India has a diverse range of forests: from the rainforest of Kerala
in the south to the alpine pastures of Ladakh in the north, from the
deserts of Rajasthan in the west to the evergreen forests in the
north-east. Climate, soil type, topography, and elevation are the main
factors that determine the type of forest. Forests are classified
according to their nature and composition, the type of climate in which
they thrive, and its relationship with the surrounding environment.
Forest Types in India:
a)
Coniferous Forests grow in the Himalayan mountain
region, where the temperatures are low. These forests have tall stately
trees with needlelike leaves and downward sloping branches so that the
snow can slip off the branches. They have cones instead of seeds and are
called
Gymnosperms.
b)
Broadleaved Forests have several types, such as
evergreen forests, deciduous forests, thorn forests, and mangrove
forests. Broadleaved forests have large leaves of various shapes.
c)
Evergreen Forests grow in the high rainfall areas
of the Western Ghats, North Eastern India and the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands. These forests grow in areas where the monsoon lasts for several
months. The trees overlap with each other to form a continuous canopy.
Thus very little light penetrates down to the forest floor. Only a few
shade loving plants can grow in the ground layer in areas where some
light filters down from the closed canopy. The forest is rich in orchids
and ferns. The barks of the trees are covered in moss. The forest
abounds in animal life and is most rich in insect life.
d)
Wet Evergreen
Wet evergreen forests are found in the south along the Western Ghats
and the Nicobar and Andaman Islands and all along the north-eastern
region. It is characterized by tall, straight evergreen trees that have a
buttressed trunk or root on three sides like a tripod that helps to
keep a tree upright during a storm. These trees often rise to a great
height before they open out like a cauliflower. The more common trees
that are found here are the jackfruit, betel nut palm, Jamun, Mango, and
Hollock. The trees in this forest form a tier pattern: shrubs cover the
layer closer to the ground, followed by the short structured trees and
then the tall variety. Beautiful fern of various colours and different
varieties of orchids grow on the trunks of the trees.
e)
Semi-Evergreen
Semi-evergreen forests are found in the Western Ghats, Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, and the Eastern Himalayas. Such forests have a mixture
of the wet evergreen trees and the moist deciduous trees. The forest is
dense and is filled with a large variety of trees of both types.
f)
Deciduous Forests are found in regions with a
moderate amount of seasonal rainfall that lasts for only a few months.
Most of the forests in which Teak trees grow are of this type. The
deciduous trees shed their leaves during the winter and hot summer
months. In March or April they regain their fresh leaves just before the
monsoon, when they grow vigorously in response to the rains. Thus there
are periods of leaf fall and canopy re-growth. The forest frequently
has thick undergrowth as light can penetrate easily onto the forest
floor.
g)
Thorn Forests are found in the semi- arid regions
of India. The trees, which are sparsely distributed, are surrounded by
open grassy areas. Thorny plants are called Xerophytic species and are
able to conserve water. Some of these trees have small leaves, while
other species have thick, waxy leaves to reduce water losses during
transpiration. Thorn forest trees have long or fibrous roots to reach
water at great depths. Many of these plants have thorns, which reduce
water loss and protect them from herbivores.
h)
Mangrove Forests grow along the coast especially
in the river deltas. These plants are able to grow in a mix of saline
and fresh water. They grow luxuriantly in muddy areas covered with silt
that the rivers have brought down. The mangrove trees have breathing
roots that emerge from the mud banks.
Forest Cover of India (As per MoEF Report – 2013)
