Inventory List of Plant Diversity in Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Aim: To assess the phyto diversity of pench tiger reserve, Maharashtra, India. Place and Duration of Study: Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), June 2022 to December 2023. Methodology: The study was carried out by laying out quadratic sample plots in the PTR given by National Forest Inventory working plan code-2014 The plot size was 0.1 ha with 31.62 m x 31.62 m quadrats. Results: The study reveals a rich biodiversity comprising 863 species across 554 genera and 117 families, along with 8 varieties and 2 sub-species. The predominant taxa are herbs, accounting for 34.06% of species, followed by trees at 23.29%, climbers at 15.17%, grasses at 13.09%, sedges at 7.3%, epiphytic herbs at 0.8%, and bamboo at 0.2%. Fabaceae emerges as the most species-rich family in comparable studies, underscoring its ecological significance. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive biodiversity inventories for understanding and conserving tropical forest ecosystems. This research provides valuable baseline data essential for future ecological studies, environmental assessments, and effective.