Natural Vegetation In India

Natural vegetation refers to a plant community that has grown naturally without direct human help.

It includes trees, shrubs, grasses and other plants that develop under natural conditions of climate, soil, relief and water availability.

Natural vegetation that has remained undisturbed by humans for a long time is called virgin vegetation.

India has rich natural vegetation because of its wide range of landforms, climate, rainfall, soils and ecosystems.

From tropical evergreen forests in the Western Ghats and Andaman-Nicobar Islands to thorn forests in Rajasthan and mangroves in the Sundarbans, India has several forest types.

India As A Mega Biodiversity Country

India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world.

It has about 47,000 plant species and holds the 10th place in the world and 4th place in Asia in plant diversity.

India has about 15,000 flowering plants, which form around 6 per cent of the world’s total flowering plants.

It also has approximately 90,000 species of animals and a rich variety of fish in fresh and marine waters.

Flora And Fauna

Flora refers to the plants of a particular region or period.

Fauna refers to the animal species of a particular region or period.

Together, flora and fauna form the biodiversity of a region.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity means the variety of plant and animal life found in a region.

The flora and fauna kingdom together form the biodiversity of a particular region or period.

Main Factors Affecting Biodiversity

The chapter mentions three broad factors that affect biodiversity:

• Relief
• Climate
• Ecosystem

Factors Affecting Natural Vegetation

Natural vegetation does not grow randomly.

It depends on physical and climatic conditions.

Land

The nature of land influences vegetation.

Fertile lands are generally used for agriculture.

Undulating and rough terrain usually supports grasslands and woodlands.

Such areas also provide shelter to wildlife.

Soil

Different soils support different types of vegetation.

• Sandy desert soils support cactus and thorny bushes.
• Wet, marshy and deltaic soils support mangroves and deltaic vegetation.
• Hill slopes with some depth of soil support conical trees.

Temperature

Temperature strongly controls the character and extent of vegetation.

It works along with:

• Humidity
• Precipitation
• Soil conditions

For example, tropical evergreen forests grow in warm and wet regions, while alpine vegetation grows in cold high-altitude areas.

Sunlight

Sunlight varies because of differences in:

• Latitude
• Altitude
• Season
• Duration of day

This affects photosynthesis and the growth of vegetation.

Precipitation

Rainfall is one of the most important factors controlling vegetation.

Areas with heavy rainfall have dense vegetation.

Areas with low rainfall have sparse vegetation.

In India, most rainfall is brought by:

• Advancing southwest monsoon from June to September.
• Retreating northeast monsoon.

Ecosystem And Biome

All plants and animals in an area are interdependent and interrelated with each other and their physical environment.

This forms an ecosystem.

A very large land ecosystem with distinct types of vegetation and animal life is called a biome.

Importance Of Forests

Forests are renewable resources and play a major role in improving environmental quality.

They are important because they:

• Modify local climate.
• Control soil erosion.
• Regulate stream flow.
• Support many industries.
• Provide livelihood to many communities.
• Offer scenic beauty for recreation.
• Control wind force and temperature.
• Help cause rainfall.
• Provide humus to the soil.
• Provide shelter to wildlife.

Changes In Natural Vegetation

Natural vegetation in India has undergone many changes due to human activities.

Important causes include:

• Growing demand for cultivated land.
• Development of industries.
• Mining.
• Urbanisation.
• Overgrazing of pastures.

These activities have reduced and modified natural vegetation in many regions.

Types Of Natural Vegetation In India

On the basis of common features, predominant vegetation type and climatic regions, Indian forests are divided into six major groups:

• Tropical Evergreen Forests
• Semi-Evergreen Forests
• Tropical Deciduous Forests
• Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
• Montane Forests
• Mangrove Forests

1. Tropical Evergreen Forests

Tropical evergreen forests are found in heavy rainfall areas.

They remain green throughout the year because there is no definite season for trees to shed their leaves.

Climatic Conditions

These forests grow in areas with:

• Rainfall of about 200 cm or more.
• Short dry season.
• Annual temperature range of 24°C to 27°C.
• Warm and wet conditions throughout the year.

