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Understanding the variations in plant diversity, soil physico-chemical characteristics, and biomass storage under an age chronosequence of farm forests is crucial to advance our knowledge of their potential role in biodiversity conservation, soil management and climate change mitigation. The present work was conducted from September 2018 to February 2020 in randomly selected young unmanaged farm forests categorized into ≤ 5, 5–10 and 10–15 years old age classes with standard procedures of estimating diversity indices, biomass, carbon and soil physico-chemical parameters. Overall species richness of the plantations was 28, of which 11 were trees, 9 herbs, 3 shrubs, 3 climbers and 2 ferns. The quantitative vegetation parameters and diversity indices estimated indicate that the farm forests’ plant assemblages constitute mainly native species. Based on IVI values, herbs were the most critical species, followed by shrubs and trees. With the increasing farm age, the species richness, the vegetative parameters and diversity indices decreased. The soil of the plantations was inconsistant nature and unstable characteristics as they did not exhibit any discrete trend with plantation age. Total biomass and organic carbon storage increased with increasing farm age. The overall mean total plant biomass, soil organic carbon, and ecosystem carbon storage in the farm forests were 87.94, 39.62 and 80.96 Mg ha− 1, respectively. Every subsequent increase of farm age by five years increased the ecosystem carbon stock by 33.22% and 4.09%, respectively while; the total increment was 38.67% from lowest to highest age class. The quantum of carbon storage in these farm forests was less than those reported for the native forests. Still, it can convert an unutilized agricultural landscape to a net carbon sink or even earn carbon credits. Moreover, the vegetation heterogeneity developed in these farm forests within a short span of 15 years can develop into semi-natural secondary forests with multiple social and ecological benefits in the long run.

•Distribution of six medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) under present and future climatic scenarios.•Results revealed expansion or contraction of their distribution range.•Quick appraisal of present population status of MAPs and updated IUCN categorization is needed.

Understanding plant community characteristics is essential for analysing phyto-diversity. This is a basic prerequisite for understanding the structural and functional attributes specific to a location to enable better landscape management. A study was conducted from April 2007 to March 2009 at Chilapatta Reserve Forest in the humid tropical foothills of the Indian eastern Himalayas to obtain comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the plant community based on visual observations of qualitative characteristics. A total of 311 species of plants were recorded which were represented by 167 genera and 81 families. All the shrubs, herbs, climbers and lianas were observed to be evergreen, whereas trees were mostly deciduous. A total of 165 species were either much less present or less frequent. All the climber and liana species were found growing singly while all the fern species were growing in colonies. Unlike tree species, shrubs were found dominantly growing in colonies. Medium/small leaves dominated the forest. Among the tree species, 71.86% were growing intermixed. Tree stratum was dominated by medium height species. Tree species like Tectona grandis, Shorea robusta, Albiziaspp., Swetenia mahogany, Gmelina arborea, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Bombax ceibaand Terminalia tomentosawere dominant in terms of solar radiation interception without any interference because they occupied the top most layer of the tree stratum/canopy. The forest is dense with no barren areas in its canopy cover intercepting more than 80% PAR. The study indicates not only rich diversity of the plant community but also heterogeneity in its composition and structure.

Homegardens are a traditional human-made microenvironment, socioeconomically connected to people's long-term survival. In India's sub-Himalayan region, studies have been conducted on many aspects of homegardening systems. However, little has been studied on ethnomedicinal plants from this region's traditional homegardens. The current study focuses on the diversity and population status of ethnomedicinal plants in homegardens and their folk therapeutic uses. The present work was conducted in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri District, part of the Terai zone. A purposive, multi-stage random sampling method was used to select 100 homegardens. Sixty-seven ethnomedicinal plant species representing 44 families and 60 genera including 22 trees, eight shrubs, 34 herbs, and three climber species were documented. The documented ethnomedicinal plants species were used as folk therapies to treat 39 diseases including some serious ailments like cancer. The most commonly employed plant part for therapeutic purposes were leaves (22 species) followed by fruits (seven species), whole plant (five species), rhizome (three species), tuber and young bud (two species). The use-value for the documented ethnomedicinal species varied from 0.56 (Ocimum sanctum) to 0.012 (Lannea coromandelica) while, the fidelity values ranged from 92.17 % (O. sanctum) to 3.43 % (Streblus asper). The value of cultural importance ranged from 0.384 (Ocimum sanctum) to 0.009 (Corchorus capsularisand Nyctanthes arbor-tristis). The above quantification of the ethnomedicinal plant species signifies the prominence of a species in cultural and folk therapeutic terms, i.e. higher the values, higher is the traditional importance of the species. The present documentation indicates rich traditional knowledge on medico-botanical aspects of the study area as diverse ethnomedicinal plant species were actively harboured and maintained in the homestead by the inhabitants for their primary health care and well-being that usually were supplemented prior to modern health care system. Diverse ethnomedicinal plant species being maintained in the homestead is significant in conservation of these species that too in a human-dominated landscape when these plant species are threatened for existence due to habitat destruction and commercial exploitation in their natural habitats.

