Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:45, 26 November 2006

Latest revision as of 05:52, 15 August 2025

(81 intermediate revisions by 38 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Ecoregion in Nepal, India, and Bhutan}}

The '''Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests''' is a [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|subtropical moist broadleaf forest]] [[terrestrial ecoregion|ecoregion]] of [[India]], [[Nepal]], and [[Bhutan]].

{{Infobox ecoregion-stub}}

| name = Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests

| image = sal_forest_leofleck.jpg

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Sal forest in [[Chitwan National Park]]

| map = Ecoregion IM0115.png

| map_size =

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Ecoregion territory (in purple)

| biogeographic_realm = [[Indomalayan realm|Indomalayan]]

| biome = [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]

| border1 = [[Himalayan subtropical pine forests]]

| border2 = [[Western Himalayan broadleaf forests]]

| border3 = [[Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests]]

| border4 = [[Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests]]

| border5 = [[Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands]]

| area = 38200

| country = [[Bhutan]]

| country1 = [[India]]

| country2 = [[Nepal]]

| bird_species = 343<ref name = "Atlas">

{{cite book |author1=Hoekstra, J. M. |author2=Molnar, J. L. |author3=Jennings, M. |author4=Revenga, C. |author5=Spalding, M. D. |author6=Boucher, T. M. |author7=Robertson, J. C. |author8=Heibel, T. J. |author9=Ellison, K. |title=The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |editor=Molnar, J. L. |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-520-26256-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/atlasofglobalcon0000unse |url-access=registration }}</ref>

| mammal_species = 148<ref name = "Atlas"/>

| habitat_loss = 81.553

| habitat_loss_ref = <ref name = "Atlas"/>

| protected = 6.77

| protected_ref = <ref name = "Atlas"/>

}}

The '''Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests''' is an [[terrestrial ecoregion|ecoregion]] which extends along the southern foothills of the [[Himalayas]] through [[Nepal]], [[India]], [[Bhutan]]. It is an east–west-directed band of [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|subtropical broadleaf forest]] at an elevation of between {{convert|500|and|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}} along the [[Siwaliks|Outer Himalayan Range]]. It stretches from the middle hills of central Nepal, extending into the Indian states of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Bihar]] along the Nepalese border, through eastern Nepal, [[Darjeeling District]] of India's [[West Bengal]] state, and Bhutan. It includes several forest types traversing an east to west moisture gradient.<ref name="HSBF02">Rawat, G. S., Wikramanayake, E. D. (2002) [https://books.google.com/books?id=_VGRBWqIG2gC&pg=PA332 ''Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests''] In: Wikramanayake, E. D. (ed.) ''Terrestrial ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a conservation assessment''. Island Press</ref>

==Setting==

The ecoregions covers an area of 38,200 square kilometers (14,700 square miles), which runs in a narrow band across the central [[Himalaya]] range, lying between 500 and 1000 meters elevation. At lower elevations, the subtropical broadleaf forests are bounded by the [[Terai-Duar savannas and grasslands]]. Above 1000 meters, the broadleaf forests yield to the [[Himalayan subtropical pine forests]].

==Geography==

The ecoregion covers an area of {{convert|38200|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}} and is bisected by the [[Kali Gandaki River]], which has gouged the world's deepest river valley through the [[Himalaya]]n Range. It forms a critical link in the chain of interconnected Himalayan ecosystems, where elevational connectivity between the habitat types is important for ecosystem function. The soil is composed of [[alluvium]] deposited over the ages by the rivers that drain this young mountain range.<ref name="HSBF02"/>

Above {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}}, the broadleaf forests transition to the [[Himalayan subtropical pine forests]]. At lower elevations the ecoregion is flanked by the [[Terai-Duar savannas and grasslands]] and the tropical monsoon forests of the [[Gangetic Plain]].

==Climate==

Rainfall varies from east to west, but annual rainfall can be as much as {{convert|2000|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The Himalayas capture moisture from the [[monsoon]]s that sweep in from the [[Bay of Bengal]], and most of this rainfall is expended in the eastern Himalayas. Therefore, the western Himalayas are drier, a trend reflected in the timberline that declines from {{convert|4000|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the east to about {{convert|3500|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the west.<ref name="HSBF02"/>

==Flora==

The ecoregion hosts a broad range of plant communities, based on its complex topography, differing soils, and variations in rainfall from the drier west to the more humid east. Its ___location on the south slope of the Himalaya allows the intermingling of plants and animals from the [[Indomalaya]]n and [[Palearctic]] [[ecozonebiogeographic realm]]s. Predominant tree species include [[Shorea robusta|sal]] (''Shorea robusta'') and species of ''[[Terminalia (plant)|Terminalia]], [[Bauhinia]], [[Schima]]'', and ''[[Castanopsis]]'', which are typical of Asian moist subtropical and tropical forests. Trees grow to 30 meters in height and up to 50 meters in favorable conditions. Climbers and epiphytes are common in the humid forests.<ref name = oneearth>{{cite web |last1=Wikramanayake |first1=Eric |title=Himalayan Subtropical Broadleaf Forests |url=https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/himalayan-subtropical-broadleaf-forests/ |website=One Earth |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref> The main forest types include ''[[Dodonaea]]'' scrub, subtropical dry evergreen forests of ''[[Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata]]|''Olea europaea'' subsp. ''cuspidata'']], northern dry mixed deciduous forests, dry [[Siwalik]] [[Sal tree|sal]] (''(Shorea robusta)'') forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, subtropical broadleaf wet hill forests, northern tropical semi-evergreen forests, and northern tropical wet evergreen forests.<ref name="HSBF02"/>

