(MLAR 213) Energy Efficient Landscape

Assignment - 04

Forests of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu (Western Ghats)

H.Hindu | 1200500098 | MSA – 2nd Year – III Sem | School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada.
Introduction - Geography Source : Geospatial assessment and monitoring of historical forest cover changes (1920–2012) in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, India

The Nilgiris, forming a part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve (NBR) in the Western
Ghats is home to moist, dry, evergreen and montane (shola) tropical forests. The
biosphere lies Between 10°50′N and 12°16′N latitude and 76°00′E to 77°15′E
longitude. It encompasses 5,520 sq.km and in the State of Tamil Nadu it covers an
area of 2537.6 sq.km in Karnataka it is spread over 1527.4 sq.km and in Kerala it is
NILGIRI 1455.4 sq.km. It forms an almost complete ring around the Nilgiri Plateau.

The Altitude within the NBR varies from 250 m to 2670 m. The Reserve includes all
the important forest types that are to be found in South India as well as some that are
Kotagiri
just peculiar to the belt are the Evergreen Forests, Semi Evergreen Forests, Moist
Ooty Deciduous Forests, Shola forests, Dry Deciduous forests, Dry Scrub Woodlands and
Grasslands. There are six Protected Areas within the reserve and still larger tracts of
Coonnor
forests that lie outside of these, known as Reserve Forests.

Map showing Western & Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu Map showing Nilgiris within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Tropical wet Tropical semi Tropical dry Tropical moist Montane (Shola) Percentage distribution of Forest area by Type in Tamil Nadu
evergreen forest evergreen forest Deciduous forest Deciduous forest temperate forests Source : Tamil Nadu State Action Plan for Climate Change
Diversity of Forests - Nilgiris
TROPICAL WET EVERGREEN FOREST

Characteristics :
• These forests form a major portion of the western part of the reserve and are characterized by giant trees,
multilayered species variation and luxuriant vegetation.
• The giant lofty trees can go upto a height of 150 feet or more and are oftern supported by huge buttresses.
• These trees offer refuge to a multitude of life forms including mosses, ferns, epiphytes, orchids, birds and
often small animals.

Climatic features :
The annual rainfall is more than 200 mm with a maximum of 4 -5 dry months, and the mean temperature
higher than 150 C throughout the year. The soil is loamy laterite.

Important Tree Species :

The main tree species present in this area are wild nutmeg (Myristica spp.), cinnamom (Cinnamonum spp.), cane Source :Google images
(Calamus spp.), Piper longum, Hopeaparvi flora, Artocarpus hirsuta, Syzygium cumini, zeylanicum.and other
herbs. This type of forest is present on the western ghats of Tirunelveli, Kanyakumarai, The Nilgiris and
Coimbatore districts on the upper slopes and top hills and sometimes on the steep slope of lower down.. Its
ecology is that of the Cullenia-Mesua-Paaquim series.

Myristica spp – Wild Mug Hopeaparviflora Artocarpus hirsuta Syzygiumcumini

Source : https://studyrocket.co.uk/revision/gcse-geography-b-edexcel/forests-
under-threat/what-are-tropical-biomes-like
 Diversity of Forests - Nilgiris
TROPICAL SEMI - EVERGREEN FOREST
Characteristics :
• These forests are moist and occur as a transition zone between the Evergreen Forests and the Moist
Deciduous Forests. This type occurs on slopes of hills and mountains usually up to 1000 m. Canopy are
of two or three storeys.
• The trees are slightly lower in height as compared to Evergreen Forests. They are usually found in the
lower or more accessible regions of the Evergreen Forests. Buttressed trees are quite common, lianas are
also abundant.
• There are 2 possible transition zones for these forests – either they secondary forests moving towards the
evergreen climax or they are the degraded forms of the Evergreen Forests.

Climatic features :
Annual rainfall is 200-250 cm. Mean annual temperature varies from 24°C to 27°C. The relative humidity
is about 75%. The dry season is not short like in tropical evergreen forests.

Important Tree Species :

In some degraded areas around habitations, bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea) and sandalwood (Santanalis
spp.) are also found. Lagerstroemia lanceolata is the predominant deciduous species. The other main species
are Bischofia javanica, Calophylum polyanthum, Tetrameles nudiflora, Terminalia paniculata, Hopea
parviflora, Artocarpus gomezianus and Dalbergia sissoides. This forest type present in Coimbatore, Tirunelvei
and Kanyakumari districts between western tropical evergreen and the moist deciduous type with mixture of
occasionalevergreen and abundant moist deciduous tree species.

