The tropical forest ecosystems are one of the most diverse and rich in biological diversity on earth. The tropical rainforests of India are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Western Ghats, and North-eastern India. India is exceptionally rich in biodiversity, and considered as one of the 17 mega-biodiversity countries in the world. Of the 34 biodiversity hotspots identified in the world, India cover four biodiversity hotspots namely, the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India occupies about 2.4 per cent of the world’s land area and supports about 8 per cent of the world’s total species, including 47,000 species of flowering plants, 4833 vertebrates and 68,389 arthropods. In 16 chapters, reputed experts in their field describe the various aspects in the tropical forest ecosystem of India. Key aspects on the floristic diversity of tropical evergreen forests of various ecosystems are discussed. This book will be of great help to researchers and field scientists as it is a document of this unique habitat of India

Dr. K.A. Sujana, M.Sc. Ph.D., is working as Scientist-C in Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata. She received her Master Degree in Botany from Calicut University, Kerala. Her doctorate degree from University of Madras on the study of Taxonomy, Ecology and Ethnobotany of Lianas in Forests of Wayanad, Kerala. She has worked in Kerala Forest Research Institute, and M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Kerala in various capacities. She has published more than 60 research papers in national and international journals and newsletters. She participated and presented research papers in many national and international seminars and symposia. Dr. M.V. Durai, M.Sc., Ph.D., is working as a Research Offi cer in Institute of Forest Genetics & Tree Breeding (ICFRE), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He received Master Degree in Forestry from Punjab Agricultural University, Ph.D. from Forest Research Institute University, FRI, Dehra Dun. He served as Lecturer-cum-Head, Department of Forestry & Wood Technology, Sir Syed College, Kerala; as an Assistant Professor (Forestry) at Adiparasakthi College of Agriculture, Vellore; Assistant Professor (Biotechnology) at MGR College, Hosur. He has published more than 26 research papers and more than 10 popular articles in reputed scientifi c journals, magazine and news dailies. He participated and presented more than 10 national and international seminars/ conferences. He guided more than 25 under-graduate students for project work. He has executed fi ve national research projects related to vermicompost, humic acid, mine soil and tree improvement. He is also serving as Guest Faculty for Natural Resource Management Course for ACF and Range Offi cers trainee at CASFOS, Coimbatore. Dr. C. Sivaperuman, M.Sc., D.B.T., Ph.D., is working as Scientist-D in Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair. He received his Master Degree in Wildlife Biology from Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu. His doctorate degree is in Ecology of Wetland Birds in the Vembanad-Kole Ramsar site from (Kerala Forest Research Institute, Kerala) Forest Research Institute, Deemed University, Dehra Dun. He has worked in different parts of the country in various ecosystems, which include Kerala, Rajasthan and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He has published more than 200 research papers in national and international journals and newsletters. He also authored/edited more than 25 books. He participated and presented research papers in 50 national and international seminars and symposia. He is life member of different scientifi c societies in India and abroad.