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GENERAL
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FORESTS.
The district has an area of 342.93 square miles under forest, of which 333.73 square miles are in charge of Forest department and remaining 9.20 square miles in charge of Revenue department. The forest area forms 14.13 per cent of the total geographical area as against 17.56 per cent for the whole of the State of Maharashtra.
Of the forest area in charge of Forest department, 199.78 square miles are occupied by reserved forests. These forests are very valuable, well preserved and well managed. The remaining area comprising protected forests represents the ex-proprietary forests vested in the State.
Most of the forests in the district lie in the northern half of the district in a more or less compact block in the Arvi and Wardha tahsils while the rest is in Hinganghat tahsil. The forests met within the tract are of one main type, namely, the southern tropical dry deciduous forests of the Champion's classification of forests in India. Within this main type considerable local variation occurs depending mainly on rock and soil, topography and past treatment. In Wardha division the forests are mainly borne by the trap zone (so called as the rock is mainly Deccan trap basalt).
Teak Forests.
These teak forests are of three types.-(1) Good quality teak Forests- These are found in parts of Arvi and Hingni range. The common associates of teak in these areas are Dhaora (Anogeissus latifolia), Salai (Boswellia serrata), Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) and Ain (Terminalia tomentosa). The average quality of crop is IVa/IVb. The top height usually varies from 35' to 45'. The average density of crop is about 0.7. These forests are capable of producing sound teak trees of about 3' in girth at breast height. Bamboos are practically absent. The under wood and under growth is sparse. Khair (Acacia catechu), bor (Zizyphus jujuba), Palas (Butea monosperma) Jilhili (Woodfordia fruticosa) are the main species occurring as underwood and under growth. Tarota (Cassia forta), Ban tulsi (Eranthemum pulchellum) and Diwali are the main weeds.
(2) Poor quality teak forests.-These occur on the major part of the trap zone in Arvi, Karanja and Hingni ranges. The forests are IVth quality, the average top height being 35'. These are capable of producing sound teak trees of 2' girth at breast height. Teak occurs in high percentage over most of the area and at places it forms pure crop. The common associates are Dhavda, (Anogeissus latifolia), Lendia (Largerstroemia parviflora), Salai (Boswellia serrata), Mawai (Lannea grandis), Ain (Terminalia tomen-tosa) etc. The average density of crop is 0.7. In this type of forest there are many under stocked areas in which either grass or ban tulasi grows very thick.
Mixed Forests.
(3) Mixed Forests-This type is confined only to small areas with poorly drained clayey soils. The over wood consists of Ain (Terminalia tomen-tosa), Bel (Aegle marmelos), Karam (Mitragyna parcifolia), Palas (Butea frondosa), Moha (Madhuca latifolia), Beheda (Terminalia belerica), etc.
The other commercially important associates found in the forests are (1) Tendu leaves, useful in Bidi industry, (2) Kadai or Kulha and Dhavda for gum and (3) small quantity of fodder and thatching grasses. The principal grasses found are Kusal, Ghonal, Mushan, Marwel and Sheda. There are also a number of species which are useful as firewood. Generally, manufacture of charcoal is not undertaken. Falai and Mowai are the soft-wood species which are used for the manufacture of packing cases for oranges.
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