Ecological attributes and tree biomass along urbanisation and elevation gradients in Ranchi, eastern India

Forests are vital for reducing climate change impacts through biomass sequestration. This study examines the ecological traits and biomass of three vegetation types: Trees outside forests (TOF), peri-urban, and natural forests. These were analyzed along an urbanization and elevation gradient in Ranchi, Eastern India. We studied 167 plots (each 0.5 ha), documenting 152 tree species (125 genera, 46 families), including 118 native species. Key findings reveal that the distribution and density of tree populations vary significantly by girth class and vegetation type. While natural forests contained the highest total biomass, TOF areas had the highest average biomass, emphasizing the important role of large, isolated trees in urban landscapes. The ANCOVA indicated that biomass is mainly influenced by structural factors: GBH class (F4,819 = 32.50, p < 0.001) and the interaction between GBH class and vegetation type (F8,819 = 14.28, p < 0.001). Elevation acts as a significant “filter,” offering refuge from human stressors and creating favorable conditions for certain tree age classes. However, urban interventions decouple biomass from natural altitudinal patterns, showing that human activity can override traditional environmental gradients. Our results underscore the importance of conservation and land-use planning to sustain biomass, biodiversity, and ecosystem services in rapidly urbanizing regions. They also highlight future research directions for reducing the long-term effects of land-use change on forest communities and ecosystem dynamics.