Application of GIS in Biodiversity Appraisal—A Case Study of Solan Forest Division (HP), India

Abstract

The study was conducted in the Solan Forest Division with an area of 57,158 ha in Himachal Pradesh to study spatial distribution of plant biodiversity. The forest division has an altitudinal gradient from 600–2,260 m amsl. The contours on the Forest Survey of India (FSI) topo sheets (1:25000 scale) for this division were digitized to generate its Digital Elevation Model (DEM). It was stratified into five elevation classes (600–900, 900–1,200, 1,200–1,500, 1,500–1,800, 1800 m and above). A stock map of the division was digitized and superimposed on stratified DEM to know the distribution of vegetation at different elevations. Eight types of land use covers recorded in this division are: (a) chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) forests, (b) bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) forests, (c) khair (Acacia catechu) forests, (d) ban oak (Quercus leucotricophora) forests, (e) deodar (Cedrus deodara) forests, (f) broad leaved forests, (g) cultivation, and (h) culturable blank. Around 16.50% of the division's area was estimated to be under different land uses. Total biomass of vegetation in different land uses of the division is estimated as 63.80 × 10⁴ tons. Total carbon stock of the division was 11.71 × 10⁵ tons. Biomass density and carbon density were found to increase with elevation.

Keywords:

• land use
• contours
• DEM
• biomass

Acknowledgments

The financial help provided by the Department of Rural Development and Wasteland Board, Government of Himachal Pradesh, is highly acknowledged. The information and help extended by the Solan Forest Division, Department of Forest HP for preparing this database is also commendable.