| Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests | |
|---|---|
 Gangkhar Puensum from Ura La, Bhutan | |
 Ecoregion territory (in purple) | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Indomalayan |
| Biome | Temperate coniferous forests |
| Borders | |
| Bird species | 202[1] |
| Mammal species | 130[1] |
| Geography | |
| Area | 27,500 km2 (10,600 mi2) |
| Countries | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable[2] |
| Habitat loss | 28.324%[1] |
| Protected | 34.69%[3] |
TheEastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests is atemperate coniferous forestsecoregion which is found in the middle and upper elevations of the eastern MiddleHimalayas, in westernNepal,Bhutan, northernIndian states includingArunachal Pradesh andSikkim and adjacentMyanmar andChina.
The ecoregion forms a belt of coniferous forest covering 27,500 square kilometres (10,600 mi2) from 3,000 to 4,000 metres (9,800 to 13,100 ft) elevation extending from theGandaki River in Nepal east through Bhutan and intoArunachal Pradesh andTibet. It is part of a transition zone from theIndomalayan realm in the south, to thePalearctic realm in the north, and is the last habitat below the treeline of the Himalayas. The Himalayas are lined with belts of habitat from the grassy foothills to the high peaks and are home to a number of birds and animals that migrate seasonally through these zones, including these conifer forests, each of which provides crucial habitat at different times of the year. Furthermore the streams and rivers of the steep mountainsides will flood if not held in place by woodland.
The Eastern Himalayas are watered by theBay of Bengal monsoon so are wetter than in the west and have a higher treeline (4,500m compared to 3,000m in the western Himalayas).[2]
These forests are typically found on steep, rocky, north-facing slopes. The most common trees areAbies spectabilis,Larix griffithii,Juniperus recurva,Juniperus indica,Betula utilis,Acer spp., andSorbus spp. The understory features a rich community of colourfulrhododendrons, includingRhododendron hodgsonii,Rhododendron barbatum,Rhododendron campylocarpum,Rhododendron campanulatum,Rhododendron fulgens, andRhododendron thomsonii. Other shrubs includeViburnum grandiflorum andLonicera angustifolia.[2]
Tsuga dumosa occurs in wetter areas and lower elevations.Pinus wallichiana occurs in drier areas aroundTibet. It is particularly common in theKhumbu region.Taxus baccata is important but uncommon.[2]
Juniper woodlands grow in flat, inner river valleys, mixed with various species ofSalix andPrunus. Those in theTsarijathang Valley in Bhutan'sJigme Dorji National Park are an important summer habitat for takin (Budorcas taxicolor).[2]
This ecoregion is home to some eighty-nine species of mammals originally from bothIndomalayan andPalearctic realms, includingcivets,martens,Himalayan tahr andmuntjac. Thewhite-bellied musk deer, hunted for itsmusk-glands, and the endangeredred panda are important inhabitants for whom the conifer forests are typical habitat with the red panda living between 3,000m and 4,000m where there is an undercover of bamboo beneath the fir trees. Other endangered species found here are the takin,Himalayan serow (Capricornis thar), andparticolored flying squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger) whileMandelli's mouse-eared bat, theAsiatic wild dog, theAsiatic black bear and the Himalayan tahr are considered vulnerable. There are two near-endemic squirrels,Hodgson's giant flying squirrel (Petaurista magnificus) and theBhutan giant flying squirrel (Petaurista nobilis) along with a pure endemic rodent, theHimalayan field mouse (Apodemus gurkha).[2]
About 200 species of birds have been recorded in this ecoregion of which six are endemic;chestnut-breasted partridge (Arborophila mandellii),hoary-throated barwing (Actinodura nipalensis),brown-throated fulvetta (Alcippe ludlowi),Nepal cupwing (Pnoepyga immaculata),buff-throated partridge (Tetraophasis szechenyii), andLord Derby's parakeet (Psittacula derbiana). The last two are limited to an area of conifer forest in Arunachal Pradesh. Threatened or endangered birds of the ecoregion includeTibetan eared pheasant (Crossoptilon harmani) andSclater's monal (Lophophorus sclateri). A number of other birds are sensitive to habitat change and therefore potentially vulnerable, including theblood pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus),Blyth's tragopan (Tragopan blythii),satyr tragopan (Tragopan satyra),Ward's trogon (Harpactes wardi) and chestnut-breasted partridge. Indeed this ecoregion forms part of twoBirdLife InternationalEndemic Bird Areas because of the number of birds for which the conifers are important for breeding.[2]
The human population of these heights is very low and most of the natural conifer forest remains with a considerable portion in protected areas. Damage is caused as trees are cut to provide firewood for local inhabitants and for trekking parties or to clear land for grazing.[2]
34.69% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Large protected areas that contain areas of conifer forest includeAnnapurna Conservation Area,Langtang andMakalu Barun National Parks in Nepal,Khangchendzonga,Namdapha andSingalila National Parks in India, andSakteng Wildlife Sanctuary,Jigme Singye Wangchuck, andJigme Dorji National Parks in Bhutan.[3]
Media related toEastern Himalayan Subalpine Conifer Forests Ecoregion at Wikimedia Commons