Natural Vegetation and Forest Resources of Rajasthan

1. India State of Forest Report (ISFR 2021) & Forest Statistics

1.1 Official Baseline of Forest & Tree Cover

According to the **17th India State of Forest Report (ISFR 2021)** published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI, Dehradun), Rajasthan’s forest profile stands as follows:
Component Area (sq. km) % of Total State Geographical Area
Recorded Forest Area (RFA) 32,864.62 9.60%
Forest Cover 16,654.96 4.87%
Tree Cover 8,733.00 2.55%
Total Green Cover (Forest + Tree Cover) 25,387.96 7.42%
Per Capita Forest Area 0.03 Hectares Far below national average (0.08 ha)

Forest Cover by Canopy Density Classes:

1. **Very Dense Forest (VDF):** - Canopy density: **70% or greater**. - Area: Merely **78.15 sq. km (0.02%)**. - Confined to pockets in Alwar, Jaipur, and Sirohi. 2. **Moderately Dense Forest (MDF):** - Canopy density: **40% to 70%**. - Area: **4,368.65 sq. km (1.28%)**. - Primarily in Udaipur, Pratapgarh, Sirohi, and Karauli. 3. **Open Forest (OF):** - Canopy density: **10% to 40%**. - Area: **12,208.16 sq. km (3.57%)** (accounts for the largest share of Rajasthan's forest cover). 4. **Scrub Forests:** - Canopy density: **less than 10%** (degraded lands not included in official forest cover). - Area: **4,808.51 sq. km (1.40%)**.

1.2 District-Wise Forest Cover Extremes

By Absolute Area:

- **Top 4 Districts with Highest Forest Cover:** 1. **Udaipur:** 2,753.39 sq. km (Rank 1) 2. **Alwar:** 1,195.91 sq. km 3. **Pratapgarh:** 1,033.77 sq. km 4. **Baran:** 1,010.42 sq. km - **Bottom 4 Districts with Lowest Forest Cover:** 1. **Churu:** 77.69 sq. km (Lowest in Rajasthan) 2. **Hanumangarh:** 89.69 sq. km 3. **Jodhpur:** 109.25 sq. km 4. **Sri Ganganagar:** 113.25 sq. km

By Percentage of Geographical Area:

- **Top 4 Districts with Highest Forest Percentage:** 1. **Udaipur:** 23.49% 2. **Pratapgarh:** 23.24% 3. **Sirohi:** 17.49% 4. **Karauli:** 15.28% - **Bottom 4 Districts with Lowest Forest Percentage:** 1. **Jodhpur:** 0.48% (Lowest in Rajasthan) 2. **Churu:** 0.56% 3. **Jaisalmer:** 0.84% 4. **Bikaner:** 0.92%

Under the Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953, the state's 32,864.62 sq. km of Recorded Forest Area is divided into three statutory classes:

Statutory Class Total Area (sq. km) Percentage of RFA Legal Tenure & Usufruct Rights
1. Reserved Forests (आरक्षित वन) 12,176.24 37.05% Inviolable; Absolute state monopoly. Timber felling, grazing, and trespass are strictly illegal and cognizable criminal offences.
2. Protected Forests (संरक्षित वन) 18,543.22 56.49% Largest category; Local communities are granted limited usufruct rights (controlled livestock grazing and collection of fallen dry wood) subject to state conservation rules.
3. Unclassed Forests (अवर्गीकृत वन) 2,145.16 6.46% Residual category; communities may graze cattle and cut wood upon payment of nominal royalties.

3. Botanical and Agro-Ecological Forest Types

Based on the Champion & Seth (1968) classification, Rajasthan features 5 distinct forest zones:

3.1 Tropical Dry Deciduous / Dhok Forests (Anogeissus pendula)

- **Distribution:** Accounts for approximately **58% of all forests** (the single most prevalent forest type in Rajasthan). - **Regions:** Lower slopes of the Aravalli range and eastern plains—Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Alwar, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Rajsamand. - **Rainfall:** 50 to 80 cm. - **Key Flora:** **Dhok or Dhokra (*Anogeissus pendula*)** dominates canopy cover. Produces extremely dense, durable timber yielding high-calorific charcoal.

