ABSTRACT
Satellite remote sensing-based forest vegetation maps provide information on forest cover and type distribution that can be corroborated to field-based diversity and structural characteristics. We used an existing forest vegetation type map and derided a vegetation greenness image using a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the Subansiri region of Eastern Himalaya. We analyzed the community structure and distribution of plants in four major forests (tropical semi-evergreen, sub-tropical evergreen, temperate broadleaved, and temperate/sub-alpine conifers. We reported that the sub-tropical evergreen forest accommodates the most individuals, species, and tree density, whereas the basal area had the most temperate broadleaved forest, indicating luxuriant growth. Rubiaceae and Euphorbiaceae were observed to be the most speciose, with families distributed in all broadleaved forests. The study demonstrates a definite pattern along the Subansiri Himalayan montane forests with sub-tropical evergreen forest with higher structure and diversity. Such information on the distribution and diversity of species corroborated with satellite-derived forest vegetation maps is of primary importance in planning biodiversity conservation measures.
