NATURAL VEGETATION OF INDIA_SST_CLASS_9

Chapter-5 Geography 

Natural Vegetation and Wildlife 

• With over 47,000 plant species, India occupies tenth place in the world and fourth in Asia 

in plant diversity. 

• India has 89,000 species of animals as well as a rich variety of fish in its fresh and marine 

waters. 

• Plant community which grows naturally with no human help and is not disturbed by 

humans for a long time is teemed as natural vegetation. 

• Virgin vegetation which are purely Indian are known as endemic species and those which 

have come from outside India are termed as exotic plants. 

Relief 

• The nature of land influences the type of vegetation. 

• Different types of soils provide basis for different types of vegetation. 

Climate 

• The character and extent of vegetation are mainly determined by temperature along with 

humidity in the air, precipitation and soil. 

• Period of exposure to sunlight varies for different plants leading to their different rates of 

growth. 

• Areas of heavy rainfall have more dense vegetation as compared to other areas of less 

rainfall. 

• Forests are renewable resources and play a major role in enhancing the quality of the 

environment. 

• Vegetation in most parts of India has been modified at some places, or replaced or 

degraded by human occupancy. 

Ecosystem 

• All the plants and animals in an area are interdependent and interrelated to each other in 

their physical environment, thus forming an ecosystem. 

• A very large ecosystem on land having distinct type of vegetation and animal life is called 

a biome. 

Types of Vegetation 

• The major types of vegetation in India are Tropical Rainforests, Tropical Deciduous 

Forests, Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs, Montane Forests and Mangrove Forests. 

• With warm and wet climate all year round the Tropical Rainforests have luxurious trees, 

shrubs and creepers. 

• A large variety of animals are found in the rainforests. 

• The most widespread forests of India — the Tropical Deciduous Forests — are also 

known as the Monsoon Forests. 

• On the basis of the availability of water, these forests are further divided into moist and 

dry deciduous forests. 

• The leaves of vegetation in Thorn Forests and Scrubs are mostly thick and small to 

minimize evaporation and have succulent stems to conserve water.

• Montane forests have a succession of natural vegetation belts in the same order as we see

from the tropical to the Tundra region.

• Wet temperate forests are found between a height of 1000 and 2000 metres while

temperate grasslands are found at higher elevations.

• At 3600 metres above sea level temperate forests and grasslands give way to alpine

vegetation.

• The mangrove tidal forests are found in the areas of coasts influenced by tides.

• Dense mangroves are the common varieties with roots of the plants submerged

underwater.

Wildlife

• India has more than 1200 species of birds, 2500 species of fish and between 5 to 8 per

cent of the world’s amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

• India is the only country in the world that has both tigers and lions.

• The Himalayas have a large range of animals that survive the bitter cold.

• Every species of animal has a role to play in the ecosystem; hence conservation is

essential.

• Hunting and pollution is causing threat to animal species.

• To protect the flora and fauna of the country, the government has taken many steps.

• Fourteen biosphere reserves have been set up in the country to protect flora and fauna.

• 89 National Parks, 49 Wildlife Sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves have been set up to

take care of natural heritage.