Ethnobotanical Study and Plant Diversity in the Forest of Kedarnath Valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India

The present study was carried out in the forest of Kedarnath valley in Garhwal Himalaya. The aim of the study was to access the diversity status and ecological status. The study was conducted following the stratified sampling techniques by placing quadrates (1m×1m) for herbs, (5m×5m) for shrubs, and (10m×10m) size for trees in the forest area. A total number of 221 plant species were recorded during the floristic survey in the project area. Plant diversity of the project area encompasses 49 species of trees, 28 species of shrubs, and 144 species of herbs. Important value index, the Shannon diversity index, and total basal area species were recorded. The tree density in the present study was highest in the Kedarnath valley which ranged from 0.3 to 8.5 no./ha. Shrub density in the present study varied from 0.4 to 13.5 no./ha, whereas herb density ranged between 0.2 to 22.4 no.ha-1. Total basal cover (TBC) for trees showed a range of 9.542 to 0.075 m2.ha-1, and the Shannon diversity index (H) for tree species was recorded from a minimum of 0.976 to a maximum of 3.048. The horrific disaster in the Kedarnath valley in 2013 caused a lot of damage to the bugyals (High altitude grass) and forests of the valley. About 500 species of vesicular medicinal plants, fodder plants, and other important plant species were washed away (Botanical Survey of India 2015). The current study is a pioneer in the aspect and can be helpful in making district forest plans, protocols, and implementation of forest policy to protect the forest by local people.