Types of Forests| Class 11 Geography Notes

A forest is a large land area covered by trees and other woody plants. It’s really important for keeping our planet diverse and balanced. Forests are home to lots of different animals, reptiles, and insects. The kind of trees that grow in a forest depends on the weather, soil, and landscape of the area.

Forests help keep everything in nature in balance by providing water, food, and shelter for all kinds of living things. In this article, we will learn about the types of forests in great detail.

Let’s get started!

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.

Even though the FAO has a clear definition, there’s still some disagreement about what truly makes a forest. One problem is that the FAO’s definition doesn’t tell the difference between natural forests and forests that people have planted. Because of this, it’s tricky to keep track of how forests are changing over time.

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.

Semi-evergreen forests, on the other hand, are found in regions with slightly lower rainfall compared to tropical evergreen forests. They represent a mix of evergreen and moist deciduous trees and are characterized by the presence of undergrowth climbers that contribute to their evergreen nature. Key species in semi-evergreen forests include white cedar, hollock, and kail.

During the British colonial period, there was significant exploitation of India’s forests for economic gain. The British initiated large-scale logging and clearance of forests, particularly for timber needed for railway construction, as well as for introducing commercial plantations such as tea, rubber, and coffee. This commercialization of forests led to a shift away from their traditional protective use towards exploitation for economic purposes.

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.

Moist deciduous forests are predominantly found in regions experiencing rainfall between 100 to 200 cm, notably in the northeastern states along the Himalayan foothills, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, and Odisha. These forests are characterized by species such as teak, sal, shisham, hurra, mahua, amla, semul, kusum, and sandalwood.

Dry deciduous forests extend over extensive areas of the country where rainfall ranges from 70 to 100 cm annually. They transition to moist deciduous forests in wetter regions and to thorn forests in drier areas. These forests are prevalent in the rainier zones of the Peninsula and the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In regions with higher rainfall, such as the Peninsular plateau and the northern Indian plain, dry deciduous forests often have a parkland landscape, featuring open areas with scattered trees like teak amidst patches of grass. During the dry season, these forests shed their leaves, giving the landscape a grassland-like appearance. Common tree species in dry deciduous forests include tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair, and axlewood. In the western and southern parts of Rajasthan, vegetation cover is sparse due to low rainfall and extensive grazing pressure.

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.

Key species found in tropical thorn forests include babool, ber, wild date palm, khair, neem, khejri, and palas. Tussocky grass, growing up to a height of 2 meters, forms the understory vegetation in these forests.

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.

The Himalayan ranges exhibit a transition of vegetation types from tropical to tundra as altitude increases. Deciduous forests are prevalent in the foothills of the Himalayas, succeeded by wet temperate forests at altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 meters. In the higher hill ranges of northeastern India, West Bengal, and Uttaranchal, evergreen broadleaf trees such as oak and chestnut dominate. Pine forests, including the commercially valuable Chir Pine, are well-established between 1,500 and 1,750 meters. Deodar, an important endemic species prized for its durable wood used in construction, is primarily found in the western part of the Himalayan range. Other significant species in this zone include chinar and walnut, essential for Kashmir handicrafts. Blue pine and spruce are present at altitudes of 2,225 to 3,048 meters, often accompanied by temperate grasslands. Alpine forests and pastures dominate the higher reaches, featuring silver firs, junipers, pines, birch, and rhododendrons. These pastures are extensively utilized for transhumance by various tribes such as the Gujjars, Bakarwals, Bhotiyas, and Gaddis. The southern slopes of the Himalayas exhibit denser vegetation cover due to higher precipitation compared to the drier north-facing slopes. Mosses and lichens are part of the tundra vegetation at higher altitudes.

The southern mountain forests encompass the forests found in three distinct regions of Peninsular India: the Western Ghats, the Vindhyas, and the Nilgiris. These forests, located closer to the tropics and at elevations around 1,500 meters above sea level, exhibit temperate vegetation in higher regions and subtropical vegetation in lower regions, especially in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The temperate forests, known as Sholas in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai, and Palani hills, feature economically significant trees such as magnolia, laurel, cinchona, and wattle. Similar forests are also found in the Satpura and Maikal ranges.

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.

The wetlands in India are categorized into eight distinct types:

1. Reservoirs of the Deccan Plateau in the south, alongside lagoons and other wetlands along the southern west coast.
2. Extensive saline expanses in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the Gulf of Kachchh.
3. Freshwater lakes and reservoirs spanning from Gujarat eastwards through Rajasthan, including Keoladeo National Park and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
4. Delta wetlands and lagoons along India’s eastern coast, exemplified by Chilika Lake.
5. Freshwater marshes in the Gangetic Plain.
6. Floodplains of the Brahmaputra, as well as marshes and swamps in the hills of northeast India and the Himalayan foothills.
7. Lakes and rivers in the montane region of Kashmir and Ladakh.
8. Mangrove forests and other wetlands in the island arcs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Mangroves, found along coastal areas in salt marshes, tidal creeks, mud flats, and estuaries, are characterized by their salt-tolerant plant species. These forests provide habitat for a diverse range of bird species. In India, mangrove forests cover 6,740 square kilometers, constituting 7 percent of the world’s mangrove forests. They are particularly well-developed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Sunderbans of West Bengal. Additionally, significant mangrove areas are located in the deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna rivers. However, these forests are increasingly threatened by encroachment and require effective conservation efforts.

FAQs on Class 11 Notes Types of Forests

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

Forest ecosystems play an important role on Earth. The different types of forest ecosystems on the Earth offer food and other essential material for the sustenance of life on the planet. The function of the forest ecosystem is the existence of all the species in the forest in a well-balanced and environmental manner. The different types of forest ecosystems are boreal, temperate, and tropical rainforest ecosystems.

What are the Types of Forest in the World? Are Humans a Part of any Ecosystem?

The types of forests present across different regions of the Earth vary according to the local topography and climate. While there are several types of forests present on the planet, they can be primarily divided into five categories. The main types of forests found in the world are coniferous forest, deciduous forest, mixed forest, tropical rainforest, and Mediterranean forest. Yes, humans are a part of the ecosystem.

What are the some main types of forests?

• Tropical evergreen forests.
• The tropical deciduous forests.
• Scrub forests and grassland.
• Desert vegetation.
• Mountain forests. and.
• Mangrove forests.

What are the types of forest in geography class 11?

(i) Tropical Evergreen and Semi Evergreen forests
(ii) Tropical Deciduous forests
(iii) Tropical Thorn forests
(iv) Montane forests
(v) Littoral and Swamp forests.

What are the 3 main types of forests?

• The Tropical Forests.
• The Temperate Forests.
• The Boreal or Taiga Forest.