Natural Vegetation and Wildlife of India

 Natural Vegetation and Wildlife of India

image sources: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:India_Natural_vegetation.svg

India features a land of immense natural vegetation and a wide-ranging variety of fauna. Our ecosystem comprises an integrated network of flora and fauna and beautifies the Indian mainland. In addition to human beings, it constitutes a varied plant and animal life including tiny microorganisms.

Vegetation is also referred to as flora or the plant kingdom while fauna includes birds and animals. In fact, the word fauna is derived from the Roman term Faunus which means forest goddesses and spirits. It also features the name of the Roman goddess of fertility. India is a land of around 500 types of animals, 2000 types of birds, and 30,000 kinds of insects, microbes, amphibians, etc.

Furthermore, natural vegetation and fauna are paramount to the Indian biosphere. This is because they help to maintain the following:

• Ecological balance
• Aesthetic power
• Expansion of local economies

This article describes natural vegetation and fauna in India. It details the various aspects of flora and fauna through the classification of the different vegetation types, distribution of rainfall, biosphere reserves, national parks followed by specific red-listed animals in India.

Classification of Natural Vegetation in India

Due to varying climatic conditions, natural vegetation in India can be classified under the following heads:

Tropical Rain Forests in India

• Present in regions experiencing heavy rainfall.
• Also known as evergreen forests as the trees of these forests remain green despite shedding their leaves often.
• They are located in the northern states of India, the Western Ghats, and Andaman, and the Nicobar Islands.
• Mahogany, sandal, rosewood, gurjan, bamboo, and ebony are important vegetations of these forests.

Tropical Deciduous Forests in India

• A major portion of India is covered with these forests.
• Unlike the evergreen forests, the trees landscaped in deciduous forests shed their leaves during specific times of the year (generally in dry winters and dry summers)
• These forests are less dense receiving an annual rainfall of 100-200 cm.
• States of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and portions of Maharashtra characterize these forests.
• Peepal, teak, sal, Sheesham, and neam are some significant vegetations of tropical deciduous forests.

Thorny Forests/Dry Deciduous Forests in India

• Usually found in dry and deserted regions of the country.
• The trees located in these forests contain spiny leaves to reduce water loss
• These forests receive an annual rainfall of 50-100 cm
• Keekar, cactus, babool, and khair are some of the plants located in these forests
• These forests are found in the areas of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and the Western Ghats.

Mountain Forests in India

• These forests are located on hilly terrains, above an altitude of 1500m – 2500m.
• Usually, coniferous trees grow in these forests.
  Deodar, pine, oak, and fir are a few of its significant vegetations.

Mangrove Forests/ Tidal Forests

• Mainly found in the Sundarbans delta and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• This vegetation can survive in saline water
• Sundaris is a famous species growing in these forests (deriving its name from Sundarbans in West Bengal).
• Timber, palm, coconut, hogla, pasur, and garan are some of its important natural vegetation.
• These forests are a rich source for the timber industry in India

Types of Vegetation in India

Forests

• A dense region with multiple trees and shrubs
• The nature of trees depends upon the climatic conditions of the region
• Different types of forests such as evergreen, deciduous, mangrove, etc.

Grasslands

• The grass is the key vegetation in these flat grasslands.
• These are an important source of weed and cattle.
• Savannas are the famous grasslands of Africa.

Deserts

• Dry, concrete, and arid pieces of land.
• The soil of this land comprises gravel and sand.
• Plants with long roots grow in these regions.
• The stems of these plants have a good water storage capacity.
• Cactus is the principal plant of the desert region.

Tundra

• Mostly found in cold regions such as the Arctic region.
• Limited shrubs and few patches grow in the tundra regions.
• Mostly covered with permafrost.

Ice-sheets

• No vegetative cover in these areas.
• Found in Antarctica and Greenland.

Rainfall Distribution in India

image sources: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:India_annual_rainfall_map_en.svg

The average rainfall in India amounts to 125 cm. additionally, different zones experience specific rainfall patterns. Some prominent features of rainfall distribution in India are as follows:

• The southwest monsoon (June to September) characterizes 75% of the total rainfall in the country.
• The northeast monsoon (October to December) comprises 13% of the total rainfall in India.
• 10% (April and May) of rainfall is cyclonic in nature
• Around 2% (December to February) rainfall is engendered by western disturbances
• The southern states of India receive the preliminary rainfall from
• May onwards. Rainfall in these states is often accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.
• The northwestern states of India receive an annual rainfall of less than 400cm.
• Rajasthan receives an annual rainfall of less than 60cm.
• Variability is high in regions receiving low rainfall. Such areas are extremely vulnerable to droughts.

The heavy rainfall areas in India are mentioned hereby:

• Western Ghats
• Northeast Indian states (excluding Manipur and Tripura)
• Andaman and Nicobar islands

The areas which experience a scarcity of rainfall are as follows:

• Gujarat and Rajasthan in the west
• Punjab and Haryana in the north
• Deserts in the Ladakh region

Biosphere Reserves of India

Biosphere Reserves (BR) is an internationally acclaimed recognition by UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization). India incorporates various biological reserves to maintain a rich cultural, social, and environmental heritage.

By definition, a biological reserve refers to a protected bio-geographical unit for natural conservation. The government, with the help of local tribal communities, takes care of these natural reserves and maintains the ecological balance of the country.

A biological reserve comprises three major zones:

Core Zone

• Most interiorized area of a biological reserved
• Contains endemic plants and animals
• As per the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the core zone is free from human interference.

Buffer Zone

• It surrounds the core zone to protect the natural species within its ambit
• This comprises the activities of limited tourism, fisheries, grazing, wildlife restoration, etc.
• It also encourages research and other educational activities including limited field trips

Transition Zone

• It features as the outer layer of a biosphere reserve
• Human ventures are permissible in this zone
• Includes managed forests, croplands, settlements, etc.
• Used for intensive recreation, tourism, economic upliftment, etc.

Functions of a Biosphere Reserve in India

• Conservation of endemic species, genetic resources, landscapes, and ecosystems
• Foster human and economic developments
• Protection of the environment
• Encouraging educational and research activities
• A hotspot for sustainable development

There exist a total of eighteen biosphere reserves in India. A list of the same is mentioned below:

Name of the Biosphere Reserve	Name of the State
Nanda Devi	Uttarakhand
Dehang-Debang	Arunachal Pradesh
Dibru-Saikhowa	Assam
Panna	Madhya Pradesh
Cold Desert	Himachal Pradesh
Khangchendzonga	Sikkim
Manas	Assam
Nokrek	Meghalaya
Achanakmar- Amarkantak	Madhya Pradesh- Chhattisgarh
Sundarban	West Bengal
Great Nicobar	Andaman and Nicobar islands
Nilgiri	Tamil nadu-Kerala
Seshachalam	Andhra Pradesh
Similipal	Odisha
Pachmarhi	Madhya Pradesh
Gulf of Mannar	Tamil Nadu
Agasthyamala	Karnataka- Tamil Nadu-Kerala

 

National Parks in India

Here is a list of national parks in India:

Year of Establishment	Name of the National Park	Name of the State
1936	Corbett National Park	Uttarakhand
1955	Kanha National Park	Madhya Pradesh
1955	Tadoba National Park	Maharashtra
1959	Madhav National Park	Madhya Pradesh
1968	Bandhavgarh National Park	Madhya Pradesh
1974	Kaziranga National Park	Assam
1974	Bandipur National Park	Karnataka
1974	Bannerghatta National Park	Karnataka
1975	Gir National Park	Gujarat
1975	Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park	Madhya Pradesh
1975	Gugamal National Park	Maharashtra
1975	Navegaon National Park	Maharashtra
1975	Pench National Park	Maharashtra
1976	Blackbuck National Park	Gujarat
1976	Guindy National Park	Tamil Nadu
1977	Keibul-Lamjao National Park	Manipur
1977	Khangchendzonga National Park	Sikkim
1977	Dudhwa National Park	Uttar Pradesh
1978	Eravikulam National Park	Kerala
1979	Vansda National Park	Gujarat
1979	Van Vihar National Park	Madhya Pradesh
1980	Simlipal National Park	Odisha
1980	Ranthambore National Park	Rajasthan
1980	Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park	Tamil Nadu
1981	Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park	Chhattisgarh
1981	Dachigam National Park	Jammu & Kashmir
1981	Hemis National Park	Jammu & Kashmir
1981	Kishtwar National Park	Jammu & Kashmir
1981	Panna National Park	Madhya Pradesh
1981	Sanjay National Park	Madhya Pradesh
1981	Satpura National Park	Madhya Pradesh
1981	Keoladeo Ghana National Park	Rajasthan
1982	Indravati National Park	Chhattisgarh
1998	Nameri National Park	Assam
1999	Dibru-Saikhowa National Park	Assam
1999	Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park	Assam
2003	Kalesar National Park	Haryana
2003	Anamudi Shola National Park	Kerala
2003	Mathikettan Shola National Park	Kerala
2003	Pampadum Shola National Park	Kerala
2004	Chandoli National Park	Maharashtra
2005	Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) National Park	Andhra Pradesh
2006	Mukundra Hills National Park	Rajasthan
2007	Clouded Leopard National Park	Tripura
2007	Bison National Park	Tripura
2008	Papikonda National Park	Andhra Pradesh
2010	Inderkilla National Park	Himachal Pradesh
2010	Khirganga National Park	Himachal Pradesh
2010	Simbalbara National Park	Himachal Pradesh
2014	Jaldapara National Park	West Bengal

 

Red-Listed Species of India

Red-listed species refer to the critically endangered (on the verge of extinction) birds and animals in a country. In India, there are innumerable red-listed species. Some of these species are as follows:

• Kashmir stag/Hag Hull
• Malabar Civet
• Large Rock rat/Elvira rat
• Andaman White-tooth Shrew
• Pygmy Hog
• Himalayan Brown/Red Bear
• Kondana Rat
• Namdapha Flying Squirrel
• Sumatran Rhinoceros
• Asiatic Lion
• Asiatic wild dog
• Golden langur
• Hispid hare/Assam rabbit
• Hog deer
• Nilgiri tahr
• Bengal tigerRed panda
• Eld’s deer
• Himalayan/white-bellied Musk deer
• Lion-tailed macaque
• Kharai camel