Q- Give the altitudinal distribution of Montane Forests?
Answer- In mountainous areas, the decrease in temperature with increasing altitude leads to the corresponding change in natural vegetation. The foothills of the Himalayas- Shiwaliks have tropical moist deciduous flora. Sal and bamboo are important trees upto 1000 metres in height. They are followed by the wet hill forests.
They lie about between 1000 to 2000 metres. The important trees this region are oak, chestnut, ash and birch. Between 1500 to 3300 metres above sea level, there occur the well-known coniferous forests. Pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce are the most dominant trees of this region.
Above the coniferous forests lies the alpine forests at an altitude of about 3600 metres.