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Mountain Research and Development

Eighteen forest stands dominated by oak (Quercus) species at elevations from 1,200 to 2,400 m in the Kumaun Himalaya were analysed for community organization, size class distribution, and regeneration status. The total basal area of trees in some of the forests was comparable with the highest values recorded from elsewhere in the temperate zone. Quercusfloribunda showed preference for more mesic aspects than Q. leucotrichophora. Of the two high-altitude oak species, Q. semecarpifolia preferred the hill tops and Q. lanuginosa the hill slopes. The shrub density was inversely related to the density of conifer species. Arundinaria falcata was the most dominant shrub under the undisturbed oak forests. The index of diversity was greatest in the lower part of altitudinal transect, in the chir pine-banj oak forest. Severe biotic disturbance and the resultant harsh physical environment has inhibited the regeneration of Q. leucotrichophora. Q. floribunda produces seedlings and saplings in abundance even where density is low. In the highest stands, while Q. lanuginosa regenerated frequently, the regeneration of Q. semecarpifolia was poor.

The Oak Forests of the Kumaun Himalaya (India): Composition, Diversity, and Regeneration