Tree Vegetation Structure and Carbon Dynamics of Himalayan Community Forests under the Van Panchayat System, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Community-managed forests play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem functioning, and climate change mitigation in the Himalayan region. Under the Van Panchayat system of Uttarakhand, forests are managed through local institutions with varying degrees of protection and intervention, yet their contribution to carbon sequestration remains insufficiently quantified. This study assessed tree vegetation structure, biomass allocation, and ecosystem carbon stocks in two community forests, Akhandwali Bhilang (ABCF) and Rikhauli (RCF) of Uttarakhand, India. Vegetation sampling was conducted using line transects with 10 × 10 m quadrats, and phytosociological attributes were analyzed alongside non-destructive biomass estimation methods. Carbon stocks were quantified across aboveground, belowground, litter, and soil pools following IPCC guidelines. Results revealed substantial variation in stand structure and carbon storage between the two forests. ABCF exhibited higher tree density (760 trees ha⁻¹) and stored significantly greater total biomass (350.76 Mg ha⁻¹) and carbon (175.77 Mg C ha⁻¹) than RCF (380 trees ha⁻¹ tree density, 261.81 Mg ha⁻¹ biomass and 131.37 Mg C ha⁻¹), despite lower species diversity. The findings demonstrate that Himalayan community forests function as effective carbon sinks even under low-intensity management, with carbon storage strongly regulated by stand density rather than species richness alone. Integrating basic silvicultural interventions with community governance could further enhance carbon sequestration and support REDD+ implementation in the region.