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In a recent paper, the researchers and collaborators at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, examined vegetation in 25 protected areas along the Western Ghats and found a link between the direction of the slopes, tree cover, and canopy height. The authors included PhD student Devi Maheshwori and faculty member Dr Shreyas Managave from IISER Pune, Dr Girish Jathar from Srushti Conservation Foundation and independent GIS consultant Sham Davande, an official statement issued on Tuesday said.
The research revealed two main patterns: north-facing slopes have higher tree cover and taller canopy height compared to south-facing slopes; similarly, west-facing slopes have more tree cover and taller canopies than east-facing slopes. As a result, the northwest-facing slopes tend to have the highest tree cover and tallest canopy height, while southeast-facing slopes have the lowest.
The authors found these differences to be more pronounced on steeper slopes. Understanding the factors that influence tree growth in the Western Ghats is critical for both academic research and successful conservation and afforestation efforts, said Managave. While regional rainfall patterns are known to impact vegetation distribution at a regional scale, this study is the first to demonstrate significant influence of slope direction at the landscape scale.
The study suggests that uneven solar heating of slopes facing different directions creates better conditions for tree growth on north-and north-west-facing slopes, and less favourable on south-and south-east-facing slopes in the Western Ghats. The paper highlights the importance of considering slope direction when planning biodiversity assessments, protecting endemic species, or increasing tree cover in the Western Ghats. This research received funding from the Science Education and Research Board (SERB), DST, Government of India.
