Key Points
Key Points: Introduction of Natural Vegetation
- Natural vegetation refers to plants that grow naturally without human help and remain undisturbed for a long time.
- It includes trees, shrubs, grasses, climbers, and creepers that adjust to the climate and soil of the region.
- Climate factors like temperature and rainfall determine the type of natural vegetation in an area.
- The Tropic of Cancer divides India into tropical (south) and temperate (north) regions, affecting vegetation patterns.
- Flora means plant species of a region, vegetation means plant communities, and a forest is a large area covered with trees and undergrowth.
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.
