Types of Forests in Jammu and Kasmir :

The natural vegetation differs dramatically from place to place. Moreover, the percent­ages of leaves, stems, and roots, etc., also differ from forest to forest. In order to understand the spatial distribution of different types of natural vegetation, the forests of Jammu and Kashmir state may be classified under the follow­ing categories.

1. Subtropical Forests :

The subtropical rain forests are confined to the Siwaliks and lower slopes of the Middle Himalayas. Owing to the seasonality of rainfall and edaphic fac­tors there is great diversity of trees in these forest. These factors have a thick undergrowth of bushes and scrubs. The dominant species of subtropical for­ests are teak, sal, Shisham, Pipal (ficus religiosa).

Tun, silver-pine, Mohowa, Khair (Acacia-catehu), thorny bushes, evergreen shrubs, climbers, reed and tall grasses locally known as Khar. Most of these species are broad-leaved de­ciduous type which drop their leaves in the months of January, February and March, just before the advent of hot weather season. In the biomass of subtropical forests the proportion of leaves is 8 per cent and the stems 74 per cent, while the remaining 18 per cent is roots. These forests are mainly util­ised for fuel-wood, timber, house-construction, agricultural implements and miscellaneous purposes. Valuable products like resins, gum, Katha, and me­dicinal herbs are also obtained from the subtropical forests of the state. These forests are being destroyed and depleted at a faster pace. The pressure of human population and ignorance of people are quickly damaging the eco­systems of these forests.

2. Temperate Forests :

Moving northwards as the latitude and altitude increase the place of the sub­tropical forest is taken by temperate vegetation. The slopes of Pir Panjal, Greater Himalayas, Zanskar and Karakoram between 1,500 m to 3,000 m are dominated by temperate forests. The dominant species in these forest are deodar (cedrus Deodara), pine (pinus), silver-fir, spruce, fir, elm, alder, cedar, ash, sorrel, birch, paper-birch, and hazel.

The northern slopes of Pir Panjal have the dominance of deodar, blue-pine with undergrowth of deciduous shrubs, while the Jhelum Forest Division (stretching over Gulmarg and Lo­lab Valley) is dominated by cedar, fir and spruce species of conifers.In the valley floor of Kashmir, poplar, chinar, maple and vir (willow) are the main species of vegetation which are deciduous in character. Where soil condi­tions permit, mixture of broad-leafed deciduous trees, such as maples and oaks, grow together. The temperate forests are utilized for timber, fuel-wood, charcoal, and house construction. These forests produce good quality of timber and paper- pulp. The most valuable timber forests of deodar have been depleted and are now confined to the north-western corner of Kashmir Division. The system of farming-out timber to contractors has resulted in the destruction of many good forests. The tracts which the contractors have spared, suffered at the hands of Gujjars who with small axe cut down trees partly for the sake of fu­el-wood and fodder and partly from a kind of natural instinct which impels them to make forest clearing for the sake of grass.

Moreover, the inadequacy of hydel and thermal power, especially during the severe winters, compels the people to fell the trees and their twigs for fuel wood to be burnt in the winters to keep the house warm and cozy. The accelerated rate of felling of trees is leading to the shrinkage of area of deodar, spruce, pine and fir. The overexploitation of forests and the use of soft and costly wood for fuel are doing great harm to the state revenue on the one hand and to aesthetic beauty and ecosystems on the other. In fact, many of the ecosystems have lost their resilience characteristics.

3. Alpine Pastures :

In Jammu and Kashmir the vegetation, especially grasses belong­ing to the higher regions of mountain system is known as Margs or alpine pastures. The alpine pastures lie between 3600 m to 4000 m above the sea level. Being the zone of high altitudes, the climate in alpine pastures is ex­tremely cold over greater parts of the year. It is only in the summer months (May to September) when ice melts at high altitudes and lush green grasses grow. The low temperatures at high altitudes of the Himalayan belt of the state support some dwarf varieties of birch and junipers making a shrubby appearance. The stunted conifer trees merge into extensive alpine pastures.

In these pastures, some shrubs form isolated thickets during summer months (June-August). The lush green and nutritious grasses of alpine pastures are utilized and grazed by the Gujjars and Bakarwals (goat herders) who practice transhumance. These herders ascend in the alpine pasture with their goats and sheep. They stay in Margs pastures upto the middle of September, de­pending on the prevailing temperature and precipitation conditions. In the autumn season (September-October) they descend and migrate with their flock to the zones of lower altitudes—kani areas of the Jammu Division to pass their winters.