Species diversity and biomass carbon analysis of the tree layer in a sacred natural forest patch from Western Odisha

Sacred groves are locally called “Demul” in Western Odisha are small forest patches of varying sizes. These sacred groves have potential to withstand the land use changes due to increasing anthropogenic pressure and play an important role in conservation of biodiversity and in regulating climate by acting as a carbon sink. The present paper aims at estimating the biodiversity and carbon stock of tree layer from a small sacred grove “Gugarpat” of Western Odisha. A total of 19 tree species of 18 genera and 15 families were recorded from the site. Shorea robusta emerged as the dominant tree species followed by sub dominant species like Terminalia tomentosa and Buchanania lanzan. As a remnant forest patch the tree density was found to be relatively low but are free from felling and over exploitation. The biomass was estimated following non destructive method as providing any harm to vegetation is a taboo. The biomass stock of trees ≥10 cm girth at breast height was 250.43 Mg/ha. The carbon was estimated as 50% of the living biomass and accounted to be 125.21 Mg/ha. Shorea robusta being the dominated species contains the highest carbon in its biomass and amounted to be 66.70 Mg/ha, followed by Terminalia tomentosa 21.11 Mg/ha and Madhuca Indica 18.56Mg/ha. Services of such small sacred groves (≤1 ha) are less studied and attempts should be made to assess the ecosystem services for generating awareness and implementation of proper planning to conserve these small patches at a local level.