The greater parts of the forest area of Similipal Biosphere
Reserve (SBR) are covered by moist deciduous forests, where Shorea robusta dominating
in the overstorey layer. It is not only a dominant overstorey (tree) species of
moist deciduous forest covers of Similipal but also one of the major species of
tropical moist deciduous forests of Odisha and India.
In such forests the
seeds of Sal have been the subject of great interest for the forest researchers and plantation managers
as they are categorized under recalcitrant seeds and possess a very short period of
viability.
Though the plants produce flowers and fruits luxuriantly in
the plains and foothills, its overall natural regeneration is very poor. As a
result, the Sal forests are becoming reduced its size gradually. Even worse is
the fact that it exhibits largescale mortality or die-back at the seedling
stage due to drought.
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