Table of contents | |
What is Natural Vegetation? | |
Types of Vegetation | |
Wildlife | |
Government Initiatives to Protect Flora and Fauna |
India, with approximately 47,000 plant species and 90,000 animal species, is recognized as one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries worldwide. It holds the tenth position globally and ranks fourth in Asia for its remarkable plant diversity, comprising 15,000 flowering plants, alongside an assortment of non-flowering plants and a diverse range of fish.
Let's explore the key concepts presented in the chapter titled "Natural Vegetation and Wildlife" within this document.
Natural vegetation refers to plant communities that grow naturally without human intervention and have been undisturbed for a long time. Also termed as virgin vegetation. Thus, cultivated crops, fruits and orchards are a part of vegetation but not natural vegetation.
Natural Vegetation
Flora: The term flora is used to denote plants of a particular region or period.
Fauna: The species of animals are referred to as fauna.
In India, the following major types of vegetation are found:
Tropica Evergreen Forests are located in Western Ghats, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar islands, upper Assam, and Tamil Nadu coast. These forests possess the following characteristics:
Tropical Evergreen Forest
Tropical deciduous forests, also known as monsoon forests, are found in regions with rainfall ranging from 70 cm to 200 cm.
Tropical Deciduous Forests
They are characterized by trees shedding their leaves for 6 to 8 weeks during the dry summer season. These forests are home to various animals such as lions, tigers, pigs, deer, and elephants.
Deciduous forests can be further classified into two categories:
1. Moist deciduous forests: These forests thrive in areas with a rainfall of 100 cm to 200 cm. Teak is the predominant species found in these forests, along with other economically valuable species like bamboo, sal, shisham, sandalwood, Khair, Kusum, Arjun, and mulberry.
2. Dry deciduous forests: These forests are prevalent in areas with a rainfall between 70 cm and 100 cm. They consist of open stretches where trees such as teak, sal, peepal, and neem can grow.
The natural vegetation in the north-western region of India, including semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, primarily consists of thorny trees and bushes.
Thorn Forests and Scrubs
Some key features of this vegetation type include:
Montane forests refer to the forests located in mountainous regions.
Montane Forests
Mangroves are trees that live along tropical coastlines, rooted in salty sediments, often underwater.
Mangroves
India boasts a rich biodiversity, with over 1200 bird species, 2500 fish species, and 5-8% of the world's amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Notably, it is the only country with both tiger and lion populations.
The Himalayas provide a diverse habitat for numerous animal species that have adapted to the harsh cold climate. Each of these species plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem, making conservation efforts vital.
Several threats, such as hunting and pollution, endanger the survival of these species.
To safeguard the country's flora and fauna, the government has implemented various measures:
Every species has an important role in the ecosystem. Hence, the conservation of flora and fauna is essential. About 1,300 plant species are endangered and 20 species are extinct.
The main causes of this major threat to nature are:
The government has implemented numerous measures to safeguard the country's flora and fauna, including the following:
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1. What is natural vegetation and wildlife? |
2. How does climate affect natural vegetation and wildlife? |
3. What are some government initiatives to protect flora and fauna? |
4. What are some examples of wildlife found in natural vegetation? |
5. Why is it important to protect natural vegetation and wildlife? |
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