Forest Types

The forests of Chenab catchment have been divided into six types and further in seven sub-types of five groups as per the classification of Champion and Seth (1964). These types and sub-types are: -

Group 10: Subtropical dry evergreen forests
Type 10/C1: Subtropical dry evergreen forest

Sub-type 10/C1a: Olea cuspidata scrub forest:

This type of forest extends from 821 msl) to 1180 msl on the slopes of right bank of Neeru Nallah. The scrub forest is characterized by Olea ferruginea (syn. Olea cuspidata)followed by few stands of Quercus baloot Griff. on the right bank of Neeru Nallah, while towards higherslopes, Trema politoria is well represented. The slopes of left bank of Neeru Nallah between Pul Doda and Paranoo are represented by Olea ferruginea followed by Q. baloot, Zizyphus mauritiana and Punica granatum. Besides these species, patches of Pinus roxburghii and Trema politoria are found on these slopes.

 It is also observed that Olea ferruginea scrub forest, on left bank doesn’t extend above Nali Dangri, Bigotha, Grondi, Bhubba, Bata and Masiri villages. On the slopes, towards the mouth of Neeru Nallah, patches of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb., Nerium indicum Mill., Calotropis procera Br. and Opuntia vulgaris are commonly seen, while Zizyphus mauritiana and Punica granatum Linn. are distributed towards Paranoo. Alnus nitida a broad leaved tree species shows a transition towards temperate region. The area covering sub-type 10/C1a is directly exposed to sun. Thus, low moisture content in soil is characteristic of the slopes of this zone. The soils of these slopes are loose, grey in color with neutral to alkaline pH.

 

Group 12: Himalayan moist temperate forests:

 

Sub-type 12/C1b: Moru Oak forest:  
Moru Oak forest i.e. 12/C1b is represented by the stands of Quercus dilatata, Abies pindrow and Pinus wallichiana in some grooved pockets in between the hills of left bank of Neeru nallah. However, this sub-type is totally absent on the right bank of Neeru nallah. Between Dhar Lachran (2700 msl) to Mushdeo-ro-Nal (2800 msl) the stands of Quercus dilatata,  Abies pindrow, Pinus wallichiana represent sub-type 12/C1b in deep grooved valleys, while Abies pindrow flourish well towards the periphery of those grooves where sunlight reach easily. Due to heavy precipitation in the form of snowfall in winters and rainfall in summers the soil remains moist throughout the year. Moderate acidic pH range from 5.0-6.5 is the characteristic feature of the soil of this forest type.

 

Sub-type 12/C1c: Moist deodar forest: Sub­­-type 12/C1c of the area is represented by pure Cedrus deodara stands with few countable trees of Aesculus indica.  On hills and peaks of right bank of Neeru nallah, sub-type 12/C1c stretches between Subar Dhar and Thanala. This area includes Lanchan Dhar in east and south facing slope of Thubba in west, with width getting narrowed between Kansaroo and Duggi slopes. This forest sub-type extends up to Thanala and forms a pure continuous belt of Cedrus deodara. Beside some grooves, 12/C1c forest sub-type is also distributed in mountains and sub-valleys of left bank of Neeru nallah. Forest sub-type 12/C1c extends from slopes of Nalthi to Dhar Lachran as continuous stand while sub-type 12/C1b is suspended in the grooved pockets in this (12/C1c) forest sub-type. It has also been observed that sub-type 12/C1c also extends in the form of narrow stretch between Dhar-Lachran and Bigotha in Kellar range. This narrow stretch includes Dranga, Gutasa, Darodoo, Galian, Niota, Panj Gram, Chanti, upper Bhalla, Traown and Bigotha. Although the area of this forest sub-type remain moist throughout the year due to frequent rains but evidences of forest fires are common in this forest sub-type due to the availability of abundant resin. Acidic soils are a characteristic feature of this region.

Sub-type 12/C1d: Western mixed coniferous forest: The sub-type 12/C1d in the area is represented by Abies pindrow, Cedrus deodara, Picea smithiana and Pinus wallichiana.Just above Sub-type 12/C1c, at higher elevations of left bank of Neeru nallah, sub-type 12/C1d stretches from upper portion of Dharaphar to Ramtund (2600 msl) in the form of narrow continuous stand. On right bank of Neeru nallah, this forest type is restricted to the upper peaks of Nagni Mandir and peaks above Duggi-Nal. Some patches have been located in between Padari Gali (2800 msl) and Katari-di-Gali. Mixed forest stands of Abies pindrow, Cedrus deodara, and Picea smithiana are also present between Ashapatti tributary and Kaplash tributary of Neeru watershed. Few plants of Betula utilis, on rocky surface, and Taxus wallichiana,in the grooves are also located in between these two tributaries. Zamana-ri-Dhar is known for Himalayan Yew i.e. Taxus wallichiana. The soils of the forest type remain wet due to frequent rainfall in summer while winters are characterized by heavy snowfall.

 

Sub-type 12/C1f: Low level blue pine forest: 12/C1f forest sub-type is represented by pure Pinus wallichiana stand in Bhadarwah and its close vicinity. These stands are present in the lower belt of sub- type 12/C1c on the peaks along left bank of Neeru nallah. The soils of the area remain acidic and rich in humus.

 

Group 13: Himalayan dry temperate forests
Type 13/C1: Dry broadleaved and coniferous forest: Climatically intermediate between sub-tropical and temperate zone, type 13/C1 is represented from Paranoo to Bhalla, while upper peaks of Kellar forest range do not fall in this type. On the slopes of right bank, between Paranoo to Bhalla, Pinus roxburghii, Quercus dilatata, Fraxinus species are distributed. Zizyphus mauritiana, Cedrus deodara and Pinus wallichiana represent the 13/C1 type above Bhalla and in the vicinity of Gurakha (slopes on right bank). The populations of Alnus nitida and Ficus palmata, two broad leaved species, are distributed along both the banks of Neeru nallah and its tributaries from Bhalla to Bheja (2200 msl). Slopes of left bank between Paranoo and Bhalla are characterized by Pinus wallichiana, Pinus roxburghii, Quercus dilatata at low elevations, while Cedrus deodara dominates the vegetation at higher elevations. Snowfall is the prime requisite for this forest type. Berberis lycium, Rosa macrophylla, Rubus ellipticus, Daphne oleoides, Viburnum grandiflorum dominate the shrub vegetation. Ficus palmata grow as individual pockets near the nallahs.

 

Group 15:  Moist alpine scrub
This type of vegetation is found at very high elevations, along the snow line.
Type 15/C1:  Birch/Rhododendronscrub forest: This forest type is mainly represented by dwarf, stunted trees interspersed in pastures and are restricted to the slopes of Ashapatti (3300 msl) and below Sankh-ro-Padhar (3860 msl). The flora of this zone includes Betula utilis, Rhododendron arboreum, R. campanulatum, Corydalis speciesand Lonicera parviflora etc. The trunks are short and extremely branched attaining a girth of about 50 cms. The area is characterized by very heavy snowfall (Plate-12, Figs. 1-2).

 

Group 16:  Dry alpine scrub
Type 16/E1: Dwarf Juniper scrub: Dwarf Juniper scrub forest type is restricted in distribution to the upper portion of the Neeru valley particularly in Ramtund area towards Kaplash lake. Adjacent to the open meadows, the species like Juniperus communis, Juniperus recurva, Caragana are distributed in patches. The species grow well in the rocky area, which remains dry with intense sun-shine. Although frequent rainfall in summer is characteristic feature of the area, yet the area remain dry due to rocky surface. Winters bring heavy snowfall in the area