India has 5 different types of forests: 

1. Moist Tropical, 

2. Dry Tropical, 

3. Montane Sub-Tropical, 

4. Montane Temperate,

5. Alpine.

These correspond roughly to zones of heavy monsoon, dry tropics, lower Himalayas, temperate Himalayas, and high mountains.

Champion & Seth system: Champion and Seth (1968) classified India's forests into five major groups (sometimes referred to with a sixth for subalpine), organized into 16 type groups and over 200 sub-types.

1. Moist Tropical Forests  

Temperatures are uniformly warm and rainfall is abundant in these areas. The moist tropical forests have the following important sub-types.  

1. Tropical Wet Evergreen (Rainforest)  

i)These forests need extremely warm and very high rainfall (exceeding 250 cm annually).  

ii)Dominating trees are tall and remain green all year, having multilayered canopies and richly developed epiphytes.  

iii)Distribution: This type of rainforest is found in the Western Ghats (Kerala, Karnataka) and the windward stations of Ghats, northeastern hills (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.  

iv)Key trees include: Mahogany, white cedar, mesua (cuddapah rosewood), jamun, canes and bamboo.

2. Tropical Semi-Evergreen: 

i)These are a transitional mix of evergreen and deciduous trees.

ii)They need moderate to high rainfall (200–250 cm) and temperature (24–27°C).

iii)Distribution: They are found often on edges of rainforests (eastern slopes of Western Ghats, lower Himalayan foothills in Assam, Arunachal, and coastal Odisha). 

iv)Key trees: Mixed laurel, rosewood, mesua, thorny bamboo, champa, some mango. These have a lush understorey but shed leaves seasonally.

3. Tropical Moist Deciduous (Monsoon Forest): 

i)These are most widespread in India.  

ii)They need rainfall around 100–200 cm with a clear dry season.  

iii)The trees shed leaves in dry months.  

iv)Distribution: Central and eastern India (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam), eastern slopes of Western Ghats, and NE hill states.  

v)Key trees: Teak, sal (Shorea robusta), laurel, rosewood, amla, jamun, bamboo, etc.

4. Littoral and Swamp (Mangroves): 

1. These are distinctive ecosystems that can withstand saline and brackish water.  

2. These ecosystems are found along coastal areas and delta regions.  

3. The largest area is Sundarbans in West Bengal and other major mangroves include Bhitarkanika in Odisha, Sundaranchal in Tamil Nadu, and the Godavari-Krishna delta situated in Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu.  

4. In terms of prominent species, the Heritiera fomes is the most notable mangrove (comprising about 70% of the trees in the Sundarbans), along with Avicennia, Rhizophora, Sonneratia, and others.

2. Dry Tropical Forests

These occur in areas where there is less rainfall and more prolonged dry periods, albeit with some tree cover. Dry tropical forests have less rainfall and extended dry spells, but these also have tree cover. 

1. Tropical Dry Evergreen:

   1. They are discontinuous patches of evergreen forest along the Indian east coast. 

   2. They require about 100 cm of rainfall and their vegetation cover is predominantly green throughout the year. 

   3. Where are these found? Coastal Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (e.g. Chennai–Cuddalore belt). 

   4. Examples of these trees include Jamun, tamarind, and neem, among others. These forests are also physically smaller than rainforests. 

2. Tropical Dry Deciduous:

   1. These types of forests require between 100 and 150 cm of rainfall and have prolonged dry periods. 

   2. These are mostly found in the interior of peninsular India. 

   3. Where are these found? Central India (north of the Deccan plateau) to the south (Tamil Nadu) with large portions of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and northern UP (outside arid zones) in the south. 

   4. Examples of these trees are teak, bamboo, sandalwood, axlewood, tendu (Diospyros), and many more. 

3. Tropical Thorn (Scrub):

   1. Very dry areas (<75 cm rainfall) are characterized by thorny, drought-resisting plants. 

   2. Unlike moist forests, thorn forests have open canopies and sparse foliage. 

   3. Where are these found? arid northwest (Rajasthan, Gujarat, western Haryana/Punjab) and also rain-shadow pockets of southern India (parts of Deccan plateau, interior Tamil Nadu). 

