Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
A
North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
B
South-West Bengal
C
Southern Saurashtra
D
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Correct Answer: Option D
Explanation
1. The question asks to identify a region in India that features a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest, and deciduous forest.
2. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, owing to their tropical location, high rainfall, and coastal geography, exhibit a rich diversity of forest types.
3. They have significant stretches of coastal mangrove forests.
4. They are renowned for their dense tropical evergreen forests due to heavy rainfall.
5. They also contain areas of moist deciduous forests, particularly where rainfall is slightly less or seasonal.
6. Option (A) North Coastal Andhra Pradesh primarily has dry deciduous forests and some mangroves, but lacks significant evergreen forests.
7. Option (B) South-West Bengal is famous for the Sundarbans mangrove forests, but the predominant inland forests are moist deciduous, not extensive evergreen.
8. Option (C) Southern Saurashtra in Gujarat has dry deciduous forests, thorn forests, and some mangroves, but lacks tropical evergreen forests.
9. Therefore, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the only region among the options that hosts all three types of forests.