Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests


The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests is a mostly arid ecoregion in northwestern India that stretches over across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The dry deciduous forests in the region are dominated by teak, and thorny trees and scrub in drier areas.

Landscape

The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests include the Aravalli Range, the high point of which is Mount Abu with an elevation of, and a small part of the Northwestern thorn scrub forests in the west.
In the west is the Kathiawar Peninsula and the strip of western Rajasthan between the Aravalli Range and Thar Desert. To the northwest, the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests transit to the Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests. To the southeast lies the Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests, of the Vindhya Range, and the Narmada River Valley. The ecoregion also borders the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests in southeastern Gujarat.
The ecoregion has a tropical monsoon climate, with most of its 550 to 700 mm average annual rainfall during the June–September southwest monsoon and little for the remaining months of the year, while temperatures often exceed 40 °C. Higher elevations of the Aravallis stay cooler, and the windward slopes receive higher rainfall. This results in a dry landscape of thorny scrub, bare trees and rocks.

Flora

The composition of the ecoregion's forests varies with moisture and soil. They have a three-storied structure, with the top story reaching. Arid areas are dominated by Anogeissus pendula, growing in association with khair, especially on the quartzite ridges, and gneiss hillocks of the Aravalli Range. Less arid areas are dominated by teak, bael, Boswellia serrata, Desmodium oojeinense, Diospyros species, silk-cotton tree, Sterculia urens, Phyllanthus emblica, Dalbergia lanceolaria subsp. paniculata, and Terminalia elliptica. Thorn scrub forests, characterized by Euphorbia caducifolia, Gymnosporia emarginata, Senegalia senegal, Commiphora mukul, Wrightia tinctoria, Flueggea leucopyrus, Grewia species, occur on rocky Aravalli hillsides and in degraded areas. Date palms and fig trees grow near rivers and streams of the hills. Strobilanthes halbergii, is endemic to the ecoregion.
Mount Abu is covered in dry deciduous thorn forest at lower elevations, with semi-evergreen forest along watercourses and in higher-elevation valleys. Common trees include Terminalia coronata var. parvifolia, Boswellia serrata, Mangifera indica, Phoenix sylvestris, Ficus bengalensis, other Ficus spp. Carissa spinarum, Caesalpinia spp., and Zizyphus spp. 830 plant species from 112 families are native to Mount Abu, including the endemic species Dicliptera abuensis and 328 species of medicinal value.

Fauna

Bird species include the:
Mount Abu's range of habitats, including dry thorn forests and its relict semi-evergreen forests, makes it an important area for birds. The mountain is home to two Critically Endangered species, the white-rumped vulture and long-billed vulture, and two Vulnerable species, the green munia and white-naped tit. Mount Aravalli is home to the northernmost population of grey junglefowl, a mostly southern Indian species. The Aravalli red spurfowl is a subspecies of red spurfowl endemic to the Aravalli Range, with its largest population on and around Mount Abu.
The protected areas of this region are also home to 80 mammal species including
Other native mammals include the northern plains gray langur, small Indian civet, Indian crested porcupine, honey badger or ratel, Indian pangolin, and Indian fox.

Threats to biodiversity

The human population in the region is growing, and wildlife habitats have mostly been removed or degraded due to collection of firewood and timber, and use as grazing land for livestock.

Protected areas

Protected areas cover in this ecoregion, and include: