Vol. 8, Issue 9, Part K (2024)

This study examines the annual degradation in tree height, basal area, form factor, number of stems, volume, biomass and carbon stock across three forest types - dry deciduous, moist deciduous and semi-evergreen - in the Yellapur forest division during 2023-24. The results reveal varying degrees of degradation across all parameters, with dry deciduous forests experiencing the most significant declines. Tree height decreased by 0.34 m in dry deciduous forests, 0.487 m in moist deciduous and 0.15 m in semi-evergreen forests, though these reductions were statistically non-significant. The basal area degraded by 2.38 m² ha⁻¹ in dry deciduous forests, 1.33 m² ha⁻¹ in moist deciduous and 1.11 m² ha⁻¹ in semi-evergreen forests, with dry deciduous forests showing the most significant degradation. Similarly, stem numbers dropped by 33, 25 and 15 in dry deciduous, moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, respectively.
Volume degradation followed the same trend, with a 12.95 m³ ha⁻¹ reduction in dry deciduous forests, compared to 8.84 m³ ha⁻¹ in moist deciduous and 1.49 m³ ha⁻¹ in semi-evergreen forests. Biomass declined by 13.03 t ha⁻¹ in dry deciduous forests, 7.13 t ha⁻¹ in moist deciduous and 4.91 t ha⁻¹ in semi-evergreen forests. Corresponding carbon stock losses were 6.14 t ha⁻¹, 3.30 t ha⁻¹ and 2.45 t ha⁻¹, respectively. The highest degradation across all metrics occurred in the dry deciduous forests, with statistically significant differences observed in basal area, volume, biomass and carbon stock compared to the semi-evergreen forests. The primary causes of tree mortality were disease, cutting and natural factors, with dry deciduous forests recording the highest number of dead trees. This study highlights the urgent need for forest management interventions to mitigate degradation and preserve the ecological integrity of these forests.