Abstract

P. C. Kotwal, L. S. Kandari* and D. Dugaya

Nature follows its own pattern to regulate the dynamic ecosystem. If the process is closely monitored it provides indication for the cause and effect of the changes occurring owing to natural factors and anthropogenic activities. The bioindicators are potentially useful tool for the scientists, researchers and foresters to assess the sustainable forest management (SFM) in countries like India, which is rich in biodiversity at ecosystem, species and genetic levels. Although the concept of bioindicators is well known to indicate the change in the forest ecosystems but its application in monitoring the health of forest ecosystems and its documentation is limited in India. Despite of heavy anthropogenic and developmental pressures (2.1% of the land mass, about 1% forest area, 16% human population and 18% livestock population of the world); India is committed to SFM. In this study, an attempt has been made to classify and identify the range of bioindicators (plants and animals both) in reference to SFM in two Forest Management Units (FMUs) in Central India