RESEARCH STARTER

Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests

The Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests are a significant ecological zone located in central and southern India, characterized by distinct seasonal changes in vegetation. These forests, which form the largest tract within the plateau, are shaped by the region's topography and climate, with a dry season lasting six to nine months and annual rainfall varying significantly. The forest structure typically features a three-layered canopy, supporting a variety of tree species such as Tectona grandis and Anogeissus latifolia, alongside rich undergrowth and diverse grasses.

This biome is not only home to a wealth of plant species but also supports a variety of wildlife, including mammals like tigers, leopards, and several species of deer, as well as around 350 bird species. However, these forests face significant threats from human activities, including slash-and-burn agriculture, grazing, and logging, which contribute to habitat degradation. Conservation efforts are underway, with numerous protected areas established, although challenges persist due to land-use conflicts and the impact of climate change. The unique blend of flora and fauna in the Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests highlights their ecological importance and the need for ongoing preservation efforts.

Full Article

  • Category: Forest Biomes.
  • Geographic Location: India.
  • Summary: The dry forests of the southern Deccan Plateau provide a habitat stronghold for many species, but the area faces pressures from slash-and-burn agriculture as well as looming climate change.

The Deccan Plateau is a vast geographic feature encompassing most of central and southern India. The term Deccan comes from the Sanskrit word dakshina, meaning “the south.” It comprises the whole of southern peninsular India, encompassing parts of eight states—most of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, as well as portions of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha. The Deccan Plateau is bounded on all sides by mountains: Western Ghats to the west and Eastern Ghats to the east, Nilgiris to the south, and the Satpura and Vindhya ranges to the north.

Undulating terrains are common here; the elevation ranges from 1,500 to 2,500 feet (457 to 762 meters). Several major rivers—including the Cauvery, Godavari, Krishna, and Penner—flow across the plateau before reaching the Bay of Bengal. The Deccan Plateau has a dry season that lasts six to nine months. The maximum temperature in the region varies from 77 to 90 degrees F (25 to 32 degrees C), while the minimum varies from 55 to 70 degrees F (13 to 21 degrees C). Annual rainfall in the South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests varies from about 20 to 79 inches (500 to 2,000 millimeters), with most rain falling during the monsoon.

Vegetation

The forest types of the Deccan Plateau fall into six categories: tropical wet evergreen, south montane wet temperate, tropical semi-evergreen, tropical moist deciduous, tropical dry deciduous, and tropical thorn. The Deccan Plateau includes several forest ecoregions, including the Central Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests and the South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests.

Dry deciduous forests form the largest tract of the Deccan Plateau. The tall mountain range toward the western part of the Deccan Plateau intercepts moisture from the southwestern monsoons, assuring that the eastern slopes receive very little rainfall. As a result, vegetation differs, and dry deciduous forests dominate. The interior districts of Andhra Pradesh, for example, contain pure tropical dry deciduous forest stands with pockets of semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests.

The dry deciduous forests of the Deccan Plateau have a three-storied structure: an upper canopy reaching from about 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters), an understory of 33 to 50 feet (10 to 15 meters), and an undergrowth of 10 to 16 feet (three to five meters). The top canopy is mostly open. Stand density varies from 200 to 350 stems per 2.4 acres (one hectare). The Tectona grandis-Pterocarpus santalinus forests may be considered a climax forest community in the region, while the Anogeissus latifolia-Terminalia alata community is most common. Some of the most characteristic tree species in the dry forests include Albizia amara, Anogeissus latifolia, Tectona grandis, Chloroxylon swietenia, Lannea coromandelica, Lagerstroemia parvifolia, Diospyros spp., Hardwickia binata, Holarrhena pubescens, Pterocarpus santalinus, P. marsupium, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia tomentosa, and Dalbergia latifolia. The undergrowth contains a variety of these species.

The important grass types include Cymbopogon and Themeda spp. The deciduous forests of the Deccan Plateau also host a significant number of climbers and diverse liana. The most common kinds include Acacia sinuata, Combretum albidum, Cissus quadrangularis, Coccinia grandis, Tinospora cordifolia, Carissa spinarum, Ziziphus oenoplia, Capparis brevispina, Hugonia mystax, and Ipomoea staphylina.

Several of these forest species have both timber and medicinal value. The deciduous nature of vegetation helps to reduce evapotranspiration and rehydration of stems, which is useful for subsequent flushing or flowering. Leaf flushing occurs after the first rains and the onset of flowering following the cessation of rains.

