Forests are an integral part of Vegetation. India is one of the ten most forest-rich countries in the world. Together, India and nine other countries account for 67 per cent of the world’s total forest area. Read here to learn more about the Types of Forests.
Forests are classified based on factors such as climate, vegetation, and geography. Each type supports unique flora, fauna, and ecological processes.
The word Forest is derived from the Latin word ‘Fores’ meaning outside, the reference being to a village boundary or fence and it includes all uncultivated & uninhabited land.
The forest is the second largest land use in India next to agriculture. The forest cover of India is assessed as 80.9 million hectares which constitutes 24.62 per cent of the country’s geographical area ranging in different types of forest from the Himalayan Temperate to Dry Zone forests.
At present, in India, there is no clear nationally accepted definition of ‘forest’. States are responsible for determining their definition of forests.
The prerogative of the states to define forests stems from a 1996 Supreme Court order called the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulkpad vs. the Union of India judgment. In the judgement, the Supreme Court interpreted that the word “forest” must be understood according to its “dictionary meaning”. This description covers all statutorily recognised forests, whether designated as reserved, protected or otherwise.
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Forest is included in the Concurrent List in the (Seventh Schedule) of the Constitution of India. Through the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 Forests and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds was transferred from State to Concurrent List.
Article 48 A in the Directive Principles of State policy, mandates that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution states that it shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests and Wildlife.
Statutes relating to the forest:
India’s forests are currently governed by the National Forest Policy, 1988 which has environmental balance and livelihood at its centre.
Types of Forests
A great variety of forests are found in different parts of India due to the unequal distribution of rainfall and temperature, seasonal variation, and varied biotic conditions.
Forests have a great relationship with the surrounding atmosphere. The range of forests in India is very diverse.
We can find here from the rain forest of Kerala in the South to the alpine pastures of Ladakh, from the desert of Rajasthan in the west to the evergreen forest in the northeast.
Accordingly, the forests in India can be divided as
1. Classification of forest type on an administrative basis
Reserved Forests
Protected Forests
Unprotected Forests
Directly under the control of the government.
Looked after by the government.
Unclassified Forests.
No one is permitted to enter for the commercial grazing of cattle.
Locals are permitted to gather forest products and graze cattle without causing any significant harm.
No restriction on cutting trees or grazing cattle.
This category includes 53% of the nation’s total forest area (TFA).
Occupy about 29% of the TFA.
Occupy 18% of the TFA.
2. Classification of forest type based on the Constitution
State Forest
Commercial Forest
Private Forest
Include nearly all of the nation’s significant forested areas and are completely controlled by the state or Central government.
Nearly all significant forest areas in the nation are owned and managed by local organisations (municipal corporations, village panchayats, district boards, etc.) and are completely under state or federal control.
Under private ownership.
almost 94% of the TFA Coverage.
Cover 5% of the TFA.
slightly more than 1% of the Cover in TFA.
3. Classification of forest type based on Merchantability
Merchantable
Non- Merchantable
Forests that are accessible.
Forests that are situated at high mountainous peaks; are non-accessible.
Cover 82% of the TFA.
Cover 18% of the TFA.
4. Classification of forest type based on Composition
Coniferous Forest
Broad-Leaf Forest
Temperate Forests
Tropical and subtropical monsoon forests.
Found in the middle and upper elevations of the eastern Middle Himalayas and N-E Indian states like Arunachal Pradesh.
Found in the plateaus, plains and mountainous areas of the country.
Cover 6.50% of the TFA of the country.
Cover about 94% of the TFA of the country.
5. Classification of forest type based on Average Rainfall
Type of forest
Climate
Found in
Speciality of trees
Tropical Moist Evergreen Forest
Warm and humid areas
Annual precipitation of over 200 cm or more
Mean annual temperature above 22°C.
The dry season is distinctly short.
Southern India
The Western Ghats,
Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
North-eastern region.
Trees reach great heights up to 60 m or above.
These forests appear green all year round
Rosewood, Mahogany, Aini, Ebony, Jackfruit, Betelnut Palm, Junmango and Hallock
Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forest
Annual precipitation of over 150 cm
Found in the less rainy parts of the regions where moist evergreen forests are found
The Western Ghats,
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Eastern Himalayas.
Such forests have a mixture of moist evergreen and moist deciduous trees.
White cedar, Hillock, Kail
Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest
Prolonged hot and dry season and a cold winter
Shivalik Hills and foothills of the Himalayas up to a height of 1000 metres in the north.
Andra Pradesh, Karnataka coast in the south
Hard-leaved evergreen trees with fragrant flowers, along with a few deciduous trees
Trees have a varnished look
Pomegranate, olive and oleander
Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest (Monsoon Forest)
This type of forest has an annual precipitation of between 100-200 cm.
north-eastern state
foothills of the Himalayas
eastern slopes of the Western Ghats
Odisha
Tall trees with broad, branched trunks, some taller trees shed their leaves in the dry season.
Any forested region that represents a legal status of the land in the Government Records is called a Forest Area, whereas the term Forest Cover can be any non-government recognised land having forests in it.
A tree cover is defined as a region of size smaller than one hectare which is found outside the recorded forest area
There is a 1,582 sq km decline in moderately dense or natural forests. The decline even with an increase of 2,621 sq km in open forest areas shows the degradation of forests in the country.
The scrub area has increased by 5,320 sq km which indicates the complete degradation of forests in these areas. Very dense forests have increased by 501 sq km.
A Decline in Forest Cover in the Northeast:
The forest cover in the northeast has shown an overall decline of 1,020 sq km.
The Northeast states cover 98% of the total geographical area but have 23.75% of the total forest cover. This decline in this region has been attributed to the series of natural calamities that occurred here like landslides and heavy rains, as well as to anthropogenic activities such as shifting agriculture, developmental activities, and extensive deforestation.
Aseem Muhammed is a committed content creator at ClearIAS, dedicated to helping UPSC aspirants streamline their preparation with well-structured and insightful study materials.
With a strong grasp of subjects like economics, polity, and current affairs, he excels in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand content.
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