Eastern Deccan Plateau Moist Forests

SETTING

The Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests extend from the Bay Of Bengal coast in northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Orissa, across the northern portion of the Eastern Ghats range and the northeastern Deccan Plateau , to the eastern Satpura Range and the upper Narmada River valley.

The forests of the ecoregion are sustained by the moisture-bearing Monsoon winds from the Bay Of Bengal , which lies to the southeast. The ecoregion is bounded on the north and west by Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest ecoregions, including the Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests to the southwest and west, the Narmada Valley Dry Deciduous Forests to the northwest, and the Chota Nagpur Dry Deciduous Forests to the north and northeast. The drier Northern Dry Deciduous Forests ecoregion, lying west of the Eastern Ghats range, is completely surrounded by the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests, in the Rain Shadow of the Ghats, which partially block the moisture-laden monsoon winds off the Bay of Bengal. The humid Orissa Semi-evergreen Forests ecoregion lies to the northeast in the coastal lowlands of Orissa.

FLORA

The ecoregion's forests are dominated by Sal ''(Shorea robusta)'', in association with '' Terminalia , Adina , Toona , Syzygium , Buchanania , Cleisanthus ,'' and '' Anogeissus ''. The flora of the ecoregion shares many affinities with the moist forests of the Western Ghats and the eastern Himalaya s.

FAUNA

The ecoregion is considered globally outstanding by the World Wildlife Fund for its assemblage of large mammals, including Tiger ''(Panthera tigris)'', Wolf ''(Canis lupus)'', Gaur ''(Bos gaurus)'', and Sloth Bear ''(Melursus ursinus)''. The Asian Elephant ''(Elephas maximus)'' has been extirpated from the ecoregion.

EXTERNAL LINK

Eastern highlands moist deciduous forests (World Wildlife Fund)

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Eastern Deccan Plateau Moist Forests