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Natural vegetation and wildlife form one of the most important chapters in the Class 9 Social Science syllabus. For CBSE students, understanding the delicate relationship between climate, landforms, vegetation types, and animal life is essential not only for exams but also for developing a deeper appreciation of India’s incredible biodiversity. At Dhingra Classes Nashik, we have prepared these comprehensive notes based on the old NCERT textbook to help students grasp every concept clearly and score confidently in their examinations.

📖 Detailed Notes: Natural Vegetation and Wildlife

What is Natural Vegetation?

Natural vegetation refers to a plant community that has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time. This is also termed as virgin vegetation . It is important to understand that cultivated crops and fruit orchards form part of vegetation but are not natural vegetation because they are grown and maintained by humans.

India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world. With about 47,000 plant species, India occupies tenth place in the world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity. There are about 15,000 flowering plants in India, accounting for 6 per cent of the world’s total. The country also has approximately 90,000 species of animals and about 2,000 species of birds .

Factors Affecting Natural Vegetation

The distribution of plants and animals in India is influenced by two main categories of factors:

Relief Factors:

• Land: Fertile level lands are generally devoted to agriculture, while undulating and rough terrains support grasslands and woodlands that shelter a variety of wildlife .

• Soil: Different soils support different vegetation. Sandy soils of the desert support cactus and thorny bushes, while wet marshy and deltaic soils support mangroves .

Climatic Factors:

• Temperature: The character and extent of vegetation are mainly determined by temperature. On Himalayan slopes above 915 metres, temperature fall changes vegetation from tropical to subtropical, temperate, and alpine .

• Photoperiod (Sunlight): Longer duration of sunlight in summer causes trees to grow faster .

• Precipitation: Areas of heavy rainfall have denser vegetation. Almost all rainfall in India is brought by the southwest monsoon (June to September) and retreating northeast monsoons .

Types of Natural Vegetation in India

India has five major types of natural vegetation:

1. Tropical Evergreen Forests (Rainforests)

These forests are restricted to heavy rainfall areas of the Western Ghats, the island groups of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar, upper parts of Assam, and the Tamil Nadu coast. They receive annual rainfall exceeding 200 cm with a short dry season .

The trees reach great heights up to 60 metres or even above. Since the region is warm and wet throughout the year, there is luxuriant vegetation of all kinds—trees, shrubs, and creepers—giving it a multilayered structure. There is no definite time for trees to shed their leaves, so these forests appear green all year round .

Commercially important trees include ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber, and cinchona. Common animals found here are elephants, monkeys, lemurs, and deer, along with plenty of birds, bats, sloths, scorpions, and snails .

2. Tropical Deciduous Forests (Monsoon Forests)

These are the most widespread forests in India, spread over regions receiving rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm. Trees shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks during the dry summer .

Moist deciduous forests are found in areas receiving 200–100 cm rainfall, mostly in the eastern part of the country—northeastern states, along the foothills of the Himalayas, Jharkhand, West Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Teak is the most dominant species, along with bamboos, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun, and mulberry .

Dry deciduous forests are found in areas with 100–70 cm rainfall, in the rainier parts of the peninsular plateau and the plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Teak, sal, peepal, and neem grow here. Common animals include lion, tiger, pig, deer, and elephant, along with a huge variety of birds, lizards, snakes, and tortoises .

3. Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs

These are found in regions with less than 70 cm of rainfall, in the semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. The natural vegetation consists of thorny trees and bushes, with acacias, palms, euphorbias, and cacti as the main plant species .

Trees are scattered and have long roots penetrating deep into the soil to obtain moisture. Stems are succulent to conserve water, and leaves are mostly thick and small to minimize evaporation. Common animals include rats, mice, rabbits, fox, wolf, tiger, lion, wild ass, horses, and camels .

4. Montane Forests

In mountainous areas, the decrease in temperature with increasing altitude leads to a corresponding change in natural vegetation. There is a succession of vegetation belts from tropical to tundra:

• 1000–2000 metres: Wet temperate forests with evergreen broad-leaf trees like oaks and chestnuts .

