Human activities coupled with over exploitation of sensitive ecosystems and habitat destruction have caused a rapid decrease in the population of plant species. Countries worldwide are becoming interested in conserving biodiversity by determining conservation priorities at local levels. The categories used for evaluating threat status by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that were originally planned for the global level are now increasingly used at national and local levels. The present study deals with the assessment of vegetation and further prioritization of habitats, communities, and species for its conservation in the Shimla water catchment Sanctuary in the Western Himalayas of India. Adoption of such methods not only generates quantitative data about the floristic diversity of the area but also help policy makers and forest managers in the formulation of conservation strategies for proper management of protected areas. A conservation priority index (CPI) was used to prioritize based on various attributes that are complementary to IUCN criteria. Among the tree communities, Cedrus deodara-Quercus leucotrichophora, Picea smithiana, and Quercus leucotricophora-Quercus floribunda communities showed maximum CPIs scores (54 each) followed by the Quercus semecarpifolia (52), Abies pindrow-Taxus baccata, Aesculus indica (46 each), and Cedrus deodara-Pinus wallichiana (i.e. 44 each) communities. The remaining tree communities showed relatively low CPI values. Among shrub communities, the Berberis lycium-Indigofera heterantha-Cotoneaster microphyllus community showed highest CPI score (42), hence should be prioritized for conservation. The remaining shrub communities showed comparatively low CPI values. Among the habitats—dry habitats showed highest CPI score (48), followed by shady moist and water courses (46 each) and exposed (44) habitats. Among the identified species, 10 were identified as critically endangered, 31 as endangered, 48 as vulnerable and 30 species as near threatened and were accordingly prioritized for conservation. The present study emphasizes on community, habitat and species specific management of this forest ecosystem for effective management by the forest managers and policy makers. Regular monitoring of prioritized habitats and communities is suggested while management and restoration of habitats and communities with low CPI values. People’s participation, training, and interactive workshops are essential in order to minimize structural and functional alterations due to overexploitation and habitat degradation. Forest fires and invasion by non-native species are other issues to monitor.

人类活动加上对敏感生态系统的过度开发和生境破坏导致植物物种种群迅速减少。通过确定地方一级的保护重点，世界各国对保护生物多样性越来越感兴趣。国际自然保护联盟（IUCN）最初用于全球级别的用于评估威胁状况的类别现在在国家和地方级别越来越多地使用。本研究涉及印度西部喜马拉雅山的西姆拉集水区保护区的植被评估以及栖息地，社区和物种的进一步优先保护。采用这种方法不仅可以生成有关该地区植物多样性的定量数据，而且还可以帮助政策制定者和森林经营者制定保护战略，以适当地管理保护区。保护优先级指数（CPI）用于根据与IUCN标准互补的各种属性确定优先级。在树木社区中雪松栎leucotrichophora，长叶云杉，和栎leucotricophora-多花栎社区显示其次的最大消费者价格指数得分（54各自）栎semecarpifolia（52），冷杉pindrow-浆果紫杉，七叶树籼稻（46个），和雪松deodara-华山松（每个44个）社区。其余的树木群落显示出相对较低的CPI值。在灌木群落中，小Ber（Berberis lycium）-Indigofera heterantha-Cotoneaster microphyllus社区的CPI得分最高（42），因此应优先进行保护。其余灌木群落显示出较低的CPI值。在这些栖息地中，干燥的栖息地显示出最高的CPI得分（48），其次是阴暗潮湿和水道（每个46）和裸露的（44）栖息地。在确定的物种中，有10个被确定为极度濒危，31个为濒临灭绝，48个为易受害物种和30个接近受威胁的物种，因此应优先保护。本研究强调该森林生态系统的社区，栖息地和物种特定管理，以便森林管理者和决策者进行有效管理。建议定期监测优先栖息地和社区，同时管理和恢复低CPI的栖息地和社区。人们的参与，培训，为了减少由于过度开发和栖息地退化而造成的结构和功能变更，必须举办互动研讨会。森林火灾和非本地物种的入侵是需要监测的其他问题。