Forests play significant role in the lives of people of India in many ways. The studies concern the Forests of Pachmarhi*** hills lying in the central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh which possess highly valuable forest vegetation. These hills are covered with beautiful forest vegetation and many water falls are present in the deep ravines which present nice sight seeing places for the tourists. Consecutively for three years, the forests of the region were visited so as to assess the present day forest wealth of the region. Field tours were undertaken on foot for several weeks every year. Various significant vegetations were thoroughly explored. Most of the portion of Pachmarhi Hills is compossed of coarse sandstones and metamorphic rocks of sedimentary nature. The Pachmarhi Plateau shows the presence of vast and usually deep ravines as well as clefts of solid rocks which are very thickly forested at lower altitudes. Pachmarhi presents a pleasant climate all the year round with annual rainfall of about 200 cm. In spite of frequent forest degradations and forest clearings for agricultural activities, thick forests occupy the total landscape with frequent and perennial streamlets. Forest flora is thick and rich with a wide variety of plants consisting of ferns and fern allies, liverworts, mosses and wealth of timber trees shrubs and herbs. Forest vegetation is described in three categories: Tropical Dry Deciduous, Tropical Moist Deciduous and Montane Subtropical types with reference to different regions and localities. Emphasis is laid on Dry Teak Bearing Forests. Hardwickia Forests, Northern Dry Deciduous Forests, Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests, Dry Penninsular Sal Forests, Moist Deciduous Forests and Central Indian Sub-Tropical Forests. Information is also given about introduced flora, forest degradation and conservation of Pachmarhi Hill Flora.
