R. B. S. Kushwah , Bagdara Sanctuary , Sidhi

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R. B. S. Kushwah , V. Kumar

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The term Biodiversity means the variety and variability among living organisms from all sources and ecosystems on the earth. It includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. Classification is an essential process in our daily lives and a necessary tool for our survival. For example, we need to know which plant, animal, fungi are useful and which are poisonous or dangerous. It is hard to define Biodiversity in mathematical terms. Hence, the 'Biodiversity indices' are used for the purpose. The Shannon-Wiener Biodiversity Index, based on the proportionate abundance of the species, provides an alternate approach to the assessment of Biodiversity. Attempt has been made for the first time in the eight Pas of Madhya Pradesh, following standard sample techniques and formulae, to compute Biodiversity indices in order to find the present status of flora. The value of Shannon-Wiener Biodiversity Indices and Index of Evenness has been computed. The maximum value (2.505, 2.511) was found for Madhav National Park followed by Satpura National Park. The minimum value (1.717,1.763) was found for Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary. The main recommendations of the study are: (1) Demarcation of the 'Biodiversity zone' in each Pas and its conservation; (2) The areas with lower Biodiversity indices need to be given more attention for protection and conservation; (3) 'Eco-development planning' with the active involvement of local people for each PA needs to be adopted along with the village-micro-planning, and (4) The high tourist pressure in PWS, SNP, BNP, RWS and SDS needs to be regulated by 'Eco-tourism planning' in these PAs.

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R. B. S. Kushwah , V. Kumar

Abstract

Attempts have been made for the first time to workout the biodiversity indices for flora in the four Pas, i.e., the Bandhavgarh (BNP), Indravati (lNP), Madhav (MNP), and Satpuda (SNP) National Parks of Madhya Pradesh following standard sampling techniques and formulae. The values of Shannon-Wiener biodiversity indices as computed are found to be 2.508, 2.226, 1.842 and 1.815 respectively for MNP, SNP, INP and BNP. The values of the index of evenness have also been computed which are 0.753,0.668,0.581 and 0.581 respectively for MNP, SNP, INP and BNP. The highest t.value and degree of freedom (df) found for INP while lowest in MNP which reveals that the two types of the selected forest sites (areas) are significantly different upto certain extent in terms of the diversity of dominant species in INP, while not in case of MNP. Thus the areas of these PAs with lower diversity indices needed to be given more attention for protection and conservation of biodiversity. In fact, these areas being peripheral to territorial divisions are more affected by the biotic pressures from the adjoining villages which need to be minimized. Thus the study is not only of academic interest but relevant for management of the Protected Areas.

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