Carabid species responses to hybrid poplar plantations in floodplains in France

Hybrid poplar plantations have become an important component of forest and agricultural landscapes in alluvial floodplains since poplars are among the fastest-growing trees in temperate regions. However, these habitats are thought to decrease biodiversity, including ground beetle diversity, as compared to other traditional land-uses such as grasslands and semi-natural forests. To evaluate the impacts of poplar plantations on carabid diversity, we tested whether carabid assemblages are more affected by land-use type than by canopy cover type in three alluvial floodplains in North-Eastern France. We stratified our 63-plot sampling design according to four habitat types based on land-use and plantation age. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed a successional gradient in species composition related to canopy cover progressing from grasslands through young, then adult poplar plantations, to semi-natural forests. Species-level response models showed that many carabid species distinguished the open habitats (grasslands and young poplar plantations) from the closed ones (adult poplar plantations and semi-natural forests). Only a few species preferred one of the traditional land-uses such as grasslands or semi-natural forests. Based on our data, the deleterious effect of poplar plantations on the conservation of ground beetles may not be as high as expected.     

Ground-dwelling invertebrates in reforested conifer plantations

Plantation forests are an important part of the forest estate in many countries. In Ireland, they cover around 9% of the land area and many that are commercially mature are now being felled and reforested. The potential biodiversity value of such second rotation forests has yet to be determined, yet this may be particularly significant in Ireland where cover of semi-natural woodland is only 1%. Invertebrates are a vital component of forest biodiversity, functioning as decomposers and pollinators, herbivores, predators and prey. Spiders and Carabid beetles are often used in biodiversity assessment as they are easily captured using pitfall traps, are taxonomically well known and respond to changes in habitat structure. This study aimed to examine spider and Carabid beetle diversity in second rotation Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) plantations at different stages of the forest cycle (5, 8–12, 20–30, 35–50 years), and compare the spiders captured in second rotation forests with those from first rotation. Spider and beetle diversity was influenced by stand structural development in second rotation plantations with numbers of forest-associated species increasing over the forest cycle. Overall, spider richness declined over the forest cycle and this was related to decreasing cover of field layer vegetation and fewer open-associated species. In contrast, total beetle richness increased and became more specialised over the forest cycle which may be related to slower colonisation of disturbed areas by beetles in comparison with spiders, and fewer open specialists at the early stages of second rotation. Spider assemblages were distinguished between rotations. This may be related to differing habitat conditions in second rotation forests including dryer soils with lower pH, differing vegetation complexity and presence of brush piles. Few of the forest species accumulated during first rotation were retained and the early stages of second rotation forest cycle was characterised by a generalist open fauna. Nonetheless, as the forest cycle progressed the spider assemblages between rotations became more similar. Current forest policy supports retaining over-mature trees and creating a mosaic of different aged stands within a plantation. Such measures may provide refuge for forest species after clearfell. In countries where forest fragments exist in a landscape dominated by agriculture, consideration should be given to the capacity of mature forest adjacent to felled stands to support forest species, and to the configuration of over-mature areas retained after felling.     

Avian assemblages in eucalypt forests,plantations and pastures in northern NSW,Australia

Eucalypt plantations are expanding rapidly in Australia, and their value for native fauna requires investigation. The relative conservation value of young eucalypt plantations was investigated through assessment of avifauna richness, abundance and composition using transect surveys incorporating point counts in five broad habitat types—dryland forests, riparian forests, dryland plantations, riparian plantations, and riparian pastures (strips of riparian vegetation surrounded by pastures). A total of 73 species were recorded during formal surveys. Species richness and abundance were comparable among all habitat types except dryland plantations, which supported fewer species and in lower numbers. The avifauna assemblage differed according to broad habitat types. Forest habitats (dryland and riparian) harboured more forest- and woodland-dependent species, and a greater abundance of nectarivores and insectivores. Riparian plantations supported a similar number of forest- and woodland-dependent species to forest habitats, but also retained some open-country species. Riparian pastures had the highest cumulative species richness, reflecting a diverse mix of forest- and woodland-dependent birds and open-country species. It was the preferred habitat type for granivores and vertebrate eaters. Dryland plantations were dominated by common species and omnivores, and supported fewer forest- and woodland-dependent birds, insectivores and frugivores compared with other habitat types. The presence of riparian strips increased avifauna diversity and abundance in plantations and pastures to a greater extent than predicted by the proportional area of riparian habitat. The importance of riparian habitats needs to be recognised and incorporated into management policies if biodiversity conservation is to be an objective of plantation establishment.     

