Natural Vegetation
- Natural vegetation refers to the plant life that grows naturally in an area without human interference.
- It is also called virgin vegetation if it has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time.
- Natural vegetation includes forests, grasslands, shrubs, and alpine plants, depending on the climatic conditions.
- The distribution of natural vegetation depends on several factors like:
- Relief (landforms and altitude)
- Soil type
- Climate (temperature and rainfall)
- India is a vast country with varied climatic and topographic conditions, so it has a rich diversity of vegetation.
- The Indian natural vegetation is divided into five major types, each with sub-types:
- Tropical Evergreen Forests
- Tropical Deciduous Forests
- Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
- Montane Forests
- Mangrove Forests
1. Tropical Evergreen Forests
- Also called Tropical Rainforests.
- Found in high rainfall areas (more than 200 cm annually), mostly in hot and humid regions.
- Locations include:
- Western Ghats
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Upper Assam
- Coastal regions of Tamil Nadu
- These forests remain evergreen as there is no definite time for trees to shed leaves.
- Trees are very tall, dense, and grow close to each other.
- Major trees include:
- Ebony
- Mahogany
- Rosewood
- Rubber
- Cinchona
- These forests are commercially valuable but difficult to exploit due to dense undergrowth.
- Also home to numerous animal species, birds, reptiles, and insects.
2. Tropical Deciduous Forests
- Also known as Monsoon Forests.
- Most widespread type of forest in India.
- Found in areas with rainfall between 70 to 200 cm.
- Trees shed their leaves for 6 to 8 weeks in summer to conserve moisture.
- Sub-divided into:
- Moist Deciduous Forests
- Dry Deciduous Forests
a. Moist Deciduous Forests
- Found in areas with rainfall between 100–200 cm.
- Locations include:
- Eastern India
- Foothills of the Himalayas
- Jharkhand
- Chhattisgarh
- Eastern slopes of the Western Ghats
- Important trees:
- Teak (dominant species)
- Sal
- Shisham
- Sandalwood
- Khair
- Arjun
b. Dry Deciduous Forests
- Found in areas with rainfall between 70–100 cm.
- Located in interior peninsular India, including parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
- These forests are open and less dense.
- Trees like teak, sal, peepal, neem, and babul are common.
3. Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
- Found in dry and semi-arid regions where rainfall is less than 70 cm.
- Locations include:
- North-western Rajasthan
- Gujarat
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Dry parts of the Deccan Plateau
- Vegetation consists of thorny trees and bushes, adapted to dry conditions.
- Common species:
- Acacia
- Cactus
- Euphorbia
- Date palm
- These plants have long roots, small leaves, and thick bark to prevent water loss.
4. Montane Forests
- Found in hilly and mountainous regions.
- These forests change with altitude, and thus are divided into different zones:
a. Northern Slopes of Himalayas (Altitude 1000–2000 m)
- Sub-tropical broadleaf forests and pine forests dominate.
- Trees: Chir pine, deodar, oak
b. 2000–3000 meters
- Temperate forests with coniferous trees such as:
- Spruce
- Fir
- Cedar
c. Higher Altitudes (Above 3600 meters)
- Alpine vegetation consisting of mosses and lichens.
- Used for summer grazing by nomadic tribes like Gujjars and Bakarwals.
5. Mangrove Forests
- Also known as Tidal Forests.
- Found in coastal areas influenced by tides.
- Grow in marshy and deltaic areas with saline water.
- Major areas:
- Sundarbans Delta in West Bengal
- Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri deltas
- Characteristic tree: Sundari tree (used for making boats)
- Roots are stilt-like to support trees in soft, muddy soil.
- Provide natural protection against tsunamis and cyclones.
Wildlife in India
- India is one of the richest countries in biodiversity.
- Due to varied climatic conditions, topography, and vegetation, a wide range of animal species is found.
- India is home to:
- 90,000 animal species
- 350 types of mammals
- 1,200 bird species
- 2,500 species of fish
- 60,000 types of insects
- 5,000 species of molluscs
Major Wildlife Species in India
Mammals:
- Tiger – National Animal
- Lion – Found in Gir Forests, Gujarat
- Elephants – Found in Assam, Karnataka, Kerala
- Leopards, Rhinoceros, Nilgai, Chinkara
Birds:
- Peacock – National Bird
- Parrot, Kingfisher, Woodpecker, Hornbill
Reptiles:
- Crocodile, Gharial, Turtle, Lizard, Snakes
Aquatic life:
- Wide range of freshwater and marine fish, including catla, rohu, and hilsa.
Conservation of Wildlife
- Deforestation, hunting, habitat loss, and climate change have endangered many species.
- Several species like the Cheetah, Pink-headed duck, and Mountain quail are now extinct.
- Endangered species include:
- Great Indian Bustard
- Kashmir Stag (Hangul)
- Snow Leopard
- Lion-tailed Macaque
- To protect wildlife, the Indian government has taken several steps:
Major Wildlife Conservation Steps
- Wildlife Protection Act (1972)
- Provided legal protection to endangered species.
- Prohibited hunting and trade of wild animals and birds.
- Project Tiger (1973)
- Launched to save the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger.
- Project Elephant
- Focuses on conserving Asian elephants and their habitats.
- Establishment of Protected Areas
- India has:
- 106 National Parks
- 567 Wildlife Sanctuaries
- 18 Biosphere Reserves
- Several Bird Sanctuaries and Marine Reserves
- India has:
Important Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks
- Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand) – Oldest national park, famous for tigers.
- Kaziranga National Park (Assam) – Known for one-horned rhinoceros.
- Gir National Park (Gujarat) – Last home of Asiatic lions.
- Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal) – Habitat of Royal Bengal Tigers and mangrove forests.
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) – Famous for elephants and lake ecosystem.
Role of Communities in Conservation
- Indigenous communities like Bishnois of Rajasthan protect animals like blackbuck and trees as part of their religious belief.
- In Meghalaya, villagers have created sacred groves to protect biodiversity.
- Chipko Movement was started to protect forests from commercial felling.
Importance of Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
- Maintains ecological balance.
- Provides habitats to animals and birds.
- Acts as climate regulators and air purifiers.
- Source of timber, medicines, fruits, fuel, and fodder.
- Helps in soil conservation and prevents floods.
- Supports livelihood of many forest-dwelling communities.
Threats to Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
- Deforestation for agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure.
- Poaching and illegal trade of animal parts.
- Forest fires and overgrazing.
- Pollution and climate change.
- Habitat fragmentation due to roads and dams.
Government and International Efforts
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserves aim to conserve biodiversity while promoting sustainable use.
- India’s Biodiversity Act (2002) ensures conservation and equitable sharing of benefits.
- International conventions like CITES, RAMSAR, and Convention on Biological Diversity guide conservation efforts.