Forest Flora of Haryana: An Annotated Checklist

Floristic composition across diverse geographic regions naturally changes over time naturally at a slower pace. However, the ongoing anthropogenic activities significantly impact these changes, usually towards negative side. This makes systematic monitoring crucial for effective protection of diversity and sustainable management. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) underlines the significance of periodic biodiversity assessments. Prevailing Forest Floras provide vital information on regional woody plant species, but due to enduring ecological shifts, updated documentation is obligatory for adaptive strategies. In Haryana, floristic studies date back to the 19th century, with contributions from several botanists and institutions over the years. In spite of various scattered studies on the region’s plant diversity, all-inclusive data on the forest flora of Haryana has been lacking. The current checklist treatises this gap by documenting 512 species of angiosperms and gymnosperms found in Haryana's forests, including 227 tree species, 203 shrubs, and 82 climbers. This work forms a strong baseline for future floristic research, conservation efforts, and sustainable utilization of the state’s forest biodiversity.