Uttarakhand is endowed with a unique and diverse range of biodiversity.

From the
snowbound peaks of the Himalayas to the moist Alpine scrub, sub Alpine forests, dry
– temperate and moist- temperate forests to moist deciduous forests, the state
possesses a wide biodiversity that in return nurtures a large multiplicity of floral and
faunal forms.

The state is home to nearly 4048 species of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms

belonging to 1198 genera under 192 families. Of these nearly 116 species are
specific to Uttarakhand i.e. their geographical distribution is limited to the boundaries
of the state. 161 species of flora found in Uttarakhand are recognized as rare or
threatened under the categorization of the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN). Out of the 223 species of Orchids reported from the North Western
Himalayas, over 150 have been reported from the State.

This great floral diversity supports a wide variety of faunal forms too. It includes
about 102 species of mammals, 623 species of birds, 124 species of fish, 69 species
of reptiles and 19 species of amphibians. Highly endangered species like the Snow
Leopard, Musk Deer, Tiger, Asian Elephant, Bharal, Himalayan Monal, Cheer
Pheasant, King Cobra etc. find suitable habitat in the forests of Uttarakhand.

This precious natural wealth is our common heritage. In order to conserve this
heritage, the state has declared twelve areas as ‘Protected’ including 6 National
Parks and six Wildlife Sanctuaries. Nearly 65% of the geographical area of the State
is under forest cover, of which over 12% comes under the Protected Area network.
This exceeds the national average by a fair margin and is a reflection of the state’s
commitment to conservation. The Corbett National Park, established in 1936 is the
first National Park of the Asian mainland. The Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve,
established under the “Man and biosphere” programme of UNESCO has the honour
of being Uttarakhand’s only and the country’s second Biosphere Reserve. This
biodiversity wealth is the pride of Uttarakhand.
 The natural vegetation of forests may be
divided into:

Trans- Himalayan zone

Sub- Alpine and Alpine zone

Montane or temperate region

Sub- Montane and sub-tropical region

Tropical wet Evergreen and semi Evergreen region

rotected areas like Nanda Devi Biosphere, Corbett National Park, Rajaji National
Park, Valley of flowers, Govind Pashu Vihar are well - explored area while the under
- explored protected areas include Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary, Sonanadi Wildlife
Sanctuary.

Floristic Distribution In Uttarakhand

Group Species General Families

Angiosperm 3320 950 160
Dicot 780 240 28
Monocot 48 8 4
Gymnosperm 4048 1198 192

More than 350 species of Plants are threatened and endangered in the state. Most
of these threatened plant species are to be found on the hills and have been over-
exploited for medicinal, aromatic or commercial ends. The most threatened among
the tree species are members of the family Aceraceae. All members of the family
Orchidaceae are indeterminate, rare or endangered. Species of the family
Woodsiaceae such as Wooddia Andersonii and Woodsia Cyaloba are believed to be
extinct or extremely highly endangered. The status of more that 80% of plants is
either indeterminate or there id hardly any information about them, necessitating
long-term research for area-wise profiling of plant species of the state.

STATE FLOWER: Brahma Kamal (Saussurea Obvallata)

Buransh is an all-season medium-height tree found at altitudes ranging from 1500 to

3600 meters in the Himalayan region. The leaves of the tree are thick and it flowers
are bell shaped and blood red, white, pink and purple. The flowers bloom in bunches
and a rhododendron tree in full blossom presents a striking visual. The extract from
the flowers has vital medicinal values.
The Beautiful Bugyals
tarakhand is possibly one of the few regions in the world where all the life zones from
sub-tropical hot to Arctic cold exist within a telescopic distance of 100 Km, thus
providing an astoundingly rich floral and faunal diversity. The State has 12 National
Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries that cover 13.8% of the total area of the state. The
various parks and sanctuaries are located at different altitudes varying from 800
meters to the high altitude protected areas at 5400 meters. Apart from these, there
are two Conservation Reserves– The Asan Barrage and Jhilmil Tal conservation
Reserves, two World Heritage sites - the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve and Valley
of Flowers National Park. The state boasts of the first national park of the Indian
Sub-continent - the Corbett National Park, with its major attractions being tiger,
elephant and leopard. It also homes an extensive variety of birds and shares its
boundary with the Rajaji National Park.

Almost 300 species of wild flowers bloom here and attract nature lovers, botanists,
ecologists, zoologists, ornithologists and trekkers. Other National Parks and
Sanctuaries include Binog Wildlifie Sanctuary near Mussoorie, Govind Pashu Vihar
and National Park, Askot Wildlife Sanctuary, Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Sonanadi
Wildlife Sanctuary, Binsar Wild Life Sanctuary near Almora and Gangotri National
Park.

