Forest Phyto-Diversity Assessment of West Champaran District of Bihar, Eastern India

Regular biodiversity assessment is the key to judicial utilization and conservation of forest plant resources. Forest phyto-diversity in West Chaparan, Bihar, has been investigated in the current research. Assessment was conducted at 10 random forest locations. We estimated Important Value Index (IVI), Shannon and Wiener index, Simpson Index, and Pielou's evenness index. A total of 193 species were reported from the study area. Habit-wise number of species of trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers, grasses, sedges, and bamboo are 87, 27, 38, 16, 22, 02, and 01, respectively. Research revealed highest tree layer variety at Kali Temple and lowest at Watch Tower. Shrubby layer had highest diversity in Dongiparsa site and least in Comp. no. 53 (II) site, whereas in herbaceous layer, highest diversity was reported from Kali Temple site and least from Comp. no. 53 (I). Many biotic and abiotic factors endanger biodiversity. To reverse vegetative status, these elements must be identified and management measures should be adopted.