Comparison of Tree Diversity and Biomass in Community-managed and Protected Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest Sites on the Coromandel Coast of India

Abstract This study was carried out in four 1-ha plots distributed two each in community-managed (Sunayakkadu, SN, and Kothattai, KT) and protected (Point Calimere 1 and 2 (PC 1 and PC 2) tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEF) on the Coromandel Coast of India. The present study assesses and compares the stand structure and carbon stocking potential of trees in community-managed (CM) and protected forest (PF) categories. All trees ≥10 cm girth at breast height (GBH) rooted inside the quadrat were inventoried. A total of 61 species were enumerated across the four study plots (range 25 to 37 species ha -1 ; 29 ± 4.6 ha -1 ) representing 3095 individuals (661–841 individuals ha -1 ; 773.7 ± 67.7 ha -1 ). Standing biomass carbon of trees in the study sites ranged from 186.9 Mg ha -1 KT to 358.8 Mg ha -1 PC 1. There was a significant difference in basal area and carbon stock between PF and CM sites. Overall, CM sites harbored lower species richness, density, basal area and carbon stock than the PF sites owing to high level of anthropogenic pressure exerted in CM sites over last few decades. Therefore, we recommend suitable action plans including strengthening of local institutional policies and governance for long-term maintenance of this forest type, particularly the CM sites, which are fast degrading. Keywords : Anthropogenic disturbance, carbon stock, community-managed forest, protected forest, tree diversity Cite this Article Sriram R, Vivek P, Parthasarathy N. Comparison of Tree Diversity and Biomass in Community-Managed and Protected Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest Sites on the Coromandel Coast of India. Research & Reviews: Journal of Ecology . 2016; 5(1): 1–9p.