Types of Forests in India
India is home to a variety of forests, ranging from the tropical rainforests of the northeast to the deciduous forests of the central regions and the arid thorn forests of the central regions and the arid thorn forests of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Due to its diverse geographic and climatic conditions, the forests of India can be classified on the different bases as follows:
Indian Forest Types |
||
---|---|---|
Type of Forest | Characteristics | Location |
Tropical Evergreen Forests | High rainfall (>200 cm); Dense vegetation; Diverse species | Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Western Ghats, North-East India |
Tropical Deciduous Forests | Moderate rainfall (70-200 cm); Seasonal leaf shedding | Central India, Foothills of the Himalayas |
Scrub Forests | Low rainfall (<70 cm); Small trees and bushes | Semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh |
Desert Vegetation | Very low rainfall; Cacti and thorny bushes | Thar Desert, Rajasthan |
Moist Evergreen Forests | Heavy rainfall (>250 cm); Thick undergrowth; Rich biodiversity | Western Ghats, North-Eastern states |
Mangrove Forests | Tidal areas; Protect coastlines; Unique flora and fauna | Sundarbans, Coasts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh |
Open Forest | Tree cover 10-40%; Allows undergrowth | Deccan plateau, Parts of Rajasthan |
Moderately Dense Forest | Tree canopy density 40-70%; Diverse plant and animal life | Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh |
Extremely Dense Forest | Canopy density >70%; Rich species diversity | Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Andaman Islands |
Northern Subtropical Forests | Broad-leaved deciduous and evergreen trees; Seasonal temperature variation | Himalayan foothills from Jammu and Kashmir to West Bengal |
Types of Forests in India
Discover the various Types of forests in India, exploring the rich diversity of Indian forest types ecosystems.
Types of Forests in India: Different types of forests cover 24.56% of the land area in India. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has produced the “India State of Forest Report 2021,” which states that as of 2021, India’s total forest and tree cover area is 80.9 million hectares. The states of Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra comprise the top five states in India in terms of forest cover. India is one of the top ten countries with vast forests.
There are six main types of forests in India depending on the prevailing vegetation and climate. In this article, we will look into the different types of forests in India in detail.
Table of Content
- Types of Forests in India
- Classified on the Basis of Annual Rainfall
- Classified on the Basis of Geographical Distribution
- Classified on the Basis of Administration
- Classified on the Basis of Constitution of India
- Classified on the Basis of Composition
- Classification According to Density
- Tropical Evergreen Forests India
- Tropical Deciduous Forests India
- Scrub Forests India
- Desert Vegetation India
- Moist Evergreen Forests
- Mangrove Forests India
- Open Forest India
- Moderately Dense Forest India
- Extremely Dense Forest India
- Northern Subtropical Forests India
- Forest Cover in India
- Biodiversity in Indian Forests
- Other Type of Forests
- Forest Report 2021 in India