Status and Improvement Strategies of Conifer Forests of Western Himalayas with Special Reference to Kashmir Region

Conifers occupy 6.0 per cent of total forest area of India and 0.4 per cent of the world. Mainly four genera i.e. Abies, Cedrus, Picea and Pinus form the forest of great economic significance in Western Himalayas especially in Kashmir province. In J. & K. 19.95 per cent forest cover is having dense and open forests to the tune of 11,019 and 9,422 km² respectively. Forest productivity has been lowered down from 3.0 to 0.5 m³ha/annum in the recent past. The improvement strategies include protection, reduction in dependency, policy and institutional frame work, increasing the forest productivity and expansion in the forest area. Strengthening silvicultural research on innovative and modern techniques, producing quality seedlings, reducing gestation period, understanding ecto-mycorrhizal association to enhance ischolar_maining, adoption of clonal forestry and adoption of people participatory mode.