Status of Biodiversity in a Protected Area of Kashmir Himalaya: Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary

Abstract

The present study attempts to comprehensively study the floristic elements of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS), Kashmir Himalaya. During the present study 364 species of vascular plants belonging to 227 genera and 74 families were recorded from the sanctuary. A total of 18 communities (10 within forest and 8 within alpine zone) were identified. Forest zone of the sanctuary was represented by shady moist, dry, bouldery, rocky, riverine and exposed habitats; whereas the alpine zone was represented by bouldery, riverine and moist and exposed habitats. Of the total 364 reported plant species, 161 species were native to Himalayan region and the remaining i.e. 203 species were non‐natives. Out the total 161 native plant species, 82 were endemic to the Himalayan region. Further, 22 plant species were having threatened status in Jammu and Kashmir. Major threats to biodiversity within the sanctuary include overexploitation, habitat degradation, overgrazing, invasive species, human settlements, huge tourism influx and pollution. In the present study, based on the 'conservation priority index' (CPI) of the plant species, 51 plant species were assessed to be threatened in GWLS. Further, maximum CPI of dry and shady moist habitats and Aesculus indica–Pinus wallichiana mixed and Taxus wallichiana–Prunus cornuta–Aesculus indica mixed communities reveals that proper management of these prioritized habitats and communities would help in maintaining the natural ecosystems and conservation of species of the sanctuary. Present study recommends that awareness about the values of biodiversity for sustenance through organization of training workshops, awareness camps need to be created among the local inhabitants as well as visitors. Further, no in‐depth explorations for community characterization of forest and as well as alpine ecosystems of Kashmir Himalaya have been conducted; present study in the GWLS provides a template, which can be replicated in other protected as well as unprotected areas of the Kashmir Himalaya.