>Every-leaf-that-trembles at 14:25, 24 March 2021

2021-03-24T14:25:55Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}

{{Infobox ecoregion
| name = Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests
| image = File:Kambhalakonda EDC Vizag.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Tropical moist deciduous forest in [[Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary]], Andhra Pradesh
| map = File:Ecoregion IM0111.svg
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of the ecoregion
| biogeographic_realm = [[Indomalayan realm|Indomalayan]]
| biome = [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]
| border = [[Central Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]]
| border1 = [[Chhota-Nagpur dry deciduous forests]]
| border2 = [[Godavari-Krishna mangroves]]
| border3 = [[Lower Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests]]
| border4 = [[Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests]]
| border5 = [[North Deccan dry deciduous forests]]
| border6 = [[Odisha semi-evergreen forests]]
| bird_species = 313
| mammal_species =
| area = 341100
| country = [[India]]
| country1 =
| state = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| state1 = [[Chhattisgarh]]
| state2 = [[Jharkhand]]
| state3 = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| state4 = [[Maharashtra]]
| state5 = [[Odisha]]
| state6 = [[Telangana]]
| habitat_loss =
| habitat_loss_ref =
| protected = 3.97
| protected_ref =
| conservation = Critical/endangered<ref name = wwf>{{WWF ecoregion|name=Eastern highlands moist deciduous forests|id=im0111}}</ref>

| coordinates = {{coord|19|12|N|80|30|E|display=inline,title}}
|footnotes =
}}

The '''Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests''', or '''East Deccan moist deciduous forests''', is a [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]] [[ecoregion]] in east-central [[India]]. The ecoregion covers an area of {{convert|341,100|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}, extending across portions of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Odisha]], and [[Telangana]] states.

==Setting==
The Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests extend from the [[Bay of Bengal]] coast in northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Orissa, across the northern portion of the [[Eastern Ghats]] range and the northeastern [[Deccan Plateau]], to the eastern [[Satpura Range]] and the upper [[Narmada River]] valley.

The forests of the ecoregion are sustained by the moisture-bearing [[monsoon]] winds from the [[Bay of Bengal]], which lies to the southeast. The ecoregion is bounded on the north and west by [[Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests|tropical dry deciduous forest]] ecoregions, including the [[Central Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]] to the southwest and west, the [[Narmada valley dry deciduous forests]] to the northwest, and the [[Chota Nagpur dry deciduous forests]] to the north and northeast. The drier [[Northern dry deciduous forests]] ecoregion, lying west of the Eastern Ghats range, is completely surrounded by the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests, in the [[rain shadow]] of the Ghats, which partially block the moisture-laden monsoon winds off the Bay of Bengal. The humid [[Orissa semi-evergreen forests]] ecoregion lies to the northeast in the coastal lowlands of Orissa.

==Flora==
The ecoregion's forests are dominated by [[Sal tree|Sal]] ''(Shorea robusta)'', in association with ''[[Terminalia (plant)|Terminalia]], [[Adina (plant)|Adina]], [[Toona]], [[Syzygium]], [[Buchanania]], [[Cleistanthus]],'' and ''[[Anogeissus]]'', according to soil variations. The flora of the ecoregion shares many species with the moist forests of the [[Western Ghats]] and the [[Eastern Himalaya]]s.

From the Western Ghats this includes plants like [[jackfruit]] and several [[lianas]] such as [[Schefflera|Schefflera vine]] (''schefflera venulosa''), joint fir (''[[gnetum ula]]''), and [[common rattan]].

From the Eastern Himalayas this includes the peculiar [[Indian pepper tree]] and several shrubs, herbs and flowers such as [[yellow Himalayan raspberry]], [[false nettle]] (''Boehmeria macrophylla''), and [[whipcord cobra lily]] among others.

Several globally threatened plant species are found in this ecoregion, including the two endemic plants ''[[Leucas|Leucas mukerjiana]]'' and ''[[Phlebophyllum jeyporensis]]''.

<gallery>
File:Woods.jpg|Inside a tropical moist deciduous forest
File:Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden - Howrah 2011-01-08 9797.JPG|Sal trees are common in these forests
File:A branch laden with Sal flowers.jpg|Characteristic yellow-white sal-flowers in winter coincides with leaffall
File:Sambar stag leaves of Terminalia tomentosa Kanha TR AJT Johnsingh IMG 0871.JPG|''Terminalia'', and especially [[Terminalia tomentosa|asna trees]] (Indian laurel), are also common.
File:Bamboo leaves1.JPG|Bamboo, especially [[calcutta bamboo]], is prominent in many parts of this ecoregion
File:Gnetum ula-3-bsi-yercaud-salem-India.jpg|Plants in common with the Western Ghats includes several types of lianas (Joint Fir).
File:Zanthoxylum rhetsa 6662.jpg|Plants in common with the Eastern Himalayas spans a wide range of species ([[Indian pepper tree]])
</gallery>

== Fauna ==
[[File:Tiger Davidraju 38.jpg|thumb|Tiger in [[Kanha National Park]]]]
The ecoregion still harbours large intact areas of tropical moist deciduous forest and is an important refuge for healthy populations of most of the original large [[vertebrates]] associated with this habitat. Large mammals include the predators [[Indian tiger]], [[wolf]], [[dhole]], and [[sloth bear]], and the herbivores [[gaur]], [[chousingha]], [[blackbuck]], and [[chinkara]]. The [[Asian elephants]] that once lived were extirpated long ago.

