The forest region of the state that encompasses the relentless chain of the Western Ghats is of vital importance. The Western Ghats is considered as one of the 18 hotspots of the biodiversity of the world. This region is an abode of striking biodiversity, unusual and endangered flora and fauna that is endemic to Kerala. Since ages these thick woods have been a source of subsistence of the people of Kerala in the form of ecotourism, rare herbs of medicinal value, wood, natural cosmetics and large assortment of other forest wealth.
The forested area in the state of Kerala is 10,336 sq.km and consists of 26.6% of the total geographic area. The per capita wooded region is 0.04 ha.
The types of forested region in Kerala are-
The wild regions of tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests lie at the low and mid altitudes of 3,470 km², tropical moist and dry deciduous forests grow in the mid elevations-4,100 km² and 100 km² respectively and subtropical and temperate (shola) forests occur at the highest altitudes-100 km², occupying about 24% of the state’s landmass.
The windward slopes of Eastern Kerala enclose tropical wet forests and tropical dry forests. Flora like giant sonokeling , Indian rosewood( Dalbergia latifolia), mullumurikku (Erthrina), anjili (Artocarpus hirsuta) and varied species of caussia form the part of dense vegetation of the extensive terrain.
The sylvan woods of Kerala nurtures the growth of more than 1, 000 species or trees and plants and includes the wild spice plants like black pepper (Piper nigrum) and cardamom. Bamboo, the aromatic Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) and the gigantic grass calamus rattan palm (Calamus rotang) are all endemic to Kerala.
The wild Silver Oak is used in plywood industry and also adds to the state’s economy.
The Eucalyptus grandis, a smaller variety of the eucalyptus and casts a spell in the atmosphere with its fragrant smell. Eucalyptus oil is extracted from its leaves and thus has a commercial significance. Teak plantation occupies about 20,864 hectares of the reserve forest. Above all there are a large number of species of medicinal herbs which has made Kerala famous.
The rich wildlife of Kerala includes the endangered Nilgiri Tahr(Nilgiritragus hylocrius),, Leopard (Panthera pardus), Elephant (Elephas maximus), Asian Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris), Giant Squirrel (Protoxerus stangeri), Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus), Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Flying Squirrel, Gaur commonly called the "Indian Bison", Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus (Ursus), ), Gray Langur, Gray Wolf (Canus lupus), Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), Boar (Sus scrofa), primates and so on inhabit the natural sanctuaries within the forests.
The freshwater lakes within the forest houses the king cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah) python, turtles, varied species of fishes, insects and crocodiles.
The colorful and beautiful birds in the forests include Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Indian Grey Hornbill, Oriental Darter, Black-hooded Oriole, Alexandrine Parakeet, Peafowl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger), Indian Cormorant, Greater Racket-tailed and Black Drongoes, a large number of ducks and migratory birds and 500 species of birds.
There are approximately 320 species of butterflies, 136 species of dragonflies in Kerala’s 12 Wild life Sanctuaries and 2 National parks in the forests.
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