NATURAL VEGETAION NATURAL VEGETAION - It refers to a plant community that has been left undisturbed over a long period

. It grows naturally without any direct or indirect help of man , and can easily adjust itself to climatic and soil condition . India has a great variety of natural vegetation depending upon the variation in the climate and soil . On the basis of certain common features vegetation of india can be divided into following group. TROPICAL EVERGREEN FOREST a) Found in warm and humid areas with an annual rainfall of more than 200 cm.and temp raising above 22 0 . b) In these forests trees reach great height upto 60 m and above . c) This region is warm and wet throughout the year . It has shrubs , creepers , long grasses and trees ( short and tall). d) There is no definate time for trees to shed their leaves . So these forest s always appear green . e) These forests are found in heavy rainfall areas of western ghats , hill of north eastern region and Andaman and Nicobar islands. f) Main species found in these forest are rosewood , managony , rosewood , ebony. g) Common animals found in these forest are elephants , monkeys dear , one horned rhinosorous.

TROPICAL DECIDOUS FOREST a) They are also called monsoon forest and all spread over an area receiving rainfall between 70 200 cm. b) Trees of these forest shed their leaves for about 6-8 weeks in the dry period . c) These forest are further divided into moist deciduous and dry deciduous forest on the basis of availability of water. 1) MOIST DECIDOUS a) Found in areas receiving rainfall between 100 200 cm. b) These forest exist mostly in N E states along the foothills of Himalyas , Jharkhand ,Orissa , ans eastern slopes of western ghats.

c) The variety of trees found here are sal , shisham , , teak , sandwood , kusum , aamla etc . 2) DRY DECIDOUS a) Found in areas receiving rainfall between 100-200 cm . b) These forests are found in rainier parts of peninsular pattern and plain of U.P and Bihar . c) These forests have trees with open stretches in which teak , sal ,neem , and pepal grow. d) The common animals are lion , tiger , pig , dear and lizard etc . 3) TROPICAL THORN FORESTS a) These forests occur in areas which receive rainfall less 50 cm. b) The natural vegetitation of this area consist of thorny bushes , shrubs , grasses . c) Trees that are scattered have long deep roots in order to get moisture from soil. d) Leaves are thick and smaller in order to minimize transpiration . e) This type of vegetation is mostly found in areas of gujrat , Rajasthan ,M.P , Haryana and Chattisgarh . f) Common animals are tiger , wolf , wild ass , snakes etc . 4) MANGROVE FORESTS (TIDAL FORESTS) a) These forests are found in the delta region of ganga , Mahanadi , krishna , and kaveri . b) Mangroves grows along the coast in salt as well as fresh water . c) The roots of the plants are mostly submerged under water . d) In the ganga Brahmaputra delta sundari trees are found which provide durable hard wod . e) The common animals are royal Bengal tiger , turtles , crocodiles , no of birds , snakes .

f) These forests cover 7% of the world natural vegetation . 5) MOUNTAIN FORESTS a) In the mountain areas , decrease in temperature with increasing altitude leads to a change in the natural vegetation . b) In Himalyan regions show a variety of vegetation from tropical to tundra . c) At the foothills of himalyas , deciduous forest are found . d) The wet temperate forests are found between an altitude of 1000 -2000 m. e) Main types are oak , chesnut and pines.\ f) Between 2000 -3000 m , temperate grassland are found . These grassland are extensively used by the tribes like Gujjars , Bakarwals , etc. g) Above 3600 m , trees like pine , silver , fur are found . h) At the higher altitude , tundra vegetation which consist of mossesand lichens are found . i) The common animals are Kashmir Stag , Wild sheep , rabbits , dear , red panda etc are found . FOREST COVER IN INDIA According to the official record 23% of total area of country isforested area but it is different from the actual forest cover . this is because in forsted area , the area even without the existence of trees is counted . The actual forest cover area is only 19% . 1) In India , there are variation in the forest cover . for eg Lakshadweep has only 0% forested area and Andaman nicobar island have 87% foreted area . Most of the states with less than 10% of forest area lie in north and north west. 2) REGION OF HIGH CONCENTRATION : These are the areas where forest cover is less than 40% region of N.E , Andaman and Nicobar island and Dadra and Nagra Haveli.

