• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2019

Species diversity is one of the most important indices that used to evaluate the sustainability of forest communities. In the present study, three variables including number of individuals (frequency of species), basal area and volume of tree species were compared to estimate tree species diversity in broadleaves forests of Iran. Based on systematic random design, 30 plots (circle plot, $1000m^2$) was selected. Type of species, number of species, DBH and height of trees were measured. Simpson (1-D), Hill ($N_2$), Shannon-Wiener (H'), Mc Arthur ($N_1$), Smith-Wilson ($E_{var}$) and Margalef ($R_1$) indices used to estimate tree species diversity. Species diversity was calculated in each plot. ANOVA test showed that there was a significant difference between of three variables used for estimation of species diversity. Number of trees variable has more precision than basal area and volume variables to estimate of species diversity. But Duncan test revealed that there were significant difference between of basal area and volume variables with number of trees. Therefore, basal area and volume variables were selected as more suitable variables in order to estimate of biodiversity indices in northern forests of Iran.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.367-376
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• 2016

Urban greenery is an important component of urban environment and is fast gaining prominence especially in the developing countries. The destruction of urban trees has resulted to the degradation of the environment, thus the introduction of green Kumasi project by Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Ashanti Region of Ghana. The composition and diversity of urban trees gives rise to adequate management and monitoring, thus an inventory of urban trees of the Metropolis was conducted to document complete information on its density, diversity, composition and distribution. A total tree population of 1,101 was enumerated in the principal roads of the Metropolis. The ten most encountered tree species accounted for 61.04% of all the individual tree populations with Mangifera indica being dominant. The dominant families: Fabaceae, Moraceae and Arecaceae constitute 38.57% of the tree population. Diversity of the tree species was very high. The minimum diversity criteria were met on analysis of the diversity of this population. The proportion of exotic species was high with 65.71% of the trees belonging to the introduced species. It is recommended that greater emphasis should be placed on the planting of indigenous trees in future tree planting exercise.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.159-172
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• 2019

Madhupur National Park (MNP) is one of the last remaining patches of old-growth natural Sal forest left in Bangladesh where the forest is tropical moist deciduous type. A study was revealed to assess the tree species diversity and composition in this area. For determining tree species the study was conducted through extensive random quadrat survey methods with $20m{\times}20m$ sized plots. Results of the study indicated that there were 139 tree species belonging to 100 genera and 40 families. The quadrat survey assessed the basal area, stem density, diversity indices and importance value index of the tree species having ${\geq}5cm$ D.B.H (Diameter at Brest Height). The basal area and stem density of the tree species were $20.689{\pm}1.08m^2/ha$ and $1412.93{\pm}64.27stem\;ha^{-1}$ while, diversity indices, i.e. Shannon-Wiener's diversity, Simpson's evenness, Margalef's species richness and Pielou's dominance indices indicated poor diversity in comparison to that of other PAs (Protected Areas) in South-Eastern region of Bangladesh. The structural composition based on height and D.B.H through reverse-J shaped curve indicated higher regeneration and recruitment but removal of trees of large growth classes. Sal (Shorea robusta) was the most dominant tree species that accounts 75% of the total tree individuals in the natural forest patches. However, some associates of Sal, i.e. Bhutum (Hymenodictyon orixensis), Gadila (Careya arborea), and Kusum (Schleichera oleosa) etc. were seemed to be rare in MNP.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.192-201
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• 2015

Information on plant diversity and community structure are required to chalk out necessary actions for conservation management. The present study assessed the composition and diversity of tree species in Kamalachari Natural Forest of Chittagong South Forest Division, Bangladesh, during April 2010 to November 2011. A total of 107 tree species belonging to 72 genera and 37 families were recorded, where Moraceae family was represented by maximum (11) species. Density, Basal area and volume of tree species were $418{\pm}20.09stem/ha$, $21.10{\pm}2.62m^2/ha$ and $417.4{\pm}79.8m^3/ha$ respectively. Diameter and height class distribution of tree species revealed an almost reverse J-shaped curve. Both the number of species and percentage of tree individuals were maximum in the lower DBH and height ranges. Anthropogenic disturbances like illegal tree cutting, over extraction, settlement inside forest area etc. were noticed during the study, which are supposed to cause gradual decrease of both tree species and individuals in the higher DBH and height classes. However, Artocarpus chama was found dominant showing maximum IVI followed by Schima wallichii, Aporosa wallichii, and Lithocarpus acuminata. The quantitative structure of the tree species of Kamalachari natural forest is comparable to other tree species rich tropical natural forests. The findings of the study may help in monitoring future plant population changes of the identified species and adopting species specific conservation programs in Kamalachari natural forest.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.129-139
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• 2016

