Forest Wealth Of India

Forests are an important gift of nature.At present 1/5 of India's total area is under forests.There are many types of forests found in India.

Evergreen forests are mostly found in hot and wet regions.They are found on the rainy slopes of the western ghats and hills of north-east India and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The trees donot shed their leaves.They remain green throughout the year. Trees are generally tall and wood is very hard.The main trees are ebony,mahogany and rosewood.

Deciduous forests are also called monsoon forests.They are found along the foothills of the Himalayas and in wettest parts of the Southern Plateaus.The trees shed their leaves in the dry season.Teak,Sal,Mahua,Semul and Bamboo are important trees.

Thorn forests are mostly found in the desert areas of Rajasthan.The trees and shrubs have long roots,thick bark,sharp thorns and small leaves.Babool and keekar are the main trees.

Mountain forests:

Mountain forests are found in the higher regions of the Himalaya mountains and parts of the Nilgiri Hills.Some of these forests are also called coniferous forests.The main trees are deodar,fir and spruce.The trees are tall with pointed,needle shaped leaves.

Tidal forests are mostly found in the deltas of rivers and in areas which are flooded by sea water.These forests grow in both salt and fresh water.The delta region of the Ganga and Brahmaputra is covered with tidal forests.A tree called Sundari grows in the Ganga delta.