Shrub Diversity and Distribution in High Altitude Forested Zone of Indian Western Himalaya

The high altitudes of the Himalayas are the hotspots of the biodiversity. The forests of these zones are having the unique elements of species and vast varieties of ecologically, socially and economically important vegetation. The present study was conducted in the high altitude forested zone of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary Western Himalaya. The altitude range from 2000 m asl. to 3500 m asl. was covered for the extensive sampling of shrub species diversity. The present study recorded 55 species (50 dicots and 05 monocots) from the study site. The species belongs to 18 families and 31 genera in which 43 species recorded as native and 17 species as endemic to the Himalaya. Considering the good numbers of shrub species richness, nativity and endemism into this zone these high altitude forests should be conserved and manage to maintain the unique identity of this zone.