Major habitat types of India

Forests - India is among the top 10 forested countries in the world. Total forest and tree cover
in the country is over 78 million hectares, or 23.8 percent of the countrys geographical area.
Indias forests are home to a number of charismatic mammals such as the Royal Bengal Tiger
(Panthera tigris tigris), the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica), the Asian Elephant (Elephas
maximus), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee), Indian Bison
(Bos gaurus) and the Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus). In addition, a number of deer and
antelope species are also found in different forest types, including the Indian Gazelle
(Gazella bennettii) and Four-horned Antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis). The avifauna of
Indian forests is also remarkably rich, including both resident and migratory birds.
Grasslands - India has a rich array of grasslands semi-arid pastures in the western part;
Banni grasslands in the Kutch salt desert; humid, semi-waterlogged tall grasslands in the
Terai (plains just south of the Himalayas); rolling Shola grasslands on the Western Ghats
hilltops; and high-altitude alpine pastures in the Himalayas (Bugiyals). A number of rare
faunal species are found in grasslands, such as the Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis
bengalensis), One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Pygmy Hog (Porcula
salvania), Hispid Hare (Carprolagus hispidus), Wild Water Buffalo, Hog Deer (Axis
porcinus) and the Swamp Deer (Cervus duvauceli) in the Terai grasslands; the Great Indian
Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) in dry, short grasslands; the Lesser Florican (Sypheotides
indicus) in monsoonal grasslands of western India; and the Nilgiri Tahr in the Shola
grasslands of the Western Ghats.
Wetlands - Wetlands in India exist across different geographical regions and have varied
origins. They cover about 10 million hectares or 3 percent of the countrys geographical area
and support a variety of life forms including around 150 amphibian and 320 bird species.
Many wetlands serve as important winter sites for migratory birds. Around 25 of the
countrys wetlands have gained international importance as Ramsar sites and six more are to
be added to this list.
Coral reefs - Indian reef area to contain about 200 coral species belonging to 71 genera
spread around 0.24 million hectares. Coral reefs primarily occur in the Andaman and Nicobar

Islands, the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar and Lakshadweep. The Andaman and Nicobar
Islands alone have 179 coral species.
Mangroves - India has some of the finest mangroves in the world, nestled in the alluvial
deltas of the Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauveri rivers and on the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands. Mangrove vegetation is spread over 0.47 million hectares or 0.14
percent of the countrys geographical area. India accounts for around 3 percent of the worlds
mangrove vegetation and almost half of it is located in Sundarbans in West Bengal. The
Indian mangroves support 105 fish, 20 shellfish and 229 crustacean species. Among a range
of avian and mammalian species, a notable inhabitant of mangroves is the Royal Bengal
Tiger, which roams the swamps of Sundarbans (UNEP 2001).
Deserts - India has both hot (sand and salt) and cold deserts. The Thar desert seventh
largest in the world is the main hot sand desert. Several species have adopted themselves to
survive in the harsh desert conditions. The faunal diversity is also rich, with 755 invertebrate
and 440 vertebrate species, including 140 bird and 41 mammalian species and the only
known population of the Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur). The cold deserts cover
5.62 percent of the countrys geographical area where the temperature can plummet to as low
as -50oC during winters. Cold deserts are also home to many endangered animal species such
as Asiatic Ibex (Capra sibrica), Tibetan Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni), Wild Yak (Bos
mutus) and Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia).