India’s natural vegetation is classified based on climate, rainfall, and altitude. The major forest types as per Champion and Seth’s classification are covered below.
Tropical Evergreen Forests
Distribution
- Areas receiving >200 cm annual rainfall
- Western Ghats (Maharashtra to Kerala)
- North-eastern India (Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh)
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Characteristics
- Dense, multi-layered canopy — trees of varying heights form a continuous cover
- No seasonal leaf fall — trees remain green throughout the year
- Great biodiversity — hundreds of tree species, ferns, orchids, lianas
- Rich undergrowth — climbers, epiphytes, mosses
- Tall height: Trees reach 45-60 meters
Major Species
| Region |
Species |
| Western Ghats |
Rosewood, ebony, mahogany, teak, jackfruit, bamboo |
| NE India |
Dipterocarpus (Hollong — State tree of Assam), mesua, jarul |
| Andaman |
Gurjan, padauk, coconuts, areca nut |
Economic Importance
- Hardwoods — valuable timber (rosewood, ebony, mahogany)
- Medicinal plants (Neem, tulsi, ashwagandha)
- Non-timber forest products (honey, resins, latex)
- Watershed protection
Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests
- Transition zone between evergreen and deciduous forests
- Annual rainfall: 150-200 cm
- Found on western slopes of Western Ghats, lower Assam, parts of Odisha
- Fewer species than evergreen; some seasonal leaf fall
- Key species: white cedar, terminalia, hopea, laurel
Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests
Distribution
- Rainfall: 100-200 cm annually
- Largest forest type in India — covers most of the country
- Central India: MP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra
- Eastern slopes of Western Ghats
- Shivalik Himalayas
Characteristics
- Seasonal leaf fall — trees shed leaves during dry season (March-April)
- Two sub-types:
- Moist deciduous: Closed canopy; moderate undergrowth; northeast, eastern slopes of Western Ghats
- Dry deciduous: More open canopy; grasses in undergrowth; central India, Deccan plateau
Major Species
| Sub-type |
Species |
| Moist deciduous |
Teak (Tectona grandis) — India’s most valuable timber; sal, shisham (sissoo), sandalwood, mango, mahua |
| Dry deciduous |
Teak, tendu (diospyros), axlewood, babul, khair, palas (flame of the forest) |
Economic Importance
- Teak — premier timber wood for furniture and shipbuilding
- Sal — construction and railway sleepers
- Sandalwood — carving, essential oils, incense
- Tendu leaves — beedi (Indian cigarette) wrapping
- Mahua flowers — liquor and food; seeds for oil
Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests
- Rainfall: 70-100 cm
- Found in rain-shadow areas of Western Ghats, south-eastern Rajasthan, parts of MP, UP, Bihar
- Open canopy; grasses common in understory
- Trees shed leaves in summer
- Key species: teak, babul, khair, neem, palas, tendu
- Large areas converted to agriculture due to accessible terrain
Forest Cover in India (2021 ISFR)
| Forest Type |
Area (sq km) |
% of Forest Cover |
| Tropical Moist Deciduous |
2,50,000+ |
~37% |
| Tropical Dry Deciduous |
1,83,000+ |
~27% |
| Tropical Thorn |
12,000+ |
2-3% |
| Montane Temperate |
76,000+ |
~11% |
| Sub-tropical |
47,000+ |
~7% |
| Alpine |
92,000+ |
~14% |
- Total forest cover: ~7,13,789 sq km (21.67% of India’s area)
- Goal: Achieve 33% forest cover as per National Forest Policy, 1988