A-NATIONAL PARK AT A GLANCE

National Date of Area in Wildlife Contact

Parks Formation Sq. km
Corbett 11th May 521 Home to around Director, Corbett Tiger
National 1936 600 species of Reserve
Park birds, 50 Ph: (05947) 251376,
mammals and at 251489
least 25 species
of reptiles in the
Ramganga.
Known as the
 National Date of Area in Wildlife Contact
Parks Formation Sq. km
land of trupet,
roar and songs!
Gangotri 16th 2390 The source of Divisional Forest
National September the Officer, Uttarkashi
Park 1989 Ganga-‘Goumuk Ph: (01374) 222444
h’ is situated
here. Bharal
population is
remarkable.
Musk deer,
snow leopard
and Himalayan
tahr are also
found.
Govind 26th 472 Famous for Deputy Director Govind
National February trekking National Park, Purola
Park 1990 destination of Ph: (013732) 23438
Har-ki-dun. Director Rajaji National
Preferred habitat Park
of Snow Ph: (0135) 2621669
Leopard and
Western
Tragopan are
also found.
Nanda Devi 18th 630 Core zone of the Division Forest Officer,
National August Nanda Devi Joshimath
Park 1980 Biosphere Ph: (01389) 222179
Reserve. Home
to 800 identified
species of herbs,
shrubs and trees
and 29 species
of mammals.
Rajaji 12th 820.42 Nestled in the Director Rajaji National
National August Shiwalik Park
Park 1983 opening out to Ph: (0135) 2621669
the vast Indo-
Gangetic plains,
blessed with 315
species of
mammals with
 National Date of Area in Wildlife Contact
Parks Formation Sq. km
the elephants as
the flagship
species.
Valley of 6th 87.50 A natural Division Forest Officer,
Flowers September botanical park Joshimath
National 1982 with over 300 Ph: (01389) 222179
Park species of wild
flowers.
B-SANCTUARIES

Sanctuaries Date of Area in Wildlife Contact

Formation Sq. km
Askot 30th July 600 Fomous for musk Division Forest
Wildlife 1986 deer,  Snow Officer, Pithoragarh
Sancturay Leopard and Ph: (05964) 225234
manal pheasant.
Binsar 25th May 45.59 Offers stunning Director, Corbett
Wildlife 1988 panorama of the Tiger Reserve
Sancturay Himalayas, rich in Ph: (05947) 251376,
oak forest 251489
probably the
largest in Kumaon
hills and a rich
diversity of
several
endangered
species.
Govind 22nd March 485.56 Forms the upper Deputy Director
Wildlife 1955 catchment of Govind National
Sancturay Swarga- Rohini, Park, Purola
Black peak and Ph: (013732) 23438
Bandar Punch lie Director Rajaji
north of the National Park
Sanctuary. Ph: (0135) 2621669
Kedarnath 21th January 975.24 Lush green oak Divisional Forest
Wildlife 1972 forest, temples of Officer, Kedarnath
Sancturay Kedarnath, Wildlife Division,
Tungnath, Gopeshwar
Rudranath and Ph: (01372) 252149
Madmaheshwar
Sanctuaries Date of Area in Wildlife Contact
Formation Sq. km
popularly called
Kedarnath.
Mussoorie 2nd 10.82 Mountain Quail Director Rajaji
Wildlife September will someday National Park
Sancturay 1993 return to this Ph: (0135) 2621669
sanctuary where it
was once
occurred. It has
pristine oak
forests.
Sonanadi 9th January 301.76 It is a protected Director, Corbett
Wildlife 1987 area between Tiger Reserve
Sancturay Rajaji and Corbett Ph: (05947) 251376,
National Parks 251489
and hence has the
biodiversity
similar to both.
C- CONSERVATION RESERVES

Conservation Date of Area in Wildlife Contact

Reserve Formation Sq. km
Jhilmil Tal 14th August 37.83 Falls under Divisional Forest
2005 subtropical Officer, Haridwar
climatic zone Ph: (01334) 226271
and probably
the only Swamp
deer habitat in
Uttarakhand.
Asan Wetland 14th August 4.44 A paradise for Divisional Forest
2005 migratory birds. Officer, Kalsi Forest
Division
Ph: (01360) 275052
D- High Altitude Zoo

Name & Date of Area in Wildlife Contact

Place Formation Heq.
Bharat Ratan 01st June 4.699 Siberian Director, Bharat Ratan Pt.
Pt. Govind 1965 Tiger, Govind Ballabh Pant High
Ballabh Pant Panther, Altitude Zoo, Nainital
High Wild Ph. No.  05942-236469
 Name & Date of Area in Wildlife Contact
Place Formation Heq.
Altitude Zoo Cat, Hill
Nanital Fox, Hill
Black
Bear,
Deer,
Sambhar
, Monal
Pageant
Source :

Uttarakhand tourism

Plant and animal life

Four major forest types are found in the Uttarakhand, including alpine meadows in
the extreme north, temperate forests in the Great Himalayas, tropical deciduous
forests in the Lesser Himalayas, and thorn forests in the Siwalik Range and in parts
of the Tarai. According to official statistics, more than 60 percent of Uttarakhand is
under forest cover; in actuality, however, the coverage is much less. The forests
provide not only timber and fuel wood but also extensive grazing land for livestock.
Only a small portion of the state’s total land area has permanent pastures.

Common tree species of the temperate forests include Himalayan cedar (Deodar
cedar), Himalayan (blue) pine, oak, silver fir, spruce, chestnut, elm, poplar, birch,
yew, cypress, and rhododendron. Tropical deciduous forests of sal, teak, and shisham
—all hardwoods—occur in the submontane tract. Thorn forests of dhak (a type of
flowering tree), babul (a type of acacia), and various bushes occur in the south.

Uttarakhand has a rich array of animal life. Tigers, leopards, elephants, wild boars,
and sloth bears are among the state’s large mammals. Common birds include
pigeons, doves, ducks, partridges, peacocks, jays, quail, and woodpeckers. Crocodiles
are found in some areas. Lions and rhinoceroses have become extinct in the region. A
number of national parks and sanctuaries have been established to preserve
Uttarakhand’s wildlife.