Species Diversity, Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Protected Area of Uttarakhand, India

Ecosystem functioning and management are primarily concerned with addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, which are closely linked to carbon stock and species diversity. This research aimed to quantify forest understory (shrub and herb) diversity, tree biomass and carbon sequestration in th...

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Main Authors: Geetanjali Upadhyay, Lalit M. Tewari, Ashish Tewari, Naveen Chandra Pandey, Sheetal Koranga, Zishan Ahmad Wani, Geeta Tewari, Ravi K. Chaturvedi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/291
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author Geetanjali Upadhyay
Lalit M. Tewari
Ashish Tewari
Naveen Chandra Pandey
Sheetal Koranga
Zishan Ahmad Wani
Geeta Tewari
Ravi K. Chaturvedi
author_facet Geetanjali Upadhyay
Lalit M. Tewari
Ashish Tewari
Naveen Chandra Pandey
Sheetal Koranga
Zishan Ahmad Wani
Geeta Tewari
Ravi K. Chaturvedi
author_sort Geetanjali Upadhyay
collection DOAJ
description Ecosystem functioning and management are primarily concerned with addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, which are closely linked to carbon stock and species diversity. This research aimed to quantify forest understory (shrub and herb) diversity, tree biomass and carbon sequestration in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Using random sampling methods, data were gathered from six distinct forest communities. The study identified 271 vascular plants from 208 genera and 74 families. A notable positive correlation (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.085, <i>p</i> < 0.05) was observed between total tree density and total tree basal area (TBA), shrub density (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.09), tree diversity (D) (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.58), shrub diversity (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.81), and tree species richness (SR) (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.96). Conversely, a negative correlation was found with the concentration of tree dominance (CD) (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.43). The <i>Quercus leucotrichophora</i>, <i>Rhododendron arboreum</i> and <i>Quercus floribunda</i> (QL-RA-QF) community(higher altitudinal zone) exhibited the highest tree biomass (568.8 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), while the (<i>Pinus roxburghii</i> and <i>Quercus leucotrichophora</i>) PR-QL (N) community (lower altitudinal zone) in the north aspect showed the lowest (265.7 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>). Carbon sequestration was highest in the <i>Quercus leucotrichophora</i>, <i>Quercus floribunda</i> and <i>Rhododendron arboreum</i> (QL-QF-RA) (higher altitudinal zone) community (7.48 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>) and lowest in the PR-QL (S) (middle altitudinal zone) community in the south aspect (5.5 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>). The relationships between carbon stock and various functional parameters such as tree density, total basal area of tree and diversity of tree showed significant positive correlations. The findings of the study revealed significant variations in the structural attributes of trees, shrubs and herbs across different forest stands along altitudinal gradients. This current study’s results highlighted the significance of wildlife sanctuaries, which not only aid in wildlife preservation but also provide compelling evidence supporting forest management practices that promote the planting of multiple vegetation layers in landscape restoration as a means to enhance biodiversity and increase resilience to climate change. Further, comprehending the carbon storage mechanisms of these forests will be critical for developing environmental management strategies aimed at alleviating the impacts of climate change in the years to come.
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spelling doaj-art-83b5c1f80f164b329f85fa1d8dd13fc22025-01-24T13:47:08ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114229110.3390/plants14020291Species Diversity, Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Protected Area of Uttarakhand, IndiaGeetanjali Upadhyay0Lalit M. Tewari1Ashish Tewari2Naveen Chandra Pandey3Sheetal Koranga4Zishan Ahmad Wani5Geeta Tewari6Ravi K. Chaturvedi7Department of Botany, Kumaun University, D.S.B. Campus, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, IndiaDepartment of Botany, Kumaun University, D.S.B. Campus, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, IndiaDepartment of Forestry and Environment, Kumaun University, D.S.B. Campus, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, IndiaDepartment of Botany, Kumaun University, D.S.B. Campus, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, IndiaDepartment of Botany, Kumaun University, D.S.B. Campus, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, IndiaTerrestrial Ecology and Modelling (TEaM), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, SRM University-AP, Amravati 522240, Andha Pradesh, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Kumaun University, D.S.B. Campus, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand, IndiaCenter for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Jinghong 666303, ChinaEcosystem functioning and management are primarily concerned with addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, which are closely linked to carbon stock and species diversity. This research aimed to quantify forest understory (shrub and herb) diversity, tree biomass and carbon sequestration in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Using random sampling methods, data were gathered from six distinct forest communities. The study identified 271 vascular plants from 208 genera and 74 families. A notable positive correlation (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.085, <i>p</i> < 0.05) was observed between total tree density and total tree basal area (TBA), shrub density (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.09), tree diversity (D) (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.58), shrub diversity (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.81), and tree species richness (SR) (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.96). Conversely, a negative correlation was found with the concentration of tree dominance (CD) (r<sup>2</sup> = 0.43). The <i>Quercus leucotrichophora</i>, <i>Rhododendron arboreum</i> and <i>Quercus floribunda</i> (QL-RA-QF) community(higher altitudinal zone) exhibited the highest tree biomass (568.8 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), while the (<i>Pinus roxburghii</i> and <i>Quercus leucotrichophora</i>) PR-QL (N) community (lower altitudinal zone) in the north aspect showed the lowest (265.7 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>). Carbon sequestration was highest in the <i>Quercus leucotrichophora</i>, <i>Quercus floribunda</i> and <i>Rhododendron arboreum</i> (QL-QF-RA) (higher altitudinal zone) community (7.48 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>) and lowest in the PR-QL (S) (middle altitudinal zone) community in the south aspect (5.5 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>). The relationships between carbon stock and various functional parameters such as tree density, total basal area of tree and diversity of tree showed significant positive correlations. The findings of the study revealed significant variations in the structural attributes of trees, shrubs and herbs across different forest stands along altitudinal gradients. This current study’s results highlighted the significance of wildlife sanctuaries, which not only aid in wildlife preservation but also provide compelling evidence supporting forest management practices that promote the planting of multiple vegetation layers in landscape restoration as a means to enhance biodiversity and increase resilience to climate change. Further, comprehending the carbon storage mechanisms of these forests will be critical for developing environmental management strategies aimed at alleviating the impacts of climate change in the years to come.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/291carbon sequestrationcorrelationforest managementrestorationspecies richnessBinsar Wildlife Sanctuary
spellingShingle Geetanjali Upadhyay
Lalit M. Tewari
Ashish Tewari
Naveen Chandra Pandey
Sheetal Koranga
Zishan Ahmad Wani
Geeta Tewari
Ravi K. Chaturvedi
Species Diversity, Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Protected Area of Uttarakhand, India
Plants
carbon sequestration
correlation
forest management
restoration
species richness
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
title Species Diversity, Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Protected Area of Uttarakhand, India
title_full Species Diversity, Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Protected Area of Uttarakhand, India
title_fullStr Species Diversity, Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Protected Area of Uttarakhand, India
title_full_unstemmed Species Diversity, Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Protected Area of Uttarakhand, India
title_short Species Diversity, Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Protected Area of Uttarakhand, India
title_sort species diversity biomass production and carbon sequestration potential in the protected area of uttarakhand india
topic carbon sequestration
correlation
forest management
restoration
species richness
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/291
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