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Ecological analysis of The Satpura conservation area landscape through stratified field sampling and remotely sensed data
Anjana Pant
Production Manager, Avineon India, 605 HUDA Complex, Maitrivanam, SR Nagar,Hyderabad – 500038, AP, India
Abstract
The study area for the current study is one of the oldest forest reserves, which has an established tradition of scientific management of forests. It constitutes a large contiguous forest block that harbours a community of plant and animal species typical of the central highland region.
The present study deals with the structure, composition, regeneration status and plant and animal diversity of the North and South Betul forest divisions in Madhya Pradesh. The tree density (No. of trees /ha) ranges from 323 to 507. Diversity of plant species tends to decrease in old growth stands, steep slopes, very disturbed areas i.e. areas around villages or recently felled coups, very dry areas, areas that have experienced fires in the recent past etc. Areas in valley flats, riparian areas, remote and less disturbed areas etc. show a high diversity. The regeneration status of sensitive species too shows a similar trend. The areas under assisted natural regeneration (ANR) show an improvement in just a year’s time, which proves that protection from biotic disturbance alone can help rejuvenate the degraded forests.
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