• 1500–3000 metres: Temperate forests with coniferous trees like pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce, and cedar .

• Above 3600 metres: Alpine vegetation with silver fir, junipers, pines, and birches, which become progressively stunted near the snow line .

• Near snow line: Shrubs and scrubs merge into alpine grasslands, used extensively for grazing by nomadic tribes like the Gujjars and Bakarwals .

• Highest altitudes: Mosses and lichens form part of tundra vegetation .

Common animals include Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, jack rabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels, shaggy horned wild ibex, bear, and the rare red panda .

5. Mangrove Forests (Tidal Forests)

These forests are found in coastal areas influenced by tides. Mud and silt accumulate on such coasts, and dense mangroves have their roots submerged under water. They are found in the deltas of the Ganga, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri .

In the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, sundari trees are found, which provide durable hard timber. Palm, coconut, keora, and agar also grow in some parts of the delta. The famous Royal Bengal Tiger is found in these forests, along with turtles, crocodiles, gharials, and snakes .

Wildlife in India

India has an incredibly rich wildlife heritage. Elephants are found in the hot wet forests of Assam, Karnataka, and Kerala. The one-horned rhinoceros lives in the swampy and marshy lands of Assam and West Bengal. The arid areas of the Rann of Kachchh and the Thar Desert are home to wild ass and camels .

India is the only country in the world that has both tigers and lions. The Gir Forest in Gujarat is famous for Asiatic lions, while tigers are found in the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the Sundarbans of West Bengal, and the Himalayan region. The freezing high altitudes of Ladakh are home to yak, shaggy horned wild ox, Tibetan antelope, bharal (blue sheep), wild sheep, and kiang (Tibetan wild ass) .

Conservation of Forests and Wildlife

The Government of India has established 18 biosphere reserves to protect natural vegetation and wildlife. Of these, 10 are included in the world network of biosphere reserves, including Sundarban, Nanda Devi, Nilgiri, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Manas, Norkek, Simlipal, Panchmari, and Achanakmar-Amarkantak .

Other conservation measures include:

• Project Tiger, Project Great Indian Bustard, and Project Rhino

• 103 National Parks and 535 Wildlife Sanctuaries

• Financial and technical assistance to botanical gardens since 1992

Several species of plants and animals are endangered in India due to increasing population, pollution, deforestation, and hunting by poachers .

✍️ 30 Solved MCQs

1. To which type of vegetation does rubber belong?
(a) Tundra (b) Himalayan (c) Tidal (d) Tropical Evergreen
Answer: (d) Tropical Evergreen

2. Cinchona trees are found in areas of rainfall more than:
(a) 100 cm (b) 70 cm (c) 50 cm (d) less than 50 cm
Answer: (a) 100 cm

3. In which state is the Simlipal Bio-reserve located?
(a) Punjab (b) Delhi (c) Odisha (d) West Bengal
Answer: (c) Odisha

4. Which bio-reserve of India is NOT included in the world network of bio-reserves?
(a) Manas (b) Gulf of Mannar (c) Nilgiri (d) Nanda Devi
Answer: (a) Manas

5. Mosses and lichens are found in:
(a) Desert vegetation (b) Tropical evergreen forest (c) Tundra vegetation
Answer: (c) Tundra vegetation

6. Thorny bushes are found in:
(a) Hot and humid tropical climate (b) Hot and dry desert climate (c) Cold polar climate
Answer: (b) Hot and dry desert climate

7. In tropical evergreen forests, one of the common animals is:
(a) Monkey (b) Giraffe (c) Camel
Answer: (a) Monkey

8. One important variety of coniferous forest is:
(a) Rosewood (b) Pine (c) Teak
Answer: (b) Pine

9. Which forests are also known as monsoon forests?
(a) Tropical evergreen (b) Tropical deciduous (c) Mangrove (d) Montane
Answer: (b) Tropical deciduous

