Declining biodiversity of plants in Jhalana forest area of Rajasthan.

Abstract

The current survey-based study identified a total of 79 plants in Jhalana forestry area facing the danger of extinction owing to several natural and anthropogenic factors. The plants belong to 43 distinct plant families. The distribution of species across families revealed that the most prominent families were Fabaceae           (7), Euphorbiaceae (6), Asteraceae (5), Malvaceae      (4), Mimosaceae (4), Moraceae (4), Solanaceae (3), Asclepiadaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Convolvulaceae, Lamiaceae. Meliaceae, Poaceae, Rhamnaceae, Sterculiaceae, Tiliaceae and Verbenaceae (2 each). Apart from these families, other families included in this survey based study were, Achyranthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, Arecaceae, Balanitaceae, Bombacaceae, Burceraceae, Cappariadaceae, Cleomaceae, Combretaceae, Crassulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Ehretiaceae, Liliaceae, Lythraceae, Nyctaginaceae, Nyctanthaceae, Papaveraceae, Pteridaceae, Rutaceae, Vitaceae and Zygophyllaceae (1 plant each). All these plants were found in various habitats, including trees, shrubs, herbs, and climbers, the most prominent habits were Herbs (27), Tree (18), Small tree (12), Shrub (11) and Climber shrub (2). Apart from these, the study also included several other habits, including, Erect herb, Evergreen tree, Grass, Large tree, Prostrate herb, Shrub like grass and Twining shrub (1). The study showed gradual decline in plant biodiversity in this area owing to several factors such as overharvesting of the plant species, habitat destruction due to deforestation, habitat destruction, Illegal logging for its valuable heartwood, overgrazing, illegal trade, agricultural expansion, pollution as well as and climate change.