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<p>Protection status plays a crucial role in regulating forest structure, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration in tropical ecosystems. However, despite the ecological importance of Sal (<i>Shorea robusta</i>)-dominated tropical dry forests, there is limited quantitative understanding of how protection status influences species diversity, regeneration dynamics, and carbon storage across different life stages. Therefore, this study hypothesizes that sal protected forests (SPF) exhibit significantly higher biodiversity, better regeneration status, and greater carbon storage compared to unprotected forests (SUF). A systematic grid-based sampling approach was applied across protected and unprotected sal forests using 20 plots (0.5&#xa0;ha each) with nested quadrats for seedlings, saplings, and adult trees. A total of 143 species belonging to 103 genera and 39 families were recorded, with significantly greater richness in SPF (139 species) than SUF (78 species). Structural attributes including tree density and basal area, were also significantly higher in SPF. Diversity indices showed greater ecological stability in SPF, particularly in adult stages (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Regeneration patterns revealed a higher proportion of species under Good and fair regeneration in SPF, whereas SUF was dominated by poor or no regeneration categories. Total carbon storage was significantly higher in SPF (411.2 Mg C ha⁻¹) compared to SUF (230.0 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup>; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.007), and showed significant positive correlations with species richness, density, and basal area. The dominant and co-dominant species <i>S. robusta</i> and <i>Terminalia tomentosa</i> contributing the largest share (174.5 and 51.17 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup>) to the total above-ground carbon (seedlings + saplings + adult), accounting for 49.3% and 14.5%, respectively, in SPF. In SUF, these species contributed 120.73 and 20.06 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup>, representing 61.6% and 10.3% of the total AGC, respectively. These findings suggest that effective forest protection can enhance biodiversity, regeneration, and carbon storage within tropical dry forest ecosystems. The study highlights the importance of strengthening forest protection measures, reducing anthropogenic disturbances, and improving management in unprotected forests to enhance regeneration and ecosystem functioning. However, given the regional scope of the study, further long-term monitoring and broader spatial analyses are needed to better understand forest dynamics and support sustainable conservation strategies.</p>

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Does Protection Status Affect Tree Diversity, Regeneration, and Carbon Storage in India? Evidence from Sal (Shorea robusta) forests of Madhya Pradesh

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月27日

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  • Satendra Kumar Rathaude,
  • Subashree Kothandaraman,
  • Javid Ahmad Dar

摘要

Protection status plays a crucial role in regulating forest structure, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration in tropical ecosystems. However, despite the ecological importance of Sal (Shorea robusta)-dominated tropical dry forests, there is limited quantitative understanding of how protection status influences species diversity, regeneration dynamics, and carbon storage across different life stages. Therefore, this study hypothesizes that sal protected forests (SPF) exhibit significantly higher biodiversity, better regeneration status, and greater carbon storage compared to unprotected forests (SUF). A systematic grid-based sampling approach was applied across protected and unprotected sal forests using 20 plots (0.5 ha each) with nested quadrats for seedlings, saplings, and adult trees. A total of 143 species belonging to 103 genera and 39 families were recorded, with significantly greater richness in SPF (139 species) than SUF (78 species). Structural attributes including tree density and basal area, were also significantly higher in SPF. Diversity indices showed greater ecological stability in SPF, particularly in adult stages (p < 0.05). Regeneration patterns revealed a higher proportion of species under Good and fair regeneration in SPF, whereas SUF was dominated by poor or no regeneration categories. Total carbon storage was significantly higher in SPF (411.2 Mg C ha⁻¹) compared to SUF (230.0 Mg C ha−1; p ≤ 0.007), and showed significant positive correlations with species richness, density, and basal area. The dominant and co-dominant species S. robusta and Terminalia tomentosa contributing the largest share (174.5 and 51.17 Mg C ha−1) to the total above-ground carbon (seedlings + saplings + adult), accounting for 49.3% and 14.5%, respectively, in SPF. In SUF, these species contributed 120.73 and 20.06 Mg C ha−1, representing 61.6% and 10.3% of the total AGC, respectively. These findings suggest that effective forest protection can enhance biodiversity, regeneration, and carbon storage within tropical dry forest ecosystems. The study highlights the importance of strengthening forest protection measures, reducing anthropogenic disturbances, and improving management in unprotected forests to enhance regeneration and ecosystem functioning. However, given the regional scope of the study, further long-term monitoring and broader spatial analyses are needed to better understand forest dynamics and support sustainable conservation strategies.