Impact Assessment of mining activities on tree diversity at Limestone & Dolomite mining area – BSLC mines, Biramitrapur, Odisha

Abstract

The Biramitrapur area was very rich in forest, wildlife and minerals. Now it is a town fully settled above the limestone, dolomite and dolomite ore. Extensive open mining has severely damaged the forest as well as the scenario of the region. Tree vegetation of undisturbed and disturbed in various sites of BSLC mines, Biramitrapur, is studied using standard quadrant method. Tree population structure showed a drastic reduction in their numbers and in their growth in disturbed sites (mined area) compare to that of the undisturbed sites (unmined area). The other parameter like basal area, crown size, etc. indicates also illustrated the impact of mining on the tree composition of the area.