Revision Notes for Class 9

Social Science - Geography (Contemporary India)

Chapter 5 - Natural Vegetation And Wildlife

Natural Vegetation And Wildlife

The subcontinent stands fourth in Asia and tenth in the world in plant diversity, with about
47,000 plant species. It is one of the 12 mega-diversity hotspots around the globe. India
accounts for 6% of the world's total flowering plants and boasts a rich diversity of
non-flowering plants like algae, fungi, and ferns. Besides plants, India is home to a plethora
of animal life, with over 90,000 species inhabiting different parts of the country. The wildlife
includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, freshwater, and marine fishes.

Flora and Fauna

The natural vegetation of a place refers to the plants naturally growing there without human
interference or aid and has been left undisturbed for a long time. It is also termed virgin
vegetation. Flora is used for defining the natural vegetation of a particular place. Fauna is the
naturally occurring wildlife of a specific place.

Fauna of India

● India has various kinds of faunas. The country has almost 90000 animal species and
2000 bird species. The country also has 12 per cent fish in the world. India has
approximately 5 to 8 per cent of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals of the world.
● Some of the famous animals that stay in India are elephants, one-horned rhinoceros,
wild ass, blue bull, four-horned antelope, Indian bison, and deer. The animals that are

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 found in the Himalayas can tolerate extreme cold. Some of them are yak, wild sheep,
and the Tibetan wild ass.
● Many beautiful birds like peacocks, parrots, and cranes are seen in India. All these
plants, animals, birds, and reptiles contribute to biodiversity and are interrelated. But,
human greed has made many of these species extinct and destroyed biodiversity.
● However, the government has made the natural vegetation and wildlife project file
and has taken a few steps to protect the wildlife and natural vegetation.
● The government has set up fourteen biosphere reserves.
● Many botanical gardens receive financial and technical assistance from the
government.
● The government has introduced many eco-development projects.

Factors Affecting Flora and Fauna

A specific area's flora and fauna are determined by several factors, including relief and
climatic factors. A combination of these factors together determines the natural vegetation
and wildlife of a region.

1. Relief

● Land: The type of land determines to a large extent the type of vegetation in the area.
Fertile lands are used for agriculture. Terrains with undulating and rough land are
where woodlands and grasslands develop.
● Soil: Soils vary from place to place, and so does the natural vegetation of the place.
For example, hill slopes support conical trees, desert sandy soil supports cactuses, and
marshy deltaic grounds support mangroves.

2. Climate

● Temperature: The temperature of a region affects the vegetation of a place to a large

extent. In the Himalayan region and the hills in peninsular India with altitudes above
915 meters, the temperature falls, affecting the vegetation. Tropical to subtropical to
alpine is the change.
● Photoperiod: The duration and variation in sunlight affect the vegetation of a place.
With a longer duration of the sun, plants grow better, like in summer.

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 ● Precipitation: Areas that receive heavy rainfall have dense vegetation cover. In India,
rain is brought in by advancing southwest monsoons and retreating northeast
monsoons.

Natural Vegetation and Its Types

The various types of natural vegetation found in India are:

1. Tropical Evergreen Forest

● These forests are restricted to regions of extremely heavy rainfall in India.

● These forests are located in the Western Ghats, upper parts of Assam, Tamil Nadu
coast, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep Islands. These regions
receive heavy rainfall and usually do not experience a dry season. If the dry season
persists, it is short.
● Trees here vary up to a height of 16 meters or above.
● These forests are moist all year round, along with being warm.
● They are home to luxuriant vegetation of various kinds like trees, shrubs, creepers,
and a lot more.
● Trees here do not have a fixed time of shedding their leaves, and hence the forest
appears green throughout the year.
● Commercially hardy trees like ebony, mahogany, cinchona, rosewood, and rubber are
found in these forests. Elephants, monkeys, and lemurs are a few common animals
that stay in these forests. The one-horned rhinoceros is found in the jungles of West
Bengal and Assam, a rare species. Birds, scorpions, bats, moths, and snails are also
found in these jungles.

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2. Tropical Deciduous Forests

● They are also known as monsoon forests and are found in regions that receive rainfall
between 200 cm and 70 cm.
● They shed their leaves during dry summers for about six to eight weeks.
● There are two types of deciduous forests- dry and moist deciduous forests.
● The moist deciduous forest exists in the region, receiving rainfall between 200-100
cm. These forests are found along the foothills of the Himalayas, northeastern states,
western Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
● Trees found there are sal, Sheesham, sandalwood, bamboos, Khair, Kusum, Arjun,
and mulberry. Teak is the most critical and dominant species of this forest.
● Dry deciduous forests were found in areas with rainfall of 100 to 70 cm. Dry
deciduous forests are distributed in parts of the Indian mainland, the Bihar plains, and
Uttar Pradesh. The plants that grow here are teak, salt, neem, and peach trees.
● These forests are cleared for cultivation and grazing.
● Typical animals found in tropical deciduous forests include a huge variety of lizards,
birds, snakes, and tortoises. Along with these tigers, lions, elephants, and pigs are
found here.

