What is Natural Vegetation?
Vegetation growing naturally in a region due to land formation, climate, and other environmental factors is called natural vegetation. Forests are a type of natural vegetation but are studied differently due to their organized economic usefulness to humans.
Natural vegetation
Importance of Forests
Forests are a valuable gift from nature, and ideally, one-third of a country's area should be under forests. However, currently, only about one-fourth of India's total area is covered by forests.
Forest
- Ecological Importance: Forests are crucial for maintaining soil, water, humidity levels, and preventing floods and dust storms.
- Economic Importance: They provide resources like timber, grazing lands, and support local economies.
- Survival Dependence: Our survival depends on forests as they are essential for clean air, water, and biodiversity.
Question for Chapter Notes: Forest and Wildlife
Try yourself:
What is the ecological importance of forests?Explanation
- Forests play a crucial role in maintaining soil, water, and humidity levels.
- They help in preventing floods and dust storms by regulating water flow and stabilizing soil.
- Forests act as natural water filters by absorbing and purifying rainwater, recharging groundwater, and maintaining water cycles.
- They also contribute to the regulation of humidity levels, which is important for the overall climate.
- By providing a habitat for various plant and animal species, forests support biodiversity and contribute to the overall health of ecosystems.
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Types of Natural Vegetation in India
India has different physical features and different climates; therefore it has different natural vegetation across the country.
Tropical Evergreen Vegetation
- It is found in the regions where rainfall is very high, above 300cm annually.
- The dry season is short. Trees do not shed their leaves.
- Trees grow very tall, up to 60m and above. Forests are very dense and every type of plant life grows.
- Grass is almost absent.
- This vegetation is found in the Western Ghats of Kerala, Karnataka and the North Eastern Hills.
- Mahogany, chincona, bamboo and palms are some of the plants found in this vegetation.
Tropical Semi-evergreen Vegetation
- It is found in the region where rainfall is 250cm to 300cm annually.
- The dry season is a little longer. Vegetation is evergreen and deciduous.
- Deciduous vegetation is that in which trees shed leaves once a year.
- The vegetation is less dense than the evergreen.
- This vegetation is found in the Meghalaya plateau, Sahyadris and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Rosewood and ebony are two economically important products.
India – Natural Vegetation
Tropical Deciduous Vegetation
- It is found in the region where rainfall is 100 to 200cm annually.
- The dry season is three to four months. Vegetation shed leaves once a year in the dry season.
- This is the most widespread vegetal cover in India.
- This vegetation is found in Sahyadris, the Himalayan foothills in the Siwaliks. Teak, sal, sandalwood, shisha, cane and bamboo are important trees in these forests.
Question for Chapter Notes: Forest and Wildlife
Try yourself:
Which type of natural vegetation in India is characterized by trees that shed their leaves once a year during the dry season?Explanation
- Tropical Deciduous Vegetation in India is characterized by trees that shed their leaves once a year during the dry season.
- This type of vegetation is found in regions with annual rainfall between 100 to 200cm, and a dry season lasting three to four months.
- Important trees in these forests include teak, sal, sandalwood, shisha, cane, and bamboo.
- It is the most widespread vegetal cover in India, found in areas like the Sahyadris and the Himalayan foothills in the Siwaliks.
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Dry Tropical Deciduous Vegetation
- It is found in the region where rainfall is 70 to 100cm annually.
- The dry season is three to four months. Vegetation shed leaves once a year in the dry season.
- This vegetation is found in parts of Uttar Pradesh, parts of Madhya Pradesh, parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- Characteristics of this vegetation are long stretches of grassland between groups of trees. Teak is the dominant tree of this type of vegetation.
Barren hill slopes cause landslides
Dry Tropical Thorny Vegetation
- It is found in the region where rainfall is less than 70 cm annually.
- The dry season is three to four months. Vegetation shed leaves once a year in the dry season.
- This vegetation is found in parts of the north and northwestern parts of India.
- Characteristics of this vegetation are vast, poor and coarse grassland with widely spaced trees and bushes.
- Acacia and cacti are dominant trees of this type of vegetation.
Pine forests
Tidal Vegetation
- It is found in the delta region. It is found in deltas of the Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna.
- These are flooded by the tidal waves. Mangroves are representative of this type of vegetation.
- Sundari is the typical tree of this vegetation. The name Sunderban is derived from it.
India – Wildlife Parks and Sanctuaries
The Mountain Vegetation
India has broadly two types of mountains. These are:
(a) Mountains of Peninsular Plateau
These include Nilgiri, Annamalai, Mahabaleshwar in Western Ghats, Satpura and Maikal hills. Mostly these are covered with grass and part of these are with mosses and ferns. Magnolia and elm are common trees. Eucalyptus has been brought in later.
