NATURAL

VEGETATION
AND WILDLIFE
POINTS TO STUDY

1 . WHAT IS NATURAL
VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE ?
2 . VEGETATION
3 . TYPES OF FORESTS
4 . DEPLETION OF FORESTS AND
WILDLIFE
WHAT IS NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE

Natural vegetation refers to the original vegetation of an area grown

under a particular climatic condition without human assistance or
interference. The vegetation on the earth generally consists of forests,
grasslands or thorn and scrubs. Depending on the amount of the
rainfall , the areas of high rainfall are covered with forest ,area of
moderate rainfall are covered with grasslands and the areas of low
rainfall have thorns and scrubs. The distribution of vegetation varies
with latitude as well . As we move from the equator to the pores there is
a general decrease in the vegetation as the clime varies from place to
place .
Wildlife refers to the animals, birds, insects, worms as well as aquatic
animals. Animals also provide us milk, meat, egg , honey, fur, feather,
hides and skins etc. the dead remains of plants and animals get
decomposed into humus which makes the soil fertile . Animals depend
on plants for their growth and survival . Thus, plants and animals are
necessary for maintaining the ecological balance on earth .
VEGETATION
Relief and climate control the growth of vegetation in an area . The
temperature and availability of moisture bring about variation in
vegetation from place to place . Areas of high rainfall support dense
vegetation where the trees are generally tall and are of multiple
species. In areas of moderate rainfall trees are less tall with scattered
growth, but the grasses grow well here . In areas of low rainfall thorns
and scrubs grow. Trees are short, stunted with thick barks, short oily
leaves with spine and deep roots to conserve the moisture . Areas
which are snow covered consist of mosses and lichens and are known
as Tundra Vegetation
TYPES OF FORESTS
Forests are generally classified into Evergreen and Deciduous depending
on when they shed their leaves . In Evergreen forests, there is no common
shedding of leaves in a particular season to conserve loss of moisture
through transpiration. Depending on the latitude deciduous forests are
further classified into tropical and temperate .
DEPLETION OF FORESTS AND WILDLIFE

Today , the forests and wildlife are depleting very fast due to increase
in population , industrialization and urbanization . Large scale
deforestation has resulted in loss of habitat of animals. Hence , the
conservation of forests and wildlife is essential.