Flora of Dudhwa National Park
Sprawled over an area of about 614 sq km, Dudhwa National Park has a significant ecosystem in the Terai region in the foothills of the Himalayas. Dudhwa was declared a national park in 1977, and is nestled at Indo-Nepal border in the Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Prdesh. The Dudhwa National Park is not only about locating the endangered barasingha, one-horned rhino, tigers, leopards and so on. The biodiversity of the national is worth admiration. Dense forests, grasslands and marshes constitute the flora of the Dudhwa National Park.
Tropical moist deciduous forest, Dry deciduous forest, Tropical semi-green deciduous forest, Swamp and Riparian forests are the primary parts of vegetation types at the Dudhwa region. The extensive stretches of grasslands known as ‘Phantas’ by the locals is present almost in the entire region of Dudhwa National Park.
The park being located in the upper Gangetic plains, the alluvial soil remarkable boosts the fertility of the forests in Dudhwa. The tall and dense trees of Sal predominates the forest of the national park area more than 50%. The thick foliage, wetlands and dry grasslands together make up the suitable natural habitat for the wild inhabitants of the park. The region receives abundant rainfall every year to retain its fertility, also accompanied by seasonal floods. Therefore the biodiversity is perfect to make the park a wildlife sanctuary. Mohana and Suheli rivers flow in the northern and southern parts of the park respectively.
The national park is located in the North Kheri Forest Division and the finest quality of Sal and moist deciduous forest is found in the region. In the southern part of the Sal forest lays the grasslands that grow in full bloom during the monsoon, such that even the elephants have difficulty to navigate through them.
The acres of grasslands spread across Dudhwa for almost 19% are directly related to the sustenance of wildlife in Dudhwa. The herbivores and insects are much dependent on the grasses and the tigers and other big cats prey on the herbivores. Therefore the grasslands olay an important role in the cycle of the ecosystem in Dudhwa National Park. The major species of flora in Dudhwa comprises Bahera, Gular, Asna, Sehore, Sheesam and Jamun.
Sugarcane fields are the chief agricultural crop encircling the forest. The protection of these trees from the timber poachers are a major responsibility of the forest officials. The wetland at Dudhwa also attracts habitations for few species of fauna and avifauna and comprises of rivers, lakes, streams and marshes.