Natural Vegetation (plants that grow on their own without human help) refers to a plant community (group of plants growing together) which has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed (not touched or changed) by humans for a long time. This is called virgin vegetation (original plants that have never been cut or planted by people).
The term flora (all the plant species of a particular region) is used for plants, and fauna (all the animal species of a particular region) is used for animals. India is one of the 12 mega bio-diversity countries (nations with a very large variety of living things) of the world.
🌱 Factors Affecting Natural Vegetation
1. Relief (the shape and height of the land)
(a) Land — Land affects vegetation directly (straight away) and indirectly (in a roundabout way). Fertile (good for growing crops) land is mostly used for agriculture (farming). Undulating (wavy, not flat) and rough terrains (uneven ground) are areas where grasslands (areas full of grass) and woodlands (areas with many trees) develop. These give shelter (a safe place to live) to a variety of wildlife.
(b) Soil — Different soils support different plants. Sandy soils (light, loose soil) of the desert support cactus (a thick plant with spines that stores water) and thorny bushes (bushes with sharp points). Wet, marshy (soft, watery ground) and deltaic (where a river splits into many streams) soils support mangroves (trees that grow in salty water near the sea). Hill slopes have conical (cone-shaped) trees.
2. Climate (the usual weather of a place)
(a) Temperature — Temperature and soil mainly decide the character (nature) and extent (how far it spreads) of vegetation. On the Himalayan slopes above 915 metres (a unit of height), the fall in temperature changes vegetation from tropical (hot region plants) to subtropical (slightly cooler), temperate (moderate climate) and alpine (high mountain) vegetation.
(b) Photoperiod (Sunlight) — The variation (difference) in sunlight at different places is due to latitude (distance from the equator), altitude (height above sea level), season (time of year) and duration (length) of the day. Trees grow faster in summer because of longer sunlight.
(c) Precipitation (rainfall) — In India, almost all rainfall comes from the advancing monsoon (rainy winds from June to September) and retreating monsoons (winds going back). Areas with heavy rainfall (a lot of rain) have denser (thicker, more crowded) vegetation than areas with less rain.
3. Ecosystem (living things and their surroundings working together)
All plants and animals in an area are interdependent (they need each other) and interrelated (connected to each other) with their physical environment. This forms an ecosystem. Human beings are also an integral (essential, very important) part of the ecosystem. Human greed (wanting too much) leads to over-utilisation (using up too much) of resources. This creates ecological imbalance (a disturbance in nature’s balance). Some plants and animals have reached the verge of extinction (almost completely finished). A very large ecosystem on land with distinct (clearly different) types of vegetation and animal life is called a biome (a very large natural community).
🌳 Types of Vegetation in India
1. Tropical Evergreen Forests
Found in heavy rainfall areas (more than 200 cm) of the Western Ghats, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, upper parts of Assam and the Tamil Nadu coast.
Trees reach great heights up to 60 metres or even above.
The region is warm and wet throughout the year, so there is luxuriant (very thick and rich) vegetation of all kinds — trees, shrubs (small bushes) and creepers (plants that climb up trees). This gives a multi-layered structure (many levels of plants).
There is no definite time (no fixed time) for trees to shed (drop) their leaves. So the forests look green all the year round.
Commercially important (useful for trade and business) trees: ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona.
Common animals: elephants, monkeys, lemurs (small monkey-like animals), deer. The one-horned rhinoceros is found in the jungles of Assam and West Bengal. Plenty of birds, bats, sloths (very slow-moving animals), scorpions and snails are also found.
These are the most widespread (found over the largest area) forests of India.
Also called monsoon forests. They spread over regions receiving rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm.
Trees shed their leaves for about 6 to 8 weeks in the dry summer.
Moist deciduous forests: found in areas with 200 to 100 cm rainfall. Mainly in the eastern part of India — northeastern states, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
Teak is the most dominant (most common and important) species. Other trees: bamboos, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun, mulberry.
Dry deciduous forests: found in areas with 100 to 70 cm rainfall. Found in the rainier (wetter) parts of the Peninsular plateau (the central tableland) and the plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Trees: teak, sal, peepal, neem.
Common animals: lions, tigers, pigs, deer, elephants. Also a huge variety of birds, lizards, snakes and tortoises.
3. Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
Found in regions with less than 70 cm rainfall.
Found in the north-western part of India, including semi-arid (partly dry) areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Vegetation consists of thorny (prickly) trees and bushes. Main species: acacias, palms, euphorbias and cacti.
Trees are scattered (spread far apart) and have long roots that go deep into the soil to get moisture (water).
Stems are succulent (thick and fleshy) to conserve (save) water. Leaves are mostly thick and small to minimise (reduce) evaporation (water turning into vapour).
Common animals: rats, mice, rabbits, foxes, wolves, tigers, lions, wild asses, horses and camels.
4. Montane Forests (Mountain Forests)
In mountainous areas, the decrease (fall) in temperature with increasing altitude (height) leads to a corresponding change (matching change) in natural vegetation.
There is a succession (a series one after another) of vegetation belts — in the same order as we see from the tropical to the tundra (very cold, treeless region) region.
Between 1000 and 2000 metres: wet temperate forests with evergreen broad-leaf trees like oaks and chestnuts.
