The forest cover of the Union Territory Jammu And Kashmir is around 10% of its totalgeographical area. Here a number of tree species are found such as chir, poplar, deodar, fir, pine, kail, mulberry, fruit trees and so on.
Forest cover in Ladakh is scarce due to its dry climatic condition.
Altitude and rainfall play an important role in the formation of different types of forests in this region.
Many medicinal herbs are also found in both the Union Territories such as belladonna, hyoscyamus, digitalis, menthol, rubus, artemisia and so on.
Due to its vast forest cover many forest based industries of the Union Territories are dependent on these forests like paper, sports goods, silk, furniture and wood carving, herbal drugs, silk industry and so on.
Forest Area of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
Both the Union Territories cover an area of 222236 sq. km, which is 6.76% of the geographical area of the country.
According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2019, the Recorded Forest Area (RFA) of the two Union Territories is 20230 sq km, which is 9.95% of the total geographical area of the region.
As the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, no per extra land is diverted for non-forestry purpose during the period of 1st January, 2015 to 5th February, 2019, in the Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
This Recorded Forest Area is divided into three types of forests which are as follows
Reserved Forests Area
Those forests which are permanently marked either for the production of timber or other forest produce in which right of grazing and cultivation is allowed are known as reserved forests.
The reserved forests (17643 sq. 87.21% of the total forest area. km) cover
Protected Forests Area
Those forests where the right of grazing and cultivation restricted are known as the protected forests.
The protected forests (2551 sq km) cover 12.61% of the area.
Unclassed Forests Area
Those forests which largely consists of inaccessible forests or unoccupied wastes, are known as unclassed forests.
Forest Cover of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
The forest cover of the two Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
is 23611.89 sq km which is 10.63% of the
geographical area.Out of total forest area, 90.68% is under coniferous forest while 9.32% is claimed by non-coniferous or non-commercial forest.
Forests are largely distributed in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.. Due to of cold desert and harsh climatic conditions, the Union Territory Ladakh has very small forest area in the region.
Regionwise Distribution of Forest Cover of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
Jammu Region 12066 sq km (45.89% of its total geographical area).
Ladakh Region 36 sq km (0.11% of its total geographical area).
Combined Forest Cover of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (2019)The non-forest area of Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is 89.12%.
There is an increase in very dense forest, moderately dense forest and open forest cover in 2019.
Altitude Wise Forest Cover of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
Almost the entire region of Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are hilly and mountainous. The forest areas are more abundantly present in mid altitudes than in lower and higher altitudes
Classification of Forests of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh
Forests of the Union Territories are spread over three broad geo-climatic zones covering Jammu Kashmir valley, in Rajouri. Poonch and and Kashmir and Ladakh regions. Vegetation and Billawar dimate can broadly be categorised into sub-tropical, temperate and alpine zones. The Union Territories have five types of forests
Subtropical Dry Evergreen Forests
⛔These forests are found at an altitude of 1.000 m above sea level in Shiwaliks (Jammu olive are also found in these forests. and Kashmir) and Western Himalayan regions.
⛔These forests are characterised by low scrub forests with small evergreen restricted trees and shrubs.
⛔The most pre-dominant species of these forests are olive, babool and kekka
⛔Are found in Doda Reasi Rajouri and Udhampur districts of the Union Territory These forests are found in Doda, Reasi, Rajouri Jammu and Kashmir.
Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests
⛔These are found at an altitude between 1500 to 3300 m in the temperate zone of the Himalayas, These are mainly found in the river valleys of Kashmir region. They are found in Liddar valley, Lolab valley, Chenab valley and Jhelum valley, and higher altitudes.
⛔These are open forests with dense growth of shrubs which have species like rhododendrons and some bamboos
⛔Important species of these forests are oak and conifers. Other tree species are pine, cedar, silver fir, spruce, etc.
Subtropical pine Forests
⛔These forests are found at an altitude
between 1000 to 2000 m above sea level in
the Western Himalayan region.
⛔The most pre-dominant species of these forests is chir, which is used for furniture-making and for construction.