3) REGION OF MODERATE CONCENTRATION : These regions have 20 - 40 % forest cover which include the states of goa , kerala , tamil nadu. 4) REGION OF LOW CONCENTRATION : Forest cover is 10 20 % . The states are Tamil nadu ,West Bengal, Maharashtra , Karnataka. 5) REGION OF LOW CONCENTRATION : This region has less than 10% cover and include states of Rajasthan , Punjab , Haryana , Delhi because these region are good for agriculture , low rainfall, and high concentration of population . FOREST CONSERVATION : Forest provide number of direct and indirect advantages to our economy and society , hence conservation of forest is vital importance for the survival of mountains. The first forest policy was declared by Brithishers in 1984 because of rapid explotation of forest on an average of 1.3 million hectares of forest land reducing every year which results in large scale erosion of soil , change in the pattern of rain fall which can cause floods. It is necessary to conserve the forest cover . After In dependence govt formed 1st forest policy in 1952 which was further modified in1988 . According to the new policy govt stressed on sustainable forest management in order to conserve & expand forest area . The main objective of this policy was 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 33% of geographical area under forest cover . Mantains environmental stability . Conserving the natural heritage of the country . To check the soil erosion and extension of desert land . Increasing the productivity of forest to get timber , fuel and fodder Creating a massive people movement involving women to encourage tree plantation . 7) Increasing forest cover through soil forestry. SOCIAL FORESTRY :

The management and protection of forest and plantation of trees on barren lands with the pupose of helping in environment , rural and social development . The National Commision of agriculture jas classified social forestry into 3 catigories . a) URBAN FORESTRY : It is concendered with the raising and management of trees on public and private land in areas around public centres . b) SOCIAL FORESTRY : It stresses on agro and community forestry . It is the raising of trees and agriculture crops on the same land . It is the combination of forestry & agriculture which can provide food grains, fodder timber and fuel at one place. c) COMMUNITY FORESTRY : It involve rasing of trees on public and ommunity land uch as village , temples , railways line , school . This programme provides benefits to the community as a whole . By this programme the landless farmers can associate themselves with trees raising benefits . d) FARM FORESTRY : Under this farmer grows trees for commercial & non commercial purposes on their farm land . Forest dept of various states distribute seeds of trees free of cost . Several land such as agricultural field , grassland pastures , land around house can be used for raising trees under commercial & non commercial farm forestry. WILDLIFE Some importance reason for declining of wildlife are 1) Industrial & technological advancement brought about a rapid increase in exploitation of forest resources. 2) More and more land are cleared for agriculture , human settlement , roads , minning etc . 3) Pressure on forest due to loppinf for fodder and fuelwood and removal of small timber by local people .

4) Grazing by domestic cattle caused an adverse affect on wildlife & its habitat . 5) Hunting was taken ass sport by elite and hundred of animal were killed . WILDLIFE CONSRVATION IN INDIA 1) In 1972 , wildlife act was enacted which provide legal framework for conservation and protection of wildlife in India .The 2 main objectivesd are : a) To provide protection to the endangered species . b) Legal support for establishing National parks , Santuaries etc. 2) There are 92 national parks and 492 wildlife sanctuaries covering an area of 15.07 million hectare in the country . 3) Special steps have been initisted by the govt of inndia in collaboration with UNESCOs MAN AND BIOSPHER PROGRAMME. 4) Project Tiger (1973) and project Elephant (1992) have been launched to conserve these species and their habitat. 5) Project Tiger has been implemented since 1973 to ensure maintainance of viable population of tigers in India. 6) Project Elephant was launched in 1992 . It was aimed at ensuring long term survival of identified viable population of elephants in their natural habitats. BIOSPHERE RESERVE Abiosphere ia a unique and representative ecosystem of terristial and coastal area which are internationally recognized by UNESCOsMan & Biosphere (MAB) reserve . The three main objectives of Biosphere Reserve are Conservation of Biodiversity environment and development . and ecosystem .Association of