Forest Fire Regimes and Plant Diversity in Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of Central India

Abstract

Forest fires play a critical role in determining the ecological and vegetation dynamics of Central India’s deciduous forests. This study evaluates the impact of forest fire on plant diversity in a forest of Central India. Forest fire frequency was assessed using multi-temporal Landsat imagery (Landsat 5, 7, and 8) and validated with MODIS active fire products (MOD14/MYD14). The Phytosociological data were collected through field surveys in the Hoshangabad Forest Division, Madhya Pradesh, India. The results indicate that low fire frequency zones (LFZ) exhibit the highest species diversity and evenness, whereas high fire frequency zones (HFZ) show the lowest, suggesting fire plays a significant role in influencing forest composition. The moderate fire frequency zone (MFZ) shows an intermediate diversity pattern, supporting the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Frequent fires in HFZ reduce species richness by favoring fire-resistant species such as Diospyros melanoxylon, which dominates across all fire zones, with the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) in HFZ (62.18). Tree density trends reveal that while HFZ has a slightly higher average density than non-fire zones, the reduced diversity suggests a shift toward homogeneous structure. The findings highlight the need for adaptive fire management strategies to balance biodiversity conservation in fire-prone landscapes. Focusing on the tropical dry deciduous forests of Central India, this study underscores the importance of region-specific and forest type-specific assessments, which are essential for developing fire management and biodiversity conservation strategies. This regional perspective not only adds significant value to India’s forest management discourse but also provides critical insights for forest policy and ecological restoration in dry deciduous landscapes, where recurrent fires strongly influence species diversity, forest structure, and regeneration patterns. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.