Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf & Conifer Forests - A Global Ecoregion
Home to the endangered Golden langur, Lesser panda, Clouded leopard
Snapshot: Ecoregion 67
Size:
170,000 sq. km (65,000 sq. miles)
Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Geographic Location:
Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
Quiz Time!
Why do the local nomadic gypsies capture black bears?
Answer:
A survey by WWF-Pakistan documented that in 1993 more than 1,600 Himalayan black bears were being held in captivity, primarily by nomadic gypsies who earn money by having the bears dance in front of audiences.
About the Area
The Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf and Conifer Forests blanket the lowlands to the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests; Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests; Northern Triangle temperate forests; Northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests.
These middle-elevation forests range from 3,000 to 13,000 feet (900 to 3,900 m) and harbour a tremendous diversity of plant and animal species. Temperatures vary widely throughout the year making it ideal for broadleaf evergreen trees at the lower elevations, deciduous trees and conifers higher up. In the sub-alpine zone, above 3,000 meters, forests are slow to regenerate, a situation that makes them especially susceptible to degradation.
Eastern Himalayan forests are home to a number of extraordinary mammals such as the highly endangered Golden langur (Presbytis bieti), Lesser panda (Ailurus fulgens), Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Himalayan black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus), and the Goat antelope called Takin (Budorcas taxicolor).
Endangered endemic plants include many orchid species (Cymbidium whiteae, Paphiopedilum fairrieanum, P. wardii), and maple species such as the Accer oblongumand and Acer hookeri.
These forests consistute an important endemic bird area and support a high diversity of bird species such as the Kashmir flycatcher (Ficedula subrubra), Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa), Brooks' leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus subviridis), and the Blyth's tragopan (Tragopan blythi).
Other birds characteristic of this ecoregion include the Laughing thrushes (Garrulax spp.) of which there are several dozen species resident in the Eastern Himalayas.
Threats
Conversion of forest to agriculture land and exploitation of forests for timber, fodder and fuel wood (also used by trekkers and mountaineers) are some of the main threats to biodiversity in this region. Additional threats to these forests include charcoal production in some low elevation areas and intensive grazing at higher elevations.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
