The mortality of banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) trees in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand: is it an alarming call for rapid degradation?

The Himalayan region is represented by 35 species of oak (Quercus spp.) distributed between 1000 and 3600 m amsl. Of these, five species are found in the state of Uttarakhand, namely Q. glauca (phaliyant/harinj), Q. leucotrichophora (banj), Q. floribunda (tilonj/moru), Q. lanuginosa (rianj) and Q. semecarpifolia (kharsu). Of the various species of oak, the white oak or banj was reported to be forming extensive belts along the middle elevation (1000-2500 m) zone of Western Himalaya. Banj oak is most abundant and widespread around 2000 m and less, where it exhibits 80% dominance (based on relative basal area); between 2000 and 2500 m, it may be codominant with Q. floribunda, above which it generally disappears super(1). Banj oak is an ecologically, socially and economically important tree species. It provides fuelwood, fodder and timber and plays a vital role in conservation of soil from erosion and landslide, regulating water flow in watersheds and maintaining water quality in streams and rivers, and support high native floral and faunal diversity, thereby providing numerous ecosystem services to mankind in the region.