Impact of Canopy Openings on Regeneration Dynamics in Lowland Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) Forests in Nepal

Background and Objective: Canopy opening has a vital role in the regeneration density of plant species as these critically influences the germination and early growth of regeneration, particularly in the regeneration composition of Shorea robusta species. This study investigates the influence of canopy openings on regeneration dynamics in Sal (Shorea robusta) forests within two community-managed forests in Nepal: Pashupati Community Forest (Makwanpur) and Janakinagar Collaborative Forest (Sarlahi). Materials and Methods: Using a stratified sampling approach, 40 plots were surveyed and categorized based on canopy cover (0-50% as open canopy and 51-100% as dense canopy). Regeneration was assessed by counting seedlings and saplings, and statistical analysis (at 5% level of significance) was performed using SPSS. Results: The study showed significantly higher regeneration density in open canopy areas compared to dense canopy areas, with Shorea robusta showing strong sensitivity to light availability. A strong negative correlation was found between canopy cover and regeneration density (r = -0.74 and r = -0.87). Conclusion: The study concludes that integrating forest silvicultural interventions into community and collaborative forest management practices is essential for sustainable forest regeneration and long-term productivity. It also highlights the need for site-specific silvicultural interventions and further research into long-term ecological and socio-economic factors affecting forest regeneration.