Near Quilon (Kollam), India Photograph by Boschidar Ganev   A narrow strip of land extending through the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, along the western coast of India. Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests   13,700 square miles (35,500 square kilometers) -- about the size of New Hampshire and Connecticut combined Critical/Endangered

· Coastal Forests
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern

Coastal Forests

In the semi-evergreen forests along Indiaâs Malabar Coast, teak plantations have replaced many of the original trees, changing forever the character of the forest. With the loss of its natural habitat, many of the large animal species have also disappeared from the ecoregion. However, these moist forests still harbor an estimated 97 species of mammals, including a small rodent species that is found only here.

Special Features

Sandwiched between the Indian Ocean to the west and the steep Western Ghats Mountains to the east, the forests receive over 99 inches (250 cm) of annual rainfall, most of it during the southwestern monsoon season. You can follow the influence of the rain on the forest from the tropical wet evergreen vegetation in the wetter south to drier conditions in the north.

	A strong worldwide market for teak has lead to extensive planting of teak plantations in the ecoregion. The conversion of land to teak plantations, along with other human activities, helped to place this ecoregion on the verge of extinction.

Wild Side

Some of Indiaâs largest birds live in this ecoregion, including the greater flamingo and three species of hornbills, the Malabar gray hornbill, Indian gray hornbill, and great hornbill. The territory of the globally threatened lesser florican, a variety of bustard, is found at the edges of this region. In total, an estimated 280 bird species rely on the remaining natural habitat to provide food and trees for nesting.

Cause for Concern

This ecoregion has one of the highest human population densities in the region. More than 95 percent of the natural habitat has been cleared and converted to agriculture and plantations. The moist southern forests have been converted into coconut plantations and rice paddies and the northern forests into teak, rosewood, and rubber plantations. No large blocks of intact forest habitat remain, and the three protected areas in this ecoregion cover less than one percent of its area.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.