COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF SOME NATURAL FOREST STANDS IN LANSDOWNE FOREST RANGE OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA

Abstract

Three major forest types of the Lansdowne range were studied, namely pure pine, pure oak and mixed forests to analyse the community structure and their environment. The pH of the soil ranged from 5.7 to 5.0. The major forest types are of Pinus roxburghii, Quercus leucotrichophora (as pure stands) and mixed forests of other species like Rhododendron arboreum, Myrica nagi, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, Prunus cerasoides, et cetera. Their association depends upon the altitude, aspect and other growth conditions.