Plant diversity and floristic composition of open scrub vegetation patches of Dachigam National Park, Kashmir in the Western Himalayas were assessed with an objective to develop a baseline data foundation for natural resource management plans and proper conservation strategies for the floristically rich ecosystem.The vegetation study was carried out by using standard sampling protocol of stratified random nested quadrats. The richness was observed with 190 species, representing 128 genera within 53 families. The species diversity index and concentration of dominance index of the area was 3.09 and 0.1207, respectively. Shannon-Wiener index and evenness indices were 5.42 and 1.034, respectively and the values of IVI ranged from 0.84 to 42.33. The diversity indices indicate the heterogeneity of the scrub area in its structure, composition, function and vegetation dynamics. The present study though preliminary in nature but the generated baseline information will be helpful to design conservation planning for the wildlife especially the Kashmir stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu) as these open scrubs vegetation patches are connective corridors of this endangered species of the Dachigam National Park.

Parks and other green sites improve urban avenue and environment while also crucial to mitigate climate change. Indian cities are now experiencing high level of pollutions, so trees not only act as carbon sinks but also assist in improving the quality of urban life. Cooch Behar town located in northern part of West Bengal is also experiencing upsurge in urban development and population increase. Therefore the community parks and an institutional campus in the town were assessed for their species richness and the ecosystem services they provide. A total of 75 species represented by 39 families and 67 genera were documented from the urban green sites of Cooch Behar town. The dominant family found was Fabaceae followed by Arecaceae and Moraceae while Ficuswas listed as dominant genus. The plant species documented were prominently classified under provisioning type of ecosystem services as 36 species were timbers, 26 species were edible and 24 species were fodder. Other services included species for providing shade (34 species), avenue (27 species) and aesthetic (25 species). The list also included plant species under IUCN Red list category of vulnerable species like Saraca asoca; endangered species like Swietenia mahagoniand Borassus flabelliferand Platycladus orientalisas threatened species. The maintenance of these IUCN Red listed species by the community parks and institutional campus of Cooch Behar town supports the belief that the urban green sites are also a crucial refuge for regional plant diversity in crowded, concrete and human dominated landscape.

There are various dyestuffs species to produce reactive oxygen such as singlet oxygen O2 and super oxide radicals. Irradiation with sun light in vitro, the dyestuff like benzanthrone, metanil yellow and p-aminodiphenylamine were found to produce reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen (1O2) and/or superoxide radicals (O2-). However benzanthrone produces detectable amount of 1O2 Although metanil yellow and p-aminodiphenylamine (p-ADPA) did not produce detectable amounts of 1O2 under similar conditions. The above dyestuffs are routinely used in textiles, cosmetics, detergents, leather industries as well as food additives. In view of the fact that workers exposed to some of these chemicals during manufacture, pulverization and storage develop edema and even skin cancers in the exposed areas of skin. We believe that activated oxygen species may play a major role in the development of these symptoms.

There are several low lying singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide radical (O-2) which are important in photochemical oxidation. In our present analysis we are studying chemical property of singlet oxygen (1O2) and super oxide radical (O-2) and some dyestuffs species to produce reactive oxygen such as singlet oxygen 1O2 and superoxide radicals. Irradiation with sun light in vitro the dyestuff like benzanthrone, metanil yellow and p-aminodiphenylamine were found to produce reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen (1O2) and/or superoxide radicals (O-2) .The dose response relationship between singlet 1O2 production when sunlight expose of those dyestuffs (0-25 min), and (0-12 min) for super oxide (O-2) production were studied. However benzanthrone produces detectable amount of 1O2, Although metanil yellow and p-aminodiphenylamine (p-ADPA) did not produce detectable amounts of 1O2 under similar conditions. The above dye stuffs are routinely used in textiles, cosmetics, detergents, leather industries as well as food additives and role of these activated oxygen species in the development of skin diseases.