Great variation in climatic conditions has given appearance to variety of forest types including tropical and sub-tropical forests in the Western Ghats and eastern Himalaya, temperate and alpine forests in central and western Himalaya and desertforests in the arid and semi-arid regions of the country. According to Forests Survey ofIndia (2003), about 6, 78,333 km2, constituting 20.64 per cent of its geographical area isunder forest cover in the country. Very dense forest (VDF) however accounts for only
1.56 per cent while the moderately dense forest (MDF) and open forest account for 10.32
per cent and 8.76 per cent respectively. The total forest and tree cover of the country isestimated to account for 23.68 per cent of the country’s land.
India contains a great wealth of biodiversity in its forests, wetlands and marine
areas. The country has 7 per cent of the mammals, 12.6 per cent birds, 6.2 per centreptiles, 4.4 per cent amphibians, 11.7 per cent fishes and 6 per cent flowing plants of theworld. Among plants, endemism is estimated as 33 per cent. India contains 172 species
1.56 per cent while the moderately dense forest (MDF) and open forest account for 10.32
per cent and 8.76 per cent respectively. The total forest and tree cover of the country isestimated to account for 23.68 per cent of the country’s land.
India contains a great wealth of biodiversity in its forests, wetlands and marine
areas. The country has 7 per cent of the mammals, 12.6 per cent birds, 6.2 per centreptiles, 4.4 per cent amphibians, 11.7 per cent fishes and 6 per cent flowing plants of theworld. Among plants, endemism is estimated as 33 per cent. India contains 172 species
