Natural Vegetation: A Tapestry of Plants and Animals

Natural vegetation denotes a plant community that remains undisturbed for an extended period, allowing its individual species to adapt fully to the local climate and soil conditions. India boasts diverse natural vegetation due to variations in climate and soil. It’s recognized as one of the world’s 12 mega biodiversity countries, home to approximately 47,000 plant species, including 15,000 flowering plants (constituting 6 percent of the world’s total). 

Additionally, India hosts numerous nonflowering plants like ferns, algae, and fungi, along with around 90,000 animal species and a rich diversity of fish in its freshwater and marine ecosystems.

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Types of Forests: Natural Vegetation Types of India

Indian forests can be categorized into distinct groups based on shared characteristics like the prevailing Natural Vegetation type and climatic regions:

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• Tropical Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen Forests
• Tropical Deciduous Forests
• Tropical Thorn Forests
• Montane Forests
• Littoral and Swamp Forests

Tropical Evergreen and Semi Evergreen Forests: Flora, Fauna, and Enchanting Ecosystems

Tropical Evergreen Forest

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Tropical Evergreen: Rich Flora, Diverse Fauna, and Enchanting Ecosystems

• Location: Tropical Evergreen forests are located along western slope of the Western Ghats, hills of the northeastern region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Climate and Rainfall: Climate in these forests are warm and humid areas with an annual precipitation of over 200 cm,  short dry season and mean annual temperature above 22℃.
• Characteristics of Natural Vegetation: Vibrant Forests in Lower Rainfall Regions
• These forests are well-structured, featuring layers near the ground covered in shrubs and creepers, followed by short and tall trees that can reach heights of 60 meters or more. 
• The region’s warm and consistently wet climate fosters lush vegetation, including various types of trees, shrubs, and creepers, creating a multi-layered forest. 
• Leaves on the trees do not have a specific season for shedding, flowering, or fruiting, resulting in year-round greenery. 
• Flora: Notable commercially valuable trees in these forests include ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber, and cinchona.
• Fauna: Common natural vegetation and wildlife in these forests includes elephants, monkeys, lemurs, and deer. 
  • The one-horned rhinoceros is also found in Assam and West Bengal’s jungles. 
  • Additionally, these forests are home to numerous birds, bats, sloths, scorpions, and snails.

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Semi Evergreen Forests: Nature’s Blend of Trees in Lower Rainfall Regions

• Semi-evergreen forests are located in regions with lower rainfall. These forests contain a combination of evergreen and moist deciduous trees, and the presence of undergrowth climbers contributes to their evergreen appearance. 
• Key tree species in these forests include white cedar, hollock, and kail.

Tropical Deciduous Forests: Monsoon Wonders with Teak and Wildlife

These are the most widespread forests in India and are also called the monsoon forests.

• Location: Spread over regions which receive rainfall between 70-200 cm.
• Classification on the basis of the availability of water: Basic of Natural Vegetation
• Moist Deciduous Forests: These forests are found in regions which record rainfall between 100-200 cm; in the northeastern states along the foothills of Himalayas, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and Odisha.
• Flora: Teak is the most dominant species of this forest, while Bamboos, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun and mulberry are other commercially important species.
• Dry Deciduous Forests: These forests are found in regions where rainfall ranges between 70 -100 cm.
• On the wetter margins, it has a transition to the moist deciduous forest; having a parkland landscape with open stretches in which teak and other trees interspersed with patches of grass.  
• Rainier areas of the Peninsula and regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in the northern Indian plain.
• In drier margins, it has a transition to thorn forests; having a vast grassland with naked trees all around. 
• Flora: Tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair, axlewood, etc. are the common trees of these forests.
• Fauna: In these forests, the common animals found are lion, tiger, pig, deer and elephant.
  •  A huge variety of birds, lizards, snakes and tortoises are also found here.

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Tropical Thorn Forests: Resilient Flora and Wildlife in Arid Realms

• Location: Tropical Thorn Forests occur in the areas which receive rainfall less than 50 cm.
• In semi-arid areas of south west Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• Characteristics of Natural Vegetation: Grasses, Succulents, and Wildlife in Thorn Forests
• These consist of a variety of grasses and shrubs.
• Roots: Trees are scattered and have long roots penetrating deep into the soil in order to get moisture. 
• Leaves and Stems: The stems are succulent to conserve water. Leaves are mostly thick and small to minimize evaporation.
  • In these forests, plants remain leafless for most part of the year and give an expression of scrub vegetation.
• Flora: Important species found are babool, ber, and wild date palm, khair, neem, khejri, palas, Acacias, palms, euphorbias and cacti etc. 
  • Tussocky grass grows up to a height of 2 m as the undergrowth.
• Fauna: In these forests, the common animals are rats, mice, rabbits, fox, wolf, tiger, lion, wild ass, horses and camels.