22-04-2014, 03:10 PM
Assessment and Conservation of Floral Biodiversity in Rehabilitated Limestone Mined Area of Sahastradhara
Abstract
Mining is the process of extraction of minerals from the earth’s crust. Doon – Mussoorie region which comes in Western
Himalayas is no exception to the problem of environmental degradation of mining activities in different parts. The Dun’s is a
characteristic geomorphologic entity of Himalayas which is know for its natural resources like minerals, soil , forest and water.
Unscientific extraction of these minerals had threatened the healthy climate and scenic beauty of this region. The limestone
mining, in areas of Mussoorie and Sahastradhara near Dehradun is done totally by surface mining process. In the past mining in
this region was being carried out without taking into considerations the environmental impacts to ecology and environment.. The
species of plants which can grow in such harsh environments (arisen due to mining) provide a basis for ecological restoration have
to be selected only after thoroughly investigating the ecology, growth behaviors and socio-economic values of the various plants.
Three sizes of quadrats 1x1m, 5x5m and 10x10m were laid randomly for recording herbs and grasses, shrubs and tree vegetation.
Results showed that after 12 year of rehabilitation efforts starting from zero level there was high species richness (no. of species)
in case of shrubs, herbs and grasses as compared to tree species in rehabilitated site. Assessing overall dominance of planted
species Acacia catechu was found to be most dominant (I.V.I 47.78) among trees, Eriophorum comosum (I.V.I 66.90) and
Dodonea viscose (I.V.I 17.25) among grasses and shrubs. Comparing the overall diversity index among the trees, shrubs and herbs
and grasses, the highest diversity index (2.32) was recorded in case of herbs and grasses and minimum in case of trees (1.93).
Vegetation analysis of rehabilitated mined sites indicated that rehabilitation efforts have greatly helped in increasing the species
diversity of shrubs, herbs and grasses and trees and site condition has improved through their rooting and incorporation of organic
matter.