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The species richness, distribution and community structure in cold desert regions across the world are poorly understood because of their inaccessibility and remoteness. Similarly, the structure and composition of forest resources, including other management units (i.e., agroforestry and forestry systems), have hardly been studied in the cold desert of the Lahaul valley. However, such information is a prerequisite to understanding the trends and changes in the vegetation distribution under global climate change scenarios, especially considering the sensitivity of plant species in high-altitude areas of the Himalayan region. High anthropogenic activity has exerted tremendous pressure on available forest resources, including other management units in the cold desert of the Lahaul valley. Standard ecological methods were used to obtain an ecological (i.e., status, structure, composition and vegetation patterns) understanding of the region for biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability. The present study was aimed at understanding the trend, structure and composition of plant species in the cold desert region of the western Himalaya. A total of 64 species (27 trees and 37 shrubs) of vascular plants were recorded in the present study. Tree diversity demonstrated greater variation along the gradients and slope aspects. Salix fragilis trees, with a 102 tree ha⁻¹ density and a few trees of Populus nigra, were found to be sparsely distributed under the agroforestry system on the south-facing slopes in Khoksar. In Jahlma, Salix fragilis grew in an agroforestry system with a density of 365 tree ha⁻¹. However, in Hinsa, Juniperus polycarpos was a dominant tree species in the agroforestry system, with a density of 378 tree ha⁻¹. On the north-facing slopes in Kuthar, a higher number of trees and bushes were present due to natural regeneration maintained by farmers along the edges of terraced agricultural fields. The south-facing slopes showed a relatively lower species richness and diversity as compared to north-facing slopes at similar locations due to relatively less favourable growth conditions under sun-exposed, extremely xeric soil conditions. The highest level of species turnover was found between the altitudes of 2400 m and 3000 m. Betula utilis showed the highest adaptability at higher altitudes (>3500 m). The vegetation analysis results and information generated in the present study are useful for gaining an ecological understanding of the cold desert ecosystem in the Lahaul valley. Sustainable forest resource management, including other management units (e.g., agroforestry and forestry systems), is crucial for improving the vegetation pattern, structure and function of the cold desert ecosystem, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity and ecosystem service conservation. Full article

Vegetation patterns in the high-altitude Himalayas are influenced by a complex set of biotic and abiotic factors. Anthropogenic disturbances are one of the primary factors influencing the community patterns and diversity, which are largely determined by the level of accessibility in the Himalayas. However, with advancing urbanization and accessibility, limited efforts have been made to quantify the impact of road constructions on the alpine flora of the Himalayas. To overcome this data gap, this study aimed to quantify the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on the alpine vegetation community pattern along the altitudinal gradient, i.e., 3264–4340 m in Kullu district and 3148–4634 m in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, Northwestern Himalayas. The impact of anthropogenic disturbance was assessed by comparing species diversity and richness between selected disturbed and undisturbed sites. The diversity profiles of disturbed sites (2.45), near roads and highways (within 25–50 m), were indicative of a higher level of anthropogenic disturbances than undisturbed sites (2.56), which were located at a farther distance (more than 25–50 m) from roads and highways. The variation in diversity profiles of disturbed and undisturbed sites was further favored by lower values of soil moisture, potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen content in disturbed sites. In addition, the disturbed sites have lower numbers of threatened and endemic species (15 and 29, respectively) than undisturbed sites (30 and 15, respectively). Linear modelling between soil properties and density indicated a perfect linear relationship for both disturbed and undisturbed sites. Canonical correspondence analysis for disturbed sites indicated sand, silt, clay and bulk density as major controlling factors. The present study indicated a significant impact of anthropogenic disturbances on the alpine floristic diversity and soil properties which needs urgent mitigation actions to conserve the unique and threatened alpine floristic diversity of the Himalayas. Full article