Ecological attributes of tree species in the temperate forest of Western Himalaya, India, and their impact on aspect behaviour

A detailed investigation within the moist temperate forests of India’s Western Himalaya examined the impact of slope direction (aspect) on forest structure, regeneration, and carbon sequestration across an 11.52 ha area at elevations ranging from 2000 to 3000 maslThe study identified significant variations influenced by aspect. The northern aspect exhibited the highest tree density of 657 ± 144 individuals ha⁻¹ and species richness of 5.59 ± 1.43. The southeast and southwest aspects exhibited a notably maximum total basal cover of 64.95 ± 15 m² ha⁻¹, with a significant difference observed in the southeast. The northern aspect also recorded the highest species diversity (Shannon index) of 1.32 ± 0.33, with no significant differences in similar slope aspect.While the regeneration was generally sufficient, certain areas of south facing slope were predominantly populated by mature trees with limited seedlings or saplings, suggesting a potential recruitment crisis necessitating immediate management action. Notably, the southwest aspect was identified as the largest carbon reservoir, storing the highest mean biomass of 73.36 ± 10.04 Mg ha⁻¹ and carbon density of 34.48 ± 4.90 Mg C ha⁻¹, highlighting its significant role in regional climate change mitigation. The study concludes that these unique ecological patterns are consistently associated with specific slope aspects, offering forest ecologists and managers crucial location-specific data to develop effective targeted conservation strategies for these essential ecosystems.