Biological invasion has been considered one of the most important mechanisms of global change, posing serious threats to the conservation of native ecosystems world-wide. The present study was conducted in the sub-tropical vegetation stands in the suburban areas of Muzaffarabad city to study the diversity and distribution of invasive alien species (IAS) of plants and assess the factors responsible for their spread. A total of 9 sites, including 2 in the city and 7 in suburban areas, were sampled using random quadrate methods. The sampled flora were classified according to the phytogeographic origin and invasion status, whereas the phytosocioogoical attributes of plant communites were also calculated following standard protocols. A total of 121 plant species represented by 108 genera belonging to 58 families was recorded from the study area. Results revealed that 35.6% flora comprised of 43 species were recorded as IAS. The IAS dominating the area included Parthenium hysterophorus, Lantana camara, Xanthium strumarium, Ailanthus aItissima, Cannabis sativa, Broussonetia papyrifera, Arundo donax and Sorghum halepense. Analysis of the Invasion status revealed that invasive aliens had a weight of 46% followed by naturalized aliens and casual aliens, respectively. The dominance of invasive species resulted in decreased species diversity at the disturbed sites. Landslides and road construction were identified as factors promoting the establishment and spread of invasive species in the area. Principal component analysis revealed significant correlation of edaphic disturbances with the abundance of IAS. An integrated management system is recommended for early detection and control of IAS. University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Department of Botany, City Campus, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 13100 Muzaffarabad, Pakistan

Himalayan soils are highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change and land-use shifts. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and the carbon management index (CMI) are key measures of soil health in response to land use changes. This study assessed total organic carbon (TOC), carbon fractions, carbon pool index (CPI), CMI, and physicochemical properties in forest and agricultural land-use systems in the temperate western Himalayas. Soil samples were collected across 32 distinct sites representing forest (FS), wheat (WS), rice (RS), and maize (MS) systems (n = 32). FS exhibited the highest average TOC (25.6 g kg-1), followed by MS (19.3 g kg-1), WS (15.2 g kg-1), and RS (14 g kg-1). TOC levels differed significantly between land-use categories (ANOVA; F = 13.4, P< 0.001), with all agricultural systems showing significantly lower TOC levels than forests. The maximum concentration of labile carbon (LC) was identified in FS (4.3%), while the lowest was observed in WS (2.8%). MS had the highest CPI (0.75), whereas RS had the highest average CMI (85.5), indicating distinct carbon management dynamics despite lower baseline TOC. TOC was positively correlated with altitude and electrical conductivity but negatively correlated with soil pH. Multiple linear regression (R2 = 0.70) confirmed land-use type as the primary predictor of TOC variation, showing significant reductions for RS (11.6 g kg-1), WS (10.7 g kg-1), and MS (4.9 g kg-1) compared to the forest baseline (P< 0.05). Principal component analysis successfully differentiated agricultural and forest systems based on topography, soil properties, and carbon pools. The primary cause of SOC depletion is the initial conversion of forests to farmland, underscoring the need for climate smart land management to maintain ecosystem services and replenish regional carbon stocks.