ion of India 1

8/3/2019 ion of India 1

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India is tenth in the world andIndia is tenth in the world andfourth in Asia in plants and animals diversity. Theirfourth in Asia in plants and animals diversity. Theirare so many factors responsible for the hugeare so many factors responsible for the huge

diversity in flora and fauna kingdom.diversity in flora and fauna kingdom.Temprature,Sunlight,Rainfall,SoilTemprature,Sunlight,Rainfall,Soil and Relief areand Relief aresome of the factors.some of the factors.

This is the widest range of diverse plants found in any country inThis is the widest range of diverse plants found in any country in

the world. Nearly 5000 species are found exclusively in India. Wethe world. Nearly 5000 species are found exclusively in India. Wecan subdivide the forests of India into five classes. They are:can subdivide the forests of India into five classes. They are:

1.Tropical Rain Forests (Ever green forests)1.Tropical Rain Forests (Ever green forests)

2.Tropical Deciduous Forests2.Tropical Deciduous Forests3.Thorn and Scrub Forests3.Thorn and Scrub Forests

4.Tidal Forests (Mangrove Forests) and 4.Tidal Forests (Mangrove Forests) and

5. Mountain Forests5. Mountain Forests


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1.1.Tropical Rainforests (Ever Green Forests):Tropical Rainforests (Ever Green Forests):

These forests grow in areas having a rainfall of moreThese forests grow in areas having a rainfall of more

than 200 cms. These are found in the mountain ranges of Norththan 200 cms. These are found in the mountain ranges of North--

eastern India, in the western slopes of the Western Ghats, alongeastern India, in the western slopes of the Western Ghats, along

the footthe foot--hills of the Himalayas and in the Andaman and Nicobarhills of the Himalayas and in the Andaman and NicobarIslands. The trees of these forests dont shed their leaves in anyIslands. The trees of these forests dont shed their leaves in any

season of the year. They always looks green. So they are calledseason of the year. They always looks green. So they are called

Evergreen Forests. Trees like Ablus, Mahogany, ebony,Evergreen Forests. Trees like Ablus, Mahogany, ebony,

rosewood, sisham (Dalbergia Sissoo), Sandalwood (Santalumrosewood, sisham (Dalbergia Sissoo), Sandalwood (Santalum

album) grow in these forests. The trees are tall and form a densealbum) grow in these forests. The trees are tall and form a dense

canopy overhead. Trees of these forests reaches up to a height ofcanopy overhead. Trees of these forests reaches up to a height of60 meters or even more.60 meters or even more.


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2. Tropical Deciduous Forests:Tropical Deciduous Forests:Deciduous forests are called Monsoon Forests.Deciduous forests are called Monsoon Forests.

This is because they form the natural cover almost all over IndiaThis is because they form the natural cover almost all over India

particularly between regions of 200 and 75 cms of rainfall. This forestparticularly between regions of 200 and 75 cms of rainfall. This forest--cover accounts for more than half of the total forest area of India.cover accounts for more than half of the total forest area of India.

They are very Important from economic point of view. They areThey are very Important from economic point of view. They are

subdivided into two parts:subdivided into two parts: Moist Deciduous ForestMoist Deciduous Forest

Dry Deciduous Forests.Dry Deciduous Forests.

They are called They are called deciduous forestsdeciduous forests because the trees of these forests because the trees of these forests

shed their leaves in the dry season of the year. Trees like Teakshed their leaves in the dry season of the year. Trees like Teak(Tectona gradis), Sal(Shorea rabusta), Sandalwood (Santalum album),(Tectona gradis), Sal(Shorea rabusta), Sandalwood (Santalum album),

Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Hurra (Terminalia chebula), Khair(AcaciaShisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Hurra (Terminalia chebula), Khair(Acacia

catechu), Bamboo and Cane grow in these forests. These forests arecatechu), Bamboo and Cane grow in these forests. These forests are

confined to northconfined to north--eastern India, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats,eastern India, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats,

the Eastern Ghats, Chhotnagpur Plateau, Orissa, Chhatisgarh andthe Eastern Ghats, Chhotnagpur Plateau, Orissa, Chhatisgarh andMadhya Pradesh. Dry deciduous forests cover vast areas of theMadhya Pradesh. Dry deciduous forests cover vast areas of the

country where the rainfall is between 70 to 100cms.They have acountry where the rainfall is between 70 to 100cms.They have a

parkland landscape in northern India with open formation specially ofparkland landscape in northern India with open formation specially of

teak and several other tree species with stretches of open grass. Theyteak and several other tree species with stretches of open grass. They

cover mostly the hills of east Rajasthan, Western Madhya Pradeshcover mostly the hills of east Rajasthan, Western Madhya Pradesh

and parts of central Deccan Plateau.and parts of central Deccan Plateau.


