In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) Tropical moist deciduous forest
(b) Tropical rain forest
(c) Tropical thorn scrub forest
(d) Temperate forest with grasslands
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- Tropical moist deciduous forests are present in the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Odisha, and on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
- They are commonly known as Monsoon Forests due to their characteristics.
- The average rainfall in these forests ranges from 100 to 200 cms, and the trees shed their leaves during the spring season.
- Teak is the most dominant species of this forest type, with commercially important species such as Bamboos, Sal, Shisham, sandalwood, Kusum, Arjun, and mulberry also present.
- Teak is one of the most crucial timber trees in India and Southeast Asia, and it is primarily found in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