==Fauna==

Several mammalmammals native to the ecoregion are [[Threatened species|threatened]], including the [[Bengal tiger]] ''(Panthera tigris)'', [[AsianElephas maximus indicus|Indian elephant]] ''(Elephas maximus)'', [[Smoothsmooth-coated Otterotter]] ''(Lutrogale perspicillata)'', [[CloudedNeofelis Leopardnebulosa|clouded leopard]] ''(Pardofelis nebulosa)'', [[Gaur]] ''(Bos gaurus)''|gaur]], [[NemorhaedusCapricornis sumatraensis|MainlandSumatran Serowserow]] ''(Nemorhaedus sumatraensis)'', [[Callosciurus pygerythrus|Irrawaddy Squirrelsquirrel]] ''(Callosciurus pygerythrus)'', and [[ParticolouredHylopetes Flyingalboniger|particoloured Squirrelflying squirrel]] ''(Hylopetes alboniger)''. The rare [[GoldenEndemic Langur(ecology)|endemic]] monkey ''([[Trachypithecus geei)''|golden liveslangur]] is distributed in a small range and limited to the easternbroadleaf partforest north of the ecoregion,[[Brahmaputra River]]. The bird fauna is very rich with itsmore rangethan extending340 intospecies. The [[Arborophila mandellii|chestnut-breasted partridge]] is [[Endemism in birds|endemic]]; the adjacentglobally threatened [[EasternCairina Himalayanscutulata|white-winged broadleafwood forestsduck]] and five [[hornbill]] species are found here.<ref name="HSBF02"/>

==Protected areas==

340 species of birds inhabit the ecoregion, with one [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] species, the [[Chestnut-breasted Partridge]] ''(Arborophila mandellii)''.

Eight protected areas extend into this ecoregion covering {{convert|2710|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, which is about 7% of the ecoregion's area:<ref name="HSBF02"/>

*in India: [[Sohagi Barwa Sanctuary]] and [[Valmiki National Park]];

*in Nepal: [[Bardia National Park]], [[Chitwan National Park]], [[Parsa National Park]];

[[Parsa*in Wildlife Reserve]], [[Royal Chitwan National Park]], [[Royal Bardia National Park]], andBhutan: [[Royal Manas National Park]] in Nepal, and [[Khaling/Neoli Wildlife Sanctuary]] and [[Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary]] in Bhutan.

Two high-priority [[Bengal tiger|tiger]] conservation units (TCU) extend across adjacent ecoregions:<ref>Wikramanayake, E.D., Dinerstein, E., Robinson, J.G., Karanth, K.U., Rabinowitz, A., Olson, D., Mathew, T., Hedao, P., Connor, M., Hemley, G., Bolze, D. (1999) [http://www.savethetigerfund.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home1&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=648 ''Where can tigers live in the future? A framework for identifying high-priority areas for the conservation of tigers in the wild''] {{dead link|date=November 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. In: Seidensticker, J., Christie, S., Jackson, P. (eds.) ''Riding the Tiger. Tiger Conservation in human-dominated landscapes.'' Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. hardback {{ISBN|0-521-64057-1}}, paperback {{ISBN|0-521-64835-1}}</ref>

==Conservation==

*Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki TCU covers a {{convert|3549|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} huge block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests;

Approximately 7% of the ecoregion lies within protected areas. The eight protected areas that cover part of the ecoregion are [[Sohagabarwa]] and [[Valmikinagar]] in India,

*Bardia-Banke TCU covers {{convert|1518|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.

[[Parsa Wildlife Reserve]], [[Royal Chitwan National Park]], [[Royal Bardia National Park]], and [[Royal Manas National Park]] in Nepal, and [[Khaling/Neoli Wildlife Sanctuary]] and [[Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary]] in Bhutan.

==External linkReferences==

{{Reflist}}

[http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/im/im0115_full.html Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests (World Wildlife Fund)]

==External links==

* {{WWF ecoregion|name=Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests|id=im0115}}

[[Category:Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests| ]]

{{ecoregion-stub}}

[[Category: Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]] [[Category: Indomalaya]] [[Category: Ecoregions of IndiaAsia]]

[[Category:Ecoregions of Bhutan]]

[[Category:Ecoregions of the Himalayas]]

[[Category:Ecoregions of India]]

[[Category:Ecoregions of Nepal]]

[[Category:Flora of Bhutan|*]]

[[Category:Flora of East Himalaya|*]]

[[Category:Flora of Nepal|*]]

[[Category:Forests of India]]

[[Category:Himalayan forests]]

[[Category:Indomalayan ecoregions]]

[[Category:Subtropical rainforests]]

[[Category:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]

[[Category:Forests of Nepal]]