10. The most widespread forest type in India is:
(a) Tropical evergreen (b) Tropical deciduous (c) Thorn forests (d) Mangrove
Answer: (b) Tropical deciduous

11. Trees in tropical evergreen forests can reach heights of:
(a) 20 metres (b) 40 metres (c) 60 metres or above (d) 100 metres
Answer: (c) 60 metres or above

12. Which tree is the most dominant species in moist deciduous forests?
(a) Sal (b) Teak (c) Sandalwood (d) Shisham
Answer: (b) Teak

13. Thorn forests are found in areas receiving rainfall less than:
(a) 100 cm (b) 70 cm (c) 50 cm (d) 200 cm
Answer: (b) 70 cm

14. Sundari trees are found in:
(a) Montane forests (b) Thorn forests (c) Mangrove forests (d) Evergreen forests
Answer: (c) Mangrove forests

15. The Royal Bengal Tiger is famous in which forest type?
(a) Tropical evergreen (b) Mangrove (c) Montane (d) Thorn
Answer: (b) Mangrove

16. Which animals are found in montane forests?
(a) Camel and wild ass (b) Snow leopard and yak (c) Lion and tiger (d) Rhinoceros and elephant
Answer: (b) Snow leopard and yak

17. Alpine vegetation is found above:
(a) 1000 metres (b) 2000 metres (c) 3000 metres (d) 3600 metres
Answer: (d) 3600 metres

18. The one-horned rhinoceros is found in:
(a) Kerala and Tamil Nadu (b) Assam and West Bengal (c) Gujarat and Rajasthan (d) Punjab and Haryana
Answer: (b) Assam and West Bengal

19. Which is the only country in the world with both tigers and lions?
(a) Africa (b) India (c) Sri Lanka (d) Nepal
Answer: (b) India

20. The Gir Forest is famous for:
(a) Tigers (b) Elephants (c) Asiatic lions (d) Rhinoceros
Answer: (c) Asiatic lions

21. How many biosphere reserves does India have?
(a) 10 (b) 14 (c) 18 (d) 25
Answer: (c) 18

22. Which of the following is a non-flowering plant?
(a) Orchid (b) Rose (c) Fern (d) Sunflower
Answer: (c) Fern

23. India ranks ____ in the world in plant diversity.
(a) First (b) Fourth (c) Tenth (d) Twelfth
Answer: (c) Tenth

24. The Gujjars and Bakarwals are nomadic tribes associated with:
(a) Thorn forests (b) Mangrove forests (c) Alpine grasslands (d) Tropical evergreen forests
Answer: (c) Alpine grasslands

25. Which soil type supports mangrove vegetation?
(a) Sandy soil (b) Wet marshy and deltaic soil (c) Red soil (d) Black soil
Answer: (b) Wet marshy and deltaic soil

26. Photoperiod refers to:
(a) Rainfall duration (b) Sunlight duration (c) Temperature range (d) Soil depth
Answer: (b) Sunlight duration

27. Which of the following is a commercially important tree of tropical evergreen forests?
(a) Teak (b) Sal (c) Mahogany (d) Peepal
Answer: (c) Mahogany

28. In which region are tropical evergreen forests NOT found?
(a) Western Ghats (b) Andaman and Nicobar (c) Rajasthan (d) Assam
Answer: (c) Rajasthan

29. The Sundarbans are famous for:
(a) Snow leopard (b) Royal Bengal Tiger (c) One-horned rhinoceros (d) Wild ass
Answer: (b) Royal Bengal Tiger

30. Which project was launched to protect tigers in India?
(a) Project Rhino (b) Project Tiger (c) Project Elephant (d) Project Bustard
Answer: (b) Project Tiger

📝 15 Solved Short Answer Questions

Q1. What is natural vegetation?
Answer: Natural vegetation refers to a plant community that has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time. This is also called virgin vegetation .

Q2. Name the two main factors responsible for the distribution of plants and animals in India.
Answer: The two main factors are relief (land and soil) and climate (temperature, humidity, photoperiod, and precipitation) .

