Western Himalayan broadleaf forests
| Western Himalayan broadleaf forests | |
|---|---|
| Ecology | |
| Biome | Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests |
| Borders | Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests, Himalayan subtropical pine forests and Northwestern thorn scrub forests |
| Bird species | 126 |
| Mammal species | 115 |
| Geography | |
| Area | 55,900 km2 (21,600 sq mi) |
| Countries | Nepal, Pakistan and India |
| Conservation | |
| Habitat loss | 78.237% |
| Protected | 6.62% |
The Western Himalayan broadleaf forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forest ecoregion which is found in the middle elevations of the western Himalayas, including parts of Nepal, India, and Pakistan.
The ecoregion forms an area of temperate broadleaf forest covering 55,900 square kilometres (21,600 sq mi) in a narrow band between 1,500 to 2,600 metres (4,900 to 8,500 ft) elevation, extending from the Gandaki River gorge in Nepal, through Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh in northern India, into disputed area of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Pakistan. This ecoregion is drier and the forest is more fragmented than its Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests counterpart, which receive more moisture from the Bay of Bengal monsoon but is still valuable habitat especially as part of the pattern of habitats found at different elevations on the Himalayan mountainsides. Many species of birds and animals migrate up and down the mountains seasonally from the grasslands of the plains below to the high peaks.
At lower elevations, this ecoregion grades into Himalayan subtropical pine forests. At higher elevations, it grades into Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests as well as Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows and Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows.
The Western Himalayan broadleaf forests may be divided into forests of two types: evergreen and deciduous broadleaved forests.
The evergreen broadleaf forest is dominated by oaks, consisting of Quercus semecarpifolia, Quercus dilatata, Quercus lamellosa, and Quercus incana. This forest is typically found on moister southern slopes, which are more influenced by the monsoon. Various Lauraceae call this forest home, including Machilus odoratissima, Litsea umbrosa, Litsea lanuginosa, and Phoebe pulcherrima. The understory features a rich assemblage of ferns, mosses, and epiphytes. On northern slopes, drier areas, and higher elevations, Quercus ilex is found, along with conifers representing Abies, Picea, Cedrus, and Pinus.
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