Consider the following States:

1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Mizoram

In which of the above States do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, and 3

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• The Tropical Wet Evergreen forests are primarily found in the following regions of India:
  • Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  • Western Ghats (along the western coast of India)
  • North-eastern states (including Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh)
• Climatic Conditions:
  • Annual rainfall exceeds 250 cm.
  • The annual temperature is about 25-27 °C.
  • The dry season is distinctly short.
• Characteristics:
  • Evergreen Trees: Due to high heat and high humidity, the trees of these forests do not shed their leaves together.
  • Vegetation is mesophytic: Plants are adapted to neither too dry nor too wet type climate or soil.
  • Lofty: The trees often reach 45-60 metres in height.
  • Thick Canopy: From the air, the tropical rainforest appears like a thick canopy of foliage. All plants struggle upwards for sunlight, resulting in a peculiar layer arrangement.
  • Less undergrowth: The sunlight cannot reach the ground due to thick canopy. The undergrowth is formed mainly of bamboo, ferns, climbers, orchids, etc.
  • The timber of these forests is fine-grained, hard, and durable but is hard to exploit. The important species of these forests are mahogany, mesua, white cedar, jamun, canes, bamboo, etc.
• Himachal Pradesh is situated in the northern Himalayan region of India. Owing to its high altitude, the state experiences a temperate to alpine climate, which is not suitable for the growth of Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests.

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium