Types of Forest in India

Forest Type

Characteristics

Predominant States

Trees Found

Tropical Rainforests

High rainfall, dense vegetation, diverse flora and fauna.

Western Ghats, Northeast India

Teak, rosewood, mahogany, bamboo, palm

Tropical Deciduous

Moderate rainfall, deciduous trees shedding leaves in dry season.

Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal

Sal, teak, sandalwood, neem, bamboo

Tropical Thorn

Low rainfall, thorny bushes, xerophytic vegetation.

Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra

Acacia, babul, cactus, euphorbia

Montane

Found at high altitudes, temperate climate, coniferous trees.

Himalayan region (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh)

Pine, fir, spruce, cedar, rhododendron

Alpine

High altitude, cold climate, sparse vegetation.

Himalayan region above the tree line

Juniper, birch, rhododendron, dwarf willow

Mangrove

Coastal wetlands, saline water, specialized vegetation.

Sundarbans (West Bengal), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kerala, Tamil Nadu

Sundari, Avicennia, Rhizophora, Sonneratia

Subtropical Pine

Moderate rainfall, pine trees, mixed vegetation.

Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir

Chir pine, blue pine, deodar, oak, rhododendron

Dry Evergreen

Low rainfall, evergreen trees adapted to dry conditions.

Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh

Ebony, sandalwood, rosewood, Indian olive