Natural Vegetation: Forests and Grasslands of North-East India

Abstract

Of the total forest area of around 68 million hectares in India, the North-Eastern states account for over 17 million hectares, roughly one-fourth of the forest area of the country. All the states of North-East India, with the exception of Assam, have 50–80 % of their area under forests. High temperatures, combined with heavy to very heavy rains, have stimulated the growth of forests at lower levels. Even in the mountainous regions, there are heavy rains in summer, and lower temperatures during winter don’t cause excessive evapotranspiration and thus limit the possibility of any moisture stress in the soil. The forests in the hilly regions, despite the destruction of forests by slash and burn cultivation, have survived and are regenerated. These forests have enormous variation in their typology and floral characteristics, ranging from tropical evergreen at lower altitude in upper Brahmaputra valley to pine forests in the Himalayas and birch–rhododendron scrub at still higher levels. Dipterocarpus macrocarpus (Hollong in Assamese) and Mesua ferrea (Nahar in Assamese) are the principal type trees of Assam valley tropical evergreen forests. In the tropical moist deciduous forests, Shorea robusta is the principal species with several associates like Schima wallichii (Makna Sal). The subtropical wet hill forests, as in Meghalaya, have several varieties of oak (Quercus spp.). Richness of flora because of the wet hills presents a climate condition, which combines the characteristics of tropical as well as temperate climate. At higher altitudes, mixed coniferous and coniferous forests occur followed by sub-alpine pastures, rhododendrons and scrubs at still higher altitudes.

North-East India is known for its biodiversity. It is one of the two biodiversity hotspots of India. Half the total number of floral species, known in India, occurs here, and the region forms the richest reservoir of genetic variability. An important aspect of the forests of the region is the profusion of orchids. The North-East region has 876 orchid species, which constitute 70 % of the total orchid flora of India. To preserve the biodiversity of the region, a number of biospheres, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries (2004) are established in the region.

Appendices

Appendices

1.1 Appendix 9.1: National Parks in the North-East Region

No.	Name of the park	Location	Area (km2)	Date of establishment
1.	Kanchendzonga	NW Sikkim	1,784	1977
2.	Murien N. P.	Champhai (Mizoram)	200	1991
3.	Phawngpui Blue Mountain N. P.	Chhimtuipui (Mizoram)	50	1997
4.	Balphakram N. P.	South Garo Hills (Meghalaya)	220	1986
5.	Nokrek N. P.	Garo Hills (Meghalaya)	47.48	1986
6.	Dibru Saikhowa N. P.	Dibrugarh (Assam)	340	1999 an extended area is also biosphere R.
7.	Kaziranga N. P.	Golaghat and Nagaon (Assam)	471.71	1974
8.	Manas N. P.	Barpeta and Bongaigaon (Assam)	500	1990 It is also a biosphere R.
9.	Nameri N. P.	Sonitpur district (Assam)	200	1998
10.	Orang N. P.	Sonitpur and Darrang (Assam)	78.8	1999
11.	Ntangki N. P.	Dimapur (Nagaland)	202.2	1993
12.	Mouling N. P.	Upper Siang (Arunachal Pradesh)	483	1986
13.	Namdapha N. P.	Changlang (Arunachal Pradesh)	1985.23	1983
Total	13 National Parks		6562.4

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Though most of the national parks have wildlife, they are not the sanctuaries like the wildlife sanctuaries whose primary function is to provide sanctuary to wildlife and to protect the endangered species. While national parks are important as preserves of plant, wildlife sanctuaries are the preserves for wildlife.

1.2 Appendix 9.2: Wildlife Sanctuaries in North-East India

No.	Name of wildlife sanctuary	Location	Area (km2)	Date of establishment
Mizoram
1.	Dampa WLS	Mamit district	500.0	1985
2.	Khawnglung WLS	Serchhip dist.	41.0	1991
3.	Lengteng WLS	Champhai dist.	120.0	1999
4.	Ngengpui WLS	Chhimtuipui (W)	110.0	1997
Tripura
1.	Gumti WLS	South Tripura	389.54	1988
2.	Rowa WLS	North Tripura	0.85	1988
3.	Sepahijala WLS	West Tripura	18.53	1987
4.	Trishna WLS	South Tripura	194.70	1987
Meghalaya
1.	Baghmara Pitcher Plant WLS	South Garo Hills	0.02	1984
2.	Nongkhyllem WLS	Ri Bhoi	29.00	1981
3.	Siju	South Garo Hills	5.18	1979
Assam
1.	Bornadi WLS	Darrang dist.	26.22	1980
2.	Burachapori WLS	Sonitpur dist.	44.06	1995
3.	Chakrashila WLS	Dhubri dist.	45.56	1994
4.	Dipor Bil WLS	Kamrup dist.	4.14	1989
5.	Garampani WLS	Karbi-Anglong	6.05	1952
6.	Gibbon WLS	Jorhat dist.	20.98	1997
7.	Laokhowa WLS	Nagaon dist.	70.13	1974
8.	Panidihing WLS	Sibsagar dist.	33.93	1999
9.	Pobitora WLS	Nagaon dist.	38.81	1999
10.	Padumani–Bherjan–Borajan WLS	Dibrugarh dist.	7.29	1999
11.	Sonai Rupai WLS	Darrang dist.	26.22	1998
Arunachal Pradesh
1.	D’Ering Memorial (Lali) WLS	East Siang	190.0	1978
2.	Dibang WLS	Dibang valley	4149.0	1991
3.	Eagle Nest WLS	West Kameng	217.0	1989
4.	Itanagar WLS	Papum Pare	140.3	1978
5.	Kamlang WLS	Lohit	783.0	1989
6.	Kane WLS	West Siang	55.0	1991
7.	Mehao WLS	Dibang valley	281.5	1980
8.	Pakhui WLS	East Kameng	861.95	1977
9.	Sessa Orchid WLS	West Kameng	100.0	1989
10.	Tale valley WLS	Lower Subansiri	337.0	1995
Nagaland
1.	1.	Kohima dist.	9.23	1980
2.	2.	Dimapur dist.	4.70	1986