Abstract
The present study provides comprehensive detail about forest species composition and structural diversity of Shahoor Sheringal and Kandao valley at Sheringal forest subdivision Dir upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The whole area was divided into four sites, Shahoor Bala, Shahoor Payen, Kandao, and Janas. Sampling was started from the bed of the stream and continues up to the top of the mountain. Different stations were established. Quadrat size of 30m x30 in was taken for studying and measuring trees. A total of 15 tree species belonging to nine families were identified in the study area. Different sampling sites were marked at different elevations. The different quantitative parameters i.e. density, relative frequency, cover, relative density. relative cover, and frequency were calculated for each tree in each study site; and importance value indexes were recorded from different blocks. SDR values were then used for identifying the dominant community in each study site. Cedrus deodara was observed as the highest average SDR value of 28.9. It is dominant species and found in all sites; however, it was more dominant in Janas site where its SDR value is noted as 40.18. The second highest dominant species is Quercus baloth having a 19.9 SDR value. Tree species diversity was optimum at the middle of Janas site as compared to the Shahoor Payen where direct anthropogenic activities are continuous. The minimum diversity was observed at the top of Janas and Shahoor Bala due to high altitudes. It is observed that huge volumes of fuelwood and timber consumption were recorded from the area. This work will also be useful in future for assessment of climate change on vegetation along elevation.