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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Assessment of Ecosystem Services
and Regeneration Patterns of Subalpine
Betula utilis Forests in Western Himalaya
1
Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, Pakistan
2
Department of Botany, University of Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
3
Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University,
P.O. 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
4
Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, International University of Sarajevo,
71210 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Submission date: 2024-02-26
Final revision date: 2024-03-23
Acceptance date: 2024-04-26
Online publication date: 2024-08-05
Publication date: 2025-01-09
Corresponding author
Muhammad Manzoor
Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, Pakistan
Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, Pakistan
Hamayun Shaheen
Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, Pakistan
Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, Pakistan
Syed Waseem Gillani
Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, Pakistan
Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(2):1685-1695
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Betula utilis is an indicator species of subalpine forest in the western Himalayan region,
performing dynamic ecological functions and providing significant ecosystem services to rural
mountainous communities that support livelihoods in harsh environmental conditions. The current
study was designed to investigate the ecosystem services and regeneration patterns of Betula utilis
forest in the subalpine zone of Kashmir, western Himalayas. The questionnaire method was used for
collecting ethnobotanical and fuelwood data. The systematic quadrat method was used for assessing
the regeneration patterns of B. utilis forest at 15 sites. B. utilis is a versatile plant with significant
religious and cultural values, as well as being used for the treatment of various diseases in humans
and animals. Results of fuelwood consumption revealed that mountainous rural communities consumed
an average of 7.18 kg/capita/day. The linear regression analysis showed that fuelwood consumption
values increase along the altitude of the investigated area. As altitude increases, the rural population
uses more fuelwood for heating purposes to sustain their lives in harsh environmental conditions.
The average seedling density was calculated at 1351.47/ha in the study area. Significant regeneration was
observed in some sites, while others showed a lower regeneration rate due to immense anthropogenic
pressure. The seedlings and saplings showed a higher number, ranging from 1429/ha to 911/ha, 1915/ha
to 495/ha, 1054/ha to 623/ha, and 1493/ha to 436/ha on the south and north aspects, respectively.
The north-facing aspect depicts more seedling and sapling numbers due to favorable conditions, whereas the south-facing aspect showed fewer numbers as compared to the north-facing aspect. Climate change
and anthropogenic pressure significantly affect the long-term viability of Betula forests in subalpine
zones because of their restricted ecological niches. Immediate management strategies are required
to minimize these threats and implement effective conservation strategies and a sustainable forest
management policy for the preservation of the subalpine forest in Kashmir.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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