Population status of hollock (Terminalia myriocarpa heurck & muell. arg) in the eastern hollock forest type of north east India

The study aims to ascertain whether Hollock trees (Terminalia myriocarpa Heurck & Muell. Arg) still retain their dominant status in the Eastern Hollock Forest type (3_I/S₂) of Arunachal Pradesh. This forest type is an edaphic formation under North Indian Moist deciduous forests. We primarily assessed its population status and compared its various population parameters with overall community indices, and inferred future population status based on its existing regeneration pattern. The study was carried out during 2015–16 in Pasighat Station reserve and Poba reserve forests of 3_I/S₂ forest type under Pasighat Forest Division of Arunachal Pradesh. In both reserves a total of 74 tree species was recorded. Out of the total number of individual stems enumerated Hollock represented 26.67% and 18.60%. Stem density was the highest for Hollock with 95 and 73.12 individuals/ha with a relative density of 35.22% and 19.33% in Pasighat Station and Poba reserve forest, respectively. Complete dominance was observed for basal area contributing 95.90% of the total at Pasighat Station reserve forest while it was 41.94% in Poba reserve forest, only lower to Gmelina arborea. The density of seedlings of Hollock in Poba reserve forest was also lower than seedling density of Gmelina.