Previous Year Question

Teak (Tectona grandis) is an important hardwood timber tree of India. Natural teak forests occur extensively in Madhya Pradesh, and large areas of the state contain teak-bearing forests.

Available forest-management data of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department classify about 18,332 sq km as Teak forest. Dense teak forests occur in regions such as Jabalpur, Seoni, Balaghat, Panna, Sehore, Dewas, Narmadapuram, Harda and adjoining areas.

Teak is mainly associated with tropical deciduous climatic conditions. It is favoured by adequate warmth and seasonal rainfall and sheds its leaves during the dry season. Therefore, it is useful to associate teak with deciduous-forest questions in examinations.

An important clarification is necessary—the wording “Teak forest is found in which State” is very broad. Current official forest data also record extensive moist and dry teak forests in Karnataka, while a limited Dry Teak Forest type is also recorded in Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, teak should not be understood as occurring exclusively in Madhya Pradesh.