Key Points
Key Points: Major Types of Vegetation in India
- India has diverse natural vegetation due to variations in climate, soil, and relief.
- The Western Ghats and Andaman–Nicobar Islands have tropical evergreen forests.
- Tropical deciduous (monsoon) forests are found in regions with seasonal rainfall.
- Desert and semi-desert regions of Rajasthan have thorny and scrub vegetation.
- India’s vegetation is broadly divided into five types: Tropical Evergreen, Tropical Deciduous, Tropical Desert, Littoral (Mangroves), and Mountain forests.
Key Points: Tropical Evergreen or Rain Forests
- Tropical Evergreen (Rain) Forests are found in areas with more than 200 cm rainfall, high temperature (25°C–27°C) and high humidity.
- They are mainly found on the western slopes of the Western Ghats, North-Eastern India, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- These forests are dense and multi-layered, with very tall trees (over 60 m) and little sunlight reaching the forest floor.
- Trees do not shed leaves at the same time, so the forests remain green throughout the year and have rich biodiversity.
- Important trees include rosewood, ebony, mahogany, sissoo and gurjan, which provide hard and durable timber, though forests are not fully exploited due to dense growth.
Key Points: Tropical Deciduous Forest
- Tropical Deciduous (Monsoon) Forests are the most widespread forests in India and occur in areas with 100–200 cm rainfall.
- These forests are of two types: Moist Deciduous (100–200 cm rainfall) and Dry Deciduous (70–100 cm rainfall).
- Trees shed their leaves for 6–8 weeks during summer to reduce water loss and survive dry conditions.
- They are found along the foothills of the Himalayas, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, Peninsular Plateau, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
- Important trees include teak, sal, sandalwood, shisham, mahua, and tendu, and these forests are commercially the most exploited in India.
Key Points: Mountain or Montane Forest
- Mountain (Montane) Forests occur at 1000–4000 m altitude, where temperature decreases with height.
- These forests are found mainly in the Himalayas and also in Vindhyas, Nilgiris, Western and Eastern Ghats.
- Vegetation changes with altitude—deciduous forests at foothills, conifers (pine, deodar, spruce) at higher levels, and alpine grasslands near the snowline.
- Climatic conditions include 12°C–13°C temperature, 100–300 cm rainfall, and moderate humidity.
- In Peninsular India, temperate mountain forests are called Sholas, found in Nilgiris, Anaimalai and Palani hills.
Key Points: Mangrove Forests (Tidal Forest)
- Littoral or Tidal (Mangrove) Forests grow in wet, marshy, coastal and delta regions where land meets sea.
- These forests occur in areas with 26°C–29°C temperature and rainfall below 200 cm.
- They are mainly found in the Sundarbans (Ganga Delta), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna deltas.
- Trees have special adaptations like stilt roots and breathing roots (pneumatophores) to survive in waterlogged and saline conditions.
- Important trees include sundari, rhizophora, keora, palms, and canes, which provide fuel and durable timber.
Key Points: Indian Wildlife
- India is a mega-diverse country with animals like elephants, rhinos, camels, wild ass, snow leopards, and yaks found in different habitats.
- Tigers and lions are both found in India, making it unique in the world.
- Aquatic animals like turtles, crocodiles, gharials, and Gangetic dolphins live in rivers, estuaries, and coastal areas.
- Birds like peacocks, Indian bustards, kingfishers, cranes, and others are found in forests and wetlands.
- Wildlife is threatened by poaching, pollution, and deforestation, so India has established national parks and sanctuaries to protect it.
Key Points: Forest Conservation
- Forests are declining due to deforestation, caused by agriculture expansion, overgrazing, urbanisation, industries and river valley projects.
- Loss of forest cover leads to soil erosion, floods and droughts, as forests help regulate water flow and rainfall.
- Forests absorb carbon dioxide; their decline increases greenhouse effect and global warming.
- India needs forest conservation to protect soil fertility, groundwater, climate balance and wildlife habitats.
- Reduced forests lower agricultural productivity by decreasing humus content and causing land degradation.
Key Points: Measures for Forest Conservation
- Afforestation and reforestation help increase forest cover and reduce pressure on existing forests.
- Strict laws and bans on indiscriminate tree felling are needed to control deforestation.
- Alternative energy sources like solar energy and LPG reduce dependence on firewood.
- People’s participation through programmes like Van Mahotsav and Chipko Movement helps protect forests.
- Planting trees around industries and barren lands controls pollution and restores degraded land.
