The present study deals with species diversity, and regeneration of Quercus floribunda Lindl forest lies in moist temperate sites in Nainital of Kumaun Himalaya. Tree, sapling and seedling density was 490-1190, 260-1280 and 100-670 ind.ha^-1, respectively. The species diversity of trees and shrubs density ranged from 0.421 to 1.177 and 310 to 1540 ind.ha^-1. The regeneration of Q. floribunda was J-shaped in forest site-1 and 2 while I-shaped (no regeneration) was reported for the forest site-3. The regeneration status of species in the studied forest sites indicates the impact of disturbances caused by anthropogenic activities. Thus, the presence of either seedlings or saplings and or also occurrence of new plant species in forest site-1 and site-2 predict the possible change in forest species composition in coming years while there was a very alarming condition in forest site-3 as new recruitments of tree species is evidenced by their absence. Thus, the above findings of Q. floribunda have shown that there is an urgent need to provide judicious inputs of management and conservation for sustaining the oak species in such forest sites of the region.

 

Key words: Quercus floribunda, species diversity, trees, saplings, seedlings, regeneration, moist temperate.