Study was conducted to investigate tree diversity and its population and regeneration status in homegardens of upper Assam, Northeast India through field study by quadrat method. A total of 154 tree species have been recorded from 135 studied homegardens under 109 genera 53 families. Most of these species (79%) are indigenous to our country, while the rest (21%) arealiens (naturalized and cultivated exotics) by origin. Tree species richness per homegarden varies greatly in different homegardens and is ranged from 5 to 52 tree species with a mean of 22 ($SE{\pm}0.58$). A. malaccensis is the most dominant tree species in the studied homegardens contributed 34% of the total tree density of the documented trees. The tree density is much higher with 4,259 individuals $ha^{-1}$ but, basal area ($36.32m^2ha^{-1}$) is very less. Based on the number of individuals present, very rare species is accounted for 10%, rare species 39%, common species 19%, dominants 14% and predominant species 18% in the present study. The population density of 154 tree species is 4,259 (individuals $ha^{-1}$) for adults (>3.18 cm DBH), 5,902 (individuals $ha^{-1}$) for saplings and 38,164 (individuals $ha^{-1}$) for seedlings. The density of seedlings>saplings>adults represents good regeneration status of tree species in studied homegardens. The population structure study showed that about 8% tree species have good regeneration status, 9% have fair regeneration status, 48% have poor regeneration status and 34% tree species have no regeneration. Study suggests that research and development action is needed to stimulate regeneration of those tree species which having high importance value indices but showing poor or no regeneration. Based on present observation, it can be conclude that homegarden can emerge as an effective means for both economic well-being and biodiversity conservation in upper Assam, Northeast India.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2011

The present study was undertaken in middle altitudinal (1500 to 2500 masl) moist temperate forest of Mandal-Chopta area in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. The aim of the present study was to assess the variation in species composition and diversity in different vegetation layers viz. herb, shrub and tree, at different altitudes. Shannon-Wiener diversity index ($\bar{H}$), $Nha^{-1}$, total basal cover per hectare (G), Simpson concentration of dominance, Pielou Equitability, species richness (SR), Margalef index, Menheink index of species richness and ${\beta}$-diversity were calculated to understand community composition. Tree G ranged from 84.25 to 35.08 $m^2ha^{-1}$ and total stem density varied from 990 to 1470 Nha-1. Total SR (herb, shrub and trees) among different forest types ranged between 31 and 58. Maximum G of herb and shrub layers was recorded at lower altitudes between 1500 and 1650 masl. ${\beta}$-diversity was higher in herb layers as compared to tree and shrub layers. Dominance-diversity curves were also drawn to ascertain resource apportionment among various species in different forest types. Values of species diversity, $\bar{H}$, $Nha^{-1}$ and G were higher in the study area as compared to similar forests growing in other parts of Uttarakhand Himalaya.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

To understand the health conditions and growth patterns of forest estate for environmental resilience and climate change mitigation, assessment of structure and species diversity is paramount. This study aimed at assessing the structure, alpha, and beta diversities of tree species in three ecological zones in Taraba, Nigeria for management purposes. In recent time, no research has been reported on the structure and beta diversity of the study areas. A systematic sampling design was used for data collection. Five sample plots of 50×50 m were laid in each of the six natural forest areas. The result showed a mean DBH (42.5 cm) and a tree height (15.0 m) from the forests. The forests have a structure of an inverse "J-shape," which is typical of natural forests in the tropics. The southern Guinea savanna zone had the highest mean Shannon-Weiner diversity index (2.8). The least beta diversity index (0.02) was between Baissa and Jen Gininya forest areas. Baissa and Bakin Dutse Protected Forest Areas (PFAs) contained 76.5% of the tree species. There is a high chance of all tree species to be found in these 2 forest areas. Proximity to a location influences how similar two tree species are, according to the least beta diversity index (0.02) recorded. The Federal Government's method of management for the forest, known as Gashaka Gumti National Park, may be responsible for the high beta diversity index in the Montane ecozone. Therefore, it should be strongly encouraged to practice strict oversight of natural areas, as their contributions to reducing climate change in Taraba State, Nigeria, cannot be overstated.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.126-135
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• 2018