3. Thorn Forests and Scrubs

● These forests are found in regions with rainfall less than 70 cm. The natural
vegetation here comprises thorny trees and bushes.
● They are found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
and Haryana.
● The main plant species found here are acacia as euphorbias, cacti, and palms.
● The trees in the region are scattered and have long roots which penetrate very deep
into the soil to obtain moisture. The stems are succulent for water conservation, and
the leaves are turned to spines to minimize transpiration.
● Animals in this forest are foxes, wolves, tigers, lions, camels, horses, wild asses, rats,
and mice.

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4. Montane Forests

● These forests are found in high-altitude mountainous areas.

● Between 1000-2000 meters lies the wet temperate forests where evergreen
broadleaved trees like oak and chestnut are predominant.
● The woods have conifers between 1500-3000 meters like pine, cedar, spruce, silver
fir, and deodar.
● These forests cover the southern slopes of the Himalayas and places having high
altitudes in North East and Southern India.
● At lofty heights of more than 3600 meters, the temperate grasslands and forests
transform into alpine vegetation. Trees found are birch, junipers, etc.
● Higher than this, there are only scrubs and shrubs.
● Even higher, only mosses and lichens are found and form a part of the tundra
vegetation.
● Wildlife found here are wild sheep, Kashmir stag, Tibetan antelope, snow leopard,
jackrabbits, yaks, squirrels, sheep and goats, Red panda, bear, and shaggy horned wild
ibex.

5. Mangrove Forests

● Mangroves are tidal forests found in coastal regions.

● Plants here have their roots submerged under the water.
● These forests are found in the deltas of Ganga, Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri, and
Godavari.
● Ganga-Brahmaputra delta abounds in Sundari trees which supply hard, durable
timber. Other plants growing here are coconut, agar, palm, etc.
● The famous Royal Bengal tiger, crocodiles, snakes, turtles, and gharials are found in
these forests.

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Wildlife

● India accounts for 13% of the world's total animal and bird species, which numbers
90,000 and 2000. Elephants are mammals found in the forests of Assam, Karnataka,
and Kerala.
● The swampy and marshy lands of West Bengal and Assam are home to the
one-horned rhinoceros. Rann of Kutch and Thar desert is home to wild asses and
camels, respectively.
● The Indian bison, nilgai, and chousingha are the various species of deer found in
India. India is one country that is home to both lions and tigers. The Gir forest of
Gujarat is famous for its majestic lions.
● Tigers live in the woods of Madhya Pradesh, the Sundarbans of West Bengal, and the
Himalayas. Leopards have also been found in the country. The high freezing altitudes
of Ladakh are home to yaks, shaggy horned wild ox, Tibetan antelope, wild sheep,
snow leopards, bears, Red pandas, etc.
● Coastal regions harbour crocodiles and turtles. India is home to a plethora of birdlife
inhabiting various forests and wetlands. They are parrots, cranes, pigeons, ducks, etc.

Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Conservation

● The government has set up 18 biosphere reserves in the country to protect the natural
vegetation and wildlife.
● Out of these 10 of them- the Sundarban, Nanda Devi, Nilgiri, Great Nicobar, Gulf of
Mannar, Manas, Norkek, Simlipal, Panchmari, and AchanakmarAmarkantak are
included in the world biosphere network.
● Financial assistance along with technical aid has been provided to the botanica
gardens since 1992.
● Project Tiger, Project Great Indian Bustard, and Project Rhino have been introduced.
103 national parks, 535 wildlife sanctuaries, and several other zoological gardens
have been set up for conservation.

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Some Factors Contribute to the Vast Natural Vegetation in India

● Land: India has a variety of lands like a plateau, mountainous, plain area, rough
terrains, and many others. Different kinds of lands cause a variety of natural
vegetation.
● Soil: Different kinds of soils contribute to different kinds of vegetation. Sandy soil
supports cacti marshy soil supports mangroves, and the soil of the hill area supports
conical trees.
● Temperature: Temperature, air humidity, and precipitation help in a variety of natural
vegetation. The temperature in the air causes different kinds of natural vegetation like
tropical, subtropical, temperate, and alpine.
● Photoperiod: Sunlight also affects the type of vegetation. Different parts of India
have different kinds of natural vegetation due to the variation in sunlight. Trees
usually grow faster during the summer season.
● Precipitation: In India, the rainfall occurs mainly from June to September. Heavy
rainfall affects the density of natural vegetation.