Wildlife

In addition to flora, the dry deciduous forests of the Deccan Plateau support significant faunal wealth and are of some significance from a zoogeographic point of view. Among the mammals the dry forests of the region support are the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), black-naped hare (Lepus nigricollis), blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus), gray langur (Semnopithecus entellus), common leopard (Panthera pardus), Indian gazelle or chinkara (Gazella bennettii), sambar (Cervus unicolor), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), chital or spotted deer (Axis axis), tiger (Panthera tigris), and wild pig (Sus scrofa).

About 350 bird species have been recorded in the region, including threatened birds such as Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus), which is listed as Critically Endangered after repeated searches failed to confirm a living population, and the forest owlet (Athene blewitti), which is listed as Endangered. The tree sparrow (Passer montana) is recorded in the Vizag region of Andhra Pradesh.

Threats and Protection

Deciduous forests in the region are undergoing rapid rates of degradation. The main reasons include fire, cattle grazing, and wood extraction for fuel. Indigenous peoples in several regions on the Eastern Ghats side practice slash-and-burn agriculture, locally called podu. This practice significantly affects the vegetation and, most importantly, plant succession. The immediate colonizers after podu agriculture include Acacia spp., Cleistanthes collinus, Kydia calycina, Dichrostachys cinerea, and Tarenna asiatica. Invasive species such as Chromolaena odorata, Lantana camara, Ageratum conyzoides, and Senna occidentalis also dominate at some of these farmed sites.

For the conservation of wildlife, as many as 27 areas in the Deccan Plateau have been demarcated as protected zones. India’s national forest assessments use satellite data and field inventory to track forest cover, tree cover, carbon stock, and forest-fire patterns. Important protected areas in the region include Nagerhole, Bandipur, Periyar, Kanha, Biligiri Rangan, and Nagarjunasagar National Parks. Although the core areas in these preserves are well protected, the buffer zones are characterized by high anthropogenic influence and resource use. Land-use conflicts are common around park areas, and more stringent policy measures are needed to conserve floral and faunal diversity in the dry deciduous forests here.

Climate change affects the Deccan Plateau by increasing heat stress and, in dry forests, by raising the risk of dangerous fire weather. India’s average temperature was about 0.89°C higher during 2015–2024 than during 1901–1930. Climate models project more days with severe fire weather, longer fire seasons, increased rainfall in wetter areas, and longer droughts in more arid areas. Changes in heat, rainfall, and fire weather can alter habitat suitability, shift species ranges where corridors exist, and increase opportunities for invasive plants. Either scenario would impact habitats and species distributions, leading to shifts in species ranges and increased opportunities for invasive species.


Bibliography

Barik, Anasuya, and Somnath Baidya Roy. “Climate Change Strongly Affects Future Fire Weather Danger in Indian Forests.” Communications Earth & Environment, vol. 4, 2023, article no. 452, doi:10.1038/s43247-023-01112-w. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests.” One Earth, 23 Sept. 2020, www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/central-deccan-plateau-dry-deciduous-forests/. Accessed 2 May 2026.

Champion, H. G., and S. K. Seth. A Revised Survey of the Forest Types of India. Government of India Press, 1968.

“Chapter 10: Asia.” IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/chapter/chapter-10/. Accessed 2 May 2026.

Chatterjee, Nilanjan, et al. “Population Estimate, Habitat-Use and Activity Patterns of the Honey Badger in a Dry-Deciduous Forest of Central India.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 8, 23 Dec. 2020, doi:10.3389/fevo.2020.585256. Accessed 2 May 2026.

Dhara, Chirag, et al. “A Post-AR6 Update on Observed and Projected Climate Change in India.” PLOS Climate, vol. 4, no. 11, 2025, p. e0000724. doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000724. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti).” The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, www.iucnredlist.org/species/pdf/132251554. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“Jerdon’s Courser: Rhinoptilus bitorquatus.” DataZone by BirdLife, datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/jerdons-courser-rhinoptilus-bitorquatus. Accessed 2 May 2026.

Meher-Homji, V. M. “Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of Peninsular India.” Feddes Repertorium, vol. 88, nos. 1–2, 1977.

