The beauty of Bastar district lies in its natural forest area and various types of tribals. The total forest area is 7112 sq k.m which is more than 75 % of the total area of the district .Of the total population more than 70 % are tribals like Gonds, Abhuj Maria, Darda Maria, Bison Horn Maria, Munia Doria, Dhruva, Bhatra, Halba etc. The Bastar District is abundantly and richly endowed with forest resources. The forests in this district can be divided in to four belts, namely, Northern Mixed forests, Central Moist Region comprising of Sal belts, Teak belt zone and the Dry region comprising mixed forests. The Northern mixed forests are found in Kanker and Bhanupratappur tehsils ( now in newly formed Kanker district) and this region is more important for minor forest produce rather than timber. The Moist Region in Central Bastar where sal is found predominantly. The South Western terrain is the most important in which the best quality of teak is found. The dry forest region is interspersed between the moist belt and teak belt but more confined to western and southern part of the district. The various types of trees found in Bastar forests are Teak,Sal,Sirsa, Bijasal, Kusum,Palas,Mahua,Imli, Tendu,Harra,Kanha,Salai,Achar,Dhowara, Bhulra, Rohni, Amla,Khair, Samar etc. The Major types of forest in Bastar division are Sal forests,Teak Forests,Mixed forests and Bamboo forests. The forests of Bastar district, which comprises more than 70% of the total land area, constitute a variable storehouse of industrial raw material for forest based industries. The forests are located on comparatively easy terrain and it is one of the rare forest areas in the country where Sal, Teak, and miscellaneous forests naturally occur over extensive areas. Forests of the Bastar are the only area in India where hard wood and bamboo occur together in large quantities. Sal forests occur on sandy loam and lateritic soils and definitely avoids swampy areas and dry localities. The major portion of the forest area is covered with Sal forest which mostly lies on the plateau. In the hilly region, Sal is confined to narrow valleys and on lower slopes . The best sal forests are found in Bastar plateau ,where sometimes it forms up to 90% of the crop in the over wood. The Sal forests here are generally of good quality touching even all India 1st quality. The Sal forests also occur intermingled with mixed forest or large grassy blanks. Minor Forest Produces Bastar, being a district with dense forest, is rich in Minor Forest Produces (MFP). Because of having these MFP, the district is contributing a major revenue income to the state. The important MFP available in Bastar district are Chironji, Amchur, Vaybidang, Karanji, Shikakai, Ghot pal, Mango Kernal, Tamarind, Cashew, Kosa Cocoons, Peng Seeds, Karkatiya Seeds, Nirmali Seeds, Ambadi, Amla, Charota Seeds, Chirayta,Mahua, Harra,Bamboo,Tora, Dhavai Phool, Bhilwan Seeds etc. Forest vegetation of Bastar The forest vegetation of Bastar district is divided in to four forest belts namely – I. Northern mixed forest. II. Central moist region comprising of Sal belts. III. Teak belt zone. IV. The dry region. The northern mixed forest found in the northern part of Bastar district is widely important for minor forest produces, while in the moist region of central Bastar, Sal is found predominantly. The south western terrain is the most important, in which the best quality teak is found. The dry forest region is interspersed between the moist belts and teak belts but more confined to western and southern point of the district. Some of the trees found in Bastar forest are Teak, Sal Sirsa, Bijasal, Kusum, Palas, Mahua, Tendu, Harra, kauha, Slai, Achar, Dhawra, Bhulra Rohni, Amla, Khair Semar etc. Major types of forest in Bastar district are Sal forest, teak forest, mixed forest and bamboo forest. The Bastar forest is one of the rarest forest area of the country, where Sal, teak and miscellaneous forest naturally occur over extensive areas. Bastar is the only area in India where hard wood and bamboo occur together in large quantities. Sal forest occurs on sandy loam and lateritic soil. The major portion of the Sal forest lies on the plateau. In the hilly region, Sal is confined to narrow valleys and on lower slopes. The Sal forest also occurs intermingled with mixed forest is large grassy banks. The moist peninsular high level Sal forest are the richest single forest in the plateau of Jagdalpur, where average minimum temperature is 150C and rainfall varies from 1095 mm to 2080 mm.(Fig.-5). The minor forest produce of the state which is contributing major revenue income are the Chironji, Amchur, Baybidang, Karanji, Shikakai, Ghotphal, Mango, Kernal, Tamarind, Karkatiya, Nirmali, Chirayta, Mahua, Harra, Bamboo, Tora, Dhavaiphool, Bhelva etc.