A comparative study on the floristic diversity of forest and grassland ecosystems of Kachchh, an arid region of western India

Ecosystems sharing a macroclimate can exhibit markedly different floristic compositions due to structural, edaphic, and biotic factors.The present study compares floristic diversity between tropical thorn forests (Chavda Rakhal and Ler) and the Banni savannah grassland in Kachchh, Gujarat, using quadrat sampling along line transects.The forests supported 201 species (H' = 2.19), while the grassland had 29 species (H' = 1.36), reflecting expected structural differences.However, Banni's flora was dominated by a few widespread species, with reduced native herbaceous cover.Invasive Prosopis juliflora, overgrazing, and habitat alteration were also observed.These results highlight the need for conservation strategies focused on restoring native plant composition and ecological function in the increasingly stressed Banni grassland ecosystem.