Species composition and structure of Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) forests along disturbance gradients of Western Assam, Northeast India

The present paper deals with the structure and species composition of undisturbed and disturbed secondary Sal forests of Goalpara district, Western Assam, Northeast India. Species richness was recorded very low with only 3 species in undisturbed Sal forests compare to the 18 species in disturbed Sal forests. The density and basal area were recorded high in undisturbed forests than the disturbed one. Shorea robusta is the single dominant species and constitute the bulk of the stocks in both forests types. Girth class distribution of density revealed the dominance of middle girth classes in undisturbed forests whereas in disturbed forests 45 % of the total density recorded in lowermost girth class. Anthropogenic disturbances influence the forests structure, functions as well as services in both forests types in the present study.