Q3. What is a biosphere reserve? Give two examples.
Answer: A biosphere reserve is a protected area established to conserve natural vegetation, wildlife, and the environment. Examples: Sundarbans and Gulf of Mannar .

Q4. Distinguish between flora and fauna.
Answer: Flora refers to all plant species of a particular region, while fauna refers to all animal species of that region .

Q5. Name two animals found in tropical vegetation and two in montane vegetation.
Answer: Tropical: Tiger and Elephant. Montane: Snow Leopard and Kashmir Stag .

Q6. Why do tropical evergreen forests appear green all year round?
Answer: Because there is no definite time for trees to shed their leaves, the forests remain green throughout the year .

Q7. What are the characteristics of thorn forests?
Answer: Thorn forests consist of thorny trees and bushes with long roots for moisture absorption, succulent stems to conserve water, and thick, small leaves to minimize evaporation .

Q8. Name the two types of tropical deciduous forests.
Answer: Moist deciduous forests (200–100 cm rainfall) and dry deciduous forests (100–70 cm rainfall) .

Q9. What are mangrove forests? Where are they found?
Answer: Mangrove forests are tidal forests found in coastal areas influenced by tides. They are found in the deltas of the Ganga, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri .

Q10. Why are several species of plants and animals endangered in India?
Answer: Due to increasing population, pollution, deforestation, and hunting by poachers .

Q11. What is the importance of forests?
Answer: Forests modify local climate, control soil erosion, regulate stream flow, support industries, provide livelihoods, control wind force, cause rainfall, provide humus to soil, and shelter wildlife .

Q12. Name any three medicinal plants found in India with one use each.
Answer: (a) Sarpagandha – treats blood pressure; (b) Jamun – used for digestive properties; (c) Arjun – regulates blood pressure and cures earache .

Q13. What is an ecosystem?
Answer: An ecosystem is the interrelationship between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the environment at a given place and time .

Q14. Why are the southern slopes of the Himalayas covered with thick vegetation compared to northern slopes?
Answer: Southern slopes are on the windward side of monsoon winds and receive high rainfall and more sunlight, while northern slopes are in the rain shadow zone .

Q15. Name the nomadic tribes that use alpine grasslands for grazing.
Answer: The Gujjars and the Bakarwals .

📚 7 Solved Long Answer Questions

Q1. Describe the different types of vegetation found in India.

Answer: India has five major types of natural vegetation:

1. Tropical Evergreen Forests: Found in areas with over 200 cm rainfall (Western Ghats, Andaman and Nicobar, Assam). Trees reach up to 60 metres, with a multilayered structure. Trees do not shed leaves at a fixed time. Important trees: ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber, cinchona. Animals: elephants, monkeys, lemurs.

2. Tropical Deciduous Forests: The most widespread forests, found in areas with 200–70 cm rainfall. Trees shed leaves for 6–8 weeks in summer. Moist deciduous (200–100 cm) has teak as dominant species; dry deciduous (100–70 cm) has teak, sal, peepal, neem. Animals: lion, tiger, deer, elephant.

3. Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs: Found in areas with less than 70 cm rainfall (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana). Plants include acacias, palms, euphorbias, cacti. Trees have long roots and succulent stems. Animals: rats, rabbits, fox, wolf, camel, wild ass.

4. Montane Forests: Found in Himalayan region with altitude-based succession. 1000–2000 m: wet temperate forests (oak, chestnut). 1500–3000 m: coniferous forests (pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce, cedar). Above 3600 m: alpine vegetation (silver fir, junipers, birches). Animals: Kashmir stag, snow leopard, yak, red panda.

5. Mangrove Forests: Tidal forests in coastal delta regions (Ganga, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri). Sundari trees provide hard timber. Animals: Royal Bengal Tiger, crocodiles, turtles, snakes .

Q2. Explain how relief and climate influence the natural vegetation of India.