3.2 Dry Teak Forests (Tectona grandis)

- **Distribution:** Approximately **6.87% of total forest area**. - **Regions:** Southern humid highlands—**Banswara (highest density)**, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, Udaipur (Kotra/Jhadol), Jhalawar, Kota, and Baran. - **Rainfall:** 75 to 110 cm. - **Elevation:** 250 to 450 metres above sea level. - **Key Flora:** **Teak (*Tectona grandis*)**. Teak cannot tolerate severe winter frost, confining its natural range strictly to southern tribal tracts.

3.3 Mixed Deciduous Forests

- **Distribution:** Approximately **28.38% of forest area**. - **Regions:** Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Sirohi, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Alwar, Karauli. - **Rainfall:** 60 to 90 cm. - **Key Flora:** Salar (*Boswellia serrata* - gum used in packing/pharmaceuticals), Palash/Dhak (*Butea monosperma*), Safed Dhavda, Khair, Jamun.

3.4 Sub-Tropical Broad-Leaved Hill Forests

- **Distribution:** Less than **0.5% (approx. 32 sq. km)**. - **Regions:** Exclusively confined to **Mount Abu (Sirohi)** above 1,200 metres altitude. - **Rainfall:** Exceeds 150 cm (highest in Rajasthan). - **Key Flora:** Wild Mango (*Mangifera indica*), Jamun, Bamboo, Ambervat (*Carissa carandas*), *Dicliptera abuensis* (endemic species).

3.5 Tropical Thorn Forests (Desert Xerophytic Scrub)

- **Distribution:** Approximately **6.26% of forest area**. - **Regions:** Western arid desert—Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Jalore, Churu, Sikar. - **Rainfall:** Less than 25 cm. - **Xerophytic Adaptations:** Minute foliage reduced to spines, thick suberized bark, fleshy water-storing stems, and deep taproots. - **Key Flora:** Khejri (*Prosopis cineraria*), Rohida (*Tecomella undulata*), Ber (*Ziziphus mauritiana*), Kair (*Capparis decidua*), Phog (*Calligonum polygonoides*), Babool (*Acacia nilotica*).

4. State Tree and State Flower: Exhaustive Profiles

4.1 Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) - The Kalpavriksha of Thar

- **Official Designation:** Declared the **State Tree of Rajasthan on 31 October 1983**. - **Botanical Name:** *Prosopis cineraria* - **Vernacular Nomenclature:** Kalpavriksha of Rajasthan, Pride of Thar, Shami (Vedic texts), Janti (Rajasthani), Banna-Banni (Kannada), Chhonkra (Braj). - **Cultural Role:** Revered on Vijayadashami (Dussehra). Sacred shrines of folk deities like Gogaji, Pabuji, and Tejaji are customarily consecrated beneath Khejri canopies. - **Economic Value:** - **Sangari:** Green pods harvested and sun-dried for the world-famous *Panchkuta* delicacy. - **Khokha:** Sweet, mature dried pods consumed directly as desert fruit. - **Loom / Loong:** Nutrient-dense green foliage harvested as winter fodder for camels, goats, and sheep. - **Pathological Threats:** Root attacks by the wood-boring beetle *Celostrena scabrator* and fungal infestations by *Glycotroma*. - **Operation Khejra:** Launched in 1991 for institutional conservation. Honoured on a 60-paise postal stamp on 5 June 1988.

4.2 Rohida (Tecomella undulata) - The Teak of Marwar

- **Official Designation:** Declared the **State Flower of Rajasthan on 31 October 1983**. - **Botanical Name:** *Tecomella undulata* - **Vernacular Nomenclature:** Teak of Marwar, Desert Rose, Glory of the Desert. - **Flowering Season:** Blossoms in Chaitra (March–April) with striking clusters of vermilion, yellow, and deep orange petals. - **Wood Quality:** Lightweight, durable, termite-resistant timber extensively prized for rifle stocks, handicrafts, and carved heritage furniture.

5. Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) & Tribal Economy

Minor Forest Produce Source Botanical Species Key Harvesting Districts Commercial Utility & Governance
Tendu Leaves (तेंदू) Diospyros melanoxylon / Vernacular 'Timru' Udaipur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, Jhalawar Raw material for Bidi rolling. Trade nationalized by the Rajasthan Government in 1974. Timru fruit is hailed as the 'Chikoo of Vagad'.
Katha (कत्था) Khair (Acacia catechu) Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar, Baran Traditionally boiled and processed by the indigenous Kathodi Tribe using earthen pots (Handi system).
Gum (गोंद) Kumlat, Salar, Khakhra, Babool Chohtan (Barmer) - "Gum Capital of Rajasthan"; Sawai Madhopur Chohtan's Gond Katira is globally renowned. Salar gum is used in pharmaceuticals and confectionery.
Khas Grass (खस) Vetiveria zizanioides Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk Fragrant roots steam-distilled for attar (perfume), sherbet essences, and cooling mats.
Mahua (महुआ) Madhuca indica / "Kalpavriksha of Tribals" Sirohi, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara Petals fermented by tribal communities to brew indigenous beverage Mahudi. Seeds (Dolma) pressed for cooking and lighting oil.
Palash / Dhak (पलाश) Butea monosperma Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Udaipur Known as the "Flame of the Forest" for incandescent spring blossoms; foliage stitched into compostable dining plates (Pattal-Dona).
Bamboo (बांस) Dendrocalamus strictus / "Green Gold" Banswara ("City of Bamboos"), Udaipur, Sirohi Essential raw material for tribal basketry and rural architecture. Exempted from tree felling restrictions on non-forest lands by the 2017 Indian Forest Amendment Act.

6. Indigenous Pasture Grasses of the Thar

  1. Sevan Grass (Lasiurus scindicus):
    • Distribution: Deep arid tracts of Jaisalmer along the 60-km-long subterranean Lathi Series aquifer (Pokhran to Mohangarh).
    • Nutritional Profile: Perennial nutritious grass containing 10–12% crude protein. Known locally in its dried form as 'Leelan'. Prime breeding nesting biotope of the endangered Great Indian Bustard.
  2. Dhaman Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris):
    • High-yield, palatable dairy pasture grass.
  3. Karad Grass (Dichanthium annulatum):
    • Resilient drought-hardy fodder.
  4. Anjan Grass (Cenchrus setigerus):
    • Sand-binding dune stabilization grass.
  5. Mothiya Grass (Cyperus rotundus):
    • Tuberous grass dominating Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, favoured by Blackbucks.

7. Historic Ecological Movements and Forest Policies

7.1 The Khejarli Sacrifice (12 September 1730 AD)

- **Historical Event:** On Bhadrapada Shukla Dashami (Vikram Samvat 1787), 363 Bishnoi men and women led by **Amrita Devi Bishnoi** sacrificed their lives at Khejarli village (Jodhpur) to protect green Khejri trees from the royal axemen of Maharaja Abhai Singh. - **Ethical Maxim:** > *"Sar santhe rookh rahe, to bhi sasto jaan"* (If a tree is saved at the cost of one's head, consider the bargain cheap). - **The Global Tree Fair:** The world's only dedicated **Tree Fair (वृक्ष मेला)** gathers annually at Khejarli on Bhadrapada Shukla Dashami. - **Amrita Devi Bishnoi Award:** Instituted in **1994** by the Government of Rajasthan for exemplary wildlife and forest conservation (Cash award: ₹1,00,000 for institutions, ₹50,000 for individuals; inaugural recipient: Gangaram Bishnoi).

7.2 Forest Policies of Rajasthan

1. **State Forest Policy 2010:** Rajasthan was the **first state in India** to notify an independent Forest Policy on 18 February 2010, aiming for 20% forest and tree cover. 2. **New State Forest Policy 2023:** Notified on 5 June 2023, committing the state to expand green cover to 20% over the next 20 years through agro-forestry, city forests, and eco-tourism.