   4. Examples of these trees are Babul (Acacia), khejri (Prosopis), cacti, euphorbia, and other drought resistant shrubs.

3. Montane Sub-Tropical Forests

These lower Himalayan forests (approximately 1000 m - 2000 m) are cooler than the plains but they still receive considerable monsoon rainfall.

1. Sub-tropical Broad Leaved Hill Forests:

   1. These are mixed broad leaf evergreen forests.

   2. Altitude: These forests are found at 1000 m - 2000 m in the eastern/northeastern Himalaya region, particularly Sikkim, Assam, and Bhutan.

   3. Key trees: Oaks, chestnuts, maples, different magnolia, birch, and rhododendron are the important trees. Mosses and epiphytes can be found abundantly.

   4. Sub-tropical Pine Forests:

   5. Sub-tropical Pine forests are mainly made of chir pine (Pinus roxburghii).

   6. Distribution: These forests are located in the lower and middle part of the Western Himalayas (J&K, HP, Uttarakhand) at 1000 m - 2000 m.

   7. Uses: Chir pine trees provide timber, resin, and turpentine.

2. Sub-tropical Dry Evergreen (Himalayan):

   1. Dry evergreen forests of the Sub-tropical are made of Stunted evergreen scrub in dry valleys.

   2. Distribution: Shivalik foothills and some inner western Himalaya slopes (up to 1,000 m).

   3. Key plants: Low shrubs: olive, acacia, pistacia, etc. These are patchy and local.

4. Montane Temperate Forests

Forests of the higher Himalayas (2,000–3,500 m). Cooler, often mixed coniferous.

1. Montane Wet Temperate: 

   1. These forests require a high rainfall (150–300 cm) and cool temperature (11–14°C). 

   2. Distribution: Western Ghats high peaks (Nilgiris, Anamalai) and eastern Himalayas (South Tibet frontier, Arunachal, high Darjeeling). 

   3. These are evergreen or semi-evergreen with dense undergrowth and many epiphytes. 

   4. Key trees: Magnolia, oak, maples, chestnut, bay, and conifers like deodar (Cedrus deodara) in parts of NE.

2. Himalayan Moist Temperate: 

   1. They found at the altitude of around 1,500–3,000 m, moderate rainfall (150–250 cm). 

   2. Distribution: Across Himalayan states (Kashmir, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal). 

   3. Key trees: Mixed conifers (pines, silver fir, spruce, cedar) and broadleaf (oak, maple, birch). 

   4. They provide commercially valuable timber and are rich wildlife habitat (leopards, black bears).

3. Himalayan Dry Temperate: 

   1. Inner rain-shadow zones with less precipitation, mostly snow regions bear the Himalayan Dry Temperate forests

   2. Distribution: Upper valleys and dry leeward areas of Himalayas.Ladakh, Kinnaur, parts of Garhwal, Kumaon, Spiti, parts of NE like Sikkim’s dry valleys.

   3. Key trees: Deodar cedar, juniper, oak, birch and shrubs (xerophytic). 

   4. Understory grasses dominate in summer.

5. Alpine & Sub-Alpine (Alpine Forests/Scrub)

The forests found in high-elevation zones above the treeline. Are Alpine and sub alpine forests.

1. Sub-alpine and Moist Alpine Scrub: 

   1. These forests occur near the timberline (3,000–3,500 m up to 5,000 m). 

   2. Trees are stunted conifers (fir, juniper) and rhododendron thickets. 

   3. Distribution: They are widespread in the Himalayas (J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Arunachal, Sikkim). 

   4. Key trees: Rhododendron spp., birch (Betula), Abies (dwarf firs). 

   5. These form the last forested belt before grasslands.

2. Dry Alpine Scrub: 

   1. These are found above 3,500 m in dry inner Himalayas. 

   2. These are sparse dwarf shrubs and hardy herbs.

   3. Distribution: Alpine zones of Ladakh, Lahul-Spiti, some parts of Arunachal. 

   4. Key trees: Juniperus (e.g. J. wallichiana), sea buckthorn, Caragana, Lonicera, Artemisia, Potentilla. 

   5. The climate is cold and arid, with vegetation resembling tundra.

3. Woodland limit: Beyond the alpine scrub zone (above 4,000 m), true trees disappear and only alpine grasslands and meadows persist.