Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests

Coordinates: 24°14′N 94°0′E / 24.233°N 94.000°E / 24.233; 94.000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests ecoregion
View across the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests. This picture is from Pangsau Pass in the north-west of the ecoregion, on the border between India and Myanmar.
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
RealmIndomalayan
BiomeTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders
Geography
Area135,600 km2 (52,400 sq mi)
Countries
States
Coordinates24°14′N 94°0′E / 24.233°N 94.000°E / 24.233; 94.000
Conservation
Protected5.9%[1]

The Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests[2] is a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion which occupies the lower hillsides of the mountainous border region joining Bangladesh, China's Yunnan Province, India, and Myanmar. The ecoregion covers an area of 135,600 square kilometres (52,400 sq mi). Located where the biotas of the Indian Subcontinent and the Indochinese Peninsula meet, and in the transition between subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests are home to great biodiversity. The WWF rates the ecoregion as "Globally Outstanding" in biological distinctiveness.[3]

Geography and neighbouring ecoregions

The ecoregion is characterised by semi-evergreen rain forest, covering the lower elevations of the

Tongbiguan Natural Protection Area
(near the China–Myanmar border) might be a part of the ecoregion.

The Myanmar coastal rain forests occupy the coastal lowlands of Myanmar south and southwest of this ecoregion. To the west, the ecoregion borders the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion in the Khasi and Garo Hills, and the Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests in the Brahmaputra lowlands. The Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests extends up to the 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) elevation of the Chin Hills–Arakan Yoma range, and the Chin Hills–Arakan Yoma montane forests occupy the portion of the range above 1,000 metres (3,300 feet). As the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin forests extend east across Myanmar, they are bounded by the Irrawaddy moist deciduous forests of the Irrawaddy River basin in the south, the higher-elevation Northern Triangle subtropical forests in the north, and the Northern Indochina subtropical forests in the east. The Northeast India–Myanmar pine forests occupy the higher elevations of the Naga Hills along the Nagaland–Myanmar border, and are surrounded by the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests west, south and east.

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion is tropical and humid, although somewhat cooler than the adjacent lowlands. Rainfall comes mostly from the monsoon winds from the Bay of Bengal, and parts of the ecoregion can receive up to 2,000 millimetres (79 in) of rain per year.

Flora

The rain forests on the Naga Hills

In the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forest, the predominant plant community is semi-evergreen rain forest, which covers the vast majority of the ecoregion's intact area, a total of 36% of the ecoregion. Other plant communities include tropical wet evergreen forest (5% of the ecoregion's total area), tropical moist deciduous forest (2%), montane wet temperate forest (2%), and subtropical montane forest (1%). 19% of the ecoregion's area has been cleared, primarily for agriculture and grazing, and 34% of the ecoregion consists of degraded areas.[4]

The semi-evergreen rain forest is dominated by trees of the

  • Inside the rainforests
    Inside the rainforests
  • Rainforests in the Dampa Tiger Reserve Forest
    Rainforests in the Dampa Tiger Reserve Forest
  • Vines like the Shower Orchid are common
    Shower Orchid
    are common
  • Wild orange (citrus macroptera) is native to this ecoregion (Sylhet region)
    Wild orange (
    Sylhet region
    )
  • Trees of the banana-genus grows wild. This particular tree is unidentified.
    Trees of the banana-genus grows wild. This particular tree is unidentified.
  • Amla trees grows wild
    Amla trees grows wild
  • Silk-cotton tree (bombax ceiba) is one of many common tree types. In the forests, this tree can grow very large.
    Silk-cotton tree (bombax ceiba) is one of many common tree types. In the forests, this tree can grow very large.

Fauna

Hoolock gibbons are living in these forests.

The ecoregion is home to 149 known species of mammals. This includes two near-

capped leaf monkey (Semnopithecus pileatus), and hoolock gibbon (Hylobates hoolock).[3]

The ecoregion harbours 580 bird species,

wedge-billed wren-babbler (Sphenocichla humei).[6]

Protected areas

5.9% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. The protected areas include:[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rain forests". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 9 May 2022.
  2. ^ ‘Rain forest’ or ‘rainforest’?
  3. ^ a b c Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Island Press; Washington, DC. pp. 377–379
  4. ^ Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Island Press; Washington, DC. p 234
  5. ^ Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Island Press; Washington, DC. p 377
  6. ^ Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Island Press; Washington, DC. pp. 257–258

External links

  • "Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  • "Ecoregions 2017". Resolve.
    Geographical ecoregion maps and basic info.