Tropical Evergreen Forests

Tidal forests are found along the edges of deltas of rivers in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Such forests are salt tolerant and are flooded by seawater during high tide.

Some of these forests are dense and impenetrable. Only a limited number of plants are found in these evergreen forests.

In India, these forests are found in the deltas of Ganga, Godavari, Mahanadi, Yamuna and other rivers. Northern Andaman and Nicobar also harbour mangroves. They stabilise the shoreline and protect the coast from erosion.

Sunderbans along the Ganga delta is the largest tidal forest in the world. The name comes from the Sundari trees found in this muddy area. Gorjan and Lintal are also found in these forests.

Mangrove forests were abundant in Kerala about a century ago. Now, they are found in patches along the coastal districts of the State. Kumarakom in Kottayam district is perhaps the best known preserve of mangroves.