The Forests

Total Questions: 27

1. Selva forests are characterized by: [U.P. B.E.O. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (a) Broad leaf evergreen
Solution:Forests found in the Amazon River Basin in Brazil are called Selva or Selva's forests. These forests are located in the equatorial region. Due to high temperature and above- average rainfall (200 cm) throught the year, dense and broad leaf evergreen forests are found here. Thus, option (a) is the correct answer.

2. Which one among the following covers the highest percentage of forest area in the world? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2003]

Correct Answer: (a) Temperate Coniferous forests
Solution:Temperate coniferous forests cover the highest percentage of forest area in the world. Temperate Coniferous forest is mainly found in high latitudes.

Types of Coniferous Forest:

  • Northern Coniferous Forests (Taiga): Found in the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, including Canada, Scandinavia, and Siberia. The taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome, known for its cold winters, short growing seasons, and primarily coniferous tree species, such as spruce, fir, and pine.
  • Montane Coniferous Forests: These forests are found at high altitudes, often in mountainous
    regions around the world. Montane coniferous forests have cooler temperatures and shorter growing seasons. They contain conifer species like subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce, and mountain pine.
  • Temperate Coniferous Forests: Located in temperate regions with milder climates, such as the
    Pacific Northwest of North America and parts of Europe and Asia. These forests have a mix of coniferous and broadleaf trees, including species like Douglas fir, western red cedar, and Sitka spruce.
  • Tropical Coniferous Forests: Found in some high-elevation regions of the tropics, like the Sierra
    Madre Oriental in Mexico. These forests are unique because they occur in tropical regions, but the elevation brings cooler temperatures. They often feature conifer species adapted to these conditions.
  • Sclerophyllous Coniferous Forests: Found in regions with a Mediterranean climate, including parts
    of California, Chile, and parts of Australia. These forests have conifers like Monterey pine and cypress, along with drought-resistant shrubs and hard-leaved plants.
  • Alpine Coniferous Forests: These forests are located at high altitudes in alpine or subalpine zones around the world. These forests are adapted to extremely harsh conditions, with stunted, wind-sculpted coniferous trees like the whitebark pine and alpine fir.

3. Which of the following countries has a constitutional provision for maintaining 60% of its geographical area under forest? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]

Correct Answer: (c) Bhutan
Solution:Bhutan has made constitutional provision for maintaining forest over 60% of its total geographical area. Presently (in 2021), about 71.5 percent of Bhutan's total area is under forest cover.

4. The evergreen rainforests are found in: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]

Correct Answer: (b) Brazil
Solution:Tropical evergreen forests grow in the regions near the Equator (10°N-10°S) and close to the tropics. These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout the year. As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether.

This is the reason they are called evergreen. Three major regions of evergreen forest in the world are- Amazon River Basin- Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guyana, Guyana, and Suriname.

Congo basin- Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo.

Borneo-Mekong-Southeast Asia basin- The region is composed of Two sub-region the Island of Borneo and the Mekong river. Therefore option (b) is correct.

5. Which type of forests are found near the equator - [I.A.S. (Pre) 2007]

Correct Answer: (d) Tropical forest
Solution:Tropical evergreen forests grow in the regions near the Equator (10°N-10°S) and close to the tropics. These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout the year. As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether.

This is the reason they are called evergreen. Three major regions of evergreen forest in the world are- Amazon River Basin- Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guyana, Guyana, and Suriname.

Congo basin- Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo.

Borneo-Mekong-Southeast Asia basin- The region is composed of Two sub-region the Island of Borneo and the Mekong river. Therefore option (d) is correct.

6. Dense-forests on the earth are mostly found- [41" B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]

Correct Answer: (a) Nearby Equator
Solution:Tropical evergreen forests grow in the regions near the Equator (10°N-10°S) and close to the tropics. These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout the year. As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether.

This is the reason they are called evergreen. Three major regions of evergreen forest in the world are- Amazon River Basin- Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guyana, Guyana, and Suriname.

Congo basin- Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo.

Borneo-Mekong-Southeast Asia basin- The region is composed of Two sub-region the Island of Borneo and the Mekong river.

7. Which one of the following is noted for extensive tropical rain forests? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996]

Correct Answer: (a) Congo Basin
Solution:Tropical evergreen forests grow in the regions near the Equator (10°N-10°S) and close to the tropics. These regions are hot and receive heavy rainfall throughout the year. As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether.

This is the reason they are called evergreen. Three major regions of evergreen forest in the world are- Amazon River Basin- Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guyana, Guyana, and Suriname.

Congo basin- Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo.

Borneo-Mekong-Southeast Asia basin- The region is composed of Two sub-region the Island of Borneo and the Mekong river.

8. Taiga forests are characteristics of - [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]

Correct Answer: (d) Temperate region
Solution:Taiga forests are characteristic of temperate region. Taiga Biome is also known as coniferous forest or boreal forest. It is the northernmost biome among the temperate biomes. It is expanded over North America and Eurasia to the sub-polar climate regions. Summer, in this region, is comparatively shorter.

9. The world's largest and most dense forests are in- [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]

Correct Answer: (c) Brazil
Solution:The Amazon River Basin is the largest rainforest on Earth. The basin covers 60 percent of the South American continent and includes parts of Nine South American countries/region: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guyana, Guyana, and Suriname.

10. Which country has the highest percentage of its geographical area under forests? [U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (d) Japan
Solution:According to World Bank Report 2021, forest area (% of land area) of given countries is as follows:
CountryPercentage
Japan68.4%
Indonesia48.4%
India24.4%
China23.6%