UPSC Prelims 2003 Q68: Geography – Biogeography & Natural Vegetation
Which one among the following covers the highest percentage of forest area in the world?
- (a) Temperate Coniferous forests
- (b) Temperate Deciduous forests
- (c) Tropical Monsoon forests
- (d) Tropical Rain forests
Answer: (a) Temperate Coniferous forests
Explanation
> Note for students: Boreal (taiga) forests and tropical rain forests are close in area in some data sets; the published key is (a), so choose (a).
Forest types by share of world forest area
| Forest type | Share of the world's forest area |
|---|---|
| Temperate coniferous (boreal/taiga) | Largest share |
| Tropical rain forests | Large, but below the coniferous belt |
| Temperate deciduous | Smaller |
| Tropical monsoon | Smaller |
The temperate coniferous (boreal) forests cover the highest percentage of the world's forest area.
Answer: (a) Temperate Coniferous forests.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Coniferous forests cover the largest share.
- (b) Incorrect. Deciduous forests are smaller in area.
- (c) Incorrect. Monsoon forests are smaller in area.
- (d) Incorrect. Rain forests are large but below the coniferous belt.
Key point
Taiga: the largest biome by forest area, across Canada, Russia, Scandinavia.
Remember
Coniferous (taiga) forests cover the largest share of world forest area.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the tropical rain forests for the largest share.
- Mixing the largest forest by area with the richest by species.
- Forgetting the vast Siberian taiga.
Exam tip
Largest by area: taiga; richest in species: tropical rain forest.
Sources
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000
- NCERT Class XI Geography — Fundamentals of Physical Geography — Life on the Earth