Although one does not find an abundance of flora and fauna in Kumaon, they are remarkable for their sheer variety. The biological diversity is very important in many respects. One finds the Haldu (Adina cordifolia), Khair (Acacia catechu) Sagon/teak (Tectona grandis), Sal (Shorea robusta), Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) and Poplar (Populus deltoides) trees in the Tarai - Bhabar region..

The Lesser Himalya is full of the Chir and blue pine (Pinus roxburghii, P. wallichiana), Banj (Quercus leucotrichophora), Tilonj (Q.dilatata), Kharsu (Q. semecarpifolia), Utis (Alnus nepalensis ), Deodar (Cedrus polycarpos) etc. belong to sub Alpine and Alpine zones. There are at least a dozen varieties of the rhododendrons blooming in Kumaon.

One can come across the Tiger (Panthera tigris), Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), Chital (Axisaxis axis), Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus ursinus), Monkey (Macaques mulatta), Sambhar (Cervus unicolour), Para or Hogdeer (Axis porcinus porcinus), and Porcupines (Hystrix indica indica) in the Tarai Bhabar submontane region. Musk deer or Kastura (Moschus -moschiferus), Snow Leopard (Panthera unicia), Blue Sheep or Bharal (Pseudois nayaur), and Thar (Hemitagus jemlahicus) are confined to high altitudes.

The important birds of Kumaon are the Peacock (Pavo cristatus), Great Indian Hornbill (Dichoceros bircornis), Grey Quail (Coturnix coturnix coturnix), Black Partridge or Kalatitar (Francolinus francolinus asiae), Grey Partridge or Safed Titar (Francolinus pondicerianus interpositus) , Peora or Common Hill Partridge (Arborophila torgueola), Common Myna (Acridothres tristis), Grey Winged Blackbird (Turdus boulbou), Himalayan Whistling Thrush (Myiophonus caerulus), Red Billed Blue Magpie, Snow Pigeon or Malyo, Chakor (Alectoris graeca), Himalayan Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos hodgsoni), Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus), White Crested Kaleej (Lophura leucomelana hamiltonii), Koklas Pheasant (Pucrasia macrlopha) and Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii) etc.
Python, Rat Snake, Lizard, Cobra are the main reptiles and Mahaseer and Rohu are the common fish.

Kumaon is said to have more than 400 varieties of butterflies. Out of 287 species of birds of the Indian Hills described by Salim Ali about 230 are found in Kumaon. Many of these species have either become extinct or are on the verge of extinction. Species which have come from outside e.g. Eucalyptus and the Kuri (Lantana camara) have now become a part of Kumaoni flora.