Natural Vegetation of India

by Devender

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The Natural Vegetation of India can be divided into these 6 groups which are:

Tropical Evergreen Rain Forests
Deciduous or Monsoon Type of Forests
Tropical dry Deciduous Forests
Arid Forests and Desert Vegetation
Tidal or Mangrove Forests
Mountain Forests

Natural Vegetation of India

1 Tropical Evergreen Rain Forests

These forests have an average rainfall of Above 200 cm and with a temperature above 24 Degree Celsius. These forests are found in Hot & Humid areas of India. These forests are tall and dense with a height of around 45 to 60 m.

These are hardwood forests
Sunrays are not able to reach the earth surface
The trees in these forests compete with each other to grow taller to get sunlight
These forests are found at WGs, A & N islands and Eastern India

For Example - Rubber, Coconut, Ebony, Mahogany, Palms

2 Deciduous Forests

These forests have an average rainfall of 100 to 200 cm and an average height of 25 to 45 m.

The trees shed their leaves in summer due to a shortage of water
These are very important forests economically
These forests are found at Shiwaliks, Ganga valley, WGs, NE India

For Example - Sal, Teak, Shisham, Sandalwood, Deodar, Mahua

3 Tropical dry Forests

These forests have an average rainfall of 50 to 100 cm and an average height of 6 to 9 m. These forests are less dense and small in size.

The roots of trees are long and thick to use the underground water
The bark of the trees are also thick to prevent an unwanted evaporation
Most areas of such forests are used for agriculture
Dwarf Deciduous trees and long- grasses grow in these regions

These forests are often found in Punjab, Haryana, MP, Eastern Rajasthan, Central Deccan Plateau. For Example - Neem, Shisham, Babul, Pipal, Mango

4 Arid or Desert Forests

These forests have an average rainfall of less than 50 cm. The trees of these forests have Small leaves, Thick Bark, and Long Roots.

Indian wild date is very common in these forests
These forests are found in Western Rajasthan, SW Haryana & Punjab, and in some parts of Gujrat

For Example - Small-sized kikar, Babul, Acacia, Bushes and Shrubs

5 Tidal Forests

These forests grow along the coast and on the edges of the deltas and are famous for Mangrove and Sundari Trees.

These forests consist of thick Bushes & Ferns
These are known as Halophytes as they are tolerant of salinity

These forests are mainly found at Sundarbans, A & N Islands, Deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna & Kavery

6 Mountain Forests

These forests grow variably along the slopes of mountains.

On the foothills of the Himalayas, up to a height of 1500 meters, evergreen trees, (Sal, teak, bamboo, and cane) grow abundantly
On a higher slope between 1,500 meters to 3,500 meters, temperate conifer trees (pine, fir, oak, maple, deodar, laurel spruce, cedar) grow
At the higher altitude of the Himalayas, rhododendrons and junipers are found

Alpine grasslands appear up to snowfield beyond these vegetation belts.

Forest Cover of India

Until 2015, 34 % of the total geographical area of India came under forest cover. The total forested area in India is about 63.73 million hectares.

In the last 10 years, the forest cover of the country has increased by 3.31 million hectares i.e. an average 0.46% increase every year. The problem associated with Forestry are:

Overgrazing
Forest Fire
Reckless Cutting of Trees
Jhum Cultivation

Government Initiatives

Reserve & Protected forests
Van Mahotsav Program

Thousands of trees are planted every year in the months of July and August with this program.

Forest Research Institute at Dehradun

For the promotion and preservation of the forests properly.

National Forest policy

National Forest Policy, 1988:

It was for the conservation of Biodiversity, Afforestation and Check of soil erosion. According to it, 33 % of Geographical area shall be covered with forest and development of Social Forestry such as Agro-Forestry, Community Forestry and Forestry by officials.

Social Forestry

It is mainly to reduce the pressure on traditional forests by planting trees for fuelwood, Timber and other social supplies. It also helps in checking water and wind erosion by acting as shelterbelts.

It also helps in generating employment
It also helps in generating additional income

Forest Protection by Government officials

Reserved Forests

These forests are under the direct supervision of the government. The area is notified under the provisions of FRA and no public entry is allowed for the collection of timber or grazing.

Around 54 % of the total forest area comes under it
It has a full degree of protection

All activities in this area are prohibited unless it is prohibited by officials.

Protected Forests

These forests have area notified under the provisions of FRA and all activities here are permitted unless prohibited.

These forests are also looked after by the government
These have very limited protection
Around 29 % of the total forest area comes under this category

Local people are allowed to collect fuelwood, timber and to graze their animals without causing serious damage to the forests.

Unprotected Forests

These forests have no restriction on cutting trees or cattle grazing. Around 18 % of the total forest area comes under this category.

Forest & Wildlife Protection Programmes by Government

National Park

These are large areas consisting of one or more ecosystems and operated at the National Level. No human activity or settlement is allowed in these areas.

Human interference is totally prohibited
Villagers cannot graze their animals
Extremely strict rules about jungle produce (a collection for ex. Honey)

Wildlife Sanctuary

These areas are created for a particular species which is not the case with the national parks and are operated at State Level.

Human activities are allowed like Grazing of animals, Firewood collection, Tourism
A sanctuary can be upgraded to a National park but not vice versa

Biosphere Reserve

The unique ecosystem of terrestrial & coastal areas is internationally recognized by UNESCO under the Man and Biosphere (MAB) program. People are allowed to live, own private land & carry own traditional activities but only in the outer zone.

Core zone - Central area that has to be kept undisturbed of all activities except research (which don’t disturb wildlife)
Buffer zone - Some light activities like tourism, fishing, grazing, etc. are allowed which don't disturb the core zone. Research activities are encouraged here
Transition zone - Outmost part and not delimited but activities have to be harmonious with the biosphere reserve

Conservation Reserves

Any area can be declared as a Conservation Reserves by the State Governments and particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks and Sanctuaries and those areas which link one Protected Area with another.

Such announcements can only be made after having consultations with the local communities

Community Reserves

Any private or community land can be declared as Community Reserve by the state government not comprised within a National Park, Sanctuary, or a Conservation Reserve.