The trees can reach great heights of 60 metres or more.

Distribution

Tropical evergreen forests are found in:

• Western Ghats.
• Island groups of Lakshadweep.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Upper parts of Assam.
• Tamil Nadu coast.

Structure

These forests have rich vegetation of all kinds.

They include:

• Trees
• Shrubs
• Creepers

Because the region is warm and wet throughout the year, the forests develop a multi-layered structure.

Important Tree Species

Commercially important trees include:

• Ebony
• Mahogany
• Rosewood
• Rubber
• Cinchona

Animals Found

Common animals include:

• Elephants
• Monkeys
• Lemurs
• Deer

Other life forms include:

• Birds
• Bats
• Sloths
• Scorpions
• Snails

Important Features

• Found in heavy rainfall areas.
• Remain green throughout the year.
• Trees are tall and dense.
• Have multi-layered vegetation.
• Commercial trees include ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona.

2. Semi-Evergreen Forests

Semi-evergreen forests are a mixture of evergreen and moist deciduous trees.

They have dense undergrowth of climbers and appear green throughout the year.

Climatic Conditions

They are found in warm and humid areas with:

• Annual rainfall between 200 cm and 250 cm.
• Mean annual temperature above 22°C.

Distribution

Semi-evergreen forests are found:

• On the western slopes of the Western Ghats.
• In the hills of North-Eastern India.
• In Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• In parts of the Eastern Himalayas.
• Along the coasts of Odisha and Tamil Nadu.

Important Species

Common species include:

• White cedar
• Hollock
• Kail
• Rosewood
• Ebony
• Mahogany

Important Features

• Mix of evergreen and moist deciduous forests.
• Dense undergrowth of climbers.
• Found in warm and humid areas.
• Found in Western Ghats, North-East India and island regions.

3. Tropical Deciduous Forests

Tropical deciduous forests are the most widespread forests in India.

They are also called monsoon forests.

They grow in areas receiving rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm.

Leaf Shedding

Trees in these forests shed their leaves for about 6 to 8 weeks during the dry summer.

This helps them survive dry conditions.

Types Of Tropical Deciduous Forests

Tropical deciduous forests are divided into two types:

• Moist deciduous forests
• Dry deciduous forests

Moist Deciduous Forests

Moist deciduous forests are found in areas receiving rainfall between 200 cm and 100 cm.

Distribution

They are found mainly in:

• Eastern part of India.
• North-Eastern states.
• Foothills of the Himalayas.
• Jharkhand.
• West Odisha.
• Chhattisgarh.
• Eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.

Important Species

The dominant species is teak.

Commercially important species include:

• Bamboo
• Sal
• Shisham
• Sandalwood
• Khair
• Kusum
• Arjun
• Mulberry

Dry Deciduous Forests

Dry deciduous forests are found in areas receiving rainfall between 100 cm and 70 cm.

Distribution

They occur mainly in:

• Rainier parts of the Peninsular Plateau.
• Plains of Bihar.
• Plains of Uttar Pradesh.

Important Species

Open stretches contain trees such as:

• Teak
• Sal
• Peepal
• Neem

A large part of this region has been cleared for cultivation.

Some parts are also used for grazing.

Important Features Of Tropical Deciduous Forests

• Most widespread forests in India.
• Also called monsoon forests.
• Found in areas with rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm.
• Trees shed leaves for 6 to 8 weeks in dry summer.
• Divided into moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests.

4. Tropical Thorn Forests And Scrubs

Tropical thorn forests and scrubs are found in dry regions with low rainfall.

They occur where rainfall is usually less and evaporation is high.

Distribution

These forests are common in dry parts of:

• Rajasthan
• Gujarat
• Haryana
• Punjab
• Parts of Madhya Pradesh
• Parts of Uttar Pradesh

Vegetation Features

The vegetation is sparse and consists mainly of thorny trees and bushes.

Plants are adapted to dry conditions.

Common adaptations include:

• Long roots.
• Small leaves.
• Thorny stems.
• Thick bark.
• Reduced leaf surface to limit water loss.

