which causing the diseases are very difficult to identify. The International Mycological Institute, UK, confirmed two fungal pathogens. They identified two fungal pathogens for causal organism namely Phaenerochaete subglobosa and Schizophyllum commune and locally identidied Ganoderma applanatum. But some biotic and abiotic factors are responsible for the causes. The wood loss becomes a very high rate which shall impact the total loss of economy and the Sundarbans ecosystem. So, to overcome the disorder and disease special monitoring, care, multidisciplinary research and management system are to be required to formulate and eradicate the problem in the Sundarbans.

Enterolobium contortisiliquum a nitrogen fixing 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 5.87% (untreated) to 93.17% (mechanical scarification). Although mechanical scarification treatment gives early, uniform and highest germination but it is not practicable in large-scale purposes. Therefore, sulphuric acid for 30 minutes soaking is recommended.

Use of environmentally acceptable preservative that contains no metals is an essential criterion in wood preservation. In this study, an environment friendly chemical viz., lufenuron was evaluated as a wood preservative chemical to protect plywood and solid wood from wood destroying insects. The efficacy of lufenuron was studied against powder post beetle and subterranean termite. The method used for the treatment of solid wood was dipping and glue line poisoning for plywood. Lufenuron was tested at various concentration level viz., 0.5, 1 and 2 % against powder post beetle and subterranean termite. Observations were made for a period of eighteen months for powder post beetle (natural infestation test) and twelve months for subterranean termite (field test). From the results of the toxicity study, it has been found that the lethal dose of lufenuron against powder post beetle and subterranean termite are 0.5 and 1 % respectively in both the methods.

Deserts of cold are related more to the physiographic causes because of their location and are characterized by natural stress conditions. Biochemical variation in Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) growing in cold desert of Leh, Ladakh and and Jammu & Kashmir was studied on six forms from three botanical regions considering differently in their soil condition. Plants were selected accordingly to their economically important features : length, width the forms of leaves, fruits and seeds, number of thorns, colour of leaves and fruits, length of stalk and productivity.  The study concludes that Seabuckthorn populations growing in the considerably different soil-climatic condition of Leh, Ladakh is characterized by large differences of morphological and biochemical parameters. Common features for these forms are small fruits, high oil and carotenoid contents. Their gene pools should to be used largely for the introduction and selection in order to obtain valuable forms for the plantation in the cold deserts of Jammu & Kashmir and also in Himachal Pradesh.

Leafing phenology and seasonality of canopy and understorey trees among different species in evergreen forest Kemmanugundi of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is studied. Seasonal rainfalls as a influencing factor for leafing patterns were reported.

Growth performance was evaluated in nine tropical trees planted on mine spoil in a dry tropical environment. Of the nine species evaluated, Albizia lebbeck, Dalbergia sissoo, Pongamia pinnata and Tamarindus indica were nitrogen fixing leguminous tree species. Among all the species, Terminalia arjuna was the best performing tree species while Madhuca indica was the poorest performing tree species on mine spoil.

The Physical and mechanical properties of air-dried wood of three locally important exotic tree species viz. Acacia auriculiformis, Hevea brasiliensis, and Acacia mangium, widely preferred for mass scale plantations in Konkan region of Maharashtra were determined. It was found that the mechanical properties were generally higher for Acacia auriculiformis as compared to other two species in study. In Acacia auriculiformis, attributes such as specific gravity, compressive stress at limit of proportionality perpendicular to grain and end hardness of A. auriculiformis were also greater than the values reported for Teak (Tectona grandis). However, the physical and mechanical properties of Hevea brasiliensis and Acacia mangium were inferior to Teak, except end hardness of Hevea brasiliensis was superior than Teak.

This paper describes the regeneration status of trees along and away from riverian vegetation of Khoh river area of District Pauri in Garhwal Himalaya. Two sites were studied to examine regeneration status/pattern along the river and away from the river area. Seedling (1129.15 seedlings ha^-1), sapling (1010.01seedlings ha^-1) and tree density (660 trees ha^-1) were greater along the river stretch. The highest and lowest seedling density along the rivarian patch was recorded for Salix teterasperma (162.50 seedlings ha^-1) and Toona hexandra (29.17 seedlings ha^-1) respectively while the highest and lowest seedling density in the area away from the river was observed for Pyrus pashia (106 seedlings ha^-1) and Syzygium cumini (23.33 seedlings ha^-1) respectively. The tree species Terminalia alata, Bischofia javanica, Melia azedarch and Dalbergia sissoo along the river and Buchanania lanzan, Pyrus pashia, Lagerstromia parviflora and Bombax ceiba observed away from the river were found without any regeneration. The diameter class showed decreasing trend with increase in size of girth class at both the study sites.

