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The tropical forest ecosystems across the globe are under major threats from spread of exotic invasive plant species. Identification of biodiversity rich areas prone to large-scale plant invasion and their prioritisation is vital for targeting prevention and control programmes. Recent availability of field inventoried forest native and forest invasive species (FIS) data from a nation-wide biodiversity project in India, has served as a valuable source of information for conservation prioritization. Our approach considers prioritisation of phytogeographic areas based on congruence of spatial pattern of phytorichness distribution and spatial pattern of potential spread of hotspots of multiple FIS. We modelled native phytorichness at landscape scale following a three-tier methodology of mapping of habitat types, field sampling of vascular plants and spatial modelling with landscape matrices for central Indian landscape in India. The hotspots of multiple FIS were modelled with occurrences of 98 species, and optimally chosen environmental covariates using MaxEnt. We then integrated phytorichness and FIS invasion hotspots information to identify priority zones (high, medium and low) for informed policy decisions for conservation actions. Study emphasises that potential hotspots of invasive species should be considered for conservation priority setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribal communities of Meghalaya nurture forests in the vicinity of their habitations, near water sources, on steep slopes and other ecologically sensitive lands. Their forest conservation practices can be seen in sacred groves, village restricted forests, village supply forests, clan forests and other traditionally managed forests, which comprise about 90% of Meghalaya's total forest area. These forests are protected and managed by the tribal people through institutional arrangements developed to benefit the community as a whole. The classification, protection, regeneration and extraction procedures practised for management of these forests are among the best examples of traditional ecological knowledge. Often including a variety of water bodies, these forests are very rich in aquatic as well as terrestrial biodiversity, including innumerable species of medicinal plants, wild foods and other economically important plants and animals. This study documented and analysed the role played by these traditionally managed forests and associated knowledge in conservation of biodiversity in general and of medicinal plants in particular. The paper also highlights aspects of the traditional forest management systems of the local tribal people and their contributions to food security, health care and also perpetuation of forest-related knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation of Deo-rahati (sacred grove) in India has ancient roots from Vedic period. Even in modern days ethnic groups conserve religiously preserved forest patches through their customs, taboos, and local festivals associated with the deities. Therefore, these forest pockets serve the vital function of conserving biological diversity and natural water streams. There is an urgent need of awareness and plantation around the sacred groves to fulfill the need of local people and provide protection to sacred groves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study that analyzes the impact of the long term protection against biotic interference of a denuded ravine on the vegetation development and chronosequence of succession of different grass species based on species abundances at three topographic situations in Agra, India. It is known that overexploitation of vegetation is one of the most serious environmental concern of countries in the tropical and sub tropical regions. Based on the study, the plant species diversity and the invariability of the distribution of species reduced with protection. Overexploitation has caused an increase in species diversity. Moreover, the pattern of species occurrences across all the three topographic situations showed a close relationship between resource availability and resource use.