Protected areas of West Bengal

Protected areas of West Bengal cover 4% of the state area.cite web
url = http://www.indiainbusiness.nic.in/indian-states/westbengal/General.htm
title = West Bengal: General Information
accessdate = 2006-08-25
work = India in Business
publisher = Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry] Forests make up 14% of the geographical area of West Bengal, which is lower than the national average of 23%.cite web
url = http://www.calcuttayellowpages.com/flora.html
title = Flora and Fauna
accessdate = 2006-08-25
publisher = calcuttayellowpages.com (P) Ltd] cite book
title=West Bengal Human Development Report 2004
origyear= 2004
origmonth= May
url= http://www.undp.org.in/hdrc/shdr/WB/
format= PDF
accessdate= 2006-08-26
publisher= Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal
id=ISBN 81-7955-030-3
pages= pp180–182
chapter= Environmental Issues
chapterurl= http://www.undp.org.in/hdrc/shdr/WB/WB%20HDR%202004/Chap9.pdf] Part of the world's largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans, is located in southern West Bengal.cite news
first = Sadiq
last = Islam
title = World's largest mangrove forest under threat
url = http://archives.cnn.com/2001/fyi/student.bureau/06/29/sundarbans/index.html
work = CNN Student Bureau
publisher = Cable News Network
date = June 29, 2001
accessdate = 2006-10-31 ] There are five national parks and 10 Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengalcite web
url = http://www.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/page_states_ut.htm
title = West Bengal
accessdate = 2006-10-26
work = Directory of Wildlife Protected Areas in India
publisher = Wildlife Institute of India] .

National parks and wildlife sanctuaries

*Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary
*Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
*Sundarban Biosphre Reserve
*Buxa National Park
*Neora Valley National Park
*Singalila National Park
*Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary
*Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary
*Bibhutibhushan Wildlife Sanctuary
*Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary
*Gorumara National Park
*Jore Pokhri Wildlife Sanctuary
*Narendrapur Wildlife Sanctuary
*Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary
*Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary
*Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary
*Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary
*Haliday Island Wildlife Sanctuary
*Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary

Wildlife

Wildlife in these Protected areas includes the Indian rhinoceros, Indian elephants, deer, bison, leopards, gaur, and crocodiles. The state is also rich in bird life. Migratory birds come to the state during the winter. The high altitude forests like Singalila National Park shelter barking deer, red panda, chinkara, takin, serow, pangolin, minivet and Kalij pheasants. In addition to the Bengal tiger, the Sundarbans host many other endangered species like the Ganges River Dolphin, river terrapin, estuarine crocodile etc.cite book
title=West Bengal Human Development Report 2004
origyear= 2004
origmonth= May
url= http://www.undp.org.in/hdrc/shdr/WB/
format= PDF
accessdate= 2006-08-26
publisher= Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal
id=ISBN 81-7955-030-3
pages= pp200–203
chapter= Problems of Specific Regions
chapterurl= http://www.undp.org.in/hdrc/shdr/WB/WB%20HDR%202004/Chap9.pdf ] The mangrove forest also acts as a natural fish nursery, supporting coastal fishes along the Bay of Bengal.

Fauna

From a phytogeographic viewpoint, the southern part of West Bengal can be divided into two regions: the Gangetic plain and the littoral mangrove forests of the Sundarbans.cite book
last = Mukherji
first = S.J.
year = 2000
title = College Botany Vol. III: (chapter on Phytogeography)
publisher = New Central Book Agency
location = Calcutta
pages = 345-365 ] The alluvial soil of the Gangetic plain compounded with favorable rainfall make this region especially fertile. Much of the vegetation of the western part of the state shares floristic similarities with the plants of the Chota Nagpur plateau in the adjoining state of Jharkhand. The predominant commercial tree species is "Shorea robusta", commonly known as Sal. The coastal region of Purba Medinipur exhibits coastal vegetation; the predominant tree is the "Casuarina". The most valuable tree from the Sundarbans is the ubiquitous "sundri" ("Heritiera fomes") from which the forest gets its name.cite web
url = http://www.smartoffice.com/Tiger/Snedaker.html
title = Notes on the Sundarbans with Emphasis on Geology, Hydrology, and Forestry
accessdate = 2006-11-01
last = Snedaker
first = Samuel
work =
publisher = A.K. Townsend] Vegetation in northern West Bengal is dictated by elevation and precipitation. For example, the foothills of the Himalayas, the "Dooars," are densely wooded with Sal and other trees of the tropical evergreen type.cite web
url = http://www.webindia123.com/westbengal/land/forest.htm#N
title = Natural vegetation
accessdate = 2006-10-31
work = West Bengal
publisher = Suni System (P) Ltd] Above 1000 m, the forest type changes to subtropical. In Darjeeling, which is above 1500 m, common trees typifying the temperate forest are oaks, conifers, and rhododendrons.

References