Common Species

Important plants include:

• Acacia
• Khair
• Babul
• Cactus
• Thorny bushes

Important Features

• Found in dry areas.
• Vegetation is sparse.
• Plants have thorns and long roots.
• Found mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat region.
• Adapted to low rainfall and high evaporation.

5. Montane Forests

Montane forests are found in mountainous regions.

In India, they are mainly associated with the Himalayas and other highland areas.

Their vegetation changes with altitude.

As altitude increases, temperature decreases and vegetation changes from tropical to temperate and alpine types.

Main Zones Of Montane Vegetation

Montane vegetation includes:

• Subtropical forests
• Temperate forests
• Sub-alpine forests
• Alpine vegetation

Subtropical Forests

Subtropical forests are found in lower mountain areas.

They include broad-leaved trees and some coniferous species depending on altitude and rainfall.

Temperate Forests

Temperate forests are found at higher altitudes.

Important trees include:

• Oak
• Maple
• Birch
• Laurel
• Rhododendron

Birds such as pheasants and monals are associated with these forests.

Sub-Alpine And Alpine Vegetation

At higher altitudes, forests become shorter and more scattered.

Alpine vegetation includes grasses and shrubs.

This vegetation is found near the snowline.

Important Features

• Found in mountainous regions.
• Vegetation changes with altitude.
• Himalayan forests show clear vertical zonation.
• Important species include oak, maple, birch, laurel and rhododendron.
• Alpine vegetation grows in very high-altitude areas.

6. Mangrove Forests

Mangrove forests grow in coastal areas influenced by tides.

They are found in saline, marshy and deltaic environments.

Mangroves are specially adapted to survive in waterlogged and salty conditions.

Distribution

Mangrove forests are found in:

• Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.
• Sundarbans.
• Deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery.
• Coastal areas of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Features Of Mangroves

Mangrove plants have special features such as:

• Stilt roots.
• Breathing roots.
• Salt tolerance.
• Ability to grow in marshy soils.
• Adaptation to tidal conditions.

Importance Of Mangroves

Mangroves are important because they:

• Protect coasts from erosion.
• Reduce impact of cyclones and storm surges.
• Provide breeding grounds for fish.
• Support rich biodiversity.
• Stabilise deltaic regions.
• Protect coastal livelihoods.

Mangrove Cover

The chapter mentions India’s mangrove cover as 4,992 square Km.

Forest Cover In India

The chapter includes key findings from ISFR 2023.

Highest Forest Cover By Percentage Of Geographical Area

The highest forest cover by geographical area percentage is found in:

• Lakshadweep – 91.33 per cent
• Mizoram – 85.34 per cent
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands – 81.62 per cent

Mangrove Cover

India’s mangrove cover is mentioned as 4,992 square Km.

Forest Conservation

Forests have a deep relationship with life and environment.

They provide direct and indirect benefits to society and the economy.

Forest Policy 1988

According to the Forest Policy 1988, the Government emphasised sustainable forest management.

The aim was to conserve and expand forest resources while also meeting the needs of local people.

Important Policy Targets

The policy targets include:

• Bringing 33 per cent of geographical area under forest cover.
• Maintaining environmental stability.
• Restoring forests where ecological balance has been disturbed.
• Conserving natural heritage, biological diversity and genetic pool.
• Checking soil erosion.
• Checking extension of desert lands.
• Reducing floods and droughts.
• Increasing forest cover through social forestry and afforestation on degraded land.
• Increasing forest productivity to provide timber, fuel, fodder and food to rural populations.
• Encouraging substitution of wood.
• Creating a people’s movement involving women to encourage tree planting and stop tree felling.

Social Forestry

Social forestry means management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands.

It also includes forestry on lands outside conventional forest areas.

Its purpose is environmental, social and rural development.

The National Commission on Agriculture, 1976 classified social forestry into three categories:

• Urban Forestry
• Rural Forestry
• Farm Forestry

Urban Forestry

Urban forestry refers to raising and managing trees on public and private lands in and around urban centres.

Examples include:

• Green belts
• Parks
• Roadside avenues
• Industrial green belts
• Commercial green belts

Nagar Van Yojana

The chapter mentions Nagar Van Yojana, a scheme for creating Nagar Van, or city forests, in urban areas.

