Natural Regeneration and Population Assessment of Berberis aristata: A Endangered High Value Medicinal Shrub of Western Himalayas

The present study was undertaken to assess the natural regeneration and population status of Berberis aristata DC. in the Sindh Forest Range of Ganderbal district, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Twelve sampling plots (20 × 20 m), 96 sub-plots (5 × 5 m), and 864 sub-sub plots (1 × 1 m) were randomly established along both north and south aspects of the Sindh River at three elevation ranges: E1 (1500–2000 m AMSL), E2 (2000–2500 m AMSL), and E3 (>2500 m AMSL). The regeneration per cent was highest (16.7%) at mid-altitude (2000–2500 m AMSL). The northern aspect exhibited fair regeneration up to 2500 m AMSL, whereas the southern aspect showed poor regeneration at similar elevations. Population attributes viz., mean density (12.9 m²), frequency (14.8%) and basal area (3.51 m²) were highest at mid-altitude on the southern aspect. However, these parameters increased up to mid-altitude and thereafter declined. The study concluded that mean regeneration status of B. aristata was very poor (16.7%), indicating that the species faces a high risk of extinction.