Impact of Anthropogenic Threats on Species Diversity: A Case Study of the Sub-Himalayan Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of Pakistan

Naveed Alam, Eve Bohnett (), Muhammad Zafar, Hassan Sher, Bilal Ahmad (), Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Mushtaq Ahmad, Zahid Ullah, Ahmad Ali, Shujaul Mulk Khan and Kashmala Syed
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Naveed Alam: Institute of Agriculture Sciences & Forestry, University of Swat, Charbagh 19120, Pakistan
Eve Bohnett: Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Muhammad Zafar: Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Hassan Sher: Center for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Charbagh 19120, Pakistan
Bilal Ahmad: Institute of Agriculture Sciences & Forestry, University of Swat, Charbagh 19120, Pakistan
Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
Mushtaq Ahmad: Center for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Charbagh 19120, Pakistan
Zahid Ullah: Center for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Charbagh 19120, Pakistan
Ahmad Ali: Center for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Charbagh 19120, Pakistan
Shujaul Mulk Khan: Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Kashmala Syed: Center for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Charbagh 19120, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Effective forest conservation and management needs to consider ecological factors and the susceptibility of different tree species to anthropogenic activity. Dry deciduous forests in the tropics have been undervalued because of their low timber production compared to temperate and boreal forests. In order to quantify the current significance of Pakistan’s tropical dry deciduous forests in relation to ecological variables and anthropogenic threats, a broad phytosociological survey was conducted. In the study area, a total of 140 species of woody plants belonging to 52 families were identified. The cluster analysis depicts the distribution of nine plant communities in five clusters, in which Dodonaea viscosa-Acacia modesta-Dulbergia sissoo community was the most dominant community, showing cosmopolitan distribution in the study area. The results are further authenticated by DCA and CCA analyses, which indicate that altitude, precipitation, and temperature are the most important factors influencing the distribution and composition of tropical dry deciduous forests along the Himalayan foothills. In the study area, an annual fuelwood consumption of 270.38 tons was recorded. It was discovered that high-altitude forests were subject to extensive tree harvesting, overgrazing, browsing, and high fuelwood consumption. In addition, these forests have a low regeneration rate from 4.5 to 4.8 seedlings/quadrat, due to extensive human activities. Remarkable differences in the anthropogenic pressure and disturbances were found in the protected and unprotected forests. Based on our findings, we recommend that: (i) Immediate management intervention and an in-situ conservation strategy must be implemented in areas exposed to high levels of anthropogenic threats. (ii) Unsustainable grazing and fuelwood collection must be managed, and high-threat areas must be immediately prohibited. (iii) The local populace must be made aware of the grave consequences of anthropogenic disturbances, and a collaborative management strategy must be implemented.

Keywords: ecological variables; ordination analysis; anthropogenic threats; tropical dry deciduous forests; two-way cluster analysis; vegetation analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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