Impacts of Conservation Practices on Plant Density, Frequency and Herbaceous Biomass in the Chel–Beshigram Forest, Pakistan

Abstract

Forests in mountainous regions of Pakistan are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures, leading to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Therefore, understanding the effectiveness of conservation practices is essential for sustainable forest management. The study was carried out to quantify the impacts of protection and conservation measures on the diversity of plant species and on herbaceous biomass in a forestland. For this purpose, two forestlands were selected for comparative analysis in the Chel-Beshigram valley of district Swat. It was ensured that factors like altitude, aspect, and slope remained the same in both forestlands. The only difference was that one forestland was protected while the other was open to grazing, medicinal plant collection, fuelwood collection, and all sorts of other anthropogenic activities. The total number of plant species in the forest land that has been preserved was 52 and the number of plant species in the open forest land is just 30. The median densities and percentage frequency of medicinal herbs in the open forestland were extremely low as compared to the conserved forestland, and two important medicinal herbs, namely Bergenia ciliata and Plantago major, were lost in the open forestland. The average fresh and dry weight of herbaceous biomass for the fenced forestland was 4800 and 940 kg/ha, respectively. In the unprotected forestland, the average values for fresh and dry biomass reduced to 1300 and 260 kg/ha, respectively. Seventy percent of the area of unprotected forestland showed poor regeneration of conifer trees, and only 30% of the area had medium to good regeneration. In contrast, more than 80% of the land in the protected forest showed medium to good regeneration status. These findings highlight the critical role of conservation practices in maintaining biodiversity, enhancing biomass productivity, and supporting forest regeneration. The study provides strong evidence for policymakers to implement and enforce sustainable forest management strategies, including controlled grazing, community-based conservation, and strict protection measures to preserve fragile forest ecosystems in Pakistan.