Singh, K. P., and C. P. Kushwaha. “Emerging Paradigms of Tree Phenology in Dry Tropics.” Current Science, vol. 89, no. 6, 2005, www.jstor.org/stable/24110749. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“South Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests.” Ecosystem Restoration Alliance, 31 May 2022, era-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/South-Deccan-Plateau-Dry-Deciduous-Forests.pdf. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“State of Forest Report 2023.” Forest Survey of India, www.fsi.nic.in/forest-report-2023. Accessed 2 May 2026.

Full Article

  • Category: Forest Biomes.
  • Geographic Location: India.
  • Summary: The dry forests of the southern Deccan Plateau provide a habitat stronghold for many species, but the area faces pressures from slash-and-burn agriculture as well as looming climate change.

The Deccan Plateau is a vast geographic feature encompassing most of central and southern India. The term Deccan comes from the Sanskrit word dakshina, meaning “the south.” It comprises the whole of southern peninsular India, encompassing parts of eight states—most of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, as well as portions of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha. The Deccan Plateau is bounded on all sides by mountains: Western Ghats to the west and Eastern Ghats to the east, Nilgiris to the south, and the Satpura and Vindhya ranges to the north.

Undulating terrains are common here; the elevation ranges from 1,500 to 2,500 feet (457 to 762 meters). Several major rivers—including the Cauvery, Godavari, Krishna, and Penner—flow across the plateau before reaching the Bay of Bengal. The Deccan Plateau has a dry season that lasts six to nine months. The maximum temperature in the region varies from 77 to 90 degrees F (25 to 32 degrees C), while the minimum varies from 55 to 70 degrees F (13 to 21 degrees C). Annual rainfall in the South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests varies from about 20 to 79 inches (500 to 2,000 millimeters), with most rain falling during the monsoon.

Vegetation

The forest types of the Deccan Plateau fall into six categories: tropical wet evergreen, south montane wet temperate, tropical semi-evergreen, tropical moist deciduous, tropical dry deciduous, and tropical thorn. The Deccan Plateau includes several forest ecoregions, including the Central Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests and the South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests.

Dry deciduous forests form the largest tract of the Deccan Plateau. The tall mountain range toward the western part of the Deccan Plateau intercepts moisture from the southwestern monsoons, assuring that the eastern slopes receive very little rainfall. As a result, vegetation differs, and dry deciduous forests dominate. The interior districts of Andhra Pradesh, for example, contain pure tropical dry deciduous forest stands with pockets of semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests.

The dry deciduous forests of the Deccan Plateau have a three-storied structure: an upper canopy reaching from about 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters), an understory of 33 to 50 feet (10 to 15 meters), and an undergrowth of 10 to 16 feet (three to five meters). The top canopy is mostly open. Stand density varies from 200 to 350 stems per 2.4 acres (one hectare). The Tectona grandis-Pterocarpus santalinus forests may be considered a climax forest community in the region, while the Anogeissus latifolia-Terminalia alata community is most common. Some of the most characteristic tree species in the dry forests include Albizia amara, Anogeissus latifolia, Tectona grandis, Chloroxylon swietenia, Lannea coromandelica, Lagerstroemia parvifolia, Diospyros spp., Hardwickia binata, Holarrhena pubescens, Pterocarpus santalinus, P. marsupium, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia tomentosa, and Dalbergia latifolia. The undergrowth contains a variety of these species.

The important grass types include Cymbopogon and Themeda spp. The deciduous forests of the Deccan Plateau also host a significant number of climbers and diverse liana. The most common kinds include Acacia sinuata, Combretum albidum, Cissus quadrangularis, Coccinia grandis, Tinospora cordifolia, Carissa spinarum, Ziziphus oenoplia, Capparis brevispina, Hugonia mystax, and Ipomoea staphylina.

Several of these forest species have both timber and medicinal value. The deciduous nature of vegetation helps to reduce evapotranspiration and rehydration of stems, which is useful for subsequent flushing or flowering. Leaf flushing occurs after the first rains and the onset of flowering following the cessation of rains.

Wildlife

In addition to flora, the dry deciduous forests of the Deccan Plateau support significant faunal wealth and are of some significance from a zoogeographic point of view. Among the mammals the dry forests of the region support are the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), black-naped hare (Lepus nigricollis), blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus), gray langur (Semnopithecus entellus), common leopard (Panthera pardus), Indian gazelle or chinkara (Gazella bennettii), sambar (Cervus unicolor), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), chital or spotted deer (Axis axis), tiger (Panthera tigris), and wild pig (Sus scrofa).

