Uttarakhand is the state located at the foothills of the snow-clad Himalayas with lush green vegetation. There is a diverse range of flora and fauna habitat in Uttarakhand. The State has rich and diverse floral, faunal and microbial wealth including rare and threatened species of plants and animals.
Well known for the famous Jim Corbett National Park, one of the habitations of the flora and fauna in the state. The Royal Bengal Tigers are also found here. The Rajaji National Park which is a rainforest area is known for its Elephants and the Valley of Flowers National Park which is an alpine forest and has several herbs, shrubs, roses, and a variety of Rhododendrons.
Apart from these National Parks in the state, are the Nanda Devi National Park, Govind National Park, and Gangotri National Park. Such parks are habitats of a variety of wild animals like Tigers, Leopards, Langurs, and different species of Deers. Several birds are also found here, many of which are migratory birds.
From a Floral diversity point of view, Uttarakhand falls under the West Himalayan Biogeographic zone, situated in the lap of the Himalaya region, is rich in forest wealth that ranges from subtropical to Alpine types. The flora and vegetation of the state range from tropical deciduous to alpine vegetation; broadly categorized into three major types :
1. Sub-Tropical Zone of Uttarakhand -
This kind of forest zone lies between the altitude of 300 m and 1500 m and comprises of the following forest communities:
Sal Community:- This is a deciduous type of plant community that ranges from 300 m to 1000 m altitude. The tree species of this community are Semecarpus Anacardium, Haldu (Adina cordifolia), Bauhinia Vahlii, Madhuca Longifolia, Cassia Fistula, etc.
Chir / Pine Community:- This evergreen plant community is mainly found in dry hill slopes between 1200 m to 1800 m. The forest floor is often clear. However, Pyrus Pashia, Dalbergia Sericia, Caseana Elliptica, Syzygium Cumini are other species that grow with pine.
Vijaysar Community:- It is a deciduous type of plant community found in shady and wet places ranging from 800 m to 1500 m in altitudes. The trees Sapium Onsigne, Dalbergia Sissoo, Syzygium Cumini are few among other species.
Ramal Community:- This is a deciduous plant community mainly found on eroded slopes or riverine areas. This community has mainly Mallotus Philippinensis, Toona Serrata, etc plants.
Faliyal Oak Community:- This is an evergreen community found in shady and moist places up to 1500 meter altitude. The trees such as Pyrus Pashia, Emblica Officinalis, and shrubs Callicarpa Arborea, Rubus Ellipticus are the other associates of this community.
Chair Pine and Bany Oak Community:- This community is mainly found between the altitude of 1500 m to 1800 m. Myrica Esculenta, Rhododendron Arboreum, Pyrus Pashia, etc, are the other tree species of this community.
2. Sub-temperate forest of Uttarakhand -
The forest communities of this zone are generally found at 1800 m to 2800 m altitudes. The plant communities which belong to this zone are :
Deodar Community:- The evergreen communities of plants is found between 1800 m to 2200 m altitude. The shrubs which belong to this community are Rubus Ellipticus and Berberis Asiatica.
Utis Community:- This deciduous plant community is generally found between 1400 to 2200 m altitudes. Some of the important species of this community are Rubus Ellipticus and Betula Alnoides.
Horse chestnut Community:- This deciduous community occurs between 2000 and 2500 m altitudes. The species of trees which belong to this community are Betula Alnoides, Juglans Regia, and Litsea Umbrosa.
Kal Community:- This evergreen forest resides from 2100 meters to 2800 meters altitude.
Banj oak Community:- This is also an evergreen plant community found between 1800 m and 2200 m altitude.
Rianj Oak Community:- Same as above two this community is also evergreen and is found from 2000 to 2500 m in altitude. Myrica Esculenta, Betula Alnoides, Pyrus Pasia are among the other tree species of this community. This community also attains the same attitudinal range as mentioned for Banj Oak forest.
Tilonj oak Community:- This community occurs between 2200 m and 2700 m altitude. The co-dominant species of this forest are R.Arboreum, Lyonia Ovalifolia, Litsea Umbrosa, etc.
3. Sub Alpine and Alpine Forest of Uttarakhand -
The altitude above 3,000 meters is generally considered a zone of sub-alpine and alpine vegetation. The tree species are represented by Pinus Wallichiana, Abies pindrow, Prunus Cornuta, Acer Cesium, Betula Utilis (Bhoj Patra), and Salix sp. Species of the genera Cotoneaster, Rosa, Berberis, Ribes, Junipers, Rhododendron Anthropogenic, Rhododendron Campanulas are the shrubby components of the zone. The herbaceous vegetation is represented by many species of genera Po ten till, Primula, Aster, Saxifrage, Achaean, Delphinium, Polygonal, Corydalis, Pleurospermum, Meconopsis, Pedicularis, Saussurea, Rheum, Silene, etc. The Bugyals of this zone are well known for a rich and diversified flora. Plant species like Nardostachys grand flora (Jatamansi), Podophyllum hexandrum (Himalayan May-Apple, Papri), Picrorhiza kurrooa (Kutaki), Gentian Burro, Armenia Benthonic (Bal char), Rheum Moorcroftianum (Dole), Ephedra Gerardiana, Hatthajari, etc., common in this zone, are of immense medicinal value. The floral diversity is further exhibited by the species that grow in the rain shadow areas of Uttaranchal. Such species develop adaptive characters to survive the wrath of adverse climate. Labium rhomboid, Thylacospermum caespitosum, Acantholimon lycopodioides, Dracocephalum heterophyllum, etc. are a few such examples.
Faunal Diversity
A total of 4907 faunal species have been reported which include 3948 invertebrate fauna and 959 vertebrate fauna. The fauna exhibits an admixture of Oriental, Palaearctic, and Indomalayan elements. It is home to many endemic and threatened species of both vertebrates and invertebrates
Birds:
Black Drongo
Emerald Dove
Golden Eagle
Great Hornbill
Grey Francolin
Himalayan Monal
Indian Cuckoo
Indian Grey-Hornbill
Indian Roller
Little Green Bee-eater
Red Junglefowl
Spotted Dove
Parakeet
Robin
Blue-capped Rock Thrush
Uttrakhand is home to numerous endangered species, such as Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Tiger, Asian Elephant, Bharal, Himalayan Monal, Cheer Pheasant, and the King Cobra.
