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Types and Characteristics of Forests

Tropical Rainforests (Selva)

• Location: Equatorial regions (near the equator).
• Key Examples:
  • Brazil (Amazon Basin) – the world’s largest and most dense.
  • Congo Basin in Africa.
  • Indonesia.
• Characteristics:
  • Broadleaf evergreen trees.
  • Very high primary productivity but nutrient-poor soil.
  • Land does not regenerate quickly after clearing due to poor soil.
  • Rapid decomposition on the forest floor, leaving the surface almost bare.
  • Vegetation includes climbers and epiphytes (plants that grow on trees).
• Tree Species: Mahogany, Rosewood.

Temperate Coniferous Forests (Taiga)

• Location: Temperate regions (e.g., Canada, Scandinavia, Finland).
• Characteristics:
  • Coniferous evergreen trees (Pine, Spruce, Fir).
  • Not found in the Amazonia region.
• Economic Significance:
  • Canada is the largest producer and exporter of soft timber and wood pulp from these forests.
• Tree Species: Douglas Fir (a major timber species from Canada).

Monsoon / Tropical Deciduous Forests

• Location: Tropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons (e.g., parts of India).
• Characteristics:
  • Broadleaf deciduous trees that shed leaves in the dry season.
  • Regenerate more quickly after clearing compared to tropical rainforests.
• Tree Species: Teak, Sal.

Mediterranean Forests

• Location: Coastal regions with a Mediterranean climate (e.g., Mediterranean Sea, California, Chile).
• Regional Names:
  • Maquis (Mediterranean region)
  • Chaparral (California)
  • Matorral (Chile)
• Characteristics: Drought-resistant trees and shrubs.
• Tree Species: Cedar, Olive, Plum.

Savanna Woodlands

• Location: Tropical regions with grasslands and scattered trees (e.g., Africa).
• Characteristics: Scattered trees amidst grasslands.
• Tree Species: Acacia, Baobab.

Global Forest Distribution and Area

Countries with the Highest Forest Cover

• Bhutan has a constitutional provision to maintain 70% of its geographical area under forest.
• Japan has the highest percentage of geographical area under forests from the given options.
• Global Leader: The country with the highest percentage of forest area in the world is covered by Temperate Coniferous forests.

Specific Forest Regions

• Africa:
  • Ivory Coast: Has dense, hot, and humid forests.
  • Sahara Region: Associated with hardy trees like Acacia.
  • Savanna Region: Associated with the Baobab tree.

Timber and Forest Products

Timber-Producing Countries

• Cedar: Associated with Mexico.
• Douglas Fir: Associated with Canada.
• Mahogany: Associated with Honduras.
• Teak: Associated with Myanmar.

Other Forest Products

• Fuelwood: China is the largest producer in the world.
• Scientific Name: Dalbergia species is the scientific name for Rosewood.

Know More About Forests of World:

• Forests of World – Old Year Questions
• Forests of World One Liner Questions & Answers