The Indian deciduous or monsoon forests are probably of the highest numbers among all types of forests in India. The deciduous forests are called so, as the trees in these forests have quite large and broad leaves and they shed all their leaves for about six to eight weeks in summer. They are also called the monsoon forests with all their grandeur and beauty. This is so because they form a natural cover approximately all over India, especially within regions having 200 and 75 cm of annual rainfall. They are counted among the most widely-represented forest types in India. They usually occur as sal-dominated forests in the bhabhar tract of the Himalayan foothills and Central India, and they continue as teak-dominated forests across the Deccan Plateau.

The Indian deciduous or monsoon forests are most commonly found in a range of landscapes from the plains to the hills. These forests usually grow over a wide range of rainfall regimes and they can be classified into two divisions like the moist deciduous forests and the dry deciduous forests. The dry deciduous forests are those where annual rainfall ranges from 500 - 1,500 mm and the moist deciduous forests are situated in wetter regions. The most significant thing about the Indian deciduous or monsoon forests is that, they are home to some of the most endangered wildlife in India. Some of the largest remaining populations of species in these forests include the tiger, Asian elephant and gaur.

The moist deciduous forests, among the Indian deciduous or monsoon forests, are most commonly found on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. They can also be found in the north-eastern part of the peninsula i.e. in the region of Chhotanagpur plateau, covering east Madhya Pradesh, south Bihar and west Orissa. They are widespread along the Shiwaliks in the northern India. A number of valuable and popular trees can be found in these forests. Some of the important trees found in these forests include teak, sal, and sandalwood. Teak is considered as one of the most vital species of this region. On the other hand, Sal is the most significant tree found in the dry deciduous forests. It has been found in studies that the dry deciduous forests are step by step replacing the moist deciduous forests in India. Every species in these forests has its own time of leaf casting.

Most of the tropical deciduous forests are found in the state of Kerala in India. Apart from Kerala, they can also be found in the eastern slopes of Western Ghats; in the northeastern parts of the peninsular plateau and in the valleys of the Himalayas. The Indian deciduous or monsoon forests are pretty substantial, cost-effective and they demand a lot of maintenance, as they are less resistant to fire. The Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) has taken a lot of initiatives to preserve the Indian deciduous of monsoon forests. Its programme in the deciduous forests has mainly focused on understanding the interface between people and wildlife. The NCF is also conducting research programmes into the ecology of threatened large mammal species and assemblages. On the other hand, it has also got involved in detailed studies into human society and its relationship with nature, in the Indian deciduous or monsoon forests.