Tree structure and composition, regeneration, biomass status and removal as fodder, fuel and timber were studied in a temperate forest of the Mamlay watershed in Sikkim Himalaya. The forest showed a high diversity having 81 tree species,Castanopsis tribuloides and Quercus lamellosa being the most dominant canopy species in almost all areas of the forest. The forest has a good density (675 trees ha - 1 ) and basal cover (84.8 m 2 ha - 1 ) and thus has a comparable range to other Himalayan forests. However, out of 81 tree species, just 39 were found regenerating and most of the canopy species showed poor regeneration. No seedlings and saplings for the other 42 tree species, which mainly included canopy species, were found and this is attributed to intensive use of the forest for fuel, fodder and timber collection purposes. At the same time, regeneration of most of the secondary species, like Eurya acuminata, Symplocos theaefolia, S. sumuntia, Leucosceptrum canum etc., was found to be fairly good at almost all sites. It is evident from the present study that only secondary species are performing well under the existing levels of pressure in the forest floor phytomass. Annual net primary productivity was 8.32 t ha - 1 for wood biomass and 1.80 t ha - 1 for floor phytomass. About 35% of wood and 60% of floor phytomass productivity has been removed by villagers annually, and this practice of extraction has been highly erratic. It is presumed that, with a further increase in population of the surrounding villages of the watershed, in the near future forest resources will become more desirable and many species are likely to disappear in due course. Intensive awareness programmes, with regard to resource utilization and management, for both villagers and officials, can help to protect the forest of this unique diversity.