The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests (also Kathiarbar-Gir or Kathiawar-Gir) is a mostly aridecoregion in northwestern India that stretches over 103,100 sq mi (267,000 km2) across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The dry deciduous forests in the region are dominated by teak, and thorny trees and scrub in drier areas.[3]
The ecoregion has a tropical monsoon climate, with most of its 550 to 700 mm average annual rainfall during the June–September southwest monsoon and little for the remaining months of the year, while temperatures often exceed 40 °C. Higher elevations of the Aravallis stay cooler, and the windward slopes (generally southeast-facing) receive higher rainfall. This results in a dry landscape of thorny scrub, bare trees and rocks.[3]
The human population in the region is growing, and wildlife habitats have mostly been removed or degraded due to collection of firewood and timber, and use as grazing land for livestock.[citation needed]
Protected areas
Protected areas cover 8,980 km2 (3,470 sq mi) in this ecoregion, and include:[3]
^World Database on Protected Areas (2019). "Darrah in India". Protected Planet United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre.[permanent dead link]
^Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [1]
^Pathak, B. J. (1990). "Rusty-spotted Cat Felis rubiginosa Geoffroy: a new record for Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (87): 8.
^Garshelis, D. L.; Joshi, A. R.; Smith, J. L. D. & Rice, C. G. "Sloth Bear Conservation Action Plan". Bears: status survey and conservation action plan(PDF). Gland: IUCN. pp. 225–240. Archived from the original(PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.