Introduction:-

Natural vegetation: 

• Plants and trees that grow naturally in a certain area are referred to as natural vegetation. Forests and jungles can be formed from this natural vegetation
• In India, a diverse range of natural vegetation can be found due to a variety of climatic conditions. Altitude, soil, and climate all influence natural vegetation. According to a study of the distribution of forests in India, there is a strong link between rainfall zones and natural vegetation belts
• With about 47,000 plant species, India ranks tenth in the world and fourth in Asia in terms of plant variety. It contains 15000 flowering plants or 6% of the world’s total. India is also one of the world’s 12 mega bio-diverse countries
• In terms of animal species, India has 89000 species, as well as a diverse range of fish in both its marine and freshwaters
• The terms fauna and flora refer to animal species and plants, respectively, in a certain location

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Importance of Natural Vegetation:

• The regulation of various biogeochemical cycles, such as water, carbon, and nitrogen, is influenced by vegetation, which is a key component of an ecosystem
• Solar energy is converted into biomass by vegetation, which is the foundation of all food chains. The energy balance at the earth’s surface and within the atmospheric boundary layer is influenced by vegetation, which often mitigates local climate extremes
• Plants release oxygen while sequestering carbon
• Vegetation has an impact on soil development over time, resulting in a more productive soil
• Wildlife habitat and food are provided by vegetation
• Humans benefit from both direct (for example, timber) and indirect (for example, watershed protection) socioeconomic products and services provided by vegetation
• Some people have spiritual and cultural experiences as a result of vegetation

Factors affecting natural vegetation

The key variables that determine a region’s Natural Vegetation are soil, geography, and climate. Temperature and rainfall are the two most important climatic parameters. The type of vegetation is heavily influenced by the annual rainfall pattern.

• In the Himalayan region and other mountainous places with elevations of more than 900 metres, the temperature has a crucial effect. In the Himalayan region, as the temperature drops with height, the flora varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate, and alpine types of vegetation
• In a few cases, the soil is also a deciding factor. Swamp woods and mangroves are two examples of ecosystems where soil plays an important role. Certain minor forms of vegetation, such as tidal woods and alpine flora, are influenced by topography

Natural Vegetation of India:

• India’s natural vegetation is usually classified based on seasonal and regional changes in rainfall. Temperature, soil, and geography are all taken into account

Vegetation or forests in India are broadly classified into the following categories:

1.Tropical Evergreen Rainforests

Tropical Evergreen Rainforests are found in areas with more than 200 cm of annual precipitation. They are mostly found in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, the Western Ghats, the Himalayan Tarai areas, and the Andaman Islands. They can also be found in the Khasi and Jaintia hills. The trees in this area are gaining a lot of height. Sandalwood, Rosewood, Garjan, Mahogany, and bamboo are the main trees found in this area. It has a multilayered structure due to the abundance of vegetation of all kinds – trees, shrubs, and creepers.

2.Deciduous forests

On the lower slopes of the Himalayas, in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and the surrounding areas, deciduous forests can be found. The rainfall in this area ranges from 100 to 200 cm. Teak is the most common tree in the area. Deodar, Blue Gum, Pal Ash, Sal, Sandalwood, Ebony, Arjun, Khair, and Bamboo are among the other trees. During the dry winter and summer, the trees in this forest shed their leaves. These forests are further divided into moist and dry deciduous based on the availability of water.

3.Mountain or Montane forests

Forests found in mountains are known as montane forests. Mountain forests differ significantly depending on the mountain’s slope. Evergreen trees such as Sal, teak, and bamboo thrive in the Himalayan foothills up to a height of 1500 metres. Temperate conifer trees such as pine, fir, and oak grow on the higher slope. Rhododendrons and junipers grow at higher elevations in the Himalayas. Alpine grasslands appear after these vegetation zones, up to the snowfield.

4.Mangrove or tidal forests

Tidal or mangrove forests grow along the coast and on the outskirts of deltas, such as the Cauvery, Krishna, Mahanadi, Godavari, and Ganga deltas. These forests are known as ‘Sundarbans’ in West Bengal. In these forests, the ‘Sundari’ is the most important tree. Hogla, Garan, Pasur, and other tidal forest trees are important. This forest is vital to the timber industry because it provides both timber and firewood. The coastal strip is adorned with palm and coconut trees.

5.Desert variations

The annual rainfall in this area is less than 50 cm. This vegetation zone is home to thorny bushes, acacia, and Babul. The Indian wild date is commonly found in this area. They have thick flesh and long roots. Plants in this area store water in their stems to help them survive the drought. Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan all have this type of vegetation.