About 350 bird species have been recorded in the region, including threatened birds such as Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus), which is listed as Critically Endangered after repeated searches failed to confirm a living population, and the forest owlet (Athene blewitti), which is listed as Endangered. The tree sparrow (Passer montana) is recorded in the Vizag region of Andhra Pradesh.

Threats and Protection

Deciduous forests in the region are undergoing rapid rates of degradation. The main reasons include fire, cattle grazing, and wood extraction for fuel. Indigenous peoples in several regions on the Eastern Ghats side practice slash-and-burn agriculture, locally called podu. This practice significantly affects the vegetation and, most importantly, plant succession. The immediate colonizers after podu agriculture include Acacia spp., Cleistanthes collinus, Kydia calycina, Dichrostachys cinerea, and Tarenna asiatica. Invasive species such as Chromolaena odorata, Lantana camara, Ageratum conyzoides, and Senna occidentalis also dominate at some of these farmed sites.

For the conservation of wildlife, as many as 27 areas in the Deccan Plateau have been demarcated as protected zones. India’s national forest assessments use satellite data and field inventory to track forest cover, tree cover, carbon stock, and forest-fire patterns. Important protected areas in the region include Nagerhole, Bandipur, Periyar, Kanha, Biligiri Rangan, and Nagarjunasagar National Parks. Although the core areas in these preserves are well protected, the buffer zones are characterized by high anthropogenic influence and resource use. Land-use conflicts are common around park areas, and more stringent policy measures are needed to conserve floral and faunal diversity in the dry deciduous forests here.

Climate change affects the Deccan Plateau by increasing heat stress and, in dry forests, by raising the risk of dangerous fire weather. India’s average temperature was about 0.89°C higher during 2015–2024 than during 1901–1930. Climate models project more days with severe fire weather, longer fire seasons, increased rainfall in wetter areas, and longer droughts in more arid areas. Changes in heat, rainfall, and fire weather can alter habitat suitability, shift species ranges where corridors exist, and increase opportunities for invasive plants. Either scenario would impact habitats and species distributions, leading to shifts in species ranges and increased opportunities for invasive species.


Bibliography

Barik, Anasuya, and Somnath Baidya Roy. “Climate Change Strongly Affects Future Fire Weather Danger in Indian Forests.” Communications Earth & Environment, vol. 4, 2023, article no. 452, doi:10.1038/s43247-023-01112-w. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“Central Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests.” One Earth, 23 Sept. 2020, www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/central-deccan-plateau-dry-deciduous-forests/. Accessed 2 May 2026.

Champion, H. G., and S. K. Seth. A Revised Survey of the Forest Types of India. Government of India Press, 1968.

“Chapter 10: Asia.” IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/chapter/chapter-10/. Accessed 2 May 2026.

Chatterjee, Nilanjan, et al. “Population Estimate, Habitat-Use and Activity Patterns of the Honey Badger in a Dry-Deciduous Forest of Central India.” Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 8, 23 Dec. 2020, doi:10.3389/fevo.2020.585256. Accessed 2 May 2026.

Dhara, Chirag, et al. “A Post-AR6 Update on Observed and Projected Climate Change in India.” PLOS Climate, vol. 4, no. 11, 2025, p. e0000724. doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000724. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“Forest Owlet (Athene blewitti).” The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, www.iucnredlist.org/species/pdf/132251554. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“Jerdon’s Courser: Rhinoptilus bitorquatus.” DataZone by BirdLife, datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/jerdons-courser-rhinoptilus-bitorquatus. Accessed 2 May 2026.

Meher-Homji, V. M. “Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of Peninsular India.” Feddes Repertorium, vol. 88, nos. 1–2, 1977.

Singh, K. P., and C. P. Kushwaha. “Emerging Paradigms of Tree Phenology in Dry Tropics.” Current Science, vol. 89, no. 6, 2005, www.jstor.org/stable/24110749. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“South Deccan Plateau Dry Deciduous Forests.” Ecosystem Restoration Alliance, 31 May 2022, era-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/South-Deccan-Plateau-Dry-Deciduous-Forests.pdf. Accessed 2 May 2026.

“State of Forest Report 2023.” Forest Survey of India, www.fsi.nic.in/forest-report-2023. Accessed 2 May 2026.

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