Community Structure and Floristic Diversity of Tree Stratum of Deciduous forest of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

Preliminary studies of four representative forest sites having dense, medium, regenerated and degraded forest plots of one ha area were conducted in the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve area for community structure and floristic diversity of tree layer. A total of 33 species were recorded. Density and basal area of trees in forest plots ranged from 240 (degraded forest) to 1270 (regeneration forest) stems ha^-1 and 23.65 (regeneration forest) to 37.57 (dense forest plot) m² ha^-1 respectively. Diversities in these forest plots were 1.46 to 2.24 (Shannon index), 0.61 to 0.83 (equitability), 2.95 to 6.06 (species richness), 0.41 to 0.53 (concentration of dominance) and 4.05 to 12.8 (Beta diversity). The beta diversity was highest at distributed forest plot. Forest represents the gradient in diversity and composition as high, medium, poor. Knowledge gained from such studies will help in framing the policy on R and D for conserving the forest forbiomass and diversity and its use on sustainable basis.