Forests are one of the major types of natural vegetation. There are various kinds of forests depending upon the topography and climate. Tropical Deciduous Forests are one of the kinds. In India, these forests are most widespread. Natural Vegetation is an important topic for the IAS Exam, Geography Syllabus of Mains GS-I.
This article will provide you with important facts about Deciduous Forests in India.
Also, read about other kinds of forests in the linked articles below:
| Evergreen Forests in India |
| Mangroves |
| Montane Forests in India |
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Major Characteristics of Deciduous Forests
The table below mentions the main features of Deciduous Forests which IAS Exam aspirants should know to differentiate these with other forests:
| Characteristics of Tropical Deciduous Forests in India |
| They are called Monsoon Forests |
| Rainfall is in the range of 70-200 cms in Deciduous Forests |
| A long dry season followed by heavy rainfall season is a feature of the regions where these forests are found |
There are two types of Deciduous Forests:
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| As the name goes, tropical deciduous forests are found along the Equator belt between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn. |
Major states where tropical deciduous forests are found:
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| The humidity in these forests lie in the range of 80-90 per cent |
| 30 degree Celsius is the average temperature of tropical deciduous forests |
| Seasonality is the prime feature of these forests as trees shed their leaves in the dry season and grow back leaf in rainy seasons
Note: In the Northern Hemisphere, these forests shed their leaves in winter. |
| These forests are comparatively less dense than evergreen forests. |
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Types of Deciduous Forests – Moist Deciduous and Dry Deciduous Forests
The table below mentions the features of moist deciduous forests and dry deciduous forests:
| Features | Moist Deciduous Forests | Dry Deciduous Forests |
| Rainfall | 100-200 cms
Mean Annual Temperature – 27-degree celsius Annual Relative Humidity – 60-75 per cent |
70-100 cms |
| Region |
|
Note: In the western and southern part of Rajasthan, vegetation cover is very scanty due to low rainfall |
| Species |
|
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| Other Features | Open grass patches are found in these forests |
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Distribution of Tropical Deciduous Forests/Monsoon Forests – World
The tropical deciduous forests are majorly found in:
- Coastal regions of southwest India
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Myanmar
- Southwestern Africa
- French Guiana, and
- Northeast and south-eastern Brazil
Tropical Deciduous Forests in India – UPSC Notes:-Download PDF Here
Candidates can read about other important Geography topics in the articles linked below:
| Forest Survey of India | Exogenic Processes | Rainfall Distribution in India |
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