Between 1500 and 3000 metres: temperate forests with coniferous (cone-bearing) trees like pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce and cedar.
Above 3600 metres: Alpine vegetation (high mountain plants). Common trees: silver fir, junipers, pines and birches. These trees become stunted (short and small) as they approach the snow-line (the line where snow never melts).
Above this: shrubs and scrubs (small bushes), then Alpine grasslands (high mountain grass areas). These are used for grazing (animals eating grass) by nomadic tribes (people who move from place to place) like the Gujjars and Bakarwals.
At even higher altitudes: mosses and lichens (small simple plants that grow on rocks) form part of tundra vegetation.
Common animals: Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, jack rabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels, shaggy-horned wild ibex, bear, rare red panda, sheep and goats with thick hair.
5. Mangrove Forests
Also called tidal forests (forests affected by the rise and fall of the sea).
Found in coastal areas (areas near the sea) influenced (affected) by tides (the regular rise and fall of sea water).
Mud and silt (fine soil) get accumulated (collected) on such coasts.
Dense mangroves (thick growth of mangrove trees) are common, with roots of plants submerged (under water) under water.
Found in the deltas of the Ganga, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari and Kaveri rivers.
In the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, Sundari trees are found. They provide hard, durable (long-lasting) timber (wood for building).
Other plants: palm, coconut, keora, agar.
Famous animal: Royal Bengal Tiger. Also turtles, crocodiles, gharials (fish-eating crocodiles) and snakes.
India has approximately (about) 90,000 animal species (kinds of animals).
India has around 2,000 species of birds — about 13% of the world’s total bird species.
India has about 2,546 species of fish — nearly 12% of the world’s stock.
India shares between 5 and 8 per cent of the world’s amphibians (animals that live both on land and in water), reptiles (creeping animals like snakes and lizards) and mammals (animals that give birth to live young).
Elephants are found in the hot, wet forests of Assam, Karnataka and Kerala.
The one-horned rhinoceros lives in the swampy and marshy (wet and soft) lands of Assam and West Bengal.
Wild asses are found in the Rann of Kutch, and camels in the Thar Desert.
Indian bison, nilgai (blue bull), chousingha (four-horned antelope) and various deer and monkeys are found across India.
Indian lions are found in the Gir forest of Gujarat.
Tigers live in the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the Sundarbans of West Bengal and the Himalayas.
Leopards are widespread predators (hunting animals found in many places).
The freezing high altitudes of Ladakh are home to yaks, shaggy-horned wild ox, Tibetan antelope, wild sheep, snow leopards, bears and red pandas.
Coastal regions have crocodiles and turtles.
India has a plethora (very large number) of birdlife — parrots, cranes, pigeons, ducks, peacocks, vultures and pheasants.
Migratory birds (birds that travel to far places at certain times) visit India’s wetlands (areas of water and soft ground). In the Rann of Kutch, flamingos come in large numbers.
🌱 Medicinal Plants
India is known for its herbs and spices from ancient times. About 2,000 plants have been described in Ayurveda (ancient Indian medicine system), and at least 500 are in regular use (used commonly). The World Conservation Union’s Red List has named 352 medicinal plants, of which 52 are critically threatened (in very great danger) and 49 are endangered (in danger of disappearing).
Some common medicinal plants:
Sarpagandha — used to treat blood pressure (pressure of blood in the body). Found only in India.
Jamun — the juice of ripe fruit is used to make vinegar (a sour liquid), which helps digestion (breaking down of food).
Arjun — fresh juice of leaves cures earache (pain in the ear) and helps regulate (control) blood pressure.
Tulsi — commonly used to relieve coughs and colds.
🛡️ Conservation of Forests and Wildlife
Conservation (protection and care) means protecting plants and animals from destruction (being destroyed) so that nature stays balanced (in proper order) and resources remain for future generations (people who come after us).
Why is Conservation Important?
Forests provide oxygen (the gas we breathe), rainfall and prevent soil erosion (soil being washed away).
They supply food, wood and medicines.
Wildlife maintains ecological balance (keeps nature in order).
Extinction (complete disappearance) of wildlife can disturb (upset) the entire ecosystem.
Forests modify (change) local climate, control wind force, regulate (control) stream flow and provide humus (dark rich material in soil) to the soil.
They support many industries (businesses that make things) and provide livelihood (means of earning money) for many communities.
Threats to Wildlife
Deforestation (large-scale cutting of trees) for agriculture and urbanisation (growth of cities) destroys animal habitats (natural homes).
Hunting and Poaching (illegal killing of animals) for body parts is a major threat.
Pollution (dirtying of air, water and land).
Over-grazing (too many animals eating grass in one place) of pastures (grasslands for animals).
Growing demand (increasing need) for cultivated land, industries and mining.
Steps Taken by the Government
18 Biosphere Reserves (protected areas for plants and animals) have been set up in India.
Out of these, 10 are included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves — Sundarban, Nanda Devi, Nilgiri, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Manas, Nokrek, Simlipal, Panchmari and Achanakmar-Amarkantak.
Financial assistance (money help) and technical aid (expert help) have been given to botanical gardens (gardens where plants are grown for study) since 1992.
Project Tiger, Project Great Indian Bustard and Project Rhino have been introduced.
103 National Parks, 535 Wildlife Sanctuaries and several zoological gardens (zoos) have been set up for conservation.
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