NATURAL VEGETATION AND
WILDLIFE
By R.Priyanka, IX – “A2”,
Velammal Bodhi Campus,
Kolapakkam, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu – 600 128.
India’s biodiversity
One of the twelve mega bio-diversity countries of the
world.
47,000 plant species – 15,000 flowering plants, 6% in
the world
10th position worldwide
4th position in Asia
Non – flowering plants like ferns, algae and fungi
90,000 species of animals – including marine and water
fishes
2000 species of birds and insects
India State of Forest Report 2011 – forest cover in India
– 21.05%
Natural vegetation
Itis the plant community which has grown naturally
without any human intervention.
Virgin vegetation: Those natural vegetation, which are
left undisturbed over a long period of time.
VIRGIN
VEGETATION
Endemic species Exotic species
Plant species are Plant species are
originated from originated outside
the country the country
Factors affecting diversity
RELIEF CLIMATE ECOSYSTEM
Land Temperature
Soil Photoperiod
Precipitation
Ecosystem
Itis a biological environment consisting of living and
non-living components.
ECOSYSTEM
BIOTIC ABIOTIC
Plants, animals, Air, soil, water,
microorganisms sunlight
Benefits of ecosystem to human beings
They utilise the vegetation and wildlife.
They over utilise natural resources.
They create ecological imbalance by cutting trees and
killing animals.
Due to the activities of human beings, some of the
plants and animals have reached the verge of
extinction.
Biome
It is a major community of plants and animals having
similar life forms existing under similar environmental
conditions.
It is identified on the basis of plant existing there.
It is also termed as “major life zone”.
Importance of forests
1. Advantageous for environment
2. Influence climate
3. Reduce soil erosion
4. Regulate stream flow
5. Provide raw material for industries
6. Provide livelihood for many
7. Control wind force and temperature
8. Cause rainfall
9. Provide shelter to various animal species
Changes in nature of vegetation in India
Factors like growing demand for cultivated land,
development of industries and mining, urbanisation
have changed natural vegetation.
No more natural in the real sense
Exceptions – Himalayas, the hilly region of Central
India, Marusthali
In most of the places, it is either modified, replaced or
degraded by human interference.
Types of vegetation
1. Tropical evergreen forests
2. Tropical deciduous forests
a) Moist deciduous
b) Dry deciduous
3. Tropical thorn forests and scrubs
4. Montane forests
5. Mangrove forests
1. Tropical evergreen forests
Tropical rainforests
Total area – 12%
Location – in areas where the annual rainfall is over
200 cm with a short dry season
Regions – 1. Western slopes of the Western Ghats
2. Islands
3. Upper parts of Assam
4. Some parts of the coasts of Tamil Nadu
and Odisha
Characteristics of tropical evergreen forests
Abundant vegetation with tall trees (up to 60 m),
creepers and bushes
Multilayered vegetation
Evergreen throughout the year, since there is no
definite time to shed their leaves
Examples of trees: Ebony, mahogany, cinchona, rubber,
rosewood
Animals: Rhinoceros, elephants, various species of
monkey, lemur, deer, many bird varieties, bats, sloths,
scorpions and snails.
Ebony Mahogany
Rosewood
2. Tropical deciduous forests
Most abundant variety of forests in India
64% forested area
Monsoon forests
Rainfall – 200 to 70 cm
Trees shed their leaves for about 6 to 8 weeks in dry
summer
Many parts of these areas have been cleared for
agriculture and grazing
Animals: Lions, tigers, elephants, pigs, deer, many
varieties of birds, lizards, snakes and tortoises
a) Moist deciduous forests
Location - in areas where annual rainfall is 100-200 cm
Cover about 34% of country’s forest area
Regions – Eastern part of our country
1. North – eastern states
2. West Odisha
3. Jharkhand
4. Chhattisgarh
5. Foothills of Himalayas
6. Eastern slopes of Western Ghats
a) Moist deciduous forests
Examples
of trees: Teak, bamboo, sal, shisham,
sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun, mulberry
b) Dry deciduous forests
Location – In areas where annual rainfall is between
70-100 cm
Cover about 30% of the country’s forested area
Areas – 1. Rainier parts of Peninsular plateau
2. Plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Teak tree Teak veneer
Bamboo tree Bamboo sofa
3. Tropical thorn forests and scrubs
Cover about 5% of the total forested areas of India
Location – Found in areas where the annual rainfall is less
than 70 cm
Areas – North – western part of the country
1. Semi – arid regions of Gujarat
2. Rajasthan
3. Some areas of Uttar Pradesh
4. Chhattisgarh
5. Haryana
6. Madhya Pradesh
7. Parts of Deccan plateau
Characteristics of tropical thorn forests and
scrubs
The trees found in tropical thorn forests and scrubs are
scattered.
