• Tropical Evergreen Forests – Found in areas with high rainfall such as the Western Ghats, North-East India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Tropical Deciduous Forests – Most widespread; found in central India, the foothills of the Himalayas, and the eastern states.
• Thorn Forests – Located in dry regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of the Deccan.
• Montane Forests – Occur in mountainous regions such as the Himalayas.
• Mangrove Forests – Found in coastal and tidal regions like the Sundarbans (West Bengal) and Andaman & Nicobar.

• Regulate climate and rainfall.
• Prevent soil erosion and floods.
• Act as carbon sinks, mitigating global warming.
• Provide habitat for wildlife.
• Supply timber, fuelwood, medicinal plants, fodder, food, and non-timber forest products.
• Protect watersheds and maintain ecological balance.

India is home to more than 90,000 species of animals, including over 350 mammals, around 1,200–1,300 bird species, and numerous reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

• Mammals: Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, Indian rhinoceros, leopard, sloth bear, Asiatic lion.
• Birds: Peacock (national bird), hornbill, parrot, crane.
• Reptiles: King cobra, crocodile, turtle, gharial.
• Endangered Species: Snow leopard, lion-tailed macaque, Great Indian bustard, gharial.

• Deforestation – Due to agriculture, mining, infrastructure development, and urban expansion.
• Poaching and Illegal Trade – Hunting for skins, bones, tusks, and horns (especially of tigers, rhinos, and elephants).
• Habitat Fragmentation – Roads, dams, and human settlements divide natural habitats.
• Forest Fires – Both natural and man-made fires cause extensive damage.
• Invasive Species – Non-native species outcompete indigenous flora and fauna.
• Climate Change – Alters ecosystems and can lead to migration or extinction of sensitive species.

• Indian Forest Act (1927) and Forest Conservation Act (1980) – Regulate forest use and restrict deforestation.
• Wildlife Protection Act (1972) – Prohibits hunting and protects habitats of endangered species.
• Indian Forest Policy (1988) – Emphasizes environmental stability and sustainable forest management.
• National Biodiversity Act (2002) – Promotes conservation of biological diversity.
• Environment Protection Act (1986) – Provides the overarching framework for environmental laws.

• Project Tiger (1973) – Protects Bengal tigers and their habitats; now under the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
• Project Elephant (1992) – Focuses on elephant conservation, habitats, and corridors.
• Crocodile Breeding Project – Helped revive crocodile populations in several regions.
• Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats – Funding support for biodiversity conservation.
• CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund) – Supports forest restoration against developmental diversion.

• National Parks – Strictly protected; no human activity allowed (e.g., Jim Corbett, Kaziranga, Gir).
• Wildlife Sanctuaries – Limited human activity permitted (e.g., Periyar, Ranthambore, Gir).
• Biosphere Reserves – Large areas with core, buffer, and transition zones (e.g., Nilgiri, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi).

• Joint Forest Management (JFM) – Involves local communities in forest protection and benefit-sharing.
• Sacred Groves – Forest patches protected by communities due to cultural or religious beliefs.
• Historical movements such as the Chipko Movement and Appiko Movement, along with tribal forest guardianship.

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
• UN REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation)