Forest Resources of India

1.      Total Forest Area – 6,92,027 sq. km. (As per India State of Forest Report, 2011).

2.      India’s present forest cover – 23.07%.

3.      Needed forest cover to maintain ecological balance – 33%.

4.      The largest forest cover – Madhya Pradesh (77265 sq. Kms.).

5.      Arunachal Pradesh with 67410 sq. Kms per second.

6.      Chhattisgarh with a forest cover of 55870 sq. Kms. stands third.

7.      The lowest forest cover – Haryana (1745 sq. Kms.).

8.      The highest concentration of forest land – Arunachal Pradesh.

9.      National Forest Policy - 1952.

10.  Economically most important forests – Moist Deciduous forests.

11.  Sundarbans are named after – Sundari trees.

12.  Sandalwood is produced mainly in – Tropical moist deciduous forests .

13.  Sandalwood – Karnataka Forests.

14.  Alpine vegetation is found in – Upper Himalayas.

15.  Railway sleepers – Himalayan Forests.

16.  Teak is abundantly grown in - Karnataka Forests.

17.  Important forest – based industries : Paper, Beedi – making, Matches, Dyes, Plywood, Medicinal industries.

Natural Vegetation – Forest Types :

                    I.            Topical Evergreen Forests :- Hilly terrain with 500 – 1500 mts. Altitude, rainfall – exceeding 200 cms.

                 II.            Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests :- Hilly terrain and plateau surfaces. Rainfall between 100 and 200 cms.

               III.            Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests :- Vast areas of plateau and plain areas with rainfall between 70 and 100 cms.

              IV.            Thorn Forests :- Dry areas with rainfall less than 70 cms.

                 V.            Tidal Forests :- Grow in the brackish as well as fresh – water areas of the tide washed coast.

              VI.            The Himalayan Temperature and Alpine Forests :- Entire Himalayan range in the 100 – 250 cms. Rainfall zone at an elevation of 1600 – 3000 mts and the Alpine forests at a higher elevation of 3500 mts and above.