TREE DIVERSITY IN TROPICAL FOREST IN THE JAVADI HILLS IN THE EASTERN GHATS, INDIA

Forest resource is considered as an important to sink carbon and has been widely recognized as a fundamental to sustain the local and global concern in terms of global carbon cycle and economic development. Anthropogenic activities alter the biodiversity. The present study intends to evaluate the tree diversity and population structure in the tropical forests in Javadi hills in the Eastern Ghats, India. High species richness (number of species) was observed in the mid-elevation (relatively undisturbed forest) compared to other elevations. The least species richness was observed in low–elevation forests. In contrast, tree abundance showed greater value in low-elevation forest than that of other elevation forests. Similarly, Shannon diversity index showed greater value in low-elevation forest than in other forests, this may be due to high evenness in this forest than that of mid-elevation forest. Albizia amara was the dominant tree species in low- and Mid-elevation forests followed by Azadirachta indica, Premna tomentosa, Anogeissus latifolia, Phyllanthus emblica and Santalum album whereas, in high elevation forests, Diospyros ferrea, Cassia fistula and Celtis tetrandra were the dominant species. Sapling (≥3 cm - <10 cm DBH) populations showed more contribution in high elevation forest followed by low- and mid- elevation forests. On the contrary, seedling (< 3 cm DBH) contribution showed reverse trend. Cut-stem enumeration indicated that greater value was recorded in low-elevation forest followed by high- and mid- elevation forests. Disturbance index showed significant negative relationship with species richness. The present study reveals that the forest ecosystem restores substantial tree species richness here which is under more threat due to anthropogenic pressure. Therefore immediate conservation measure is required to preserve the vanishing resources.