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GENERAL
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FORESTS
The Government forests of Sholapur district occupy 229.273 square kilometres of reserved and unclaimed forests and constitute only 0.94 per cent of the total area of the district.
The forests in the past were fairly dense scrub forests on the hills and with good growth of babul and neem lower down in the plains. At present, however, most of these forests have disappeared. What remains today are poor, stunted and malformed trees and shrubs in scattered patches. A little over half a century ago the forest areas were under the administration of a forest division in Sholapur district. But owing to the pressure of population both human and bovine, these forest lands were denuded of vegetation and soil.
Types of forests: At present the forests are mainly observed in Malshiras, Sangola and Barshi talukas on hill slopes and depressions.
Dry thorny forest type: The vegetation consists of a number of distinct drought-resisting species belonging to Burseraceae Euphorbiaceae, Mimoseae and Rubiaceae. The chief species are-Apta (Bauhinia racemosa), Babul (Acacia arabica), Bhokar (Cordia myxa), Bor (Zizyphus jujuba), Chinch (Tamarindus indica), Kadunimb (Murraya koenigi), Karanj) (Pongamia glabra), Asana (Bridelia retusa), Khair (Acacia sundra), Neem (Melia azadirachta), Palas (Butea frondosa), Vad (Ficus bengalensis), Shirish (Albizzia lebbek), Sissum (Dalbergia latifolia), etc.
Dry deciduous type with sparse tree growth: The vegetation herein consists of Dhawada (Anogeissus latifolia), Moi (Linnea grandis), Ain (Terminalia tomentosa), Salai (Boswellia serrata), Chandan (Santalum album), Bahava (Cassia fistula), Avala (Phyllanthus emblica), Khair (Acacia catechu), Babul (Acacia arabica), Bor (Zizyphus jujuba), Bel (Aegle marmelos), Charoli (Buchanania latifolia), Hiwar (Acacia leucophlea), Karanj (Pongamia glabra), Kawat (Ferrania elephantum), Lokhandi (Ixora parviflora), Nimb (Melia azadirachta), Palas (Butea frondosa), Pimpal (Ficus religiosa), etc.
The common shrub and climbers: Ghaneri (Lantana Gamera), Ghayapat (Agave vivipara), Henkal (Gymnosporia montana), Karmati (Grewia villosa), Karwand (Carissa carandus), Nirgudi (Vitex negundo), Nivadung (Euphorbia nerijolia), Taravad (Cassia auricu-lata), Chillar (Caesalpinia sepiaria), Chimat (Scutia indica), Amoni (Rhus mysurensis), Sitaphal (Anona squamosa), etc.
Grass lands: The common grasses are Bongrut (Anthistiria ciliata), Bhalekusal (Andropogon tricticeus), Kusali (Andropogon contortus), Pandhari kusal (Aristida paniculata), Pavanya (Ischoemum sulcatum), Sheda (Ischoemum laxum), Kunda (Ischoemum pilosum), Gondwel (Andropogon pumilis), Rosha (Andropogon schoenanthus), Chirka (Eragrostis tremula), Marvel (Andropogon annulatus).
Most of the forest produce of the district is consumed locally. In fact, the forest produce falls short of the total demand and the requirements have to be imported from other places like Nasik, Dandeli and Dangs. The important centres of collection of forest produce in the district are Barshi and Sholapur.
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