IMPACT OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES ON PLANT COMMUNITIES, REGENERATION AND SOIL PROPERTIES ALONG THE TOURIST TRAILS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2024-03-22
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UHF Nauni
Abstract
The present investigation entitled "Impact of tourism activities on plant communities, regeneration and soil properties along the tourist trails in Himachal Pradesh" was carried out during 2021-23 to study the influence of tourist disturbance on plant composition, natural regeneration, biomass, carbon stock and soil properties in three locations viz., Hatu Peak (Shimla), Khajjiar Wildlife Range (Chamba) and Triund (Kangra). 112 plant species were recorded in the study areas, of which 18 were trees, 29 shrubs and 65 herbs and grasses. The total number of plant species in different tourist spots varied from 36 (Triund) to 62 (Khajjiar). Phytosociological attributes i.e. density and basal area of trees varied from 150.83 (Triund) to 250.97 (Khajjiar) ind. ha and 8.73 (Triund) to 17.62 (Khajjiar) m2 ha', respectively, in shrubs from 1584.71 (Triund) to 2517.37 (Khajjiar) ind. ha and 4.01 to 6.75 m2 ha', respectively and in herbaceous vegetation from 153018.01 (Triund) to 245430.19 (Khajjiar) ind. ha1 and 0.26 (Triund) to 0.57 (Khajjiar) m2 ha", respectively. Total biomass production of trees across the trail varied from 79.31 (0-10 m) to 152.24 (undisturbed) Mg ha', total biomass production of shrubs ranged from 8.45 (0-10 m) to 20.33 (undisturbed), Mg ha1 and total biomass production of herbaceous vegetation ranged from 0.95 to 3.18 Mg ha''. Carbon stock in trees across the trail varied from 39.65 (0-10 m) to 76.03 (undisturbed) Mg ha', in shrubs from 4.23 (0-10 m) to 10.16 (undisturbed) Mg ha1 and in herbaceous vegetation from 0.48 to 1.59 Mg ha'. All the characteristics of vegetation present in the tourist spots showed increasing trend with increase in distance from the trail. Among different tourist spots, maximum established stocking per cent (71.95 %) and regeneration per cent (69.70 %) was recorded in Khajjiar at mid elevation in undisturbed distance from the trail, whereas the lowest established stocking per cent (1.74 %) and regeneration per cent (3.75%) was observed in Hatu at top elevation in 0-10 m distance from the trail. Soil pH and bulk density under different forests of tourist spots followed the trend 0-10 m > 10-20 m> 20-30 m > 30-40 m > undisturbed. Maximum concentration of soil OC, EC, humus and soil nutrients (N, P and K) was observed at undisturbed distance from the trail whereas, near the trail (0-10 m) forest soil were poor in nutrients in all the tourist spots. Tourist inflow showed negative correlation between biomass and humus thickness. Our present study provides relevant information on the influence of tourism activities on flora, regeneration, live tree biomass, live tree C stocks and soil physico-chemical properties, thus, various strategies such as: implementation of visitor limits, controlled access, educational campaigns, guided tours, seasonal closures, collaboration with local communities, monitoring and research must be adopted to limit tourist activities inside the forest.
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IMPACT OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES ON PLANT COMMUNITIES, REGENERATION AND SOIL PROPERTIES ALONG THE TOURIST TRAILS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH