Coniferous

Coniferous forests may be conveniently divided into lower level forests, primarily of chir pine (Pinus roxburghii), and high level ones of blue pine (Pinus wallichiana), fir (Abies pindrow), spruce (Picea smithiana) and hemlock (Tsuga spp.).

Chir pine forests correspond to "subtropical pine forests" of Champion and Seth. This type occurs mainly in the Churia hills and on the lower slopes of the Mahabharat range between 1 000 and 1 800 m, extending from ridges down to 600 m and up to 2 300 m on southern exposures. At lower altitudes it occurs mixed with sal (Shorea robusta), whereas at the upper limits it is mixed with ban oak (Quercus incana). The type consists of a practically pure association of chir pine with almost no understorey. Even shrubs are few on the slopes of the Mahabharat range. The top of the canopy is usually 20 to 35 m high but is rarely complete. These forests occur in a wide range of climatic conditions with rainfall from 900 mm to more than 2 000 mm, but are generally confined to western Nepal. In the central and eastern parts of the country they are present only on dry sites. On the Churia hills, chir pine occurs in pure stands or in mixture with scattered deciduous trees in the lower storey. The deciduous species, besides sal, are Terminalia tomentosa, Anogeissus latifolia, Syzygium cumini, Cedrela toona, etc. Chir forests are rarely found on flat terrain as only a few such places have escaped clearing for cultivation. Above 2 000 m the vegetation becomes completely temperate and chir pine is replaced by blue pine (Pinus wallichiana), although it may go up to 2 400 m in places.

In moist temperate climatic conditions, coniferous stands are the majority and correspond to "Himalayan moist temperate forests" of Champion and Seth. These forests, on the southern side of the Himalayas, occur at an elevation of over 2 450 m and are composed of fir (Abies pindrow), hemlock (Tsuga dumosa), spruce (Picea smithiana), cypress (Cupressus torulosa), blue pine (Pinus wallichiana) and deodar (Cedrus deodara). They are generally inaccessible. They are an important source of timber and fuelwood to villagers living in the mountain valleys. They are also important in protecting the upper parts of mountain watersheds. They are often overmature.

last updated: Wednesday, September 27, 2006