Source :Google images

. Lagerstroemia lanceolata Tetrameles nudiflora Terminalia paniculata Artocarpus gomezianus
Diversity of Forests - Nilgiris
TROPICAL MOIST DECIDUOUS FORESTS

Characteristics :
• This type of forest lies below the zone of semi evergreen and evergreen forests. The trees reach a height
of 25 - 30 m and are deciduous.
• The undergrowth includes many evergreen shrubs and small trees.
• Buttresses, lianas and dense undergrowth are common. Some species are common to the dry
deciduous forest type also.

Climatic features :
Rainfall is around 3000 - 4000 mm with a dry season of 3-4 months. The soil is generally red lateritic loam.

Important Tree Species :

It is classified as moist deciduous teak type and under this, the Tectona–Dillenia–Lagerstroemia
lanceolata–Terminalia paniculata series. The common trees include Tetrameles
nudiflora, Steriospermum personatum, Dysoxylum binectariferum, Ficus nevosa, Ficus
glomerata, Pterocarpus marsupium, Salmalia malabarica, Terminalia bellerica, Terminalia tomentosa.
Bamboos are common. Bombax ceiba, Dillenia pentagyna, Mitragyna parviflora are the common trees. Source :Google images

Steriospermum personatum Dysoxylum binectariferum Ficus nevosa Mitragyna parviflora

Diversity of Forests - Nilgiris
TROPICAL DRY DECIDUOUS FOREST

Characteristics :
• These forests are found at about 400 m and above. These are similar to moist deciduous forests and
shed their leaves in dry season.
• The major difference is that they can grow in areas of comparatively less rainfall.
• They represent a transitional type – moist deciduous on the wetter side and thorn forests on the drier side.
• They have closed but uneven canopy.
• The forests are composed of a mixture of a few species of deciduous trees rising up to a height of 20
metres. Undergrowth: Enough light reaches the ground to permit the growth of grass and climbers.

Climatic features :
Annual rainfall is less than 150 cm and dry periods are relatively long. Mean Humidity is 75%. On the water
margins, it has a transition to the moist deciduous., while on the drier margins to thorn forests.

Important Tree Species :

They occur in an irregular wide strip running from the foot of the Himalayas to Kanniyakumari mainly in
Western Ghats. The common trees are Albizzia amara, Anogeissus latifolia, Butea monosperma and
Terminalia spp., teak, axlewood, rosewood, common bamboo, red sanders, laurel, satinwood etc.

Albizzia amara Anogeissus latifolia Butea monosperma Rose Wood

Diversity of Forests - Nilgiris
MONTANE (SHOLA) TEMPERATE FOREST
Characteristics :
• The montane forest mostly confined to moist and sheltered valleys, glens and hollows as in the
Anamalais, Nilgiri and Palani at above 1800 - 3000 m. they are known in Tamil as ‘sholas’. The trees
are evergreen and usually short boled.
• The trees are short to medium height (7-20 m), have small dense leaves and make a thick canopy.
• There is a thick concentration of mosses and ferns. They have a high water retention capacity.
• They are also classified as the Shola Montane forest type due to their slow growth, high susceptibility
and confined geographical area – they are referred to as `Living Fossils’.
• They are accompanied by grasslands and are frequently the origin of most of the rivers of the zone.

Climatic features :
The average rainfall is around 1000-1200 m with a maximum dry season of not more than one month. the
mean annual temperature is about 11 °C to 14°C and the average relative humidity is over 80%

Important Tree Species :

Sholas are found intensively in the Nilgiri South Division and adjacent areas of Kerala in the upper reaches of
Silent Valley, Attapadi and New Amarambalam. They are also highly concentrated in the Western catchment
area, forming part of the Mukurthi National Park. The main trees in this forest are Michellia
niligarica, Bischofia javanica, Calophyllum tomentosa, Cedrela toona, Eugenia spp., Ficus glomerata,
Mallotus spp., Rhododendron spp., Machilus macarantha, Litea spp., Ilex denticulate, I.wigtiana, Syzygium
spp., are the common trees.

Calophyllum Machilus
tomentosa macarantha

Michellianiligarica Syzygiumaqueum Cedrela toona

References

1. Geospatial assessment and monitoring of historical forest cover changes (1920–2012) in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, India
2. https://www.forests.tn.gov.in/app/webroot/img/document/publications/gotn/Wild%20TN_final.pdf
3. https://www.forests.tn.gov.in/tnforest/app/webroot/img/document/TamilNadu-State-of-Forest-Report-2017_optimize.pdf
4. https://www.forests.tn.gov.in/tnforest/app/webroot/img/document/Tamilnadu-Publications/3.pdf
5. https://www.pmfias.com/forests-natural-vegetation-of-india-classification-of-natural-vegetation-of-india/
6. https://studyrocket.co.uk/revision/gcse-geography-b-edexcel/forests-under-threat/what-are-tropical-biomes-like

Thank you.
H.Hindu | 1200500098 | MSA – 2nd Year – III Sem
School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada.