The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests (also Kathiarbar-Gir or Kathiawar-Gir) is a mostly arid ecoregion in northwestern India that stretches over across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The dry deciduous forests in the region are dominated by teak, and thorny trees and scrub in drier areas.

Landscape

thumb|right|The Aravalli Range is part of this ecoregion

The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests include the Aravalli Range, the high point of which is Mount Abu with an elevation of , and a small part of the Northwestern thorn scrub forests in the west.

In the west is the Kathiawar Peninsula and the strip of western Rajasthan between the Aravalli Range and Thar Desert. To the northwest, the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests transit to the Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests. To the southeast lies the Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests, of the Vindhya Range, and the Narmada River Valley. The ecoregion also borders the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests in southeastern Gujarat.

The ecoregion has a tropical monsoon climate, with most of its 550 to 700 mm average annual rainfall during the June–September southwest monsoon and little for the remaining months of the year, while temperatures often exceed 40 °C. Higher elevations of the Aravallis stay cooler, and the windward slopes (generally southeast-facing) receive higher rainfall. This results in a dry landscape of thorny scrub, bare trees and rocks.

Fauna

Bird species include the:

  • golden jackal (Canis aureus)
  • Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) in the eastern part of this ecoregion
  • Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo) in Gir National Park and surrounding areas in Kathiawar Peninsula
  • Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) in Ratan Mahal Wildlife Sanctuary

Other native mammals include the northern plains gray langur (Semnopithecus entellus), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), honey badger or ratel (Mellivora capensis), Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), and Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis).

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Ranthambore Tiger.jpg|Bengal tiger in Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan

Asiatic lion 02.jpg|Male Asiatic lion in Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat

A leopard at Gir Forest National Park (2015).jpg|Indian leopard at Gir

Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena).jpg|Striped hyena

Golden Jackal at Rajkot.jpg|Golden jackal in the area of Rajkot

A fragile co-existence of between sloth bears and humans at Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sactuary, Dahod, Gujarat, India.jpg|An Indian sloth bear walking on the road in Ratan Mahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary

Mugger crocodile in Gir Forest National Park.jpg|Mugger crocodile at Gir

Great Indian bustard.jpg|Great Indian bustard at the Naliya grasslands, Kutch

Adult White napped Tit.jpg|White-naped tit foraging on Prosopis juliflora at Kutch

Female Lesser Florican in flight.jpg|A female lesser florican in flight from Rajasthan

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Threats to biodiversity

The human population in the region is growing, and wildlife habitats have mostly been removed or degraded due to collection of firewood and timber, and use as grazing land for livestock.

Protected areas

Protected areas cover in this ecoregion, and include: