The higher altitude Pachmarhi plateau hosts vast forest land of Sal whereas the lower plains is abundant with teak. The Satpura landscape is renowned for certain species endemic to the area like Malastoma malabthricum, Moraya paniculata, Holmskildia senguines, Blumea lancelaria, Sophora interrupta etc.
The Satpura and Pachmarhi biosphere landscape is a critical tiger habitat as it is a significant part of the larger extended tiger habitat of over 10,000 sq kms spread between Chhindwara, Hoshangabad, Betul, Harda, Khandwa and the Melghat area of Maharashtra.
This area is known for a significant population of tigers, leopards, sloth bear, gaur and sambhar ( ref : Forsyth 1889 ). Considered to be a paradise for ornithologists and people with special interest in birding, the sanctuary and the periphery area is rich with a vivid avian fauna which include Malabar pied horn-bill, Malabar whistling thrush and the State Bird of Madhya Pradesh Paradise Flycatcher. November to March witnesses migratory birds inhibiting the Denwa river front like like Indian Skimmers, Black bellied tern, Brahmni duck, Bar-headed Geese, Pintails, Spotbills etc.
The landscape has a varied altitude ranging from 300 to 1352 mt ( 980 to 4436 ft ). The terrain of the national park is extremely rugged and consists of fascinating deep valleys, sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, rivulets, waterfalls, thick dense green forest of Sal and other medicinal herbs. The slopes and plains are occupied with teak, bamboo and miscellaneous species. It also has large tracts of best quality Teak forests in the Bori WLS.
The Area is the part of important tiger bearing landscape of over 10,000 sq. km. The rich floral diversity is reflected in wide range of herbivorous species like Gaur, Sambhar, Cheetal, Barking Deer, Blue bull, Chouwsinga and Chinkara. Efforts by the Forest Department to relocate villages which fell in the core zone of the forest yielded extremely positive results resulting into suitable habitat for Tigers. Presently Madhai, Churna and Bori region have fairly good population tigers in reserve.