NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE
CLASS-IX
Introduction • Vegetation in most parts of India has been
modified at some places or replaced or
• With over 47,000 plant species, India degraded by human occupancy.
occupies tenth place in the world and fourth
in Asia in plant diversity. Ecosystem and Biome
• India has 89,000 species of animals as well
• All the plants and animals in an area are
as a rich variety of fish in its fresh and
interdependent and interrelated to each
marine waters.
other in their physical environment, thus
• Natural vegetation refers to a plant
forming an ecosystem.
community, which has grown naturally
• A very large ecosystem on land having
without human aid and has been left
distinct type of vegetation and animal life is
undisturbed by humans for a long time.
called a biome.
This is termed as a virgin vegetation.
Huge diversity in flora and fauna kingdom is due to Types of Vegetation
the following factors The following major types of vegetation may be
Relief identified in our country
Tropical Evergreen Forests
• The nature of land influences the type of
vegetation. • These forests are restricted to heavy rainfall
• Different types of soils provide basis for areas of the Western Ghats and the island
different types of vegetation. groups of Lakshadweep, Andaman and
Nicobar, upper parts of Assam and Tamil
Climate
Nadu coast.
➢ Temperature • They grow in an area of 200 cm of rainfall
with a short dry season.
Temperature affects the types of vegetation
and its growth and changes it from tropical Tropical Deciduous Forests
to subtropical temperate and alpine
Most widespread forest in India.
vegetation.
• These are also called the monsoon forests
➢ Photoperiod (Sunlight)
and spread over the region receiving
Period of exposure to sunlight varies for rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm.
different plants leading to their different • Trees of this forest-type shed their leaves
rates of growth. for about six to eight weeks in dry summer.
➢ Precipitation These forests are further divided into two types:
Areas of heavy rainfall have more dense Moist deciduous: Found in areas receiving rainfall
vegetation as compared to other areas of between 200 and 100 cm.
less rainfall.
Dry deciduous: Found in areas having rainfall
• Forests are renewable resources and play a between 100 cm and 70 cm.
major role in enhancing the quality of the
environment.
Apni Kaksha
Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs ➢ India is the only country in the world that
has both tigers and lions. Gir forest in
• These are found in the region of with less Gujrat is the natural habitat of lion.
than 70 cm of rainfall. ➢ Tigers are found in the forests of Madhya
• The natural vegetation consists of thorny Pradesh, the Sundarbans of West Bengal
trees and bushes. Acacias, palms, and the Himalayan region.
euphorbias and cacti are the main plant ➢ Ladakh’s freezing high altitudes are a home
species. to yak, the shaggy horned wild ox
weighing around one tonne, the Tibetan
Montane Forests
antelope, the bharal (blue sheep), wild
• Montane forests have a succession of sheep, and the kiang (Tibetan wild ass).
natural vegetation belts in the same order as The ibex, bear, snow-leopard and very rare
we see from the tropical to the Tundra red panda are found in certain parts.
region. ➢ In the rivers, lakes and coastal areas,
• Between a height of 1000 and 2000 metres, turtles, crocodiles and gharials are found.
wet temperate type of forests containing ➢ Birds like Peacocks, pheasants, ducks,
evergreen broad-leaf trees such as oaks and parakeets, cranes and pigeons are some of
chestnuts are predominate. the birds inhabiting the forests and wetlands
• Between 1500 and 3000 metres, temperate of the country.
forests containing coniferous trees, like Conservation of Flora and Fauna
pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce and cedar,
are found. The excessive exploitation of the plants and animal
resources by human beings, disturbed the
Mangrove Forests ecosystem.
• These forests are found in the areas of About 1,300 plant species are endangered and 20
coasts influenced by tides where mud and species are extinct also few animals are
silt get accumulated. endangered, and some have become extinct.
• Dense mangroves are the common varieties
with roots of the plants submerged under Causes of these threats are:
water.
• Hunting by greedy hunters for commercial
Wildlife purposes.
• Pollution due to chemical and industrial
• India has about 2,000 species of birds waste and acid deposits
which constitute 13% of the world’s total. • Introduction of alien species
There are 2,546 species of fish, which • Reckless cutting of the forests to bring land
account for nearly 12% of the world’s under cultivation and inhabitation.
stock.
• It also shares between 5 and 8 percent of the To protect the flora and fauna of the country, the
world’s amphibians, reptiles and mammals. government has taken many steps.
Animals found in India • 18 biosphere reserves have been set up in
the country to protect flora and fauna.
➢ Elephants are found in the hot wet forests • 10 out of these, the Sundarbans Nanda
of Assam, Karnataka and Kerala. Devi, the Gulf of Mannar, the Nilgiri,
➢ One-horned rhinoceroses live in swampy Nokrek, Great Nicobar, Manas,
and marshy lands of Assam and West Simlipal, Pachmarhi and Achanakmar-
Bengal. Amarkantak have been included in the
➢ Rann of Kachchh is habitat of wild ass and world network of biosphere reserves.
camels are found in Thar desert.
Apni Kaksha
• Financial and technical assistance is • Project Tiger, Project Rhino, Project Great
provided to many botanical gardens by the Indian Bustard and many other eco-
government since 1992. developmental projects have been
• Kachchh introduced.
• Cold Desert • 103 National Parks, 535 Wildlife
• Seshachalam sanctuaries and Zoological gardens are set
• Panna up to take care of natural heritage.
Apni Kaksha