(b) The Mountain Vegetation of The Himalayan Ranges
It provides a very wide variety. In brief, the vegetation changes with altitude and location. There is no vegetation near the snowline. Tree composition changes with altitude and there is a wide variety. Altitudes determine the character of vegetation in many ways. Deodar, silver fir, spruce, oak, birch, pine and rhododendron are common trees at various altitudes and climatic conditions available on mountains.
Question for Chapter Notes: Forest and Wildlife
Try yourself:
What is the dominant tree species in the Dry Tropical Deciduous Vegetation?Explanation
- The dominant tree species in the Dry Tropical Deciduous Vegetation is Teak.
- This type of vegetation is characterized by long stretches of grassland between groups of trees.
- Teak is well-adapted to the dry season and sheds its leaves once a year during this period.
- Teak is found in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
- It is a valuable timber tree and is known for its durability and resistance to pests and decay.
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Types of Forests in India
1. Evergreen Forests
- Found in Western Ghats, north-east India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Trees: ebony, mahogany, rosewood.
- Features: Trees do not shed leaves, remain green throughout the year.
2. Deciduous Forests
- Found in foothills of the Himalayas, southern plateaus.
- Trees: teak, sal, sandalwood.
- Features: Trees shed leaves in the dry season.
3. Thorn Forests
- Found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana.
- Trees: babul, kikar, thorny shrubs.
- Features: Long roots, thick barks, sharp thorns, small leaves, can survive without water for long periods.
4. Mountain Forests
- Found in the Himalayas, Nilgiri Hills.
- Trees: fir, pine, spruce.
- Features: Tall trees with pointed, needle-shaped leaves, bear cones.
5. Mangrove Forests
- Found in Ganga–Brahmaputra delta.
- Trees: sundari.
- Features: Special roots that grow above the ground.
Question for Chapter Notes: Forest and Wildlife
Try yourself:
Which type of forest in India is characterized by trees that do not shed leaves and remain green throughout the year?Explanation
- Evergreen forests in India, found in locations such as the Western Ghats, north-east India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, are characterized by trees that do not shed leaves and remain green throughout the year.
- These forests are home to trees like ebony, mahogany, and rosewood.
- The evergreen nature of these forests is due to the stable climate and abundant rainfall in these regions, which allows the trees to retain their foliage throughout the year.
- The dense canopy of evergreen trees provides a continuous green cover and supports a diverse range of flora and fauna.
- These forests are important for maintaining ecological balance and preserving biodiversity in India.
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Conservation of Forests
Conservation of forests means taking care of forests so they stay healthy and we can keep using them without harming nature. Imagine forests like a big garden full of trees, animals, and plants.
Importance of Forest Conservation
- Forests are crucial ecologically, maintaining soil, water, humidity levels, and controlling flooding and dust storms.
- Economically, forests provide resources like timber, grazing lands, and support local economies.
- Wildlife protection is essential, with laws protecting animals like tigers, rhinos, and peacocks in sanctuaries.
Here's how we do it:
- Planting Trees: Just like how we plant flowers in a garden, we also plant new trees in areas where there aren't many trees. This helps make the forest green and full of life.
Planting Trees
- Taking Care of Trees: Trees need water and nutrients to grow big and strong. We make sure they have enough of these things so they can keep growing happily.
- Being Kind to Animals: Forests are homes for many animals like tigers, elephants, and birds. We create special places called national parks and wildlife sanctuaries where these animals can live safely without being disturbed.
- Keeping the Forest Clean: We don't litter or throw garbage in the forest. Just like how we keep our rooms tidy, we keep the forest clean so it stays healthy for all the plants and animals.
- Using Trees Wisely: When we need wood or other things from trees, we only take what we need and make sure to plant new trees to replace the ones we used. This is called sustainable use, which means using things in a way that doesn't harm nature.
Edurev Tips:
- Vegetation growing naturally in a particular region is natural vegetation. Forests are also natural vegetation.
- Forests are natural vegetation that is exploited economically.
- There are seven types of natural vegetation. These are
1. Tropical Evergreen vegetation
2. Tropical Semi-evergreen vegetation
3. Tropical Deciduous vegetation
4. Dry tropical Deciduous vegetation
5. Dry tropical thorny vegetation
6. Tidal vegetation
7. Mountain vegetation Forests are very important ecologically. - Every forest is a world by itself because of the relationships between the animal world, the insect world and the plants.
- Wildlife is protected all over India by a Central Act