Table 2 Geographic characteristics of the study sites

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.