Himalayan subtropical pine forests
Himalayan subtropical pine forests | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Indomalayan |
Biome | Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests |
Borders | List
|
Bird species | 469[1] |
Mammal species | 162[1] |
Geography | |
Area | 76,200 km2 (29,400 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Conservation | |
Habitat loss | 86.65%[1] |
Protected | 4.09%[1] |
The Himalayan subtropical pine forests are a large subtropical coniferous forest ecoregion covering portions of Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Geography
This huge pine forest stretches for 3000 km across the lower elevations of the great
Flora
The predominant flora of the ecoregion is a thin woodland of drought-resistant Pinus roxburghii trees with a ground cover of thick grass, as regular fires do not allow a shrubby undergrowth to establish itself. The ground cover consists of Arundinella setosa, cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) and Themeda anathera.
Pine forest mainly grows on south-facing slopes although in western Nepal there are areas facing in other directions. Some of the larger areas can be found in the lower elevations of
Fauna
Although there is not a rich variety of wildlife here when compared to tropical rainforest for example the region is important habitat, especially for birds. Wildlife includes
Conservation
These habitats are vulnerable to logging for firewood or conversion to grazing or farmland and more than half the area has been cleared or degraded which then allows the mountain water to wash away the soil quickly. The most profound changes can be seen in central and eastern Nepal, where the forest has been cleared for terrace farming. The protected areas of pine forest are small but include part of the larger Jim Corbett National Park.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d
Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; Revenga, C.; Spalding, M. D.; Boucher, T. M.; Robertson, J. C.; Heibel, T. J.; Ellison, K. (2010). Molnar, J. L. (ed.). The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference. ISBN 978-0-520-26256-0.
- ^ "Himalayan subtropical pine forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
External links
- "Himalayan subtropical pine forests Ecoregion". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.