District Nainital is a unique district of Kumaun having tropical type, subtropical type, temperate, sub alpine and alpine zones in its lap.

On one side its Tarai & Bhabhar belt contains the climate resembling with plain areas on the other the deep valleys having an elevation unto 1000 Mts. rear plants of hills as well as plains.

The middle Himalayan ranges unto 2000 Mts. are temperate zones growing a number of typical temperate climate plants. The sub alpine unto 2500 Mts. grow high altitude plants an have the capacity to rear plants of alpine zones as well. Alpine zone is referred to the land between snow line and above 2000 Mts. This is a typical high Himalayan belt. District Nainital contains all the zone except the alpine one. The soil structure and texture also varies from high sandy soils having 70 to 80% sand to clay soils in which the clay percentage is unto 20%. In between vast tracts possess sandy lome soils which are neither heavy nor very light.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Biological Diversity of Nainital District

Nainital District is unique for its biodiversity and ecological amplitude. It has more than 1000 species of resident and migratory birds, 20 species of mammals, over 525 species of butterflies and over 11,000 species of moths, beetles, bugs and other insects. The flora covers a wide and diverse range of plants ranging from Bryophytes, orchids, rare climbing plants, ferns, lichens, fungi, medicinal herbs and shrubs. Each individual lake has its own unique Diatom index. The Trophic Diatom Index uses the composition of freshwater diatom assemblages to assess water quality and ecological status.

Nainital District has Richest Oak, Pine and Rhododendron Forest main habitats for Excellent Birding

Birds in Nainital District

The unique avian fauna of Nainital District includes red-billed blue magpie, kingfishers, blue-throated and brown-headed barbets, lineated barbet, golden-throated barbet, crimson-fronted barbet, coppersmith Barbet plum-headed parakeet, slaty-headed Parakeet, chestnut bellied rock thrush, titmouse, babblers, jungle Owlet, fish eagle, pied woodpecker, brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, grey-capped pygmy woodpecker, brown-fronted woodpecker, stripe-breasted woodpecker, yellow-crowned woodpecker, rufous-bellied woodpecker, crimson-breasted woodpecker, Himalayan woodpecker, lesser yellownape woodpecker, greater yellow-naped woodpecker, streak-throated woodpecker, grey-headed woodpecker, scaly-bellied woodpecker, common flameback woodpecker, Indian tree pies, blue whistling-thrush, lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, crested serpent eagle, flycatchers, cheer pheasants, Kalij pheasant, Koklas pheasants, dollarbird, leaf birds, flowerpecker, purple sunbird, brown headed stork-billed kingfisher, stork-billed kingfisher, crested kingfisher, white-throated kingfisher, pied kingfisher, common kingfisher, blue-eared kingfisher, Himalayan kingfisher, Mrs. Gould’s sunbird, green-tailed sunbird, black-throated sunbird, black-breasted sunbird, Crimson sunbird, fire-tailed sunbird, thick-billed flowerpecker, plain-leaf flowerpecker, fire-breasted flowerpecker, russet Sparrow, rufous Babbler, black-headed Jay, scaly-breasted wren-Babbler, black-capped sibia, blue whistling thrush, finches, mountain hawk eagle, black eagle, eurasian jay, white-rumped needletail, black-headed jay, black-lored, black-throated tits, black bulbul, ashy-throated warblers, black-chinned babbler, rufous-breasted accentor, red-billed blue magpie, grey-winged blackbird, Eurasian griffon, common buzzard, black-chinned babbler, pink-browed rosefinch, common wood pigeon, slaty-headed parakeet, laughingthrush, chestnut-tailed minla, lemon-rumped warblers, and many more.

Birds In and Around Nainital District
Birds Corvus macrohynchoes (Jungle crow)		Corvus splendens (house crow)
Parus monticolus (green backed tit)		Trochalopteron lineatrum (Streaked laughing Thrush)
Turdus boulboul (Grey Winged Black Bird)		Passer domesticus (House Sparrow)
Certhia himaayana (The Himalayan Tree Creeper)		Acridotheres tristis (Common Myna)
Pericrocotus brevirostris (short billed minivet)

Horticulture

Apple orchards are found mainly in Ramgarh (Nainital District) Mukteshwar (Nainital District) belt. Beside this Peach, Pears, Apricot, Citrus fruits, Kafal, Strawberry, Hills Banana grown in the hilly track, Lichi of Ramnagar makes Nainital a main fruit growing district. Tea plantation work is also in progress in the slopes of Niglat & Ghorakhal. Now a days a number of floriculture farm have mushroomed in the district due to its favorable climate for growing flowers.

In its Tarai & Bhabhar belt a number of medicinal trees, shrubs and herbs grow like Vijayasar, Arjun, Bhilwa, Varun, Gambhari, Kutuj, Tejpatra, Priyangoo, Danti, Sarivah, Shwet Sarivah, Brahmi, Satwahi, Patha, Bhringraj, Punarnava, Kamal & Kamalni, Gokhru, Anatmool, Marodfali, Talwarfali, Ashok, Kaliyali, Pipli, various species of Mentha and so on. There is potential to grow Mulhatti, Aswagandha, Saptaparna and so many other plants of various zones of India.

These plants can also grow in the deep valleys of hills. In the middle Himalayan range we find Daruharidra, Timoor, Manjishtha, Sugandhabala, Samayava, Manduparna, Dhooplakkar, Talish, Devdaru, Padam, Vidhangabhed, Kakoli, Ksheerkakoli, Lahsuniya and so many other plants. This range has the potential to grow plants like Saffron, Vindhanga, Ghritkumari and so on.

The sub alpine zone of this district grows Fern, Deodar , various other species of Daruharidra, Sugandhabala, Banapsa. It has the potential to grow plants like Gandhanarain, Kutki, Kooth, Bhootkesi, Junipers, Abies which is called Fern. Here around 2500 mts. plants like Jatamasi, Mithavish, Atish can also be tried.

Many of these plants have a great commercial importance. These are widely used in indigenous system of medicines like Ayurveda, Yunani, Aamchi (Tibetan System) for skin diseases, stomach disorder, nervous disability, liver diseases. Many of these are used in heart & brain tonics. Some are blood purifiers and strengthen the immunity mechanism.

At present crores of this herbal raw material is supplied to Haldwani, Ramnagar, Dehradun & other mandis of plains. Bheshaj Sanghs & K.M.V.N. has the official authority to collect these medicines.

Animals

Presbytis schistaceous (Himalayan Langoor), Invus rhesus (Monkey), Urssus Tibetans (Rich), Martes flavigula (Black capped Marten), Hysrix leucura (Indian Porcupine), Sus Indicus (Wild pig), Cervulus aurens (Barking deer), Pteromys petaurista (Brown flying squirrel), Nemorhoedus goral (Gural).

Fishes in the Lakes of Nainital

The fishes belong to one group commonly known as carps. Generally cat fishes are not found in the lake. Among carps both major and minor fishes are present in the lake. The major fishes have three important classes, Mahaseer the so called hill trout and the mirror carp.

Mahaseer Two species of this fish are found in the region.

Tor tor : The red finned mahaseer.
Tor putitora : The yellow finned mahaseer. It is highly valued as a food fish, and normally grows to a large size from 20 to 60 Cms.

Hill Trout Commonly known as Asela or Rasela.

This fish comprises three species.

Schizothorax sinuatus
Schizothorax richardsoni
Schizothorax plagiostornus