A new variety, Jatropha nana var bengalense, is described from West Bengal, India, with illustrations.

The present study was conducted on density, basal area and biomass production of grasses in two Chir pine plantations (Site I and II) of Solan Forest Division, H.P., India, which is located in the Western part of Southern Himachal Pradesh having latitudes 30^o05’and 31^o15’N and longitudes 76^o42’ and 77^o20’E.  Site I represented good site quality and Site II the poor site quality. In all six grass species were recorded in the study Sites. Total density (tillers/m²) of the grasses varied between 525.00 to 1676.67 in Site I and 604.00 to 1699.00 in Site II. Basal area (cm²/m²) of grasses ranged from 48.676 to 108.673 in Site I and 52.893 to 109.682 in Site II. Total belowground biomass (q/ha) of grasses in Site I varied from 9.56 to 17.02 and in Site II from 7.92 to 17.81. Total aboveground biomass (q/ha) of grasses on different sampling time, in Site I, varied from 10.12 to 23.48 and in Site II from 9.75 to 27.55. Among grasses Chrysopogon montanus was the main contributors to various attributes of vegetation in both the sites. Site quality did not influence diversity, density, basal area and biomass production of grasses.

Kingiodendron pinnatum (DC.) Harms (Leguminosae) is an Endangered and endemic tree species of Western Ghats. The recorded twin seedlings contributed to 20% of the abnormality among the germinated seedlings.

The rare succulent species of Asteraceae, Kleinia grandiflora (Wall. ex DC.) N. Rani which was earlier reported from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states in India, is reported here for the first time from West Bengal (India). Taxonomic notes along with description are provided.

Carissa andamanensis L.J. Singh & Murugan is described and illustrated here as a new species from the Bay Islands, India. It is closely allied to C. spinarum L. but differs in vegetative, floral and fruit characters. A brief description along with relevant notes, illustration, photograph is provided here for easy identification and further collection in field.

Syzygium megacarpum (Craib) Rathakr. & N.C. Nair, a wild myrtaceous tree species, is described along with photographs as a new distributional record for Andaman-Nicobar Islands.

A Stylosanthes fruticosa (Retz.) Alston (Fabaceae), hitherto not recorded is reported for the first time for Uttar Pradesh from Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary, Chitrakoot. A brief description alongwith other details and photographs are provided to facilitate its identification in field.

Present paper communicates rare, endangered and endemic plants from Khandesh region of Maharashtra state, India. Its taxonomic description, flowering and fruiting period, precise location, present status, and ecology is presented. Their causes of rarity, threats identified are also mentioned. In-situ and ex-situ conservation of these taxa is underway.

The mosses Fissidens geppii, Distichophyllum decolyi and Hookeriopsis secunda, earlier known to be distributed in Himalaya and Meghalaya in India, are recorded for the Western Ghats. They are described in detail and illustrated.

Crotalaria pallida Ait. var. obovata (G. Don) Polhill, belonging to the family Fabaceae, so far known from Kerala, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu is recorded for the first time from Central India.

In the present study, 568 species of higher plants have been classified into different life forms and biological spectrum of the flora of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary (Parasnath hill), Chota Nagpur Plateau, Jharkhand, India has been prepared and compared with Raunkiaer’s normal spectrum that depicts Thero-Phanerophytic phyto-climate of the area.

Two species of grasses, Chrysopogon hamiltonii and Cymbopogon pendulus are being reported as new distributional records for the South India. This paper presents an illustrated account of both the species.

The present article comprises the enumeration of the taxa belonging to family Bignoniaceae in India. Currently accepted names, basionyms, important synonyms, brief description, phenology, distribution, uses, ecology and taxonomic notes if any, have been updated for each taxon.

The paper describes the phytogeographical and ecological observations of Pteridophytes (Ferns and their allies) of Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary and would be helpful to know the ecological habitat, distributional account and evaluation of natural resources of the area. Four broad ecological categories of Pteridophytes, viz. epiphytes, terrestrials, lithophytes and hygrophilous have been recognized. Seven years study based Pteridophytic flora reveals a total of 207 species belonging to 72 genera and 35 families collected so far from Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary. Phytogeographical study indicates 67 species are common to Meghalaya and 70 species to Nagaland. Similarly 102 species and 50 species are reported as common to Western Himalayas and Western Ghats respectively.

Adiantum caudatum Linn., and A. peruvianum Kl. are reported for the first time from Eastern Uttar Pradesh. With the inclusion of above two species the family Adiantaceae (Presl) Ching in Eastern Uttar Pradesh is with 4 species.