Shruthi, B., Sasya SamhKaans are relic forests managed by indigenous communities in Malnad regions of Karnataka since time immemorial are supposed to be highly diverse with respect to plants. In this attempt Kaan forest of Sarekoppa village of Sorab taluk of Shivamoga district, Karnataka was selected to study the plant diversity. We prepared a checklist of plants of Sarekoppa Kaan and assigned the threat status and endemicity of the documented plants. Totally, 101 species of 88 genera belongs to 46 diverse families were documented. Of which 64 species were trees, 19 shrubs, 13 climbers/laina and 5 herb species were identified. Species such as Dysoxylum malabaricum, Diospyros crumenata, D. sylavatica, Myristica malabarica, Artocarpus hirsutus and Hydnocarpus pentandra were found to be more abundant in the forest. It was observed that in recent years the encroachments of Kaans land have been taking place for the agricultural purpose and thereby it affecting the protected biodiversity of the area. Hence there should be need of more awareness of importance of inherited Kaans among communities particularly with younger generation and also a proper system of involvement of local communi¬ties, or affording more powers to them in protecting and managing the local biodiversity of these relic patches would be a more effective conserving strategy.
