UPSC Prelims 2015 Question:

Consider the following States:

1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Mizoram
   
   

In which of the above States do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?

Explanation:

• • Tropical wet evergreen forests are found in the western slope of the Western Ghats, hills of the northeastern region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They are found in warm and humid areas with an annual precipitation of over 200 cm and mean annual temperature above 22 degree Celsius. They are well stratified, with layers closer to the ground and are covered with shrubs and creepers, with short structured trees followed by a tall variety of trees. In these forests, trees reach great heights up to 60 m or above. There is no definite time for trees to shed their leaves, flowering and fruition. As such these forests appear green all the year round. Species found in these forests include rosewood, mahogany, aini, ebony, etc.
    
    
  • Evergreen forests can be found in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra on the eastern and western slopes of the Western Ghats. Along with being present in West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. So, points 1 and 3 are correct.
    
    

• In Himachal Pradesh, at different altitudes, the vegetation ranges from alpine pastures to dry scrub forests. Different vegetational zones, including Mixed Deciduous Forests, bamboo, chir pine, oak, deodar, kail, fir, and spruce can be found between these two extremes. So, point 2 is not correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Geography | Indian Physical Environment