Wildlife of
Nāgāland

Moist evergreen and semi-evergreen forests in lower to mid elevations with very high monsoon rainfall; includes tall broadleaf evergreen canopies, dense understories, and rich epiphyte/liana growth in wetter belts.

Broadly distributed on windward slopes and many mid-elevation hills; a major natural vegetation type where intact (roughly ~35-55% combined with semi-evergreen in remaining forested landscapes, but fragmented by cultivation).

Moist deciduous to semi-deciduous forests in relatively drier pockets, rain-shadowed slopes, or more seasonally stressed sites; often grades into secondary woodland after disturbance.

Patchy, typically in drier valleys/slopes and around settled areas; ~5-15% locally depending on district and disturbance history.

Montane temperate broadleaf and mixed forests at higher elevations (often with oak-laurel-chestnut elements), with cooler climates, frequent mist, and higher moss/epiphyte loads; includes mixed stands on upper slopes and ridges.

Upper hills and high ridges, especially toward the eastern/southeastern highlands; ~15-30% where elevation allows, generally more continuous in less-accessible terrain.

Very high-elevation scrub and meadow-like openings near the highest peaks/ridgelines; limited true alpine conditions but small areas of cold, wind-exposed vegetation occur near summits.

Tiny, near highest peaks (e.g., around Mt. Saramati region); typically <1% of the state.

Fast-flowing rivers, hill streams, and reservoirs supporting riparian forests, gravel bars, and aquatic biodiversity; includes major drainages and impoundments (e.g., Doyang reservoir).

Widespread linear network across all districts; small areal extent but ecologically pervasive (generally a few percent of area).

Riparian wetlands, marshy valley bottoms, seepage zones, and reservoir fringes; seasonally inundated patches occur along floodplains and in depressions.

Scattered and localized; generally <1-2% but important for birds and amphibians in select valleys/reservoir margins.

Dominant natural cover across much of Nagaland, ranging from low-elevation evergreen/semi-evergreen to high-elevation montane forests; many areas are now a mosaic of intact blocks and regenerating secondary forest.

Wet evergreen/semi-evergreen stands with dense canopy and high structural complexity in wetter belts and sheltered slopes; strong liana/epiphyte presence in humid zones.

Moist deciduous tracts in comparatively seasonal/drier pockets; often intergrades with secondary woodland after logging or shifting-cultivation cycles.

Pine-dominated patches (notably Khasi pine, Pinus kesiya) on ridges and disturbed or fire-influenced slopes, sometimes forming mixed pine-broadleaf stands.

Secondary woodland and regrowth formed after shifting cultivation and selective extraction; commonly alder-associated regrowth in managed landscapes.

Ridge-top openings, shifting-cultivation fallows, and anthropogenic grasslands maintained by repeated disturbance and burning; important for certain birds and as grazing/foraging areas.

Successional scrub on fallows and degraded slopes, often transitioning to woodland/forest if left undisturbed; frequent along village peripheries and cultivation mosaics.

Steep, dissected hill terrain with elevational zonation, landslide scars, and deep valleys; creates many microclimates and high habitat turnover over short distances.

Rocky escarpments and steep outcrops along gorges and ridge faces; supports specialized plants and provides nesting/roosting sites for some birds.

Hill rivers and torrents with riffle-pool sequences, boulder beds, and riparian corridors; key ecological connectors across forest blocks and settlements.

Primarily reservoir/lake-like waters (e.g., Doyang reservoir) and small natural/impounded lakes in valleys; important seasonal habitat for waterbirds.

Village ponds, small impoundments, and paddy-adjacent waterbodies that support amphibians and local wetland biodiversity.

Valley-bottom wet patches, reservoir fringes, and seepage wetlands; often small but high-value for amphibians and wetland-dependent birds.

Localized marshy margins around reservoirs and slow-flowing reaches; seasonal expansion during monsoon and contraction in dry months.

Small, high-elevation peat-like seepage areas and persistently waterlogged patches in cool uplands (where present), supporting specialized moisture-tolerant vegetation.

Terraced paddy rice in valleys and slopes, plus mixed cropping; extensive shifting cultivation landscapes create a patchwork of fields, fallows, and regrowth.

Orchards and planted stands (e.g., fruit orchards, timber species, and other cash-crop plantings) embedded within the forest-fallow mosaic; generally localized near accessible areas.

Built-up habitats centered on towns such as Kohima and Dimapur, with fragmented green spaces and peri-urban secondary growth.