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CHAMPION & SETH CLASSIFICATION

OF FORESTS (INDIA)

1. INTRODUCTION
Classification of forests in India is broadly based on climate, especially rainfall and
temperature, which control vegetation type. However, the most scientific and widely
accepted classification of Indian forests was given by Sir H.G. Champion (1936) and later
revised by Champion & S.K. Seth (1968).

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Champion & Seth classified Indian forests into 6 major groups, 16 forest types, and over
200 sub-types and variations. This classification is used by Forest Survey of India (FSI),
and State Forest Departments.

Definition of Forest Type

A forest type is defined as:

“A unit of vegetation with a distinct physiognomy, structure, and species composition,

sufficiently uniform to be distinguished from other units.”

Factors determining forest types:

 Climate (rainfall, temperature)

 Altitude & topography
 Soil & drainage
 Vegetation composition
 Past treatment & biotic interference (grazing, shifting cultivation, fire)

2. MAJOR GROUPS
I. Moist Tropical Forests
II. Dry Tropical Forests
III. Montane Sub-Tropical Forests
IV. Montane Temperate Forests
V. Sub-Alpine Forests
VI. Alpine Forests

GROUP I . MOIST TROPICAL FORESTS

(Rainfall generally >100 cm; high humidity; evergreen or deciduous vegetation)

TYPE 1: Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests

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Local / Common Names

 Rain Forests
 Evergreen Rainforests
 Assam: Hollong Forests
 Western Ghats: Evergreen Ghats Forest

Climate

 Rainfall: 2000–3000 mm (sometimes >5000 mm)

 Temperature: 25–27°C
 Humidity: Very high
 Dry season: Absent or very short

Altitude

 Sea level to 1200 m

Structure & Features

 Dense, multi-storeyed forests (4–5 layers)

 Trees height: 30–45 m
 No definite leaf-shedding season
 Abundant climbers, epiphytes, orchids, mosses
 High species diversity & endemism

Distribution

 Western Ghats (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu)

 North-East India – Upper Assam, Arunachal Pradesh
 Andaman & Nicobar Islands

North-East Specific Region

 Upper Assam Valley

 Cachar Hills
 Khasi & Jaintia Hills

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Dominant Flora (with local names)

 Dipterocarpus macrocarpus (Hollong – Assam)

 Shorea assamica
 Mesua ferrea (Nahor – Assam)
 Canes & bamboos

TYPE 2: Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests

Local / Common Names

 Transition Forests
 Mixed Evergreen Forests

Climate

 Rainfall: 1500–2500 mm
 Temperature: 24–27°C
 Short dry season present

Altitude

 Up to 800–1000 m

Features

 Transitional between evergreen & moist deciduous forests

 Upper canopy: deciduous for short period
 Lower canopy: evergreen
 Buttressed roots common
 Rich in climbers, canes, ferns, orchids

Distribution

 Western Ghats

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 Assam, West Bengal, Odisha

 Eastern Himalayas foothills
 Andaman Islands

North-East Specific Types

 Assam Valley Semi-evergreen Forest

 Cachar Semi-evergreen Forest
 Eastern Sub-montane Semi-evergreen Forest

Dominant Flora

 Xylia
 Terminalia
 Dipterocarpus
 Schima wallichii
 Bamboo, canes

TYPE 3: Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests

Local / Common Names

 Monsoon Forests
 Sal–Teak Forests

Climate

 Rainfall: 1000–2000 mm
 Temperature: ~27°C
 Dry season: 3–4 months

Altitude

 Up to 1000 m

Features

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 Trees shed leaves in dry season (winter)

 2–3 storeyed structure
 High timber value
 Climbers common

Distribution

 Central India
 Odisha, Jharkhand
 Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
 North-East India – Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram
 Andaman & Nicobar

North-East Focus

 Very moist Sal forests in:

o Garo Hills
o Khasi & Jaintia Hills
o Assam foothills

Dominant Flora

 Tectona grandis (Teak – Sagwan)

