(Info) Flora and Fauna of Bundelkhand

Flora and Fauna of Bundelkhand

The flora of Bundelkhand is of the tropical dry deciduous type.

In the Bundelkhand Plain sub-region areas of Banda, Hamirpur and Datia districts, along the banks of rivers like the Pahuj, Betwa and Yamuna, we see acacias like babul (Acacia Nilotica) and khair (Acacia catechu), palas (Butea monosperma), ber (Zizyphus varieties), tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon), mahua (Mahuca Indica), semal (Salmalia malabarica) and kardhai (Anogeissus pendula).

In the Bundelkhand Intermediate sub-region we also see salai (Boswellia serrata), seesham (Dalbergia sissoo), dhau (Anogeissus latifolia), jamun (Syzizium), seja, the karaundha (Carissa spinarum) shrub and occasionally, teak.

Teak is found in the southern Bundelkhand Upland sub-region (Panna, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh), besides the above-mentioned species. In the Damoh and Sagar plateaus, we also see trees known locally as dhawda (Anogeissus latifolia), tinsa (Augenia delbergiodes) and bija (Pterocarpus marsupium).

Tendu, which provides seasonal income to people living in and around forests, is found in abundance in Panna and Chhatarpur districts. Another very useful tree for people living around forests is mahua.

There is little timber production in Bundelkhand. Good teak forests are found only in Sagar and Damoh districts in small patches. Bamboo is found in small patches across the region.

Forests and scrub lands are intensively used by to source firewood for consumption and sale.

All wild animals have become a rare sight in Bundelkhand, even in designated sanctuaries.

A wide range of fish is found in Bundelkhand's rivers, including species known locally as rahu, bhadur, mrigal, tingar, singahi, mangur, awda, baam, sooja, sinni and mahasir.

Courtesy : bundelkhandinfo.org