📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Types of Forests
| Forest | Rainfall | Regions & trees |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical evergreen | > 200 cm | Western Ghats, NE, Andaman; ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber |
| Tropical deciduous (monsoon) — most widespread | 70–200 cm | MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha; teak, sal, sheesham, sandalwood, bamboo |
| Thorn & scrub | < 70 cm | Rajasthan, Gujarat; acacia, khejri, cactus |
| Montane (coniferous) | By altitude | Himalayas; deodar, chir pine, spruce, fir, oak; alpine meadows (bugyals) |
| Mangrove (tidal) | Deltas/coasts | Sundarbans (sundari tree) — world's largest mangrove forest; Bhitarkanika (Odisha) |
- India State of Forest Report 2023 (FSI, Dehradun): forest + tree cover ≈ 25.17% (forest cover ≈ 21.76%). Largest forest area — Madhya Pradesh, then Arunachal, Chhattisgarh; highest percentage — Mizoram.
- National Forest Policy 1988 target: 33% area under forest (66% in hills).
📌 2. Wildlife Conservation
- Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972; Project Tiger 1973 (first — Jim Corbett); Project Elephant 1992; Project Crocodile 1975; Project Cheetah 2022 (Kuno, MP — from Namibia). NTCA — 2006.
- National symbols: animal — tiger; bird — peacock; aquatic animal — Ganges river dolphin; heritage animal — elephant; tree — banyan.
- Tiger census 2022: ≈ 3,682 tigers (≈ 75% of the world); most tigers — Madhya Pradesh ("Tiger State").
📌 3. Major National Parks
| Park | State | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Corbett (1936, India's first — as Hailey NP) | Uttarakhand | Tigers; Ramganga river |
| Kaziranga | Assam | One-horned rhino; UNESCO |
| Gir | Gujarat | Only natural home of the Asiatic lion |
| Sundarbans | West Bengal | Royal Bengal tiger, mangroves; UNESCO |
| Hemis (largest NP) | Ladakh | Snow leopard |
| Keoladeo (Bharatpur) | Rajasthan | Birds, Siberian crane; UNESCO |
| Ranthambore, Sariska | Rajasthan | Tigers |
| Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura | MP | Tigers; Kanha — barasingha (hard-ground) |
| Kuno | MP | Cheetah reintroduction (2022) |
| Periyar | Kerala | Elephants, tigers |
| Silent Valley | Kerala | Lion-tailed macaque, rainforest |
| Dachigam | J&K | Hangul (Kashmir stag) |
| Manas | Assam | Pygmy hog, golden langur; UNESCO |
| Bandipur, Nagarhole | Karnataka | Tigers, elephants |
| Valley of Flowers, Nanda Devi | Uttarakhand | UNESCO |
- Largest tiger reserve — Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam (AP-Telangana). Largest biosphere reserve — Rann of Kutch; first — Nilgiri (1986). India has 18 biosphere reserves, 12 in UNESCO's MAB list.
- Ramsar sites (wetlands, Ramsar Convention 1971, Iran): India's first — Chilika and Keoladeo (1981); state with most sites — Tamil Nadu; largest — Sundarbans.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- India's most widespread forest type is tropical deciduous, not evergreen.
- Kaziranga = rhino; Gir = lion; Hemis = snow leopard; Dachigam = hangul.
- Largest forest area: MP; highest percentage: Mizoram.
- Ramsar is for wetlands; CITES is for wildlife trade.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Which forests cover the largest area in India? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Monsoon deciduous forests are the most widespread.
Monsoon deciduous forests are the most widespread.
Q2. Teak and sal are main trees of — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
In monsoon forests with 70–200 cm rain.
In monsoon forests with 70–200 cm rain.
Q3. Which national park is famous for the one-horned rhino? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Kaziranga (Assam) has ≈ two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinos.
Kaziranga (Assam) has ≈ two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinos.
Q4. The only natural home of Asiatic lions is — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Gir National Park, Junagadh, Gujarat.
Gir National Park, Junagadh, Gujarat.
Q5. India's first national park is — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Founded in 1936 as Hailey National Park (Uttarakhand).
Founded in 1936 as Hailey National Park (Uttarakhand).
Q6. Project Tiger was launched in — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
On 1 April 1973; WPA in 1972, Project Elephant in 1992.
On 1 April 1973; WPA in 1972, Project Elephant in 1992.
Q7. India's largest national park is — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Hemis (Ladakh) is famous for snow leopards.
Hemis (Ladakh) is famous for snow leopards.
Q8. The world's largest mangrove forest is — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The Sundarbans on the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta in India-Bangladesh.
The Sundarbans on the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta in India-Bangladesh.
Q9. As per ISFR, the state with the largest forest cover by area is — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
By area MP; by percentage Mizoram.
By area MP; by percentage Mizoram.
Q10. The National Forest Policy 1988 aims at forests on — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
33% overall; 66% in hills.
33% overall; 66% in hills.
Q11. India's first biosphere reserve was — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986.
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986.
Q12. The hangul (Kashmir stag) is found in — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Dachigam (near Srinagar) is the main home of the hangul.
Dachigam (near Srinagar) is the main home of the hangul.
Q13. Keoladeo National Park is mainly famous for — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Bharatpur bird sanctuary; migratory Siberian cranes.
Bharatpur bird sanctuary; migratory Siberian cranes.
Q14. In 2022 cheetahs were reintroduced in — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
On 17 Sept 2022 cheetahs from Namibia were released in Kuno.
On 17 Sept 2022 cheetahs from Namibia were released in Kuno.
Q15. The Ramsar Convention relates to — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Wetland treaty signed at Ramsar (Iran) in 1971.
Wetland treaty signed at Ramsar (Iran) in 1971.
Q16. India's National Aquatic Animal is the — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The Ganges river dolphin was declared National Aquatic Animal in 2009.
The Ganges river dolphin was declared National Aquatic Animal in 2009.
Q17. Which park is known for the lion-tailed macaque? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Silent Valley (Kerala) is a tropical rainforest.
Silent Valley (Kerala) is a tropical rainforest.
Q18. India's largest tiger reserve is — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Spread over Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Spread over Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Q19. Deodar, chir pine and spruce in the Himalayas form — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Conifers grow in the cool climate at altitude.
Conifers grow in the cool climate at altitude.
Q20. India's first Ramsar sites (1981) were — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
In 1981 Chilika (Odisha) and Keoladeo (Rajasthan).
In 1981 Chilika (Odisha) and Keoladeo (Rajasthan).