Flora and fauna of Madhya Pradesh


Madhya Pradesh, often called the "Heart of India", is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal. Madhya Pradesh was the largest state in India until 1 November 2000 when the state of Chhattisgarh was carved out. It borders the states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Forest composition

Sal, bamboo, khair.

Medicinal plants

Medicinal trees and plants are found in the forests of Madhya Pradesh. Important ones are: Aegle marmelos, Azadirachta indica, Bixa orellana, Butea monosperma, Asparagus racemosus, Argemone mexicana, Buchanania lanzan, Aloe barbadensis, Acorus calamus, Cassia tora, Curculigo orchioides, Curcuma longa, Embelia ribes, Clitoria ternatea, Mangifera indica, Cassia fistula, Evolvulus alsinoides, Commiphora mukul, Helicteres isora, Holorrhaena antidysenterica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Woodfordia fruticosa,. Dioscorea spp, Plumbago zeylaniea, Terminalia bellirica, Tamarindus indica, Mucuna pruriens, Pongamia pinnata, Terminalia bellirica, Psoralea corylifolia, Phyllanthus embilica, Ocimum americanum, Rauvolfia serpentina, Tinospora cardifolio, Withania somnifera, Swertia chirayita, Tribulus terrestres, Chlorophytum tuberosum, and Cyprus rotundus.

Forest growing stock

The total growing stock is 50,000,000 m3 valued worth Rs 2.5 lakh crores

Protected areas

Madhya Pradesh is home to 11 national parks, including Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park, Satpura National Park, Sanjay National Park, Madhav National Park, Van Vihar National Park, Mandla Plant Fossils National Park, Panna National Park, Pench National Park, Kuno National Park and dinosaur fossil National Park Madhya Pradesh.
There are also a number of natural preserves, including Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Patalkot, Bagh Caves, Bhedaghat, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, Ken Gharial Sanctuary, Ghatigaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Narwar, National Chambal Sanctuary, Kukdeshwar, Chidi Kho, Narsinghgarh, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, Panpatha, Shikarganj, and Tamia.

National parks and their fauna

There are 11 national parks and 24 sanctuaries spread over an area of 94,3489 km2 constituting 12.27% of the total forest area and 3.52% of the geographical area of the state.
Name of national parkAreaLocationEstablishedFauna
Kanha National Park940 km2Mandla1955
Tiger, panther, gaur, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, barking deer, swamp deer,, wild boar and a variety of upland birds.
Bandhavgarh National Park437 km2Umaria1968
Tiger, panther, gaur, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, barking deer, wild boar and a variety of upland birds.
Madhav National Park354 km2Shivpuri1959
Panther, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, blackbuck, chausingha, wild boar, crocodiles in lake, and a variety of upland birds.
Sanjay National Park467 km2Sidhi1981
Tiger, panther, sambar, chital, gaur, etc.
Van Vihar National Park4.45 km2Bhopal1983
Tiger, panther, lion, bear, hyena, etc.
Panna National Park543 km2Panna, Chhatarpur1981
Tiger, chital, chinkara, sambar and sloth bear.
Satpura National Park524 km2Pachmarhi1981
Tiger, leopard, sambar, chital, bherki, nilgai, four-horned antelope, chinkara, bison, wild boar, wild dog, bear, blackbuck, fox, porcupine, flying squirrel, mouse deer, Indian giant squirrel, etc.
Pench National Park293 km2Seoni, Chhindwara1975
Tiger, panther, bison, chital, sambhar, nilgai, chinkara, barking deer, chowsingha, wild boar and a variety of upland birds.
Ghughua Fossil National Park0.27 km2Dindori1983
Plant fossils
Dinosaur Fossils National Park0.89 km2Dhar2011
Kuno National Park748.76 km2Sheopur2018
Omkareshwar National Park

List of sanctuaries

There are 30 wildlife sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh:

Climate

Madhya Pradesh has a subtropical climate. Like most of north India, it has a hot, dry summer followed by the monsoon rains, and a cool and relatively dry winter. The average rainfall is about 1,370 mm. It decreases from east to west. The south-eastern districts have the heaviest rainfall, some places receiving as much as 2,150 mm, while the western and north-western districts receive 1,000 mm or less.

Tribals and forests

The tribal population is an integral part of the biodiversity of the forests since ages. A large number of ethnic aboriginal tribes are there who live in and around forests in Madhya Pradesh. The main tribal groups are: