~ 3581 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2018; 6(2): 3581-3586 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2018; 6(2): 3581-3586 © 2018 IJCS Received: 16-01-2018 Accepted: 20-02-2018 Amir Bhat Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST- K, Benhama, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India Khan PA Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST- K, Benhama, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India Qaiser KN Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST- K, Benhama, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India Mughal AH Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-K, Wadura, Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, India Ara S Division of Environmental Sciences, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Mir SA Division of Agricultural Statistics, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Correspondence Amir Bhat Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST- K, Benhama, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India Seasonal dynamics of herbaceous species along the topographic gradients under different conservation regimes of Kashmir Himalaya Amir Bhat, Khan PA, Qaiser KN, Mughal AH, Ara S and Mir SA Abstract The present investigation entitled “Seasonal dynamics of herbaceous species along the topographical gradients under different conservation regimes of Kashmir Himalaya” was carried out in two protected areas viz., Dachigam National Park (DNP) and Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary (OAWS) along with their adjoining unprotected areas in Srinagar and Anantnag districts of Kashmir valley during the year 2014-15 & 2015-16, respectively, with the aim to evaluate phytosociology and its dynamics in different seasons of protected and unprotected areas. These research objectives centered on two major goals, to assess the performance of protected areas and to study the feasibility of incorporation of adjoining unprotected areas. On the basis of different aspects, each protected and unprotected area was divided was into north and south aspects. Each aspect was further sub divided into three different altitudinal ranges viz., A1 (1600-2100m), A2 (2100-2600m) and A3 (2600-3100m) covering different forests of protected as well as unprotected areas. 1x1m sample plots in each altitudinal range on different aspects of protected and unprotected areas were laid out to study the structural and functional parameters of herbs. The vegetation was studied across three different seasons. The results revealed that density (tillers/m 2 ), basal area (cm 2 /m 2 ) and frequency (%) of herbaceous vegetation in each protected and unprotected areas increased from spring till summer and decreased thereafter. Among the seasons, summer recorded the maximum density, basal area and biomass, followed by spring and autumn, whereas, middle altitude and north aspect exhibited the highest values among different altitudinal ranges and aspects, respectively. The study concluded that performance of protected areas was better as compared to unprotected areas and upper altitude unprotected areas (A2 & A3) on both north and south aspect are in a position to be merged with respective protected areas in future. Keywords: Protected area, dachigam national park, oveara-aru wild life sanctuary, phytosiology Introduction The inquisitiveness for shrinking biodiversity, as a result of increasing knowledge of interdependent ecosystems and scientific research establishing the new vistas of the uses of flora and fauna, is global. Mankind has realized the importance of biodiversity and its implications in the foundation and sustenance of life, concepts like sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, maintenance of gene pools, etc. have become sources of universal concern. This inquisitiveness has in turn led to the designation of special areas purely for sustainable conservation, in the case of developed as well as developing countries, known as Protected Areas [PAS] (Rucha and Hussain, 2003) [33] . Protected area is thus defined as an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means (IUCN, 1999) [17] . These areas are assumed to guard forest from alterations and are recognized to maintain carbon sinks, protect biodiversity, and to help stabilize global climate (Munroe et al. 2007) [32] . Protected areas have been the principal defense of habitat, and will carry on playing the role in conserving the biodiversity especially the species with extreme threat (Gaston et al. 2008) [13] . They are known for their ability to serve as safe havens for species including ecological balance, which otherwise is difficult to achieve in intensely managed natural landscapes as well as providing room for natural evolution and possible ecological restoration (Dudley et al. 2010) [10] . It is therefore vital to understand the contribution which this system actually makes to biological conservation.