Does afforestation increase bird nest predation risk in surrounding farmland?

Afforestation of agricultural land is increasingly used to deliver environmental benefits, but their effects on biodiversity remain poorly understood. This paper tests the hypothesis that afforestation changes predation processes in surrounding farmland, examining how the characteristics and landscape context of forest plantations affect predator (birds and mammalian carnivores) and key prey (rabbits and hares) abundances, and bird nest predation rates in Iberian cereal-steppes. Lagomorphs and predators were surveyed in fallow fields around 50 forest plantations, where predation rates were estimated using artificial nests set at 0, 100, 200 and 300 m from the forest edge. Recent plantations structurally similar to sparse (oak) or dense (pine) shrublands were associated with the highest hare and rabbit abundances, respectively, whereas both species avoided landscapes with high eucalyptus cover. In contrast, mature eucalyptus plantations showed strong positive effects on typical nest predators such as corvids and carnivores. Open farmland fragmentation favoured the abundance of lagomorphs and carnivores. Despite these effects and the high predation rate on artificial nests (49%), there was neither evidence for increased predation near plantation edges nor higher predation in fields with more lagomorphs and predators. However, predation tended to increase with cover by young oak plantations and overall forest plantation cover, to decrease with eucalyptus cover at both the local and landscape scales, and to peak in landscapes with intermediate edge densities. These results suggest that afforestation may have strong effects on bird nest predation rates by changing landscape composition and configuration, rather than by inducing local increases in predator and prey populations. Nevertheless, increased abundances of generalist predators associated with forest plantations may still be considered of conservation concern, thus supporting the recommendation for strongly restricting afforestation in areas important for open grassland birds. Where this is unavoidable, monitoring should be undertaken to provide early signals for bird population declines associated with predator increases, eventually triggering conservation action such as predator exclusion or removal.     

Relationships between insect diversity and habitat characteristics in plantation forests

A methodological approach to the identification of biodiversity indicators in commercial forest stands is illustrated by analysis of the relationships between syrphid (hoverflies) and carabid (ground beetles) community composition and diversity, and stand structure and field layer vegetation. Data were collected from 12 commercial forest sites encompassing a range of climatic conditions and different crop types (Scots pine, Sitka spruce, Norway spruce and Corsican pine) across the UK. Comparisons were also made between unmanaged semi-natural Scots pine woods and Scots pine plantations. For both syrphids and carabids, no differences in species richness and diversity were recorded between semi-natural stands and plantations; one rare syrphid considered to be restricted to semi-natural pine stands was also found in spruce. Syrphid species diversity and richness was higher in southern spruce sites than in the northern sites. Northern sites had distinctive carabid communities, as did sites in the New Forest, a large ancient woodland in southern England. Of the measured habitat variables, vertical stand structure showed the best correlation with species richness and diversity of both carabids and syrphids. Richness and diversity were less in stands with high vertical cover values for canopy layers. Stands with higher field layer cover supported greater syrphid diversity, but lower carabid diversity. Measures of stand structure could be used as potential indicators of syrphid and carabid diversity, but additional habitat parameters also need to be tested.     

岷山区域植物多样性及其与生境关系分析

本文在建立植物种及其分布生境数据库的基础上，对世界重点生态区之一的岷山区域植物物种多样性及其与环境的关系进行了统计分析，论述了该区域植物多样性组成成分的复杂性、过渡性和地域性。结果表明，森林和林间草地是该区域物种多样性的重要生境，保护生境、保护狭窄种、保护单种科物种是该区域植物多样性保护的重要途径，并提出生态区域优先保护种概念。     