It is implemented under the National Fund of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, or CAMPA.

Urban forests work as urban lungs.

They also help in carbon sequestration.

Rural Forestry

Rural forestry gives emphasis to:

• Agro-forestry
• Community forestry

It links tree plantation with rural development, livelihood support and ecological restoration.

Agro-Forestry

Agro-forestry means raising trees and agricultural crops on the same land, including waste patches.

It combines forestry with agriculture.

It supports the production of:

• Food
• Fodder
• Fuel
• Timber
• Fruit

Sub-Mission On Agroforestry

The Sub-Mission on Agroforestry, also called Har Medh Par Ped, was launched in 2016-17.

It encourages tree plantation on farmland along with crops and cropping systems.

Its purpose is to help farmers get additional income and make farming systems more climate-resilient and adaptive.

Benefits Of Agro-Forestry

Agro-forestry provides:

• Additional income.
• Protection from crop damage.
• Higher carbon sequestration.
• Climate change adaptation.
• Climate change mitigation.

Community Forestry

Community forestry means planting trees on public or community land.

Examples include:

• Schoolyards
• Roadsides
• Canal banks
• Village pastures
• Temple grounds

The aim is to benefit the whole community.

It also helps landless people participate in tree raising and receive benefits that are often limited to landowners.

The chapter mentions that community-forest management led to a 37 per cent relative decrease in deforestation and a 4.3 per cent relative decrease in poverty, according to a study published in Nature Sustainability.

Farm Forestry

Farm forestry refers to farmers growing trees on their fields for commercial or non-commercial purposes.

Non-commercial farm forestry may include growing trees:

• Along margins of agricultural fields.
• In grasslands and pastures.
• Around houses.
• Around cattle sheds.

Farm forestry can take many forms, such as:

• Timber belts
• Plantations
• Woodlots
• Widely spaced tree planting
• Sustainable management of native plant stands

Natural Vegetation In India At A Glance

Topic	Key Fact
Natural vegetation	Plant community grown naturally without human aid
Virgin vegetation	Natural vegetation undisturbed by humans for long time
Flora	Plants of a region or period
Fauna	Animals of a region or period
Biodiversity factors	Relief, climate and ecosystem
India plant species	About 47,000
India flowering plants	About 15,000
Animal species	About 90,000
Forest types	Evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous, thorn, montane, mangrove
Most widespread forest	Tropical deciduous forest
Monsoon forests	Tropical deciduous forests
Evergreen rainfall	Around 200 cm or more
Semi-evergreen rainfall	200 cm to 250 cm
Deciduous rainfall	200 cm to 70 cm
Moist deciduous rainfall	200 cm to 100 cm
Dry deciduous rainfall	100 cm to 70 cm
Mangrove cover	4,992 square Km
Forest Policy	1988
Forest cover target	33 per cent of geographical area
Social forestry classification	Urban, rural and farm forestry
Agroforestry scheme	Har Medh Par Ped, 2016-17

Forest Types At A Glance

Forest Type	Rainfall / Condition	Main Areas	Important Species
Tropical Evergreen	Around 200 cm or more	Western Ghats, Assam, Andaman-Nicobar, Lakshadweep	Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber, cinchona
Semi-Evergreen	200 cm to 250 cm	Western Ghats, North-East, Andaman-Nicobar, Eastern Himalayas	White cedar, hollock, kail, rosewood, ebony
Moist Deciduous	200 cm to 100 cm	North-East, Himalayan foothills, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh	Teak, sal, bamboo, shisham, sandalwood
Dry Deciduous	100 cm to 70 cm	Peninsular Plateau, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh	Teak, sal, peepal, neem
Thorn Forests	Low rainfall, dry climate	Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab	Acacia, khair, babul, cactus
Montane Forests	Mountain climate	Himalayas and highlands	Oak, maple, birch, laurel, rhododendron
Mangrove Forests	Saline, tidal, deltaic areas	Sundarbans, east coast deltas, Andaman-Nicobar	Mangrove species with breathing and stilt roots

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