Wood decay fungi were collected in 47 different locations in eight provinces of South Korea from 2011 to 2013. One thousand and five hundreds three fruiting bodies of wood-decay fungi were collected, identified, and classified into 2 phyla, 7 classes, 19 orders, 56 families, 159 genera and 365 species. The most dominant genus and species found were Trametes and T. versicolor. The highest species diversity was found in broad-leaved forest (273 species), and was also found at elevations of 500-1,000 m (227 species). A total of 333 species were collected from broad-leaved trees, 87 species from coniferous trees, and 55 species were collected from both forest types. Gymnopilus liquiritiae was the most dominant species in coniferous trees, while T. versicolor, which was mostly collected from tree trunks below 500 m in elevation, was dominant in broad-leaved trees. Results from the quantitative cluster analysis of wood decay fungi showed that the highest species diversity index was 1.80 in the mixed forests, while the highest similarity among forest types was shown between the broad-leaved and mixed forests.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 1996

Five measurements of species diversity (richness index, diversity index, evenness index, dominance index and species sequences-importance curve) and their relationships with sltitude, tree age and community type were studied in $T\v{o}gyusan$ National Park, Korea. Altitude and tree age were the major variables explaining the differences of species diversity in the whole forest. Species richness index, diversity index and evenness index of Quercus mongolica and Pinus densiflora communities were lower than those of Carpinus laxiflora, Q. serrata, Fraxinus mandshurica, Q. mongolica - P. densiflora communities than that in the other communities. The species sequence-importance curve of the forest communities in $T\v{o}gyusan$ coincided with the ideal curve calculated by the lognormal-distribution theory.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.219-235
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• 2016

Forest tree diversity inventory and its periodical monitoring are important to understand changes in tree population structure and to provide information useful for biodiversity conservation and reserve management. In a long-term forest dynamics program in Indian tropical dry evergreen forest, this communication deals with tree diversity changes at decadal interval. The initial inventory of tree diversity was carried out in 2003, in four tropical dry evergreen forest sites - (much disturbed sites Shanmuganathapuram - SP and Araiyapatti - AP and moderately disturbed sites - Karisakkadu - KR and Maramadakki - MM) on the Coromandel Coast of peninsular India, by establishing four 1ha permanent plots, one in each site. In 2013, the four plots were re-inventoried for tree diversity (${\geq}10cm\;gbh$) changes which yielded 56 species from 46 genera and 26 families. The studied forest sites are threatened by disturbance due to multiple reasons; cutting of trees inside of the forest, grazing by goats, construction of temple approach road, and some aspects cultural attachment of local people like constructing new, additional strctures of temple by denuding a portion of forest etc.. Tree species richness over a decade increased by four species in site SP, two species in site AP, and one species in site KR, but decreased by one species in site MM. Tree density decreased drastically by 480 (28.92%) and 102 (12.63%) stems $ha^{-1}$ respectively in sites SP and AP, but moderately increased by 82 (12.09%) stems $ha^{-1}$ in site KR and 26 (3.46%) stems $ha^{-1}$ in site MM. Tree basal area declined in site KR from $21.6m^2$ to $20.26m^2ha^{-1}$ and in site SP from 21.1 to $20.38m^2ha^{-1}$, but increased from $19.1m^2$ to $19.43m^2$ and from 15.5 to $18.63m^2ha^{-1}$ in sites AP and MM respectively. Three tree species (Allophylus serratus, Maytenus emarginata and Ehretia pubescens) were lost out of the 57 species recorded in 2003, and two species (Jatropha gossypiifolia and Streblus asper) were new additions in ten years. The long-term forest monitoring data will be valuable to understand forest dynamics and for conservation and management of this and similar tropical forests.