 Shorea robusta (Sal)
 Terminalia spp
 Pterocarpus
 Bamboo

TYPE 4: Littoral & Swamp Forests

Local / Common Names

 Mangrove Forests
 Swamp Forests
 Tidal Forests

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Climate

 Adapted to saline / brackish / freshwater

 Periodic tidal flooding

Altitude

 Sea level

Features

 Salt-tolerant species (halophytes)

 Stilt roots & pneumatophores
 Protect coast from erosion & cyclones

Distribution

 Sundarbans (Ganga delta)

 Brahmaputra delta (Assam)
 Odisha, Andhra coast
 Andaman & Nicobar
 Gujarat (Kachchh, Khambhat)

North-East Specific

 Brahmaputra delta mangroves

 Freshwater swamps in Assam

Dominant Flora

 Rhizophora
 Avicennia
 Sonneratia
 Heritiera (Sundri tree)
 Nipa palm

GROUP II. DRY TROPICAL FORESTS

(Low rainfall, long dry season, drought-resistant vegetation)

TYPE 5: Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests

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Local / Common Names

 Dry Monsoon Forests

 Dry Teak / Dry Sal Forests

Climate

 Rainfall: 800–1200 mm
 Temperature: 25–30°C
 Long dry season (4–6 months)

Altitude

 Plains to foothills (up to ~1000 m)

Features

 Largest forest type of India (~38% forest area)

 Trees shed leaves for long dry period
 Canopy open, trees usually <25 m
 Excellent wildlife habitat (tiger reserves)

Distribution

 Peninsular India
 Central India
 Foothills of Himalayas
 Odisha, MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra

North vs South India

 North India: Dry Sal forests

 South India: Dry Teak forests

Dominant Flora (with local names)

 Tectona grandis (Teak / Sagwan)

 Shorea robusta (Sal)

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 Anogeissus
 Boswellia serrata (Salai)
 Butea monosperma (Palash)
 Bamboo

TYPE 6: Tropical Thorn Forests

Local / Common Names

 Desert Forests
 Thorn Scrub
 Rajasthan: Khejri Forest

Climate

 Rainfall: 200–800 mm (often <75 cm)

 Temperature: 25–30°C
 Severe moisture stress

Altitude

 Low plains & semi-arid plateaus

Features

 Open forests with short (6–9 m) thorny trees

 Small leaves, long roots, thick bark
 Adapted to drought & grazing

Distribution

 Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana

 Gujarat, MP, UP
 Deccan Plateau interiors

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Dominant Flora

 Acacia nilotica (Babul)

 Prosopis cineraria (Khejri)
 Ziziphus
 Salvadora
 Cactus & Euphorbia

TYPE 7: Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests

Local / Common Names

 Coromandel Coast Forests

 Dry Evergreen Scrub

Climate

 Rainfall: ~100 cm
 Temperature: ~28°C

Altitude

 Coastal plains

Features

 Evergreen despite low rainfall

 Trees short (9–12 m) but dense canopy
 High species diversity in small area

Distribution

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 Tamil Nadu coast

 Parts of Andhra Pradesh
 Karnataka coast (patches)

Dominant Flora

 Manilkara hexandra
 Memecylon edule
 Jamun
 Tamarind
 Neem

GROUP III. MONTANE SUB-TROPICAL

FORESTS
(Found at higher elevations in subtropical belt)

TYPE 8: Sub-Tropical Broad-Leaved Hill Forests

Local / Common Names

 Oak Forests
 Hill Evergreen Forests

Climate

 Rainfall: 75–125 cm
 Temperature: 18–21°C

Altitude

 1000–2000 m

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Features

 Broad-leaved evergreen trees

 Dense epiphytes, mosses, ferns
 Important watershed forests

Distribution

 Eastern Himalayas
 Central Indian hills
 South Indian hill ranges

North-East Specific

 Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram

 Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh
 Khasi, Jaintia & Naga Hills

