Andhra Pradesh Forest Department

Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is one of the adminstritive divisions of Government of Andhra Pradesh. It is headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. The primary function of this department is protection, conservation and management of forests in the Andhra Pradesh State. The Forest Department is organized into 12 territorial circles and 43 divisions. In addition, one Senior Officer of the rank of Deputy Conservator of Forests functions as Planning and Extension Officer in each district.

Flora and fauna

Andhra pradesh State is bestowed with two mighty river systems of Krishna and Godavari. The State has wide and varied vegetation types enriched by a variety of flora and fauna. Andhra Pradesh being located strategically in the central region of the Indian sub-continent has representatives of the magnificent Indian plant and animal life. Its varied topography ranging from the hills of Eastern Ghats and Nallamallas to the shores of Bay of Bengal supports varied ecotypes, which in turn support a rich diversity of flora & fauna. The forest in the state can broadly be divided into four major biotic provinces.

*Deccan Plateau - 53%
*Central Plateau - 35%
*Eastern Highland - 11%
*East Coastal Plains - 1%

The vegetation found in the state is largely of dry deciduous type with a mixture of Teak, Terminalias, Dalbergias, Pterocarpus, Anogeissus etc. The hills of Eastern Ghats add greatly to the Biological Diversity and provide centers of endemism for plants, birds and lesser forms of animal life. The varied habitat harbors a diversity of fauna which includes Tiger, Panther, Wolf, Wild Dog, Hyena, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Black Buck, Chinkara, Chowsingha, Nilgai, Cheetal, Sambar and a number of Birds and Reptiles. The long sea coast provides the nesting ground for sea turtles, the back water of Pulicat lake are the feeding grounds for Flamingo & Grey Pelican, the estuaries of river Godavari and Krishna support rich mangrove forests with Fishing Cat and Otters as key stone species.

The State is a proud possessor of some rare and endemic plants like Cycas beddomei, Pterocarpus santalinus, Terminalia pallida, Syzygium alternifolium, Shorea talura, Shorea tumburgia, Psilotum nudam etc. Similarly the Double banded or the Jerdon’s Courser, the Golden Gecko, the Slender Loris which are rare and endangered are endemic to the State.

Protected areas

Andhra Pradesh has a network of 22 sanctuaries and 4 national parks covering an area of 12,579.205 km². or 4.57 % of the geographical area of the state. There are 3 zoos established in the state.

Joint forest management

Forest Management

External links

* [http://forest.ap.nic.in/ Andhra Pradesh Forest Department]