VEGETATION PROFILE, COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND DIVERSITY OF BANJ OAK (Quercus leucotrichophora A. CAMUS) FOREST STANDS OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA

An extensive forest study was carried out in 19 Banj Oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) forest stands of Garhwal Himalaya. Study explored the composition, community and diversity of all the Oak forest stands. A total number of 134 species belong to 107 genus and 63 families were recorded in all studied Oak forest stands; in which 31 species, 26 genus and 17 families under tree layer, 47 species, 35 genus and 22 families under shrub layer and 56 species, 46 genus and 24 families under herb layer. Highest (1388±163 tree/ha) mean stand tree density was found in Diwalikhal oak forest and lowest (615±66 tree/ha) was recorded in Koti forest. In Masoorie and Tirpalisain Oak forest stands, maximum mean density was recorded as 28.6±1.7 plants/25 m2 and 25.7±1.9 plants/m2 for shrub and herb species respectively. In Chandrabadani, Chaurangikhal, Ghuttu, Khirsoo and Masoorie Oak forest stands higher diversitry was recorded as compared to other studied Oak forest stands. Tree richness was found higher in Chaurangikhal, shrub species richness in Ghuttu and Khirsoo Oak forest stands while herb species richness was higher in the Ghuttu Oak forest.