METHOD

Vegetation inventorying was carried out using belt transects of 180m length with alternate  quadrats (5) and  inter-distance of 20 m. Each quadrat was 20 x 20 m, in which all trees (> 30 cm GBH) were studied. Members of the shrub layer (GBH <30 cm and height more than 1 m) were enumerated in two shrub quadrats (5x5m) placed diagonally inside the quadrat. Inside each shrub quadrat two herb plots (height < 1 m) were laid diagonally (1 x 1m). Total of 5 transects and 25 quadrats were laid in Shirgunji area (Table 1). 

Data analysis
The data from the transects were pooled locality wise into three classes - herbs (<1m height), shrubs (≥ 1m and < 30 cm GBH) and trees (≥ 30cm GBH) and analysed. Forest structure was analysed through computation of basal area/ha, individuals/ha, girth class distribution/ha and Important value index (IVI). For medicinal plants status and regeneration, present status of medicinal individuals/ha in tree, shrub and herb layer were analysed.