NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE

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Natural Vegetation

• Definition: Natural vegetation refers to the plant life that exists in a region without human intervention or cultivation.
• Characteristics:
• Diverse range of plant species
• Adapted to local environmental conditions

India

• One of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world.
• 47,000 plant species.
  • Rank 10th in the world 
  • Rank 4th in Asia 
• 15,000 Flowering Plants : 6% of in the world. 
• About 90,000 animal species 
• Virgin Vegetation – plant community, which has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time.

Vegetation in India

• India’s vast and varied geographical features result in a rich diversity of natural vegetation.

Tropical Evergreen Forest

• Found in areas of heavy rainfall. 
• Rainfall requirement: above 200 cm 
• Trees height : about 60 m 
• Varieties of vegetation: trees, shrubs, creepers etc. 
• Climate: warm and wet throughout the year, short dry season.
• Important trees: ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona
• Common animals: elephant, monkey, lemur and deer. Other species like bats, sloths, scorpions and snails also found. 

Tropical Deciduous Forest

• Also known as Monsoon Forests.
• Can be found anywhere in India. 
• Rainfall required: 70 – 200 cm. 
• Trees Shed their leaves in summer. 
• Forest Division based on Water Availability:
• Moist Deciduous Forests:
  • Found in areas with rainfall between 200 and 100 cm. 
• Dry Deciduous Forests:
  • Found in areas with lower rainfall. 
• Moist Deciduous Forests: Mostly in the eastern part of India.
  • Regions: Northeastern states, foothills of the Himalayas, Jharkhand, West Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
  • Dominant Species: Teak is the most common tree species in these forests.
  • Other Commercially Important Species: Bamboo, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun, and mulberry.
• Dry Deciduous Forests:
  • Found in areas with rainfall between 100 cm and 70 cm.
  • Locations: Rainier parts of the Peninsular plateau, plains of Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Vegetation:
  • Open stretches with teak, sal, peepal, and neem trees.
  • Deforestation for cultivation and grazing in some areas.
• Wildlife:
  • Common animals: Lion, tiger, pig, deer, and elephant.
  • Abundance of bird species, lizards, snakes, and tortoises.

Thorn Forests and Scrubs

• Found in areas with less than 70 cm rainfall. 
• Thorny trees and bushes are found.
• Distribution: Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP, Chhattisgarh, UP and Haryana.
• Trees: Acacia, palm, euphorbia and cacti. 
• Trees are scattered and they have deep roots. Stems are succulent, leaves are thick and spiky. 
• common animals: rats, mice, rabbits, fox, wolf, tiger, lion, wild ass, horses and camels. 

Montane Forests

• Altitude and Natural Vegetation 
  • Decreasing temperature with increasing altitude influences natural vegetation.
  • Succession of vegetation belts from tropical to tundra regions.
• Wet Temperate Forests
  • Found at elevations between 1000 and 2000 meters.
  • Dominated by evergreen broadleaf trees like oaks and chestnuts.
• Temperate Forests
  • Found between 1500 and 3000 meters.
  • Coniferous trees, including pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce, and cedar.
  • Predominantly on southern slopes of the Himalayas and high-altitude areas in southern and northeast India.
• Alpine Vegetation
  • At higher elevations, above 3600 meters.
  • Trees: silver fir, junipers, pines, and birches, stunted towards the snow-line.
  • Transition to Alpine grasslands through shrubs and scrubs.
  • Grazed by nomadic tribes like Gujjars and Bakarwals.
• Tundra Vegetation
  • The transition from forest to tundra (treeline) often starts around 3,500 meters (11,500 feet).
  • Mosses and lichens form part of the tundra vegetation.
• Animal Species in Mountainous Forests
  • Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, jackrabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels, shaggy horned wild ibex, bear, rare red panda, sheep, and goats with thick hair.

Mangrove Forests

• Found in deltas of Ganga, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri.
• Sundari trees dominate the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta. Used for timber.
• Other species like palm, coconut, keora, and agar also grow in some parts of the delta.
• Royal Bengal Tiger is a famous animal found in these forests.
• Turtles, crocodiles, gharials, and snakes are also present in these forests.

Wildlife

• India is rich in both flora and fauna.
• The country is home to approximately 90,000 animal species.
• India has around 2,000 species of birds, 13% of the world’s total.
• It boasts 2,546 species of fish, 12% of the world.
• India shares 5-8% of the world’s amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.
• Elephants inhabit forests of Assam, Karnataka, and Kerala.
• One-horned rhinoceroses are found in Assam.
• Rann of Kachchh and Thar Desert house wild ass and camels.
• Indian bison, nilgai, chousingha, gazelle, and deer are found in India.
• India boasts diverse species of monkeys.
• India is the only country with both tigers and lions.
• Indian lions reside in the Gir forest in Gujarat.
• Tigers can be found in Madhya Pradesh forests, Sundarbans of West Bengal, and the Himalayan region.
• Leopards, also belonging to the cat family, are significant predators.
• Himalayas host animals adapted to extreme cold.
• Ladakh is home to yak, Tibetan antelope, bharal, wild sheep, and kiang.
• The region also houses ibex, bear, snow leopard, and rare red panda in specific areas.
• India’s rivers, lakes, and coastal areas house turtles, crocodiles, and gharials.
• Gharials are the sole surviving species of their kind globally.
• The country’s forests and wetlands are home to colorful birds like peacocks, pheasants, ducks, parakeets, cranes, and pigeons.
• 1,300 plant species in India are endangered, with 20 already extinct.
• Several animal species are endangered or extinct.
• Greedy hunters and commercial purposes pose a major threat.
• Pollution, alien species, and deforestation disrupt the balance.

Conservation of Wildlife

• 18 biosphere reserves in India to protect Flora and Fauna. 
• 12 biosphere reserves are included in world network of biosphere reserves. 
• Project Tiger, Project Rhino, Project Great Indian Bustard and many other eco-developmental projects have been introduced. 
• 103 National Parks, 563 Wildlife sanctuaries and Zoological gardens are set up to take care of natural heritage.