NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE

Our Country India is one of the 12 mega bio-diversity countries in the World. with 47000 plant species, India stands at 10^th place in the world and 4^th in Asia. Natural vegetation refers to a Plant community which has grown naturally on its own without humans and without disturbing them. These are also called Virgin Vegetation

The term flora is used to denote plants of a particular region or a period. Similarly, the species of animals are called Fauna

The following reasons affect the huge diversity of flora and fauna relief land, Soil and Climate-Temperature, Photoperiod and Precipitation. 

1. Types of Vegetation

The following are the major types of vegetation are to be found in our country

1. Tropical evergreen Forest
2. Tropical Deciduous Forest
3. Tropical Thorn Forests and scrubs
4. Montane Forests
5. Mangrove forests

Tropical Evergreen Forest

• These forests are found where there is heavy rainfall like the Western Ghats, Lakshadweep, Andaman Nicobar Islands, Upper Parts of Assam and Tamil Nadu Coasts.
• These will have an average rainfall of 200cm with a short dry period. The trees reach a great height of 60m and above.
• Since the region is warm and wet all year it will have a huge range of vegetation in this region like trees, shrubs and creepers giving it all a multilayered structure. These forests appear green throughout the year.
• Some of the Commercial crops that are grown here are mahogany, ebony, rosewood, rubber and cinchona.
• The common Animals found in this place are elephants, monkeys, lemurs, and deer.
• One-horned rhinoceros is found in the Jungles of Assam and West Bengal.

Tropical Deciduous Forest

• These forests occupy a major chunk of Indian forests, these are also called monsoon forests.
• The average rainfall is between 200cm to 70 cm. 
• Based on the availability of water, these are classified as Moist deciduous forests (200cm to 100cm Rainfall) and Dry deciduous forests(100cm to 70cm). 
• These forests are found mostly eastern side of our country-Jharkhand, Odisha, the foothills of the Himalayas and the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. 
• Teak, Bamboo, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, and Mulberry are commonly found on plantations. 
• Tigers, deer, pigs, and elephants are commonly found Animals in these forests. 

The Thorn Forests and shrubs

• These types of vegetation will be found in average rainfall of less than 70cm annually. 
• This type of Vegetation will be found in the Northwestern part of our country. 
• Acacias, palms, euphorbias, and Cactus are the common plants that you find in this region. 
• Leaves would be very thick and small to reduce the evaporation. 
• Rats, Mice, rabbits, foxes, wolves, tigers and lions are commonly found animals here. 

Montanne Forests

• This type of vegetation will be found on top of mountains. Temperature will drop if you go high in altitudes this type of vegetation will be found in layers of mountains
• Wet Temperate forests will be found at the height of 2000  to 1000 Meters-Oaks and chestnuts predominate and Temperate forests will be found between 3000 to 1000 Meters –Pine, Deodar, Silver fir, Spruce and Cedar. These forests are found in the southern slopes of the Himalayas, especially in northeast India. At Higher elevations Temperate grasslands are common.
• At a height more than 3600 meters above sea level, you will find Alpine vegetation. silver fir, junipers, pine and birches are commonly found plants here
• Kashmir stag, spotted deer, wild sheep, jackrabbit, Tibetan antelope, yak snow leopard, squirrels

Mangrove Forests

• The mangrove Tidal Forests are found in the coastal regions of coast-influenced tides. Mud still accumulated on such coasts.
• Dense Mangroves are a common variety with roots of Plants submerged underwater.
• The deltas Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri are covered with such vegetation.
• Sundari is an Important tree found in the region of Brahmaputra region which is a good timber.
• Palm coconut, keora, agar etc also grow in some parts of Deltas. 

2. Wildlife

Like its flora, India is rich in its Fauna too. It has approximately 90000 species. The country has about 2000 bird species in our country. These constitute around 13% of the world. There are 2546 species of fish which accounts for nearly 12% of World Stock. India is the only country in the world which has both tigers and lions. Gir forest is the last habitat of the Asiatic lion. 

Conservation of wildlife

• Schedule I, and Schedule II are for Absolute protection penalties and would consider maximum
• Schedule III, and Schedule IV are of lesser penalties and give Protection to the animals
• Schedule V permits to kill certain Animals like Common crow, Fruit Bats, Mice and rats only
• Scheduled VI contains the plants which are Prohibited from Protection

The National Body for Wildlife is an apex body in India for all wildlife-related issues. The main objective of this board is to Promote wildlife and Conserve it

• It has been established under the act of Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972, so it is a statutory body
• It approves projects considering all the possible parks and National Wild Treasury
• The National Board for Wildlife is chaired by Prime Minister

• National Parks:  A National Park is an area which has enough ecological, and natural significance with rich fauna and flora and these are designed to protect. National Parks are in schedule II of IUCN Protected Areas. No activity is permitted in the National park unless it is permitted by the  Chief wildlife warden of the state. India’s First National Park was Hailey National Park in 1936 now it is called Jim Corbett National Park. 
• Wildlife Sanctuary: The Major difference between sanctuary and Sanctuary is mainly the rights of the people who are living inside it. Certain rights can be performed in sanctuaries but no rights are Permitted in the National Parks. 
• Community Reserves: The primary purpose of Community Reserves is to promote the conservation of wildlife and their habitats while ensuring the well-being of local communities. These areas often involve community-based initiatives and practices that aim to strike a balance between conservation goals and the needs of the local people.
• Conservation Reserves: Conservation Reserves are established to protect and conserve particular species of flora and fauna, their habitats, and the overall biodiversity of a region. These reserves often focus on maintaining natural ecological processes and promoting scientific research.