Some Important Questions and Answers

1. Which factors determine the distribution of plants and animals in India?

Ans: Factors that determine natural vegetation and wildlife in a specific area are:

1. Land: Land affects natural vegetation to a large extent. Fertile land is used for
agricultural activities, while rough land is where grassland and woodland are found.
According to land type the wildlife of a specific area.
2. Soil: Soil varies over various regions, and along with that varies the natural
vegetation. Sandy soil in the desert is perfect for cactus and thorny bushes, while wet
marshy soils of the delta region support mangroves. Mountain slopes have soil with
depth. These are perfect for the growth of conifer trees.
3. Temperature: Temperature is another critical factor affecting the natural vegetation
of a particular area like the Himalayas and the peninsular region. With changing
temperatures, vegetation changes from tropical to subtropical temperate and alpine.
4. Photoperiodism: The duration of sunlight received by an area is another factor that
determines the vegetation in an area.

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 5. Precipitation: The extent and density of natural vegetation cover in India areas of
heavy rainfall are denser than sites that receive less rainfall. In India, the prime source
of rain is the advancing south-westerly monsoons and the retreating monsoons.

2. Name some medicinal plants found in India along with their usage.

Ans: India is famous for herbs and spices. Indian Ayurveda uses 2000 species of Ayurvedic
plants, out of which 500 are regularly used. Some of the medicinal plants of India are-

● Jamun - Jamun is used to prepare vinegar. It is carminative, and a diuretic and has
excellent digestive properties. Jamun seed powder is used for diabetes treatment.
● Arjun - It is known to have properties to control headaches and earache. It is used for
diabetes treatment.
● Neem - Neem is known to possess antimicrobial properties.
● Tulsi - Tulsi is used to cure a cold and cough.
● Babul - Babul is known to be a gum tonic. It is also used for fixing eyesores.
● Sarpagandha - This plant is only found in India and is used to treat blood pressure.
● Kachnar is excellent for curing asthma and ulcers, and also its buds and roots have
excellent digestive properties.

3. What are the natural vegetation and wildlife conservation strategies taken up by the
government of India?

Ans: The Government of India has taken a few steps to conserve natural vegetation and
wildlife. These are:

● 18 Biosphere Reserves were set up in the country. Out of which, ten of them are
among the world network of biosphere reserves.
● Financial assistance and technical aid have been provided to botanical gardens since
1992.
● Ecological development projects such as Project Tiger, Project Rhino, and the Indian
Bustard have been established to save these endangered species.

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 ● 535 wildlife sanctuaries and 103 national parks were set up in the country, along with
many zoological gardens to conserve the natural heritage.

4. What is a biosphere reserve? Name the biosphere reserves in India.

Ans:

● The biosphere can be defined as an ecosystem consisting of naturally growing plants

and animals of a specific region of unusual scientific and natural interest. UNESCO
gives a place the label of a biosphere reserve.
● It is an entity for sustainable development. Biosphere reserves include terrestrial and
coastal ecosystems. The biosphere reserves in India are Sundarban, Shimlipal, and the
Gulf of Mannar.
● Dihang-Dibang, Nilgiri, Dibru Saikhowa, Nanda Devi, Agasthyamalai, Great
Nicobar, Panchmari, and AchanakmarAmarkantak.

5. Why does India have rich flora and fauna?

Ans:

● India is a diverse country. There is a striking diversity of land reliefs, soil types,
temperature ranges, humidity, and precipitation all across India. Even the monsoon
season varies across the grids.
● Each place in India has a unique combination of factors that determine the growth of
natural vegetation in a particular place. These critical factors which influence flora
and fauna vary widely from South to North and East to West.
● Hence India has rich flora and fauna which are suited to grow in various regions. The
position of India in both the Tropical and temperate zones is also an important reason
for the existence of such a plethora of fauna and flora in the country.

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6. Why are a few species of animals and plants endangered in India?

Ans:

● Few animal and plant species are endangered in India, while some have become
extinct. Human activities have been a significant threat to nature.
● Hunting by greedy hunters and poachers, pollution due to anthropogenic activities, the
introduction of alien species in a natural ecosystem, and indiscriminate cutting down
of forests for cultivation, habitation, and grazing have created an imbalance in nature
and natural ecosystems have been disturbed.

7. Write a short note on migratory birds.

Ans:

● Migratory birds are those which travel from the polar regions during the winter to
warmer places.
● The wetlands of India are famous for harbouring such migratory birds. During the
winter, Siberian cranes visit the country in large numbers. The Rann of Kutch is one
such place where you can spot these migratory birds.
● Here the desert merges with the sea, and pink flamingo plummets come in
considerable numbers to build nests from the salty mud.
● It is a brilliant sight to behold. The Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, is
famous for harbouring migratory birds.

8. Why is it essential to conserve natural vegetation and wildlife?

Ans: Natural vegetation and wildlife are considered as natural wealth of the country. This is
because they are indispensable to us. We extract numerous benefits from these natural
sources. For example, plants provide us with food, timber, etc. Medicinal plant extracts give
us medicines. Animals provide transportation, meat, and eggs. Fish is an exceptionally
nutritious food item and is exported to earn foreign revenues. Insects help in pollination and
fruit and crop formation. The ecosystem, as a whole, is essential and contributes to our
sustenance.

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