The only [[endemic species]] found in the ecoregion is the cave-dwelling [[Khajuria's leaf-nosed bat]].

<gallery>
File:SlothBear DSC 0721.jpg|Sloth bears are here
File:Gaur (Bos gaurus) MH India.jpg|Indian bison (gaur) is present in parts of this ecoregion
File:Four-horned Antelope.jpg|Several kinds of antilope and deer species live in this ecoregion (Chousingha)
File:Pallas's Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus by Dr. Raju Kasambe IMG 0582 (10).CR2.JPG|[[Pallas's fish-eagle]], a globally threatened species, is living here
File:Green Munia pair.jpg|[[Green avadavat]], a globally threatened species, has found a refuge in this ecoregion
</gallery>

==Conservation==
[[File:View from a dam in Kinnarsani WS, AP W IMG 5776.jpg|thumb|View from a dam in Kinnersani Wildlife Sanctuary in Telangana]]
[[File:Palpala River near lulung, Similipal National Park.jpg|thumb|Palpala River near lulung, Similipal National Park in Odhisha]]
Approximately 25% of the original habitat remains, much of it in blocks of 5000 km² or larger. 31 protected areas, totaling 13,540 km², preserve about 4% of the ecoregion's intact habitat. The largest protected area in the ecoregion is [[Simlipal National Park]] in [[Odisha]] state.<ref>Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). ''Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment.'' Island Press; [[Washington, DC]]. pp. 306-308</ref>

* [[Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Chhattisgarh]] (550 km²)
* [[Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuary]], Chhattisgarh (120 km²)
* [[Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary]], Odisha (170 km²)
* [[Balimela Wildlife Sanctuary]], Odisha (130 km²)
* [[Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary]], Chhattisgarh (240 km²)
* [[Bhairamgarh Wildlife Sanctuary]], Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh (160 km²)
* [[Bori Wildlife Sanctuary]], Hoshangabad district, Madhya Pradesh (460 km²)
* [[Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary]], Warangal district, Telangana (120 km²)
* [[Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary]], Odisha (140 km²)
* [[Indravati National Park]], [[Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh]] (1,150 km²)
* [[Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Visakhapatnam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] (70 km²)
* [[Kanha National Park]], Mandla and Balaghat districts, Madhya Pradesh (900 km²)
* [[Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary]], Odisha (150 km²)
* [[Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Adilabad district]], [[Telangana]] (1,080 km²)
* [[Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary]], Khammam district, Telangana (290 km²)
* [[Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary]] (480 km², partially in the [[Central Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests]] ecoregion).
* [[Kondakameru Wildlife Sanctuary]], Odisha (400 km²)
* [[Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary]], Odisha (400 km²)
* [[Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Ganjam district]], Odisha (180 km²)
* [[Lanjamadugu Wildlife Sanctuary]], Karimnagar district, Telangana (80 km²)
* [[Mahuadaur Wildlife Sanctuary]], Jharkhand (60 km²)
* [[Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary]], Madhya Pradesh (500 km²)
* [[Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary]], Warangal district, Telangana (120 km²)
* [[Pamed Wildlife Sanctuary]], Chhattisgarh (60 km²)
* [[Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary]], East and West Godavari districts, Andhra Pradesh (530 km²)
* [[Phen Wildlife Sanctuary]], Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh (100 km²)
* [[Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary]], Adilabad district, Telanagana (130 km²)
* [[Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary]], Odisha (790 km²)
* [[Satpura National Park]], Madhya Pradesh (490 km²)
* [[Simlipal National Park]], [[Mayurbhanj district]], Odisha (2,550 km²))
* [[Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary]], Chhattisgarh (670 km²)
* [[Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary]], Chhattisgarh (340 km²)

== See also ==
*[[List of ecoregions in India]]
*[[Flora of Madhya Pradesh]]
*[[Arid Forest Research Institute]] (AFRI)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{WWF ecoregion|name=Eastern highlands moist deciduous forests|id=im0111}}
* {{cite web|url=https://ecoregions2017.appspot.com/|title=Ecoregions 2017|publisher=Resolve}}<br>Geographical ecoregion maps and basic info.

{{clear}}
{{ecoregions of India}}

[[Category:Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests| ]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of India]]
[[Category:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]
[[Category:Forests of India]]
[[Category:Environment of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Environment of Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Environment of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Environment of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Environment of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Environment of Odisha]]
[[Category:Forests of Odisha]]
[[Category:Environment of Telangana]]
[[Category:Indomalayan ecoregions]]

Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests - Revision history

>Every-leaf-that-trembles at 14:25, 24 March 2021