Forests And Their Distribution

Forests: The term “Forest” has its roots in the Latin word ‘Fores,’ which translates to “outside,” originally referring to the boundaries or fences of villages, encompassing all uncultivated and uninhabited land. In India, we discover a diverse range of forests, thanks to the uneven distribution of rainfall, temperature variations, and seasonal changes, along with a mix of different living conditions. Hence, we can categorize India’s Woods based on these factors.

Moist Tropical Forest

Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests:

These are lush rainforests, thriving in areas with over 250cm of rainfall and a warm temperature of 25-27 degrees Celsius.
The air is always humid, exceeding 77%, and there’s a short dry season.
The forest is so dense that sunlight struggles to reach the ground, supporting vibrant plant life.
Found in places like Western Ghats, Arunachal Pradesh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Trees like measua, cedar, bamboo, and jamun flourish here, though dense undergrowth protects them from extensive exploitation.

Tropical Semi Evergreen Forests:

Slightly drier than wet evergreen forests, with 200-250cm of rainfall and 24-27 degrees Celsius temperature.
Spotted in Assam, Eastern Himalayas, Odisha, and Andaman.
They act as a transition from wet evergreen to deciduous Woods.
Notable species include semul, rosewood, kusum, Indian chestnut, and champa.

Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests:

Thrive in areas with moderate rainfall (100-200cm), a mean annual temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, and 60-75% humidity.
Found along the Western Ghats, Shiwalik range, Odisha, West Bengal, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Trees shed leaves for about 6-8 weeks annually, providing valuable timber like teak and sal.

Littoral and Swamp Forests:

Flourish in tidal areas like deltas, estuaries, and creeks.Noteworthy for growing in both fresh and brackish water.
Mangroves are prevalent along coasts, offering durable timber for construction and boat-making.
Key species include Sundri, agar, bhendi, Rhizopora, canes, and palms.

Dry Tropical Forests:

Tropical Dry Evergreen Woods along Tamil Nadu coasts receive about 100cm of rainfall.
Notable species: jamun, ritha, tamarind, and neem.
Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests receive 100-150cm rainfall, found from Himalayan foothills to Kanniyakumari, commercially exploited for species like teak and bamboo.
Tropical Thorn Forests in low rainfall areas (less than 75cm) with scattered trees like acacias, neem, and babul, found in NW India and along the leeward side of the Western Ghats.

Montane Sub-Tropical Forests:

Sub-tropical Broad Leaved Hill Woods found in Eastern Himalayas, Nilgiri Hills, and more, with diverse trees like oaks, chestnuts, and ash.
Sub-tropical Moist Pine Woods in the western Himalayas with dominant chir trees.
Sub-tropical Dry Evergreen Woods found in the Bhabar belt with species like olive and acacia.

Montane Temperate Forest:

Montane Wet Temperate Forests found at 1800-3000m with species like deodar, chestnut, birch, and oak.
Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests in the temperate zone with pines, cedars, silver firs, and spruce.
Himalayan Dry Temperate Forests, predominantly coniferous, found in Ladakh, Lahul, Chamba, Kinnaur, Garhwal, and Sikkim.

Alpine Forests:

Start above 3000m, extending up to the snowline, common in the main Himalayan regions.
Vegetation includes black juniper, drooping juniper, honeysuckle, and willow.
Harsh climatic conditions with a short growing season, often grazed by migratory cattle in summer.

Geographical Distribution of Forest in India

About one-fifth (20.6%) of our country is covered by forests, which is a bit less than the world average of 30.4%.
Our National Forest Policy aims for around 33% of the total area to be covered by Woods, highlighting the importance of preserving green spaces.
Madhya Pradesh boasts the largest forest cover in India, showcasing the significant role it plays in maintaining biodiversity.
Some regions truly stand out for their commitment to nature.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland have more than 80% of their land covered in Woods, emphasizing their dedication to environmental conservation.

Read Also: Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest