Natural Vegetation and Wildlife in India

Natural Vegetation and Wildlife in India

• India is one of 12 mega biodiversity countries globally, ranking 10th in the world and 4th in Asia for plant diversity.

• India has approximately 47,000 plant species, including 15,000 flowering plants (6% of the world's total).

• Natural vegetation refers to plant communities that grow naturally without human intervention. Virgin vegetation is naturally occurring and undisturbed.

• Endemic species are plants and animals unique to India, while exotic species are from other regions.

• Flora refers to plants, and fauna refers to animals, of a particular region or time period.

• Major vegetation types in India include:

  • Tropical Evergreen Forests: Found in areas with heavy rainfall (over 200 cm), characterized by tall trees, lush vegetation, and no distinct leaf shedding season. Commercially important trees include ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber, and cinchona. Common animals include elephants, monkeys, lemurs, and deer.
  • Tropical Deciduous Forests: The most widespread type, occurring in areas with rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm. These forests have a dry season, where trees shed their leaves. Teak is a dominant species. Other important species include bamboos, sal, shisham, sandalwood, khair, kusum, arjun, and mulberry. Common animals found here include lions, tigers, pigs, deer, and elephants.
  • Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs: These forests are found in areas with less than 70 cm of rainfall, and are characterized by thorny trees and bushes. Common plants include thorny trees and shrubs. Some animals are lions, tigers, pigs, deer, and elephants.

• Montane Forests: Occur at higher altitudes with decreasing temperatures. Various tree types and animals are found in different altitude zones. Common examples could include pine, oak, rhododendron etc.

• Mangrove Forests: Found in coastal areas influenced by tides, with salt-tolerant plant species (like mangroves). Common animals may include turtles, crocodiles, gharials, and snakes.

• Medicinal plants: India is rich in medicinal plants, with approximately 2000 plants used in Ayurveda. Some commonly used plants include sarpagandha, jamun, Arjun, babool, neem, tulsi, and kachnar.

Wildlife in India

• India has a diverse range of wildlife, with around 90,000 animal species.
• Important animals include elephants, rhinoceroses, bison, nilgai, chousingha, and various deer species, as well as monkeys.

Conservation Efforts

• India's government has implemented various initiatives to protect flora and fauna, including establishing biosphere reserves and national parks.
• The country has 106 National Parks and 573 Wildlife Sanctuaries to preserve its natural heritage.