Maharashtra: Vegetation
Plants
Thorny savanna-like vegetation occurs in areas of lesser rainfall, notably in upland Maharashtra. Subtropical vegetation is found on higher plateaus that receive heavy rain and have milder temperatures. Bamboo, chestnut, and magnolia are common. In the semiarid tracts, wild dates are found. Mangrove vegetation occurs in marshes and estuaries along the coast.
Insufficient rainfall in much of Maharashtra constitutes the main obstacle to agriculture in the state. Measures to combat food deficits have included the electrification of irrigation pumps, the use of hybrid seeds, more efficient cultivation, and incentives offered to farmers. Maharashtra is the largest producer of sugarcane in India. Jowar (grain sorghum), millet, and pulses (legumes) dominate the
cropped area. Rice grows where rainfall exceeds 40 inches (1,000 mm), and wheat is a winter crop in fields that retain moisture. Cotton, tobacco, and peanuts (groundnuts) are major crops in areas with heavy rainfall. Mangoes, cashew nuts, bananas, and oranges are popular orchard crops.
Forests
Western Ghats of India cover numerous highlands ranging from Bombay south to the southern tip of the peninsula. The states covered are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. These areas comprise important Tropical Evergreen Forests of India. For this reason, the region faces great conservation concern. Forests in Maharashtra are an important part of the western ghat plane.
Maharashtra’s western ghat is a land of eco-diversity. The state is known for dissimilar climatic conditions and dynamic topographic. It’s rich flora and fauna perfectly reflects the diversity of climate and the geography. The topography of the region varies from arid desert and tropical rain forest to mountain range over 4000 feet in altitude.
With changing circumstances the ecosystem of Maharashtra’s Western Ghats face a threat from growing population and unabated development measures. Recent time has seen a major increase in open forest due to the degradation of dense forest. This increasing trend has been perpetually affecting the forests in a negative way for the past 25 years.
Today, recorded forests cover approximately one fifth of Maharashtra’s geographical area. This is about 20.1%. In 2009, India State of Forest Report stated, Maharashtra’s recorded forest area is 61,939 km2. Of which, 79.47% constitute reserved forests while protected forest’s make up13.23%. Unclassed Forests comprise 7.30 % of the total forest area. Trees cover an area of about 9,466 km2 which is 3.08%.
Forests Types in Maharashtra: Extremely dense forests cover an area
of 8,739 km2. Area covered by different forests types:- Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forest covers 7.73%.
- Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest covers 29.84%.
- Littoral and Swamp Forest covers 0.08%
- Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest covers 57.41%
- Tropical Thorn Forest covers 1.02%
- Subtropical Broadleaved Hill Forest covers 1.54%
A number of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and project tiger reserves have been developed in the state to conserve its rich bio-diversity.
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