Flora and Fauna of Nagaland

The variations in the altitude, latitude, climate and soil have given rise to a diversity of forest types, ranging from tropical evergreen to temperate evergreen and the coniferous.

Bamboo groves are extensive everywhere. Among the common species, mention may be made of the Naga Bhe and plants such as Mesuaferrea, Careyaarbotrea and Fiscus Electica. On the hill slopes are found oak, chestnut, birch, magnolia, cherry, maple, laurel and fig. Pine trees are found at high altitude areas, varying from 3,000 to 4,000 ft. Wild vegetables, roots, fruits and tubers are found in abundance throughout Nagaland.

Nagaland constitutes a meeting ground for the sub-Himalayan, Indian, Chinese and Burmese type of fauna. Elephants, tigers, barking deer and sambar are found in different places through the state. Monkeys, jackals, wild buffaloes, wild pigs, bear and wild dogs are sparsely distributed through the Naga Hills. Among the ritually most valued species is Mithun. Other common species are lizards, toads, monitors.

The flora of a place is the result of the interplay of a combination of factors - edaphic, climatic and topographic. Being mountainous and having received heavy rainfall for many millennium in the past ages, one would expect the soil of the land of the thickest top-soil layers anywhere in the world. In many a place, the ground has been cut 100m into the mountain side without meeting the underlying rock. It is surprising to see how such a mountainous area with the heaviest of rainfall in the world coupled with the devastating method of Jhum Cultivation could still have such thick top-soil in its land.