Table 2.
Geographic characteristics of the study sites
| Village name | Elevation (m.a.s.l.) | Number of households | Soil, area, population, and vegetation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayorMela | 1116 | 36 | The village has stony soil and thin vegetation within the immediate surroundings, but there is a reserved forest and a very fertile valley in the vicinity; population and area of the village are moderate in size. |
| LandiKutherzai | 1052 | 55 | The village contains fertile loamy soil that can support dense and diverse vegetation; it has a large population and a small area that make the surroundings of the village nearly barren; there are no reserve forests nearby. |
| Zindawar | 1146 | 21 | The village contains various types of soil and a diverse flora. It has a small population and a large area; the vegetation is dense and comparatively undisturbed; it also exhibits floral elements of higher altitudes (mountains). |
| JattyGhbaz | 1155 | 45 | The village contains stony soil; the village population is moderately sized but the area is large; the vegetation is relatively dense. |
| Kurachai | 1184 | 25 | The village has mostly stony soil, which cannot support herbaceous flora; it has a restricted area and a modest population; the vegetation is under anthropogenic pressure. |
| Khuney | 2384 | 16 | It exhibits various types of soils and a diverse flora; the village has a large area and a small population; the density and diversity of the surrounding vegetation is moderate. |
| Goraban | 2456 | 26 | The village contains fertile loamy soil; it has a small area and a modest population; the village is located in a type of valley, which shows diverse vegetations. |
| Ghoshker | 2301 | 37 | The village contains mostly stony soil, which cannot support herbaceous flora. It has a moderate area but a large population; the surrounding vegetation is not dense and is under anthropogenic pressure. |
| Pongah | 2562 | 40 | The village possesses various types of soils which supports a diverse flora; it has a modest area but a large population; the surrounding vegetation is moderately dense and diverse. |
| Land Nishpona | 2584 | 22 | The village contains loamy soil and a diverse and dense flora; it has a small population and a large area; the surrounding vegetation is dense and undisturbed. |
(Note: The first five villages are foothill villages while the last five villages are mountain/migratory villages)