Types of Forests

Forests

A forest is a special environment mainly filled with trees. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says an area must be at least half a hectare (about 1.25 acres) to be called a forest. The trees there should grow taller than 16 feet and their branches should cover at least 10% of the sky....

Types of Forests

Type of Forest Description Tropical Evergreen forests Found in warm and humid areas with annual precipitation over 200 cm and mean annual temperature above 22°C. Characterized by well-stratified layers and tall trees. Examples of species: rosewood, mahogany, aini, ebony, etc. Semi Evergreen forests Found in less rainy parts of warm and humid areas. Mix of evergreen and moist deciduous trees. Undergrowing climbers provide an evergreen character. Main species: white cedar, hollock, kail, etc. Tropical Deciduous forests Spread over regions receiving rainfall between 70-200 cm. Divided into moist and dry deciduous based on water availability. Moist deciduous forests are more pronounced in areas with 100-200 cm rainfall. Main species: teak, sal, shisham, hurra, mahua, amla, semul, kusum, sandalwood, etc. Dry deciduous forests cover vast areas where rainfall ranges between 70-100 cm. Trees shed leaves completely during dry season, resembling grasslands. Common trees: tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair, axlewood, etc. Tropical Thorn forests Found in rainier areas of the Peninsula and plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Transition to thorn forests on drier margins. Characterized by a parkland landscape with teak and other trees interspersed with grass patches. Montane forests Found in mountainous regions, typically at higher altitudes. Adapted to cooler temperatures. Examples: coniferous trees like pine, fir, spruce, as well as broadleaf trees like oak and chestnut. Littoral and Swamp forests Found along coasts, in salt marshes, tidal creeks, mud flats, and estuaries. Composed of salt-tolerant plant species. Provide habitat to various bird species....

Tropical Evergreen and Semi Evergreen Forests

Tropical evergreen forests are typically found in warm and humid regions with high annual precipitation, such as the western slope of the Western Ghats, hills of the northeastern region, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These forests are characterized by their dense vegetation and diverse flora. They feature a well-stratified structure with layers of shrubs, creepers, short trees, and towering species reaching heights of 60 meters or more. Unlike deciduous forests, trees in tropical evergreen forests do not have a specific time for shedding leaves, flowering, or fruiting, resulting in a perennial green appearance. Common species found in these forests include rosewood, mahogany, aini, and ebony....

Tropical Deciduous Forests

These forests, commonly known as monsoon forests, are the most prevalent forest type in India, covering areas that receive rainfall ranging from 70 to 200 cm annually. They are categorized into moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests based on the availability of water....

Tropical Thorn Forests

Tropical thorn forests are typically found in regions with annual rainfall of less than 50 cm. These forests are characterized by a variety of grasses and shrubs and are prevalent in semi-arid areas across southwest Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. In these forests, plants remain without leaves for most of the year, giving rise to a scrub-like appearance....

Montane Forests

In mountainous regions, variations in temperature with increasing altitude lead to distinct changes in natural vegetation. Mountain forests can be categorized into two main types: northern mountain forests and southern mountain forests....

Littoral and Swamp Forests

India boasts a diverse array of wetland habitats, with approximately 70 percent of these areas dedicated to paddy cultivation. The total expanse of wetlands in the country spans 3.9 million hectares. Notably, Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur are designated as protected waterfowl habitats under the Ramsar Convention, an international agreement among United Nations member states....

Types of Forests- FAQs

What is the Function of the Forest Ecosystem? What are the Different Types of Forest Ecosystems?...