Do internal roadways influence tree diversity and density in a reserve forest? - A reality check at BRT Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, India

Roadways are inevitable components in any human managed landscape across the world, with the sole objective to facilitate transportation. Reserve forests are not an exception to this situation. A roadway being a potential factor in influencing biodiversity, this study checks the possibility of relationship between the distance of tree communities from roads and the basic characteristics (diversity and density) of the communities in a protected forest. 30 distinct plots were studied across two ranges in BRT Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. For each plot, its average distance and minimum distance from a road and also from specific road types were calculated. In order to check the relationship of distance from road and community characteristics, correlation tests were carried out. It is inferred that the distance from internal roads and community characteristics does not possess any relationship in a reserve forest scenario. Though the possibility of influence by internal roads over tree communities is rendered nil in this study, cautious execution of road-based operations with-in the reserve forests in future is highly recommended.   Key words: Biodiversity conservation, correlation analysis, distance from roads, forest landscapes.