⛔These forests are abundantly found Kashmir valley in Rajouri poonch and Billawar
Himalayan Dry TemperateForests
⛔These are found in the dry ranges of the Himalayan region eg ladakh
⛔These are coniferous forests. Along with
xerophytic shrubs, trees like deodar, oak, ash,olive are found in these forests
⛔In Jammu and Kashmir, these forests are found at an altitude between 3000-3500 m. in the Kathai range of Kashmir, Kishtwar and Udil range of Chenab valley.
⛔In Ladakh, these forests are also found and trees include Salix, Poplar and Local Willow Poplar and willow are among the most important trees of Ladakh.
Sub-Alpine and Alpine Forests
⛔Alpine forests are found at high altitudes, above 3500 m. Sub-alpine forests are a part of Alpine forests which are found at altitudes between 3100 to 3500 m mainly in the Leh region of Ladakh.
✴ The vegetation in these forests varies from the lush green margs (Alpine pasture) to evergreen conifers.
⛔Alpine forests are divided into two categories ie. Moist Alpine and Dry Alpine.
In Moist Alpine Forest, coniferous trees like fir, spruce and rhododendron are
found. These trees have broad leaves and
range in the height of 10-30 m. They are found in Kashmir region
In Dry Alpine Forest, mosses and lichens are found in abundance
⚫ Dwarf trees with or without conifers are found Corporation at lower level and at higher level scrubs and scattered xerophytic shrubs merge with Alpine meadows.
⚫ Ladakh is the natural home of dwarf juniper
Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department
🚫The Forest Department of Jammu and
Kashmir came into existence in 1883. . In order to bring the functioning of the department on scientific lines, the then State Council issued Forest Regulation No. 1 in the year 1895. Important objectives of the Forest Department were as follows
To expand the forest and tree cover.
🚫To conduct and monitor participatory forest management, forestry extension and forestry research
The Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Corporation IT was established under the State Forest Corporation Act, 1978.
The Government Limbering Undertaking (GLU) has been merged into State Forest Corporation.
scrub which is found in plenty here. Important plant species of Alpine forests are junipers, betula, pinus, abies, pyrus, shrubby rhododendrons, salix, etc.
• The objectives of the Corporation are better preservation, exploitation, supervision and development of forest.
Strategies for Forest Protection and Conservation
From 1947 till 2019, Jammu and Kashmir,
alongwith Ladakh was a State of India. The State Government of Jammu and Kashmir had launched strategies for the protection and conservation of the forests of Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh which are still applicable
These are discussed as follows
☢Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Policy, 2010
The Jammu and Kashmir Government launched a new Forest Policy which aimed at conserving biodiversity, rehabilitation and protection of degraded forests. Important objectives of the State Forest Policy of Jammu and Kashmir, 2010 were as follows
📶 To preserve the natural forests with the vast variety of flora and fauna.
📶To improve productivity of existing forests and encourage forestry activities, schemes and programmes in order to supply forest produce to the people who are dependent on forests. This will help to remove poverty.
↪Steps Taken Under this Policy
Important steps taken under the Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Policy, 2010 were as follows
⭕Participatory Forest Management and Forest Extension To involve media, educational institutions and local communities for the protection of forests.
⭕Maintaining Forest Cover To maintain the adequate forest cover in various regions of the state, with due consideration for the rare and endemic species of flora and fauna in the cold desert conditions of Ladakh region.
⭕Conservation of Natural Forests As per the Forest Policy, atleast one-fourth of the forest area in each division to be conserved for regeneration of open forests and conservation of biodiversity. A systematic treatment of the forest species, which are affected by the invasive species like Lantana Camara, Parthenium, etc., to be done to increase the supply of fodder, firewood, timber and other produce.
⭕Expanding Forest and Tree Cover Planting more trees along roads, railway lines, canals, streams and rivers. The village and community lands to be used to develop the tree crops and fodder species with the help of local people.
⭕ Non-Timber Forest Produce The farmers were encouraged to cultivate medicinal plants and tree species on non-forest lands and private lands.
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