景观林带树种选择与配置研究* —— 以惠州市为例

以广东省惠州市4个区/县绿化景观林带为调查对象,选取5种生境中共19种景观林带树种进行7次周期性样方调查,结果表明：水田洼地生境的景观林带树种胸径、树高增长系数值相对较高,分别在0.23～0.97和0.16～0.47之间。水田洼地美丽异木棉（Chorisia speciosa）树高生长显著优于沿海荒地生境和宜林荒地生境（P <0.05）;凤凰木（Delonix regia）在宜林荒地生境胸径生长显著优于碎石荒山生境和难造林坡地生境（P <0.05）;红花羊蹄甲（Bauhinia blakeana）在水田洼地生境中胸径生长优于碎石荒山生境、难造林坡地生境和沿海荒地生境,黄槐（Cassia surattensis）在碎石荒山生境中胸径生长显著低于难造林坡地生境和沿海荒地生境（P <0.05）。树种成活率最高值和最低值分别出现在水田洼地生境和碎石荒山生境,海滨木槿（Hibiscus hamabo）、红花羊蹄甲、麻楝（Chukrasia tabularis）、美丽异木棉、秋枫（Bischoifa javanica）、桃花心木（Swietenia mahagoni）在水田洼地生境成活率都为100%,而幌伞枫（Heteropanax fragrans）在宜林荒地生境成活率为15%。关联性聚类分析显示19个树种主要聚为两大分支,其中成活率和相关系数值较高的树种在聚类图中聚为一类。结合调查数据统计和分析,提出5种生境条件下景观林树种最佳配置模式。     

The conservation value of oil palm plantation estates, smallholdings and logged peat swamp forest for birds

The expansion of industrial oil palm cultivation threatens tropical biodiversity globally, especially in developing countries. Driven by plans to generate economic revenue, large-scale plantations are emerging in Southeast Asia, Africa and Brazilian Amazon. However, the ecological impacts of the sector are poorly studied with respect to oil palm management system, and recommended conservation measures are based on limited data. We studied avifauna in oil palm landscapes in Peninsular Malaysia under different management systems (large plantation estates versus smallholdings) and age classes (uniform age versus mixed-age stands). We sampled 41 large plantation estates and 14 smallholdings, as well as 20 sites in an extensively logged peat swamp forest, the type of natural forest prior to conversion to oil palms. Compared with logged peat swamp forest, our results showed that forest conversion to oil palm cultivation may have eliminated 48-60% of bird species. We also found: (i) plantation estates and smallholdings supported similar bird assemblages but the latter supported significantly more species (P = 0.007); and (ii) despite reduced species richness in oil palm landscapes, we found high abundance of some individual bird species in specific types of stands including some forest, migratory, and wetland species. Conversion of natural forest to oil palm landscapes should not occur in the future through clearing of primary or secondary native forests. To complement conventional conservation approaches (e.g. the establishment of protected areas) in palm oil-producing countries, existing plantation estates and smallholdings should be managed in ways to promote improved conservation outcomes, although oil palm landscapes maintained a fraction of the original forest biodiversity. Managing habitat heterogeneity at both a local and a landscape-level is highly recommended in oil palm landscapes to maintain and/or enhance avian biodiversity.     

Distribution of carabid beetles among 40-year-old regenerating plantations and 100-year-old naturally regenerated forests in Southwestern China

Effects of reforestation by native tree species on species assemblages of carabid beetles were studied between 40-year-old regenerating plantations and 100-year naturally regenerated forests in Southwestern China. Two old naturally regenerated forest types (ca.100 years old) were chosen: hemlock-spruce forests (Tsuga chinensis and Picea brachytyla) and birch forests (Betula albo-sinensis). Three young regenerating forest types (ca. 40 years old), including spruce plantations (P. brachytyla), larch plantations (Larix kaempferi and Larix mastersian), and natural broad-leaved forests, were established after the logging of the old naturally regenerated forests. Using pitfall traps, we compared the distribution of carabid beetles in the five forest types. Three replicated plots for each forest type were chosen, and each plot was investigated with four trap sites twice each month during the growing season (May to October) in 2004. Our results showed that species richness and abundance were significantly higher in the young regenerating forests than in the old naturally regenerated forests. Analysis of complementarity in carabid species lists across the forest ages and types showed that the old naturally regenerated birch forests had the lowest similarity with the young regenerating larch plantations, and the highest similarity was shown between the two young regenerating plantations. Although PCoA ordination grouped the carabid assemblages according to forest type and forest age, the overall similarity among all forest types was high. Moreover, quantitative character species analysis did not detect significant species associated with forest types and ages. Based on the specificity and fidelity, most carabid species were abundant in all habitats, and only a few species were restricted in one or two forest types. Multiple linear regression between the species richness, abundance and Shannon diversity of carabids and of five environmental variables showed that the cover of canopy and herbaceous layer, and the depth of leaf litter had significant effects in determining richness, abundance and diversity of carabid beetles. Thus, the young regenerating forests at the mature stage could provide an appropriate habitat for most forest species of carabids survived in adjacent old naturally regenerated forests and might replace the role in part of the old-growth forests in sustaining the diversity of carabid assemblages. But some species are still restricted in old naturally regenerated forests, so in order to protect the diversity of carabid assemblages, it is necessary to sustain the intact old naturally regenerated forests when reforesting with some native tree species following natural succession.     

人类干扰对甘肃麻家寺保护站鸟类群落的影响

2004年11月~2005年1月,在兴隆山麻家寺保护站的6种生境(灌木、阔叶林、混交林、针叶林、农田和人工林)中共记录鸟类25种。鸟类物种总数以灌丛和人工林最高,均为15种。阔叶林最低,为10种。鸟类多样性最高的是灌丛,最低的是阔叶林。各种生境中的鸟类组成和优势物种差异较大,建议每种生境均保持一定面积,以便保护鸟类物种多样性。     

The effects of microhabitat,plant litter,and seed burial on the regeneration of Quercus wutaishanica and Pinus tabulaeformis

The effects of microhabitat (shrubs and herbs), plant litter, and seed burial on the regeneration of Liaodong oak (Quercus wutaishanica Mayr) and Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) were studied in three typical stands (Liaodong oak forest, Chinese pine plantation, and grassland) in the Loess Plateau, China. We monitored the establishment and growth of seedlings of these two woody species in sown experimental plots, in which shrubs and herbs, plant litter, and seed burial were manipulated. In the grassland, shrubs and herbs facilitated Liaodong oak establishment, with no effect on the establishment of Chinese pine. In the two forest stands, shrubs and herbs primarily had an inhibition effect on the establishment of these trees. The effects of plant litter were facilitation or inhibition, depending on the target species and the habitat. Seed burial had a positive effect on seedling establishment. In all three habitats, shrubs and herbs had inhibition effects on seedling growth of both tree species. Plant litter and seed burial did not influence seedling growth in either species. Liaodong oak and Chinese pine use different regeneration strategies during early stages of succession and similar strategies during late stages of succession.     

云南热区阔叶人工林可持续经营标准研究——生物多样性保护、生态安全及天然林保护

探讨了云南热区阔叶人工林可持续经营的生物多样性标准、生态安全标准及天然林保护标准及其指标。根据文献、试验及专题调研，提出生物多样性标准包括生物多样性集中地区或地段的保护、濒危物种保护、重要和特殊自然景观保护、具重要价值的林木种质资源保护、野生动物生境和栖息地保护5个具体指标，以及生态安全及天然林保护各两个指标，并计算了生物多样性指标。     

中国麻栎研究:种源试验、造林和森林经营

可持续经营栎林对于优化我国人工林结构、改善生物多样性、提高生态与经济效益具有重要的现实意义。文中介绍了我国栎树中代表树种——麻栎（Quercus acutissima）的森林经营现状,综述了近10年来在遗传变异研究、种源试验与育苗、造林与森林经营技术方面取得的研究进展,并对我国未来栎树产业发展提出建议和策略。     

人工林工程生物质量与环境影响评价

在我国人工林工程项目实施中,对于诸如地力衰退、病虫害防治、土壤水文、生境和生物多样性保护等方面缺乏必要的环境影响预测和管理的规程准备.通过对人工林工程生物质量评价因子与环境影响评价因子的判别,提出了人工林工程生物质量评价的内容、指标和方法;针对人工林工程的环境影响,论述了地力维持、水源涵养、生物多样性保护以及社会环境影响等评价内容.从长远的观点来说,人工林经营应当从生境途径、生物途径、景观途径、生态过程途径和社会经济途径等方面提供的信息中进行生物质量评价和环境影响评价,探讨不同尺度水平下人工林工程建设的多样性格局,力求模拟自然森林生态系统.     