Plants which have long roots, succulent stems and
small thick leaves are also found here.
These characteristics have been developed by plants to
minimise evaporation and conserve moisture.
Only scrubs are found in desert areas with the least
rainfall.
4. Montane forests
Cover about 17% of the total forested areas of India
Location – 1.Mountainous areas of Jammu and
Kashmir
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Uttarakhand
4. Sikkim
5. Arunachal Pradesh
CHANGE IN VEGETATION
Increasing
Corresponding
altitude in
change in
mountainous
temperature
region
4. Montane forests
These succession of natural vegetation belts is same as
in the order from tropical to tundra vegetation.
Animals: Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, jack
rabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels,
shaggy horn wild ibex, bear, rare red panda, sheep and
goats with thick hair
4. Montane forests
Forest type Altitude Feature(s) Trees
Wet temperate 1000 – 2000m Evergreen Oak, chestnut
forest broad leaf
trees
Temperate 1500 – 3000m Found in Pine, deodar,
forest southern silver fir,
slopes of spruce, cedar
Himalayas,
southern &
north-east
India
Temperate Higher - -
grasslands elevations
4. Montane forests
FOREST TYPE ALTITUDE FEATURE(S) TREES
Alpine Above 3600m On the snow Silver fir,
vegetation line, forests get junipers, pines
stunted & and birches
merge with
alpine
grasslands
Alpine - Used for -
grasslands growing by
nomadic tribes
like the Gujjars
& Bakharwals
Tundra Higher - Mosses and
vegetation altitudes lichens
Tibetan antelope
Kashmiri stag
5. Mangrove forests
Location – Coastal delta areas which are influenced by sea tides
Also called as tidal forests
The roots of the predominate mangroves are submerged under
water.
Areas – Delta areas of rivers on the East coast of India.
Rivers – 1. Ganga
2. Brahmaputra
3. Mahanadi
4. Godavari
5. Krishna
6. Kaveri
5. Mangrove forests
Inthe Ganga – Brahmaputra delta, sundari trees
providing durable timber are prominent.
Other trees – Palm, coconut, keora and agar.
Animals – Royal Bengal Tigers, snakes, turtles, gharials
and crocodiles
Pitchavaram
Natural vegetation map of India
Wildlife
India is also rich in its fauna (animal life).
They constitute 13% of the total world’s stock.
There are 2546 species of fish, which account for
nearly 12% of the world stock.
It also shares between 5% and 8% of the world’s
amphibians, reptiles & mammals.
Distribution of wildlife in India
ANIMAL LOCATION PLACES
Elephants Hot & wet forests
Assam, Karnataka
& Kerala
One-horned Swampy & marshy Assam & West
rhinoceros lands Bengal
Wild ass Arid areas Rann of Kutch
Camels Thar desert Rajasthan, parts of
Gujarat
Indian (Asiatic) lion Gir forest Gujarat
Tigers and Forests, M.P, West Bengal
leopards Sunderbans,
Himalayan region
Distribution of wildlife in India
ANIMAL LOCATION PLACES
Yak, shaggy Himalayan Ladakh
horned wild ox, region
Tibetan
antelope, Bharal
(blue sheep),
wild sheep,
Kiang (Tibetan
wild ass)
Ibex, bear, - Certain pockets
snow-leopard,
red panda
Turtles, Rivers, lakes & -
crocodiles, coastal areas
gharials
Distribution of wildlife in India
ANIMAL LOCATION PLACE
Peacocks, Forests & wetlands -
pheasants, ducks,
parakeets, cranes &
pigeons
Indian bison, nilgai Different places of -
(blue bull), India
chousingha (four
horned antelope),
gazel, deer,
monkeys
Distribution of wildlife in India
BIRD LOCATION PLACE
Siberian crane, Wetlands of -
flamingo India
Bharal (blue sheep) Jack rabbit
Red panda Nilgai (blue bull)
The Gir Forest is the last
remaining habitat of the Asiatic
lion.
Wildlife Protection Act was
implemented in 1972 in India.
Need of environmental conservation
ANCIENT MODERN
ERA ERA
Species Human beings
Excessive
Role
exploitation
Ecosystem Disturbed
ecosystem
Need of environmental conservation
1300 plant species – endangered
20 species – extinct
Few animal species – endangered and extinct
Hunting Pollution
MAIN CAUSES OF
THREAT TO
ECOSYSTEM
Introduction of
Deforestation
alien species
Governmental steps for protection of flora
and fauna
14 Biosphere reserves (current data – 18)
Financial & technical assistance
Eco – developmental projects
89 National parks, 490 wildlife sanctuaries and
zoological gardens
Thank you