Answer: Relief influences vegetation through land and soil. Fertile plains are used for agriculture, while rough terrains support grasslands and woodlands. Different soils support different vegetation—sandy desert soils support cactus, marshy deltaic soils support mangroves, and hill slopes support coniferous trees.

Climate influences vegetation through temperature, photoperiod, and precipitation. Temperature determines vegetation types—Himalayan slopes show changes from tropical to alpine with increasing altitude. Photoperiod (sunlight duration) affects growth rates. Precipitation is the most critical factor: areas with over 200 cm rainfall have evergreen rainforests, 200–70 cm have deciduous forests, and below 70 cm have thorn forests .

Q3. Describe the vegetation of high altitudes in the Himalayas.

Answer: In mountainous areas, temperature decreases with altitude, creating a succession of vegetation belts:

• 1000–2000 metres: Wet temperate forests with evergreen broad-leaf trees like oaks and chestnuts.

• 1500–3000 metres: Temperate coniferous forests with pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce, and cedar, covering southern Himalayan slopes.

• Above 3600 metres: Alpine vegetation with silver fir, junipers, pines, and birches, which become stunted near the snow line. Shrubs and scrubs merge into alpine grasslands used by Gujjars and Bakarwals for grazing.

• Highest altitudes: Mosses and lichens form tundra vegetation.

Animals found here include Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, jack rabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels, shaggy horned wild ibex, bear, and red panda .

Q4. Distinguish between tropical evergreen and tropical deciduous forests.

Answer:

Q5. Why has India a rich heritage of flora and fauna?

Answer: India has a rich heritage of flora and fauna due to several factors:

1. Diverse relief features: India has mountains, plateaus, plains, deserts, and coastal regions, each supporting different vegetation and animal life.

2. Varied climatic conditions: From tropical in the south to alpine in the Himalayas, India experiences diverse temperature and rainfall regimes.

3. Different soil types: Sandy, marshy, deltaic, and hill soils support different plant species.

4. Geographical location: India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries, with about 47,000 plant species and 90,000 animal species.

5. Monsoon system: The southwest and northeast monsoons create varied rainfall patterns across the country .

Q6. What are the major threats to wildlife in India? Suggest measures for conservation.

Answer: Major threats to wildlife include:

• Deforestation: Large-scale cutting of trees for agriculture and urbanisation destroys animal habitats.

• Hunting and poaching: Illegal hunting for body parts, skin, and horns threatens species like tigers and rhinoceroses.

• Pollution: Air, water, and soil pollution harm animals and reduce their lifespan.

• Habitat fragmentation: Roads, railways, and mining activities break up continuous habitats.

• Climate change: Changes in temperature and rainfall affect species distribution.

Conservation measures taken by the government include:

• Establishment of 18 biosphere reserves, 103 national parks, and 535 wildlife sanctuaries.

• Project Tiger, Project Rhino, and Project Great Indian Bustard for specific species.

• Legal protection under the Wildlife Protection Act.

• Financial and technical assistance to botanical gardens .

Q7. Describe the wildlife found in different regions of India.

Answer: India’s wildlife varies across its diverse habitats:

• Tropical evergreen forests: Elephants, monkeys, lemurs, deer, birds, bats, sloths, scorpions, and snails.

• Tropical deciduous forests: Lion, tiger, pig, deer, elephant, and a variety of birds, lizards, snakes, and tortoises.

• Thorn forests: Rats, mice, rabbits, fox, wolf, tiger, lion, wild ass, horses, and camels.

• Montane forests: Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, jack rabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels, shaggy horned wild ibex, bear, and red panda.

• Mangrove forests: Royal Bengal Tiger, turtles, crocodiles, gharials, and snakes.

• Rivers and coastal areas: Turtles, crocodiles, and gharials.

• Ladakh’s high altitudes: Yak, shaggy horned wild ox, Tibetan antelope, bharal, wild sheep, and kiang.

• Gir Forest: Asiatic lions.

• Assam and West Bengal: One-horned rhinoceros.

India is the only country with both tigers and lions in the wild .

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