Forest of Nepal

The topographic, climatic and edaphic diversity of Nepal has greatly affected the diversity of
plants. So, several types of forests are found here. The Forest of Nepal is categorized into the
following types according to altitudinal variation. (Stainton 1974 A.D.)

1. Tropical forest: The forest found below 1000 meter from the seal level is tropical forest.
It is found in terai belt. The forest of this belt is also called as Dun or Bhavar. The main
forest is Sal Forest (Shorea robusta), Reverine, Decidious or evergreen forest is also
found in this belt
2. Subtropical forest: the forest present between 1000 to 2000 meters from the sea level is
subtropical forest. Below mahabharat range the Alnus, Schima, Pinus and Castanopsis
forest are found in this belt
3. Temperate forest: the forest present between 2000 to 3000 meters from sea level is
temperate forest. This range is also called mahabharat range, foothill, or lower Himalayan
range. The Pinus, Rhododendron, Brich forest are found in this belt. Usually broad leave
evergreen forest are found.
4. Sub alpine forest: the forest present between 3000 to 4000 meter from ea level is
subalpine forest. This belt is also called as above mahabharat range or Himalayan range.
Rhododendron, Birch, Silver and Fir Forest are found.
5. Alpine Forest: the forest present between 4000 to 5000 from the sea level is alpine
forest. This range is also called as a high Himalayan range. Juniperous, Rhododendron
forest are found in this zone.

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1. Tropical forest

 It is extended from east to west below the altitude of 1000m. This zone principally
includes Terai, Bhabar, and Dun valleys. It is subdivided into the following types:

a. Sal forest: dominant species is Sal (Shorea robusta) sometimes extends up to 1500m of lower
hills. Other species are Terminalia chebula (harro), T. bellirica (barro), Syzygium
cumuni (jamun), Bauhinia vahlii (borio), Cassia tora (tapre), Cyperus
difformis (mothe), Lagerstroemia parviflora (dhayari), etc.

b. Tropical deciduous riverine forest: It is found along the streams of Bhavar and Dun valleys.
Khair (Acacia catechu) and Sisso (Dalbergia sissoo) are predominant. The major vegetations
found in this forest are Justicia adhatoda (asuro), Colebrookea oppositifolia (dhursil), Syzygium
cumini (jamun), Toona ciliata (tooni), etc. In the open area along the riverside, several grass
species are found. These Saccharum bengalensis (elephant grass), S.
spontaneum (kans), Imperata cylindrica (siru), etc.

c. Tropical evergreen forest: in humid north-facing slopes of terai. Michelia champaca (champ)
is dominant and other plants are Litsea monopetala (kutmiro), Murraya
panicula (kamani), Calamus acanthospathus (bet), Cycas pectinata (thakal), etc. These plants
remain evergreen throughout the year.

2. Subtropical forest:

 It is found from 1000-2000m of altitude. It comprises the outer foothills, lower parts of
Mahabharat range, midland areas and Himalayas.

It is subdivided into the following types.

a. Schima- Castanopsis forest: This forest is extended from 1000-1700m of altitude. Schima
wallichii (chilaune) and Castanopsis indica (katus) are dominant species in this type of
forest. Castanopsis tribuloides (musure katus), Michelia kisopa (ban champ), Ficus
nerifolia (dudhilo) Rhus parviflora (amaro), Eupatorium adenophorum (banmara), etc. are also
found.

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b. Pine forest: Pinus roxburghii (rani salla) is dominant in this forest from 900-2000m of
altitude. It is found in both north and south-facing slopes. The ground layer of this forest is
covered by Woodfordia fruticosa (sano dhayari), Anaphalis busua (seto ekle ghans), Inula
capa (gai tihare), etc. In some regions associated with oak forest consisting of different
species Quercus (oak-banjh/phalant).

c. Alder forest: extended from 900-2700m of altitude. The dominant species of this forest
is Alnus nepalensis (utis). It is commonly found in banks of streams, field margins and unstable
land, which is unsuitable for cultivation.

3. Temperate forest

 This forest is found from 2000-3000m of altitude. It runs almost parallel and north to outer
foothills from east to west and includes mainly the Mahabharat range and the southern
sides of the main Himalayan ranges.

It is subdivided into the following types:

a. Lower temperate mixed broad-leaved forest: It is mainly found on north and west-facing
slopes between 1700-2200m of altitude in small patches in the damp places in the midlands. This
forest consists of Persea gamblei (kaulo), Cinnamomum tamala (tej pat), C.
zeylanicum (dalchini), Litsea monopetala (kutmiro), etc.

b. Temperate mixed evergreen forest: This forest consists of broad-leaved and conifers
between 2100-2700m of altitude. Some places in this forest are rich in broad-leaved vegetations
like oaks include Quercus lanata (banjh), Q. glauca (phalant), Q.
semicarpifolia (khasra), Lithocarpus pachyphylla (thulo katus), etc. In some places, conifers
like Abies pindrow (thing sallo), Cupressus torulosa (raj sallo), Cedrus deodara (deodar), Pinus
wallichiana (gobre salla) are dominantly found. Both conifers and broad-leaved plants mixed in
some regions.

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c. Upper temperate mixed broad-leaved forest: spread from 2400- 3000m of altitude and
composed of deciduous trees. It consists of Juglans regia (okhar), Aesculus indica (pangro), Acer
oblongum (firfire), etc. Several species of Rhododendron (gurans) are also found in this forest.

4. Subalpine forest:

It covers the part of the greater Himalayas and extends from 3000-4100m of altitude. It is
subdivided into the following types:

a. Silver fir forest: Abies spectabilis (talis patra) is the dominant species of this forest and
extended between 2900-3850m of altitude. It is mostly found in the south-facing slopes of the
central Langtang region, Larix himalaica (lekh sallo) is found. In some regions, this forest is
interrupted by the Quercus forest.

b. Birch-Rhododendron forest: It is found between 3300-3800m of altitude. This forest consists

5. Alpine forest:

It is extended from 4100-above. Large trees not found. It consists following types of vegetation:

a. Juniper-Rhododendron forest: found in the inner valleys from 4000- 4300m of

b. Caragana-Lonicera forest: It extended from 4100-4800m of altitude and mostly north of the
Dhaulagiri- Annapurna range.It consists of Lonicera spinosa and Caragana venicolor (sherma).

c. Alpine meadows: These are high-altitude grasslands (kharks). They are subjected to grazing
in the rainy season. During winter, they are covered by snow. Only grasses are found in such
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regions. The major vegetations in this area are Primula minutissima (medosero), P
walshil, Potentilla fulgens (bajra danti), Saxifraga stenophylla, etc. Above 4800m, the
vegetations are limited only in the form of moss.