Dominant Flora

 Quercus (Oak)
 Castanopsis
 Schima wallichii
 Alnus
 Betula

TYPE 9: Sub-Tropical Pine Forests

Local / Common Names

 Chir Pine Forests

 NE India: Khasi Pine Forests

Climate

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 Moderate rainfall
 Cool winters, warm summers

Altitude

 1000–1800 m

Features

 Dominated by pine
 Fire-resistant
 No climbers or bamboos

Distribution

 Western & Central Himalayas

North-East Special

 Khasi Hills, Naga Hills, Manipur Hills

 Dominant pine: Pinus kesiya

Dominant Flora

 Pinus roxburghii (Chir Pine)

 Pinus kesiya (NE India)
 Schima wallichii (associate)

TYPE 10: Sub-Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests

Local / Common Names

 Dry Hill Scrub

Climate

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 Rainfall: 50–100 cm
 Hot summers, cold winters

Altitude

 Up to 1000 m

Features

 Low scrubby evergreen trees

 Xerophytic adaptations

Distribution

 Shiwalik hills
 Western Himalaya foothills
 Jammu & Kashmir

Dominant Flora

 Olea cuspidata (Wild olive)

 Acacia modesta
 Dodonaea viscosa

GROUP IV. MONTANE TEMPERATE

FORESTS
(Cool climate forests of mid-Himalayas & high hills)

TYPE 11: Montane Wet Temperate Forests

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Local / Common Names

 Shola Forests (South India)

 Temperate Evergreen Forests

Climate

 Rainfall: 150–300 cm
 Temperature: 11–14°C

Altitude

 1500–3000 m

Features

 Closed evergreen forests

 Moss-covered branches
 Rich epiphytes & climbers

Distribution

 Nilgiri, Anamalai, Palani hills

 Eastern Himalayas

North-East Specific

 Manipur (Ukhrul district)

 Assam–Myanmar border hills

Dominant Flora

 Rhododendron
 Quercus
 Castanopsis
 Magnolia
 Hemlock

TYPE 12: Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests

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Local / Common Names

 Oak–Conifer Forests

Climate

 Rainfall: 150–250 cm
 Snowfall common

Altitude

 1500–3300 m

Features

 Mixed broad-leaf & conifer forests

 Dense canopy, good humus

Distribution

 Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh

 Uttarakhand
 Sikkim, Darjeeling

Dominant Flora

 Cedrus deodara (Deodar)

 Silver fir
 Spruce
 Oak
 Pine

TYPE 13: Himalayan Dry Temperate Forests

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Local / Common Names

 Cold Desert Forests

Climate

 Rainfall: <100 cm (mostly snow)

Altitude

 High inner Himalayan valleys

Features

 Sparse vegetation
 Xerophytic shrubs
 Important for soil stability

Distribution

 Ladakh
 Lahaul–Spiti
 Kinnaur
 Upper Garhwal

Dominant Flora

 Juniper
 Deodar
 Oak
 Olive
 Ash

CONCEPT

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Alpine
Alpine refers to high mountain regions, especially above the tree line, where:

 Climate is very cold

 Growing season is short
 Snow persists for long periods

In geography, alpine zones are found in Himalayas, Alps, Andes, etc.

Scrub
Scrub means low, stunted, bushy vegetation, not tall trees.
It includes:

 Shrubs
 Bushes
 Dwarf woody plants

� Scrub vegetation grows where climate or soil does not allow tall trees.

Tree Line
Tree line is the upper limit of altitude beyond which trees cannot grow.

Why trees stop growing above tree line:

 Extremely low temperature

 Short growing season
 Strong winds
 Thin soil and frost action

� Below tree line → forests

� Above tree line → alpine scrub and alpine meadows

GROUP V SUB-ALPINE
(Champion & Seth Classification)

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These forests represent the highest altitudinal vegetation zones of India, occurring near and
above the tree line in the Himalayan region. They are shaped by low temperatures,
snowfall, strong winds, thin soils, and short growing seasons.

The zone just below the alpine region, near the upper limit of forests.

TYPE 14: Sub-Alpine Forests

Local / Regional Names

 Tree-Line Forests
 High-Altitude Conifer Forests
 Himalayan region: Bhojpatra–Fir forests

Altitude

 3000–4000 m above mean sea level

Climate
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 Long, cold winters with heavy snowfall

 Short, cool summers
 Mean annual temperature: below 10°C
 Rainfall: Moderate; precipitation mostly as snow

Physiognomy & Structure

 Forests form a transition zone between montane temperate forests and alpine
scrub
 Trees are short, stunted, and slow-growing
 Canopy becomes increasingly open with altitude
 Upper limit marks the natural tree line
 Branches often twisted due to strong winds and snow pressure

Ecological Features

 Soils are shallow, acidic, and rich in organic matter

 Vegetation adapted to frost, snow load, and low oxygen
 Important zone for ecological transition and biodiversity buffering
 Sensitive to climate change (tree line shifting upward)

Distribution

 Entire Himalayan belt

 Jammu & Kashmir
 Himachal Pradesh
 Uttarakhand
 North-East India: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim

Dominant Flora (with common/local names)

 Abies spectabilis (Silver Fir)

 Betula utilis (Bhojpatra / Himalayan Birch)
 Rhododendron species
 Juniperus (in drier pockets)

Importance

 Acts as a protective belt against avalanches and soil erosion

 Source region of many Himalayan rivers
 Important grazing grounds during summer (transhumance)

GROUP VI ALPINE FORESTS

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Alpine Scrub
Alpine scrub is a type of high-altitude vegetation consisting of low-growing shrubs and
bushes, found just above the tree line in mountainous regions.

Key features:

 Occurs at high altitude

 Trees cannot grow
 Vegetation is short, hardy, and cold-resistant
 Adapted to strong winds, frost, and snow

� Example (India):

 Himalayas (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh)

TYPE 15: Moist Alpine Scrub

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Local / Common Names

 Alpine Rhododendron Scrub

 Moist Alpine Meadows (upper parts)

Altitude

 Above timberline to about 5500 m

Climate

 Cold and moist climate

 Long snow-covered period
 Very short growing season (2–3 months)
 Frequent fog, frost, and strong winds

Vegetation Characteristics

 Tree growth absent

 Dominated by low-growing shrubs

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 Vegetation shows cushion and mat forms

 Plants remain close to ground to avoid wind damage

Soil Characteristics

 Thin, poorly developed soils

 High organic content due to slow decomposition
 Waterlogged in summer due to snowmelt

Distribution

 Uttarakhand
 Sikkim
 Arunachal Pradesh
 Inner Himalayas of NE India

Dominant Flora

 Rhododendron species (main dominant)

 Betula (Birch) in lower alpine zone
 Alpine herbs, sedges, and grasses

Ecological Importance

 Supports endemic alpine flora

 Important summer pastures for livestock
 Acts as a buffer against glacial erosion

TYPE 16: Dry Alpine Scrub

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Local / Common Names

 Cold Desert Scrub

 Trans-Himalayan Scrub Vegetation

Climate

 Extremely cold and dry

 Rainfall: <370 mm annually
 Precipitation mostly as snow
 High diurnal temperature variation

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Altitude

 Above timberline in rain-shadow areas

Vegetation Characteristics

 Sparse, open scrub vegetation

 Plants are xerophytic and frost-resistant
 Leaves small or needle-like to reduce water loss
 Growth is extremely slow

Soil Conditions

 Coarse, rocky, poorly developed soils

 Low organic matter
 High salinity in some areas

Distribution

 Ladakh (Trans-Himalaya)
 Lahaul–Spiti (Himachal Pradesh)
 Uttarakhand (inner dry valleys)
 Arunachal Pradesh (rain-shadow areas)

Dominant Flora

 Juniperus (Juniper)
 Lonicera (Honeysuckle)
 Potentilla
 Artemisia and other cold-desert shrubs

Ecological & Economic Importance

 Prevents soil erosion in cold deserts

 Provides fuelwood and fodder in sparsely vegetated regions
 Supports unique cold-desert biodiversity

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