Abstract ID: 3.9308 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Understanding the impacts of climate change on forests is crucial for assessing structural and functional shifts over time. To investigate these effects in Himalayan forests, a 10-hectare permanent plot was established in Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India. This plot, subdivided into 250 grids of 20×20 m, facilitates systematic and long-term monitoring of forest dynamics. A total of 13,966 woody individuals with a diameter at breast height (DBH) >1 cm were recorded, measured, tagged, and mapped with precise locations. Tracking individual species along with their key attributes enables a deeper understanding of their community dynamics over time. Analyzing species associations, dispersion patterns, diversity, and growth trends will provide insights into their adaptive strategies in response to environmental changes in the coming decades. This study represents the first of its kind in the Himalayas and is critical for evaluating long-term climate change impacts. The findings will support scientists and policymakers in developing sustainable forest management strategies that account for ongoing climate variability.