Changes in the Scenario of Dominance and Diversity in Shorea robusta Gaertn. F. (Sal) Forests of Lachchhiwala, Doon Valley, India

Changes in an ecosystem are inevitable. Recording of these changes can prove to be fruitful for the management of forests, particularly the moist Sal forest. Present study was carried out in Sal Forests of Lachchhiwala, a famous pcinic spot, to assess the changes in dominanace and diversity of plant species since 1987. After critically analyzing the results it was found that Sal is still the most dominant tree species. In shrub and herb layers the species richness has increased significantly and so is the species diversity. It was also found that homogeneous Sal forests, managed as monocultures, are slowly but steady becoming heterogeneous.