Kashmir

The present work was conducted with an aim to study the anthropogenic disturbances and regeneration status of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. in Ponda watershed of Rajouri Forest Range, J&K, India. Random sampling was carried out by laying fourty sample plots, covering different forest sites of the study area, using 20 x 20 m and 5 x 5m size of sample plots for studying trees and shrubs/saplings and 1m×1m for seedlings laid within in each of 20m×20m sample plot laid for trees in forest area, respectively. A semi-quantitative assessment of disturbances was carried out using a six-point scale (0-5). Results of the study revealed that forests in study area suffer from various anthropogenic disturbances like burning, over-grazing, felling, soil erosion, resin tapping, damage to trees/mortality, litter removal, etc. having varied levels of severity. Grazing was found having very high severity in study area with cumulative score of 86, whereas, litter removal, fire and mortality showed high severity of disturbance having cumulative score of 67, 61 and 60, respectively. The overall regeneration status of Pinus roxburghii was fairly good in the study area with density of seedling, saplings and adults of 6050, 258 and 211.25 individuals/ha, respectively