Effects of habitat type, vegetation structure, and proximity to forests on bird species richness in a forest–agricultural landscape of West Java, Indonesia

To halt biodiversity loss in the humid tropics of developing countries, it is crucial to understand the roles and effects of human-modified landscapes with fragmented forest remnants in maintaining biodiversity while fulfilling the demands of local communities and reducing poverty. To implement appropriate landscape planning for conserving biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, appropriate information is required about parameters of habitat suitability among various anthropogenic habitats with a range of distances to forests and vegetation characteristics, but such information is limited. We examined differences in avian communities between a remnant forest and four types of man-made forest (two mature plantations and two agroforests) in a forest–agricultural landscape of West Java, and we analyzed the effects of both local and landscape factors on various types of species richness in this landscape. The results from non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed avifauna in the two types of agroforest was clustered separately from that in the remnant forest, mainly because drastic declines in the abundance of forest specialists (including IUCN red-listed species) and their replacement with open-habitat generalists. The mixed-tree agroforests were colonized by 30 % of forest specialists and forest-edge species found in the remnant forest, and maintained the highest richness of species endemic to Indonesia among man-made forests, implying that some forest specialists and endemics might have adapted to ancient landscape heterogeneity. High proportion of insectivorous birds was found in the remnant forest (more than 50 %) and drastically decline in man-made forests, although the species richness of insectivores did not decline significantly in broad-leaved plantations. We concluded that protection of remnant forests should be prioritized to conserve forest bird diversity. However, as different environmental factors affected the richness values of different ecological groups, appropriate landscape design and habitat management could improve functional diversity in forest–agricultural landscapes in the tropics.     

Rationale and methods for conserving biodiversity in plantation forests

Industrial forest managers and conservation biologists agree on at least two things: (1) plantation forests can play a role in conserving biodiversity, and (2) plantations will occupy an increasing proportion of future landscapes. I review literature from around the world on the relationship between biodiversity and plantation management, structure, and yield. The dynamics of plantation ecology and management necessarily differ by landscape, geographic area, ecosystem type, etc. This review provides a broad array of management recommendations, most of which apply to most regions, and many patterns are evident. I suggest a new plantation forest paradigm based on the hypothesis that minor improvements in design and management can better conserve biodiversity, often with little or no reduction in fiber production. There is ample evidence that these methods do benefit biodiversity, and can also entail various economic benefits. Adherence to these recommendations should vary by plantation type, and depending on the proportion of the surrounding landscape or region that is or will be planted. Stand-level variables to consider include socio-economic factors, native community type and structure, crop species composition, and pest dynamics. During establishment, managers should consider innovations in snag and reserve tree management (e.g. leave strips), where mature native trees and/or understory vegetation are left unharvested or allowed to regenerate. Polycultures should be favored over monocultures by planting multiple crop species and/or leaving some native trees unharvested. Native species should generally be favored over exotics. Site-preparation should favor methods that reflect natural disturbances and conserve coarse woody debris. Plantations that have already been established by traditional design can also conserve biodiversity via small modifications to operations. Earlier thinning schedules or longer rotations can strongly affect biodiversity, as can reserve trees left after plantation harvest to remain through a second rotation.     

呼伦贝尔沙区4种生境土壤真菌群落结构和多样性

【目的】揭示呼伦贝尔沙区4种生境土壤真菌群落结构与多样性及其影响因素,探究不同生境对土壤真菌的影响。【方法】选择裸沙地、草地、樟子松人工林和樟子松天然林4种生境土壤真菌为研究对象,采用野外调查、ITS高通量测序结合RDA分析,比较分析不同生境土壤真菌种群特征。【结果】呼伦贝尔沙区土壤共检测到真菌5门22纲73目28科257属。其中,裸沙地和草地土壤优势真菌门为子囊菌门,樟子松人工林和天然林中优势真菌门为担子菌门。优势属共31属,裸沙地、樟子松人工林的优势属分别是被孢霉属和丝膜菌属,草地和天然林土壤中的优势属分别为被孢霉属和Archaeorhizomyces、红菇属和Geminibasidium。其中裸沙地和草地、樟子松人工林和天然林的土壤真菌进化分支更为接近。草地土壤真菌物种丰富度和个体数最高,分布最为均匀;裸沙地其次;樟子松天然林和人工林物种丰富度、个体数和多样性指数较低,分布也较为集中。土壤真菌群落分布的主要影响因子是土壤含水量,优势真菌属分布受多种环境因子影响,土壤孔隙度、含水量、有机质分别是被孢霉属、Archaeorhizomyces、丝膜属的主导影响因子,全磷则是红菇属和Geminibasidium的主导影响因子。【结论】呼伦贝尔沙区4种生境土壤真菌主要由子囊菌门和担子菌门组成,其中裸沙地和草地、樟子松人工林和天然林土壤真菌群落结构相似度较高。多类型草本植物使真菌种类增多且分布更为均匀,樟子松在一定程度上降低真菌数量和种类,并使其分布更为集中。不同生境的不同植被可以改变土壤性质,而土壤水分、营养元素及孔隙结构等土壤环境因素会直接影响4种生境土壤优势真菌属的代谢过程和功能特征,因此4种不同生境真菌群落结构及多样性呈显著差异。     

