By Sucharita Dutta-Asane

Green cover. That is essentially what forests mean to Earth, its sustenance, its life support system, the source of all its natural wealth. It cleans the air we breathe shelters wild life and sustains the food chain. India is one of the 12 mega diversity hotspots of the world. Indian forests are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, but with rapid deforestation and shedding of the green cover, this natural wealth stands endangered.

What decides forest type?
The most crucial factors in deciding forest types are primarily soil and climate, composition of trees and of course the topographical characteristics of a place. Ladakh will not have the same forest type that Kerala will.

Different types of forests have different compositions. Coniferous forests will have trees with particular leaf and shedding patterns, similar fruit types and wildlife as apart from the deciduous or rain forest.