Flora and Fauna of Jammu & Kashmir :

Jammu and Kashmir is rich in flora and fauna. Flora includes thorn bush type of the arid plain to the temperate and alpine flora of the higher altitudes. Faunal species found here are leopard, cheetah and deer, wild sheep, bear, brown musk shrew, muskrat; varieties of snakes, bats, lizards etc.

The State is rich in flora and fauna. In Jammu, the flora ranges from the thorn bush type of the arid plain to the temperate and alpine flora of the higher altitudes. Of the broad leaf trees there are maple, horse chestnuts, silver fir etc. At the higher altitudes there are birch, rhododendron, Berbers and a large number of herbal plants. In the hilly regions of Doda, Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri there is a large and varied fauna including leopard, cheetah and deer, wild sheep, bear, brown musk shrew, muskrat. Varieties of snakes, bats, lizards and frogs are also found in the region. The game birds in Jammu include chakor, snow partridge, pheasants, and peacock.

The bio-diversity of Jammu region included types of vegetation like subtropical pine forests, lower Shivalik Chir (Pinus roxburghii), Pine forests, Subtropical dry evergreen forests, Himalayan moist temperature forests, Himalayan dry temperature forests, sub-alpine and moist-alpine forests. However, the vegetation of Jammu plains was of dry mixed deciduous type, which was a continuation of the vegetation of Punjab plains.

Kashmir abounds in rich flora. The Valley that has been described as the 'Paradise' on Earth is full of many hues of wood and game. The most magnificent of the Kashmir trees is the Chinar found throughout the valley. It grows to giant size and girth. The trees presents itself in various enchanting colours through the cycle of the seasons among which its autumnal look is breath-taking. Mountain ranges in the Valley have dense deodar, pine and fir. Walnut, willow, almond and cider also add to the rich flora of Kashmir.

Jammu Kashmir is a land blessed with superb natural beauty. The landscape, rivers, lakes, springs, streams, mountains, hills adorn this fairyland. There a number of tourist resorts in the entire state. The resorts are extremely beautiful and are mainly located at high altitude hills. Most of the resorts are lush green meadows where you would love to walk barefooted. However, there is much more natural and artificial beauty in the state apart from these tourist resorts. Gardens and orchards spread throughout the state are soothing to the eye.

The game birds in Jammu include chakor (Alectorisgrace), snow partridge, pheasants, and peacock. The dense forests of Kashmir are a delight to the sport lovers and adventurers for whom there are ibex, snow leopard, musk deer, wolf, red bear, black bear and leopard. The winged game includes ducks, goose, partridge, chakor, pheasant, wagtails, herons, water pigeons, warblers, and doves. 

The dense forests of Kashmir are a delight to the sport-lovers and adventures for whom there are Ibex, Snow Leopard, Musk deer, wolf, Markhor, Red bear, Black bear and Leopard. The winged game includes ducks, goose, partridge, chakor, pheasant, wagtails, herons, water pigeons, warblers, and doves. In otherwise arid desert of Ladakh some 240 species of local and migratory birds have been identified including black-necked crane. The Ladakh fauna includes yak, Himalayan Ibex, Tibetan antelope, snow leopard, wild ass, red bear and gazelle.