Home > Indian History > Geography of India > Indian Temperate Coniferous Forests
Indian Temperate Coniferous Forests
Indian temperate coniferous forests are mainly found in temperate regions, having warm summers and cool winters.

Share this Article:

Indian Temperate Coniferous ForestsThe Indian temperate coniferous forests are an integral part of the natural vegetation in India. These forests are actually a planetary major biotic community that is characterized by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate. The forests are mainly found in the temperate regions that have warm summers and cool winters and adequate rainfall to sustain a forest. The evergreen conifers are predominant in most of the temperate coniferous forests; however, a mix of conifers and broadleaf evergreen trees and/or broadleaf deciduous trees can be seen in some of the forests. The Temperate Coniferous Forests are actually a division of the Temperate Rain Forests that generally support an understory of mosses, ferns and some shrubs.

The Indian temperate coniferous forests are quite common in the coastal areas of the regions that have mild winters and heavy rainfall. They are also common in the inland in drier climates or mountain areas. The forests are home to several species of trees including Pine, Spruce, Cedar, Fir, Juniper, Cypress and Redwood. The understory of these forests also contains a wide variety of herbaceous and shrub species. The forests are simple and generally consist two layers like the overstory and understory. Some of these forests also support an intermediate layer of shrubs. The Pine forests that are included among the temperate coniferous forests support an herbaceous understory that is generally dominated by grasses and herbaceous perennials. They are also often subject to ecologically important wildfires.

The Indian temperate coniferous forests generally sustain the highest levels of biomass in any terrestrial ecosystem. They can be easily noticed for trees of massive proportions, including Giant sequoia, Coast Redwood, Douglas-Fir, Sitka Spruce, Alerce and Kauri. However, these forests are quite rare in India. The Indian temperate coniferous forests can be found in two eco-regions like the Eastern Himalayan sub-alpine conifer forests and the Western Himalayan sub-alpine conifer forests.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Geography of India


Geography of Uttar Pradesh
The fourth largest State in India UP is located in the Northern part of India whose area is 2,36,286 sq Kms.
Geography of Maharashtra
Covering an area of 308,000 sq. km, Maharashtra, the third largest state in India.
Geography of Kerala
Geography of Kerala includes plains, hills, valleys and coasts. With the Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Ghats in the east and networked by several rivers, Kerala enjoys diverse geographical features.
Geography of West Bengal
The geography of West Bengal is unique with high peaks of the Himalayan range in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the south and the remaining region is covered with both plains and plateaus.
Geography of Jharkhand
Geography of Jharkhand is comprised of the rich mineral resources and the highly agricultural prospect in this state.
Geography of Sikkim
Geography of Sikkim is characterised by a vast array of magnificent hillock that extends from one corner of the state to the other.
Geography of Meghalaya
The suitable climate, highland plateaus, rivers and the flora and fauna together forms the geography of Meghalaya.
Geography of Mizoram
Mizoram is surrounded by hills, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and lakes. The hills range from 1000 meters to 2000 meters. Rivers, lakes and waterfalls also play major role in forming the land of Mizoram.
Geography of Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is encompassed by valleys. Some of the dominant valleys of the state are Kashmir Valley, Tawi Valley, Chenab Valley, Poonch Valley, Sind Valley and Lidder Valley etc. Jhelum River is the only major Himalayan River which flows through the Kashmir valley. Indus, Tawi, Ravi and Chenab Rivers are the major ones flowing through the region.
Geography of Daman and Diu
Daman and Diu is situated on the west coast of India and are the smallest union territories of India.
Geography of Goa
Geography of Goa occupies a prime location along the Konkan coastal belt on the western coast of India. The state is bordered by Maharashtra in the north and Karnataka in the south. The Western Ghats in the east contribute to the flora and fauna of Goa.
Geography of Arunachal Pradesh
Geography of Arunachal Pradesh reveals that it is a hilly tract nestled in the foot of Himalayas.
Geography of Kutch
Geography of Kutch District is covering an area of 45,612 km. Kutch District is the largest district in the state of Gujarat.
Geography of Ladakh
Geography of Ladakh mainly comprises the huge Karakoram Range with long stretch of cold desert which mark the region separately from the rest of the states of Indian subcontinent. Surrounded with the mountain ranges from all corners this small region separates Indian subcontinent from rest of the Asian continent.
Geography of Rajasthan
Geography of Rajasthan defines the dry topography with arid climate of the western mountain region.
Geography of Tamil Nadu
The Indian state of Tamil Nadu is located in the Northern hemisphere in the hot zone.