Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests

Coordinates: 24°48′N 75°48′E / 24.8°N 75.8°E / 24.8; 75.8[1]
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests
Northwestern thorn scrub forests
  • Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests
    • Geography
    Area265,995 km2 (102,701 sq mi)
    CountryIndia
    states
    Coordinates24°48′N 75°48′E / 24.8°N 75.8°E / 24.8; 75.8[1]
    Conservation
    Conservation statuscritical/endangered
    Protected11,335 km² (4%)[2]

    The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests (also Kathiarbar-Gir or Kathiawar-Gir) is a mostly

    dry deciduous forests in the region are dominated by teak, and thorny trees and scrub in drier areas.[3]

    Landscape

    The Aravalli Range is part of this ecoregion

    The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests include the

    Northwestern thorn scrub forests
    in the west. In the west is the Kathiawar Peninsula and the strip of western Rajasthan between the Aravalli Range and Thar Desert. To the northwest, the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests transit to the Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests. To the southeast lies the Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests, of the Vindhya Range, and the Narmada River Valley. The ecoregion also borders the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests in southeastern Gujarat.[citation needed]

    The ecoregion has a

    southwest monsoon and little for the remaining months of the year, while temperatures often exceed 40 °C. Higher elevations of the Aravallis stay cooler, and the windward slopes (generally southeast-facing) receive higher rainfall. This results in a dry landscape of thorny scrub, bare trees and rocks.[3]

    Flora

    A silk-cotton tree in full bloom

    The composition of the ecoregion's forests varies with moisture and soil. They have a three-storied structure, with the top story reaching 15 to 25 m (49 to 82 ft). Arid areas are dominated by

    Commiphora mukul, Wrightia tinctoria, Flueggea leucopyrus, Grewia species, occur on rocky Aravalli hillsides and in degraded areas. The endemic species Dicliptera abuensis, Strobilanthes halbergii, and Veronica anagallis also grow in these areas. Date palms (Phoenix sylvestris) and fig trees (Ficus racemosa) grow near rivers and streams of the hills.[3]

    Fauna

    Bird species include the:[3]

    The protected areas of this region are also home to 80 mammal species including[3]

    • Bengal tiger in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
      Bengal tiger in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
    • Male Asiatic lion in Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat
      Male Asiatic lion in Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat
    • Indian leopard at Gir
      Indian leopard at Gir
    • Striped hyena
      Striped hyena
    • Golden jackal in the area of Rajkot
      Golden jackal in the area of Rajkot
    • An Indian sloth bear walking on the road in Ratan Mahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary
      An Indian sloth bear walking on the road in Ratan Mahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary
    • Mugger crocodile at Gir
      Mugger crocodile at Gir
    • Great Indian bustard at the Naliya grasslands, Kutch
      Great Indian bustard at the Naliya grasslands,
      Kutch
    • White-naped tit foraging on Prosopis juliflora at Kutch
      White-naped tit foraging on Prosopis juliflora at Kutch
    • A female lesser florican in flight from Rajasthan
      A female lesser florican in flight from Rajasthan

    Threats to biodiversity

    The human population in the region is growing, and wildlife habitats have mostly been removed or degraded due to collection of firewood and timber, and use as grazing land for livestock.[citation needed]

    Protected areas

    Protected areas cover 8,980 km2 (3,470 sq mi) in this ecoregion, and include:[3]

    See also

    • Ecoregions of India

    References

    1. ^ World Database on Protected Areas (2019). "Darrah in India". Protected Planet United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre.[permanent dead link]
    2. ^ Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [1]
    3. ^ a b c d e f "Khathiar-Gir Dry Deciduous Forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
    4. ^ Pathak, B. J. (1990). "Rusty-spotted Cat Felis rubiginosa Geoffroy: a new record for Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (87): 8.
    5. doi:10.11609/jott.o3954.6927-33
      .
    6. ^ Jhala, Y. V.; Qureshi, Q.; Sinha, P. R., eds. (2011). Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India, 2010. TR 2011/003 pp-302 (PDF). New Delhi, Dehradun: National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India, and Wildlife Institute of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2012.
    7. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.02.009
      .
    8. ^ Garshelis, D. L.; Joshi, A. R.; Smith, J. L. D. & Rice, C. G. "Sloth Bear Conservation Action Plan". Bears: status survey and conservation action plan (PDF). Gland: IUCN. pp. 225–240. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.

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