Species richness and guild composition in rubber plantations compared to secondary forest on Hainan Island, China

Currently, the one of great threats to tropical biodiversity is the conversion of natural ecosystems to agriculture, and this threat is particularly critical on Hainan, the largest tropical island in China and a global biodiversity hotspot. Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) has been planted on Hainan since the 1950s, resulting in extensive replacement of native forest, and the rate of this transformation has increased with latex prices since the 1990s. Rubber plantations now cover ca. 506,680 ha on Hainan and reach ca 1,000 m in elevation. To investigate the effect of this land-use change, we compared avian communities between a rubber plantation and a native secondary semi-deciduous monsoon forest. We found that species richness was higher in the native forest than in rubber, and that community composition differed greatly between the two habitats. No strict frugivores were recorded in rubber and no granivores in semi-deciduous monsoon forest. In both richness and abundance, more nectarivores and fewer insectivores occurred in rubber than in the native forest. Some common forest species, as well as protected species, were found only in native forest, including Hainan Partridge (Arborophila ardens), Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus), Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica), Black-browed Barbet (Megalaima oorti), Blue-rumped Pitta (Pitta soror), Puff-throated Bulbul (Alophoixus pallidus), and Chestnut Bulbul (Hemixos castanonotus). Although ten babbler species were found in the native forest, only two were in rubber. Among the species missing in rubber was the endemic Hainan species Grey Laughingthrush (Garrulax maesi). Its endangerment through habitat conversion is of particular conservation concern.     

青岛地区受威胁的鸟类及其保护

青岛地区因气候温和、地理位置特殊，地貌结构复杂而拥有丰富的鸟类资源，然而因栖息的丢失和污染，资源破坏严重，有的种群处于淑危或灭绝状态，控制城镇建设规模，增加林木覆盖，发展生态农业是保护和恢复鸟类种群的根本措施。     

Deforestation and forest fragmentation in the highlands of Eastern Ghats,India

Tropical forest cover change along with increasing fragmentation has detrimental effects on the global biodiversity. In the current study change in both forest cover and fragmentation of Koraput district have been assessed in the past three decades(1987-2017) and future decade(2017-2027), which has been modelled using logistic regression showing a gradual decrease in the forest cover and increase in fragmentation. The long term deforestation rates from 1987 to 2017(current period) and from 1987 to 2027(predicted period) were found to be-0.018 and-0.012, respectively. Out of the total geographical area, 2027 number of grids(1 km2) out of 8856 grids were found to have shown extinction of forest in the study period. The conversion of forested lands into other land uses has been one of the major causes of deforestation in Koraput, especially because of the increasing mining activities and establishment of three major industries namely National Aluminium Company(NALCO), Damanjodi, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL), Sunabeda and Ballarpur Industries Limited(BILT). The forest fragmentation reveals a negative trend, recording highest conversion from large core fragments to edge(191.33 km2) and the predicted period has also shown the same trend of negative change, which poses serious danger to the structure of the forests. Out of all the landscape matrices calculated, number of patches will increase to 214 in 2027 from 93 in 1987. In the test between geographically weighted regression(GWR) and ordinary least square regression(OLS), GWR was the better fit model for drawing a spatial relationship between forest cover and fragmentation changes. The study confirmed that the forest cover change has impacted the forest fragmentation in the study area. The programmes like REDD + should be implemented along with the experiences of Community Forest Management and the joint forest management should be intensified at community level in order to develop better management practices to conserve habitats in biodiversity rich areas.