Conservation Prioritization of Forest Communities and Habitats in the Manasbal Range of Sindh Forest Division of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Habitat degradation and over exploitation has caused the loss of biodiversity at a very faster rate, which has necessitated the conservation prioritization of communities, habitats and species, for conservation. The prioritization of communities and habitats through qualitative and quantitative assessment of vegetation is necessary for starting any conservation and management programme. During the course of study, Thirteen (13) forest communities and Thirteen (13) forest Habitats which were distributed between 1500-3000 m a.m.s.l were recorded. Overall, 46.15% communities were broad-leaved, 38.46% coniferous and 15.38% mixed. These communities and habitats have been evaluated for the species richness, native, endemic, economically important and threatened species. On the basis of these attributes these identified communities and habitats were prioritized. Among the recorded communities Acer caesium- Pinus wallichiana mixed, Platanus orientalis and Aesculus indica – Juglans nigra mixed showed highest Conservation Prioritization Index (CPI) and in case of habitats Marshy and Shady moist showed highest Conservation Prioritization Index (CPI) value. Monitoring of these prioritized communities and habitats on regular basis has been suggested. Besides, propagation and conservation of endemic, native, economically important and threatened species on a large scale and raising of their plantation in the Manasbal Range have been recommend.