![]() The South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests in India are located adjacent to the moist deciduous forests that lie along the foothills of the southern extent of the Western Ghats Mountains. Though the forests are not exceptionally rich in biological diversity or endemism, they are home to numerous flora and fauna species. The forests are included in those three eco regions through which two of India's most important Elephant conservation areas, the Nilgiris- Eastern Ghats and the Anamalais-Nelliampathis; and two of the most important TCUs extend across. South Deccan Plateau dry Deciduous Forests in India form an eco region that represents a large area of tall, tropical dry forests in the southern Deccan Plateau, on the leeward side of the Western Ghats Mountain Range. The eco region extends across the southern Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and covers the southern portion of Karnataka's Malnad region, extending south into the Kongu Nadu region of eastern Tamil Nadu. It has its links to the ancient, southern circumpolar continent, Gondwanaland. Climate plays an important role and influences the natural vegetation in these forests. The tall Western Ghats Mountain Range intercepts the moisture in these forests from the southwest monsoon and as a result, the eastern slopes and the Deccan Plateau receive very little rainfall. The annual rainfall in these forests ranges from 900 to 1,500 mm and the rainfall is mainly caused by the southwest monsoon, during the months of June to September. The South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests in India are flanked by the moist deciduous forests along the lower elevations and foothills of the Western Ghats to the west. They are flanked by the thorn scrub to the east. In 1968, the forests were classified by Champion and Seth as Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forests, where Teak is not conspicuous. The thorny plants have become more common in some areas in the forests, where grazing pressure is high. The forests have a three-storied structure, with an upper canopy of 15-25 m, an under story of 10-15 m, and undergrowth of 3-5 m. The Lianas drape the trees in denser, mature forests. ![]() The South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests in India provide continuity of ecological processes between the lowland and Montane ecosystems. The moister forests support many of the larger vertebrates that are also found in the dry forest eco region but at higher densities. These forests surround the montane evergreen rain forests in the southern part of the Western Ghats Mountains. They extend across the southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and as they are a part of the Deccan Plateau, they have Gondwanaland origins. The swath of the moist deciduous forests is very narrow on the steeper, windward side of the mountain range. The southwest monsoon rains promote a wet evergreen forest in this side. However, the drier conditions caused by the rain shadow, result in a broader, uneven swath of moist deciduous forests, on the shallower leeward side. These forests extend further, into the Deccan Plateau. The complex landform influences rainfall on the leeward side and some of the areas can receive less than a fifth of the 3,000 mm or more of annual rainfall that is deposited higher in the mountains. Covering the southern portion of the Western Ghats range in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the South Western Ghats montane rain forests are an eco-region of southern India. The forests are situated at elevations over 1000 meters and are cooler and wetter than the lower-elevation South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests that surround the montane rain forests. The forests are considered to be the most species-rich in the peninsular India, and are home to in numerous endemic species. The total area of the eco region is 22,600 square kilometers and it is estimated that only 3,200 square kilometers, or 15% of the intact area, is protected. ![]() The Andaman Islands rain forests are one of the best ones among all the eco-regions in India. The Islands are located between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, and they are affiliated with both the countries like India and Myanmar, in important ways. The Andaman Islands rain forests are relatively intact and are quite similar to the other rain forests in India. The tall and major timber trees like gurjun dominate the hill forests in this wet climate and the southern islands are more favourable to a different type of dipterocarp. The monsoon areas in the Andaman Islands are characterised by shade trees called padauk and the Terminalia genus of trees. The Andaman Islands rain forests are located in the eastern Indian Ocean, as part of the Bay of Bengal. The climate of the forests is warm tropical, and the temperatures range from 22 to 30 degrees Celsius. The average annual rainfall in the forests ranges from 3,000-3,800 millimetres and the rainfall is heavily influenced by monsoons. Monsoons usually come in the Andaman Islands rain forests, from the southwest (May to September) and from the northeast (October to December). The forests are geographically part of the long island arch that runs from Arakan Yoma in Myanmar to the Mentawai Islands off Sumatra. |
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