Floristic assessment of semi evergreen forests of a peripheral site in Hadagarh Sanctuary, Odisha, India

Phytosociological study was carried out in the outer periphery region of Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India. An attempt has been made to find out the characteristics of the vegetation community of the forests of the sanctuary. Analysis of the vegetation was done following the standard ecological methods widely adopted for such studies (quadrat method). A total of 68 plant species from 30 families were documented comprising of 14 species of tree, 42 species of shrubs and saplings and 12 species of herbs and seedlings. This study provides a baseline data for all such future studies as no previous ecological assessment about the forest vegetation of the sanctuary is available. In terms of Importance Value Index (IVI), Azadirachta indica with IVI value of 61.45 among trees was found most dominant followed by Shroea robusta (46) and Schleichera oleosa (37). Similarly most common plant species amongst shrubs and herbs were Ageratum conyzoides L. (IVI-40.08) and Mimosa pudica L. (IVI-45.67). The sanctuary has been under various anthropogenic pressures resulting in depletion of the vegetation. Near absence of saplings and seedlings of dominant forest trees is a matter of concern in the peripheral region of the sanctuary. The study revealed that, a suitable long term management intervention to step up regeneration of population in this area will go a long way in improving overall ecological and aesthetic value of the forests of the sanctuary area.   Key words: Importance Value Index (IVI), Santhal tribe, natural vegetation, traditional knowledge, strict enforcement.