Naga-Manipuri-Chin Hills Moist Forests - A Global Ecoregion

One of the richest areas for birds and mammals in all of Asia

About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Northern Triangle subtropical forests; Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rain forests; Chin Hills-Arakan Yoma montane forests; Meghalaya subtropical forests; Northeast India-Myanmar pine forests.

These forests are known to be fairly wet with some areas known to receive more than 36 feet (11 m) of rainfall in a year. This rainfall, together with the deeply dissected landscape makes dispersal difficult, thus contributing to the richness of these forests, making them a crucible of evolution.

For instance, these hills are considered to be the centrw of diversity for several primitive trees.

Local Species
This area contains refuges for the Miocene flora such as Tetracentron sinense and Amentotaxus assamicus.

Among the numerous birds restricted to habitats in this ecoregion are Blyth's tragopan (Tragopan blythii), Brown-capped laughingthrush (Garrulax austeni), Long-tailed wren-babbler (Spelaeornis chocolatinus), Rufous-capped babbler (Stachyris ruficeps), Broad-billed warbler (Tickellia hodgsoni), and White-browed nuthatch (Sitta victoriae).

Mammals include the endangered Hoolock gibbon (Hylobates hoolock), Tiger (Panthera tigris), the threatened Sun bear (Ursus malayanus), Red panda (Ailurus fulgens), Clouded leopard (Pardofelis nebulosa), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Thamin (Cervus eldii), and the Gaur (Bos gaurus).

Threats
Portions of this ecoregion are in relatively good condition. Major concerns include 'Jhum' (shifting) cultivation, clearing for fuel wood and fodder needs, forest fires, development projects, timber exploitation, hunting, and habitat loss. Burning and overgrazing in many areas leads to the trampling of soils, thus preventing regeneration.

Resources
• NationalGeographic.com