NATURAL VEGETATION

CHAPTER - 9
NATURAL VEGETATION
Natural vegetation is the compact composition of climatic, soil
and biotic factors.

IMPORTANCE OF FOREST
 TYPE OF FORESTS
1.TROPICAL EVERGREEN FORESTS
2.TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FORESTS
3.TROPICAL DESERT
4.LITTORAL FORESTS
5.MOUNTAIN VESETATION
Various kinds of forests are found in India as a result of a wide
variety of soil , climate and relief.
However, being a populous and agricultural country, most of the land
has been cleared for habitation and crop cultivation.
TYPE OF FORESTS :
TROPICAL EVERGEEN FORESTS/THE TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS :
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS :
• It requires high annual temperature which is about 25°C to 27°C
• Humidity exceeds 77%.
• These are found in areas with an annual rainfall of 200 to 300 cm
or more of annual rainfall .
CHARACTERISTICS :
1. Tropical Evergreen forests are very dense with thick undergrowth
due to the heavy rainfall.
2. These trees are evergreen which means that they do not shed their
leaves in a particular season . So they look always green.

3. These forests contain numerous species of high economic value but

it is not commercially exploited due to danse undergrowth,
absence of proper transport and lack of pure stands.

AREAS , NAME OF THE TREES AND THEIR USES PREPARE FROM YOUR
BOOK
THE TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FORESTS OR
MONSOON FOREST
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS :
• Monsoon forest are found In areas of rainfall between 150cm to
200 cm.
• These forests are found where the annual temperature is 23°C to
27°C.
• Humidity percentage 60 to 70.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MONSOON FORESTS :
1. Due to a longer dry season , the trees in these forests are
deciduous .
2. The trees of these forests shed their leaves in hot weather when
the scarcity of water is acute .
3. These forests are more open in nature, therefore easy
transportation is possible .
4. They are found in` pure stands`.
5. Economically ,these are our most important forests and occupy
a larger area than the evergreen forests .
AREAS :
They stretch from the Leeward side of the Western Ghats in the south to the
foothills of the Himalayas in the north.
USES OF IMPORTANT TREES : PREPARE FROM YOUR BOOK
For ex. Bamboo – it is a very useful plant of monsoon forest, it is mainly used
for construction purposes and manufacturing of paper and pulp.
TROPICAL DESERT OR THORN AND
SCRUB FOREST
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS :
• These forests are found in areas where the rainfall is less
than 100 cm.
• Annual range of temperature is 25°C to 27°C.
• Humidity is below 47%.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL DESERT
1. One of the chief adaptation of plant life to desert
climates has been stunted growth and small leaves .
2. Trees are characterised by widely scattered thorny
bushes.
3. Trees are short which is not more than 6 to 10m tall but
its roots are very long and can tap water from great
depths. Fleshy stems can also store water which helps to
survive during dry period . Sharp pines protect themselves
from animals .
AREAS , NAME OF THE TREES AND THEIR USES PREPARE
FROM THE BOOK.
LITTORAL OR MANGROVE OR SWAMPY
FOREST [ LITTORAL MEANS `ON SHORE`]
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS :
• The littoral forests occur in and around deltas with average
temperature of about 26°C to 29°C.
• Very heavy rainfall, more than 200 cm.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LITTORAL FOREST :
1. It can survive in both fresh and salt water.
2. It is very dense and evergreen type.
3. It has breathing roots which help the trees to breath during the
high tide.
4. It has special type of roots which have tangled webs of arching
roots . This root has a wonderful adaptation for survival in soft
soil.
5. It is very difficult to move in tidal forest because these forest are
very dense and many plants and climbers are tangled with each
other .
AREAS , NAME OF THE TREES AND THEIR USES PREPARE FROM THE
BOOK.
NOTE : Sundari is the most important tree after which SUNDARBANS
are named in Bengal.
SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN FORESTS :
These forests have a mixture of tropical and
temperate vegetation [mixed forests] . These
forest thrive in the area which experience
annual rainfall of more than 150cm . Average
annual temperature 18° C -24°C and humidity
from 50 – 80 % . Such forests are found in the
distinct areas of peninsular India , the Vindhyas ,
the Nilgiris and the western Ghats .
NEED FOR CONSERVATION OF FORESTS
Forest play a vital role in protecting the environment by performing the following C
functions :
O O
1. They have effective role in controlling humidity, temperature and precipitation.
2. They play dominant role in carbon cycle. They absorb atmospheric carbon
dioxide and help in maintaining the purity of air and controlling atmospheric
N F
pollution. S
3. They make the soil erosion- resistant .
4. They help in water percolation and thereby maintain underground water table. E
5. Forests provide habitation to a large variety of animals and birds .
6. Forests provide a number of resources to mankind, like food ,wood and R
medicines .
V
F
To have healthy ecological balance ,a country should have at least one- third of its
total area under forests. A O
But forests have been depleted due to the following reasons :
• Due to population pressure for more agricultural land
• Overgrazing of pastures
T R
• Deforestation for timber and fuel I E
• Due to industrialisation and urbanisation
• Practice of shifting cultivation O
• Due to construction of many river valley projects. S
N
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ADOPT DIFFERENT METHODS FOR THE
CONSERVATION OF FORESTS . THESE METHODS ARE :
• Strict prohibition must be imposed by the government on cutting down trees .
• Establishing national park and sanctuaries to protect wild animals .
• Undertaking silvicultural operations on a wide scale . Silviculture is the science of
cultivating trees for sustained yield .
• People must be educated to know the importance of forests and its relation with the
environment.
Among the very few countries , India is one to have launched a forest policy in 1988. this
policy was guided by the principle ,Protection , Conservation and Development of Forests.
The main objectives are :-
• maintenance of environmental stability .
• Conservation of forest by means of afforestation , reforestation and social forestry
programmes .
Important terms to be noted :
• Check on denudation and soil erosion . Social forestry
• Conservation of natural heritage . Agroforestry
• Check on extension of sand dunes in desert areas . Van Mahotsav