West Bengal includes Himalayan ecosystems, alluvial plains, laterite landscapes, mangrove forests, tea garden country, and a long coastal belt.
## National parks and protected areas - **Sundarbans National Park** — globally important mangrove forest and tiger habitat. - **Jaldapara National Park** — grassland and woodland habitat known for one-horned rhinoceros. - **Gorumara National Park** — important for elephants, bison, and birdlife. - **Neora Valley National Park** — biodiverse montane forest in the eastern Himalayas. - **Singalila National Park** — high-altitude park on the Nepal border, known for trekking and red panda habitat. - **Buxa National Park / Buxa Tiger Reserve** — forested landscape with rich biodiversity.
## Other natural areas - The **Dooars** region is known for forests, rivers, tea gardens, and wildlife corridors. - The **Darjeeling Himalayan** region offers temperate forests, mountain ridges, orchids, and birdlife. - The **Rarh** region in western districts has red-soil terrain, scattered forests, and seasonal rivers. - The southern deltaic zone contains estuarine wetlands and coastal ecosystems.
## Urban parks and gardens - **Maidan** in Kolkata is one of the largest urban open spaces in India. - **Eco Park** in New Town is a major modern urban park. - **Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden** in Howrah is famous for its historic Great Banyan Tree. - Numerous district parks, municipal gardens, and lakeside promenades support local recreation.
## Wildlife Notable wildlife in different parts of the state includes: - **Royal Bengal tiger** in the Sundarbans - **Indian rhinoceros** in Jaldapara - **Asian elephant** in North Bengal forests - **Gaur**, deer, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and rich birdlife - **Red panda** in high Himalayan habitats, though sightings are uncommon
## Environmental concerns Key environmental pressures include coastal erosion, flooding, riverbank change, human-wildlife conflict in North Bengal, wetland loss, and urban air and water pollution in densely settled areas.
