Compositional and Structural Diversity of Forest Vegetation in Kais Wildlife Sanctuary, North Western Himalaya: Conservation Implications

Status of vegetation and understanding the structural and compositional patterns of vegetation of the ecosystem are the key factor for the its conservation.Therefore, present study conducted in KWLS to assess compositional and structural diversity of forest vegetation.607 species of vascular plant and 23 forest communities were identified that is broad leaved evergreen, board leaved deciduous, broad leaved deciduous and evergreen coniferous mixed, broad leaved evergreen and coniferous mixed, coniferous broad leaved evergreen mixed and coniferous board leaved deciduous mixed communities.The unplanned collection of forest resources has severely affected the forest ecosystem.The study concludes that natural resources are under severe threats due to anthropogenic activities and changing environmental conditions.Communities such as Picea smithiana, Picea smithiana-Pinus wallichiana mixed Cedrus deodara-Picea smithiana mixed need to protect because of their representation in limited sites, habitats, narrow altitudinal range and supports maximum ecologically and economically important species.