THE PHENOLOGY OF TROPICAL THORN FORESTS OF NORTH RAJASTHAN: ADAPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE AND CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

                        Rajasthan, the largest state of India having its geographical area 3,42,239 sq.km. which is 11% of the country's geographical area. It is situated in the northwestern part of the Indian Union & lies between 23º30´ and 30º 11’ North latitude and 69º 29’ and 78º 17’ East longitude. Rajasthan state is largely an arid state for most of its part. It has only 9.5 % of total geographical area recorded as forest. The Tropic of Cancer passes through south of Banswara town presenting an irregular rhomboid shape, the state has a maximum length of 869 km. from west to east and 826 km. from north to south. The western boundary of the state is part of the Indo-Pak international boundary, running to an extent of 1,070 km. It touches four main districts of region, namely, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Ganganagar. The state is girdled by Punjab and Haryana states in the north, Uttar Pradesh in the east, Madhya Pradesh in the southeast and Gujarat in the southwest. North Rajasthan includes Bikaner, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Churu and Anupgarh districts which comprises of Arid and Semi-Arid region having a network of Canal. The forests of Rajasthan are spread unequally in Northern, Southern, Eastern and South Eastern parts. The forests are mostly adapho-climatic climax forests. Tropical thorn forests are found in arid and semi-arid regions of western Rajasthan only.