Learning Objective
- Types of Vegetation
- Wildlife
- Government Initiative to Protect Flora and Fauna
Natural vegetation refers to plant communities that have grown without human intervention and have been undisturbed by human activity for an extended period. This type of vegetation is often called virgin vegetation.
The term flora is used to denote plants of a particular region or period. The species of animals are referred to as fauna.
Types of Vegetation
In India, the following major types of vegetation are found:
- Tropical Evergreen Forests
- Tropical Deciduous Forests
- Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
- Montane Forests
- Mangrove Forests
Tropical Evergreen Forests
The tropical rainforests found in the Western Ghats, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and parts of Assam and Tamil Nadu:
- Tropical rainforests thrive in regions with abundant rainfall (over 200 cm) and a short dry season.
- These lush forests boast towering trees, some reaching heights of 60 meters or more.
- Their diverse vegetation includes trees, shrubs, and creepers, creating a multilayered structure.
- These forests remain green throughout the year.
- Notable tree species found here include ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber, and cinchona
Tropical Deciduous Forests
These forests are also called monsoon forests.
- They are spread over the region, having rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm.
- They shed their leaves about 6 to 8 weeks in the dry summer.
- In these forests, the common animals found are lions, tigers, pigs, deer and elephants.
Moist Deciduous Forests:
- These forests thrive in regions with rainfall between 200 and 100 cm.
- The dominant tree species here is teak.
- Other commercially important species include bamboos, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun, and mulberry.
- Dry Deciduous Forests:
- These forests are found in areas with rainfall between 100 and 70 cm.
- Within these forests, you’ll find open stretches where trees like teak, sal, peepal, and neem grow.
The Thorn Forests and Scrubs
The natural vegetation consists of thorny trees and bushes. This type of vegetation is found in the north-western part of the country, including semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
- Trees are scattered and have long roots penetrating deep into the soil to get moisture.
- The stems are moist to conserve water.
- Leaves are mostly thick and small to minimize evaporation.
- Acacias, palms, euphorbias and cacti are the main plant species.
- Common animals are rats, mice, rabbits, foxes, wolves, tigers, lions, wild donkeys, horses and camels.
Montane Forests
- Montane forests thrive in mountainous regions.
- The wet temperate type of these forests occurs between 1000 and 2000 meters in height.
- As altitudes increase to over 3600 meters, temperate forests and grasslands transition to Alpine vegetation.
- Alpine grasslands serve as grazing areas.
- At even higher altitudes, mosses and lichens contribute to the tundra vegetation.
- Common animals found in these forests include the Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, jackrabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak, snow leopard, squirrels, shaggy horn wild ibex, bear, rare red panda, sheep, and goats.
Mangrove Forests
Mangroves are trees that live along tropical coastlines, rooted in salty sediments, often underwater.
- The mangrove tidal forests are found in the areas of coasts influenced by tides. Mud and silt get accumulate on such coasts.
- Dense mangroves are the common varieties with roots of the plants submerged underwater.
- Sundari trees are found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta and provide hard timber.
- Royal Bengal Tiger is a famous animal in these forests.
Wildlife
India is rich in its fauna.
- Elephants: These majestic creatures inhabit the hot wet forests of Assam, Karnataka, and Kerala.
- One-horned Rhinoceroses: You can find them in Assam and West Bengal.
- Wild Donkeys: The Rann of Kachchh serves as their habitat, while the Thar Desert is home to camels.
- Indian Lions: The Gir forest in Gujarat are their natural habitat.
- Tigers: These magnificent cats roam the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the Sundarbans in West Bengal, and the Himalayan region.
- Ladakh’s High Altitudes: Here, you’ll encounter yaks, shaggy-horned wild oxen, Tibetan antelopes, bharals (blue sheep), wild sheep, and kiangs (Tibetan wild donkeys).
- Water Habitats: Rivers, lakes, and coastal areas are home to turtles, crocodiles, and gharials.
- Birds: The forests and wetlands host a variety of birds, including peacocks, pheasants, ducks, parakeets, cranes, and pigeons.
Government Initiative to Protect Flora and Fauna
The government has taken many steps to protect flora and fauna of our country.
- 18 biosphere reserves have been set up in India to protect flora and fauna. 10 out of these have been included in the world network of biosphere reserves.
- Financial and technical assistance has been provided to many botanical gardens by the government since 1992.
- Project Tiger, Project Rhino, Project Great Indian Bustard and many other eco-developmental projects have been introduced by the government.
- 103 National Parks, 535 Wildlife Sanctuaries and Zoological gardens are set up to take care of natural heritage.
Why CBSEJanta.com for Class 9 Social Science?
- Detailed Chapter Solutions: Get comprehensive solutions for every chapter in History, Geography, Civics, and Economics.
- Important Concepts and Key Points: Concise notes on crucial concepts to aid in understanding and revision.
- Extra Practice Questions: Practice your learning with extra questions and answers based on the latest syllabus.
- Interactive Learning: Audio-visual explanations for better grasp of challenging topics.
Download the CBSEJanta App Now!
Download the CBSEJanta App Now!
With CBSEJanta.com, understanding Social Science has never been easier! 📚✨ Get FREE chapter-wise solutions, summaries, key concepts, and practice exercises to boost your exam preparation.
Visit CBSEJanta.com or download the CBSEJanta app today for a smarter, easier learning experience.
This structured post gives a subject-wise breakdown for Class 9 Social Science, making it easy for students to understand the chapters while encouraging them to use CBSEJanta.com for comprehensive learning and exam preparation.