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3. THE THORN AND SCRUB FORESTS:3. THE THORN AND SCRUB FORESTS:

These are confined to areas with a rainfall of less than

75cms. It spreads over north-western part of the country from Saurashtra in

the south to Punjab plains in the north.It is found in parts of Rajasthan,

Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and also in parts of south

India. Kikar, babul, khair, acacia, munj and sawai grass are found in these

forests. These forest areas are being converted into residential areas due to

population pressure. Thorn and cactus are found in western Punjab and

western Rajasthan where the rainfall is less than 50 cms.


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4. TIDAL FORESTS:

The tidal areas along the coast of India particularly the

lowlands and river-mouths of the eastern coast is covered with mangrove

forests. Mangrove trees can survive both in fresh and saline water- themajor characteristic of the tidal areas. Sundari is a well-known mangrove

tree. It is after the name of this tree that the name sundarban has been

given to the vast tidal mangrove forests of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta in

West Bengal. Due to the abundance of Hental trees, the mangrove forests of

the Mahanadi-Brahmani mouth are called Hentalban. It is also called The

Little Sundarbans.


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5. MOUNTAIN FORESTS (ALTITUDINAL ZONES OF VEGETATION IN5. MOUNTAIN FORESTS (ALTITUDINAL ZONES OF VEGETATION IN

MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS OF INDIA):MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS OF INDIA):

Altitude is an important factor in the distributionAltitude is an important factor in the distributionof vegetation in the mountainous regions because of the decrease ofof vegetation in the mountainous regions because of the decrease of

temperature with the increase of altitude. The Himalayas are covered with alltemperature with the increase of altitude. The Himalayas are covered with all

types of vegetation starting with tropical rain forests in the foothills to tundratypes of vegetation starting with tropical rain forests in the foothills to tundra

vegetation on the peaks. Due to the hot and humid climate,vegetation on the peaks. Due to the hot and humid climate, siwalikssiwaliks, the, the

foothills of the Himalayas are covered with tropical rain forests and moistfoothills of the Himalayas are covered with tropical rain forests and moist

deciduous flora. Sal is the most important and dominant species. It is thendeciduous flora. Sal is the most important and dominant species. It is thensucceeded by wet hill forest between 1000 and 2000 meters. Evergreen broadsucceeded by wet hill forest between 1000 and 2000 meters. Evergreen broad

leave oaks, chestnuts and apple trees are common trees in these altitudes.leave oaks, chestnuts and apple trees are common trees in these altitudes.

Further up between 1600 and 3300 meters above sea level, pine, cedar, spruceFurther up between 1600 and 3300 meters above sea level, pine, cedar, spruce

and silver fir are found which are some of the most important species in theseand silver fir are found which are some of the most important species in these

altitudes. These forests are the coniferous forests of the temperate regions ofaltitudes. These forests are the coniferous forests of the temperate regions of

the world found in these altitudes of the Himalayas. Temperate coniferousthe world found in these altitudes of the Himalayas. Temperate coniferousforests is succeeded by Alpine Forests which is found generally at altitudesforests is succeeded by Alpine Forests which is found generally at altitudes

between 2750 to 3600 meters above sea level. These forests are covered withbetween 2750 to 3600 meters above sea level. These forests are covered with

species like silver firs, pines, birches and junipers. Above 3600 meters abovespecies like silver firs, pines, birches and junipers. Above 3600 meters above

sea level, Alpine Forests give way to Alpine Grasslands. The peaks of thesea level, Alpine Forests give way to Alpine Grasslands. The peaks of the

Himalayas are covered with perpetual snow.Himalayas are covered with perpetual snow.


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The forest cover of India is recedingThe forest cover of India is receding

at an alarming rate due to developmental activities andat an alarming rate due to developmental activities and

large scale felling of trees by the timber mafia. This haslarge scale felling of trees by the timber mafia. This hascreated a number of environmental problems leading tocreated a number of environmental problems leading to

frequent flood and draught over the decades of the lastfrequent flood and draught over the decades of the last

century. Hence appropriate measures should be takencentury. Hence appropriate measures should be taken

for the protection of this valuable wealth of India.for the protection of this valuable wealth of India.

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ion of India 1