Natural vegetation and Wildlife refers to plant life that thrives independently without human intervention or disturbance. It excludes crops and fruits intentionally cultivated by humans. India boasts a diverse array of plants, hosting approximately 47,000 species.

India hosts around 90,000 animal species, including 2,000 bird species and 2,546 varieties of fish. The country’s fauna displays remarkable diversity.

The government implements several measures to safeguard the diverse natural vegetation and wildlife, as outlined below.

Biosphere: The biosphere is the interconnected zone where the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere meet, fostering natural vegetation and wildlife.

Ecosystem: Within the biosphere, organisms coexist and rely on each other for survival, forming the ecosystem, a vital support system for life.

Importance of vegetation: Vegetation holds immense value as a resource. Plants provide timber, shelter for animals, oxygen production, and soil protection. They also offer fruits, nuts, latex, medicinal plants, and various other resources.

Importance of wildlife: Wildlife encompasses animals, birds, insects, and aquatic life. They supply milk, meat, hide, and wool. Insects like bees contribute honey and aid in flower pollination, while playing a role as decomposers in the ecosystem. Vultures, as scavengers, serve as crucial environmental cleaners by consuming deceased animals.

Tropical Evergreen Forests

• These forests are located in regions with heavy rainfall, including the Western Ghats, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, upper parts of Assam, and the Tamil Nadu coast.
• Thriving in areas receiving over 200 cm of rainfall annually and a short dry season, these forests feature towering trees, reaching heights of 60 meters or more.
• Due to the consistently warm and wet climate, these areas boast a lush vegetation variety, comprising trees, shrubs, and creepers that create a multi-layered structure within the forest.
• Leaves don’t have a specific shedding period, resulting in these forests appearing green throughout the year.
• The forest harbors commercially important trees such as ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber, and cinchona.
• Wildlife in these forests includes elephants, monkeys, lemurs, deer, and one-horned rhinoceroses found in Assam and West Bengal. Additionally, various birds, bats, sloths, scorpions, and snails inhabit these jungles.

Tropical Deciduous Forests

• These forests, termed monsoon forests, cover regions receiving rainfall from 200 cm to 70 cm annually. During the dry summer, trees in these forests shed leaves for about six to eight weeks.
• They are classified into moist deciduous, found in areas with 200 to 100 cm rainfall, mainly in the northeastern states, Himalayan foothills, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Teak dominates this forest, alongside bamboo, sal, sandalwood, and others.
• Dry deciduous forests exist in regions with 100 to 70 cm rainfall, such as parts of the Peninsular plateau, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh plains. Teak, sal, peepal, and neem grow here. Much of this area has been cleared for agriculture, and some parts are used for grazing.
• Wildlife in these forests includes lions, tigers, pigs, deer, elephants, diverse bird species, lizards, snakes, and tortoises.

The Thorn Forests and Scrubs

In regions receiving less than 70 cm of rainfall, the natural vegetation consists of thorny trees and bushes. This type of vegetation is found in the northwestern parts of India, including semi-arid areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. The main plant species include acacias, palms, euphorbias, and cacti. Trees are scattered, with deep-penetrating roots to access moisture. Stems are succulent to retain water, and leaves are thick and small to minimize evaporation. These forests transition to thorn forests and scrubs in arid areas.
Common animals found in these forests include rats, mice, rabbits, foxes, wolves, tigers, lions, wild asses, horses, and camels.

Mangrove Forests

• Mangrove tidal forests thrive in coastal areas affected by tides, accumulating mud and silt.
• Commonly dense with submerged plant roots, they cover deltas like Ganga, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri.
• Ganga-Brahmaputra’s delta features sundari trees offering durable timber. Palm, coconut, keora, and agar trees also grow in parts.
• Royal Bengal Tigers are notable in these forests, alongside turtles, crocodiles, gharials, and snakes.

WILDLIFE

India boasts around 90,000 animal species, including approximately 2,000 bird species, making up 13% of the world’s total. The country has 2,546 fish species, about 12% of the world’s fish stock, and holds 5 to 8% of the world’s amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Elephants, primarily found in hot, wet forests of Assam, Karnataka, and Kerala, are among the majestic mammals in India. One-horned rhinoceroses inhabit swampy lands of Assam and West Bengal. Arid regions like the Rann of Kachchh and Thar Desert are home to wild ass and camels respectively. Other notable animals include the Indian bison, nilgai (blue bull), chousingha (four-horned antelope), gazelle, diverse species of deer, and various types of monkeys

Wildlife Protection Act was implemented in 1972 in India

• India is the sole country that houses both tigers and lions.
• The Indian lion’s natural habitat is the Gir forest in Gujarat.
• Tigers inhabit the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the Sundarbans in West Bengal, and the Himalayan region.
• Leopards, also part of the cat family, are significant predators in India

The Gir Forest is the last remaining habitat of the Asiatic lion

• The Himalayas host a range of cold-adapted animals like yak, Tibetan antelope, bharal, wild sheep, kiang, ibex, bear, snow-leopard, and red panda.
• Rivers, lakes, and coastal areas in India house turtles, crocodiles, and gharials, a unique crocodile species.
• India’s birdlife includes peacocks, pheasants, ducks, parakeets, cranes, and pigeons thriving in forests and wetlands.
• Crop selection in India comes from a diverse range of edible plants, medicinal plants, and animals used for milk, transportation, and more.
• Conservation is crucial due to overexploitation, leading to endangerment and extinction of about 1,300 plant species and several animal species.
• Major threats include hunting for profit, pollution, introduction of alien species, and deforestation for cultivation and habitation.
• The government has established eighteen biosphere reserves, including Sundarbans, Nanda Devi, Nilgiri, and others, to protect flora and fauna. Twelve are part of the global biosphere reserve network

Conclusion

• Natural vegetation and wildlife are vital components of ecosystems, interdependent for survival.
• They offer valuable resources, including organic products and support for various creatures and birds.
• Decomposers play a crucial role in cleaning the environment.
• Wildlife provides essential edible products while vegetation exists in diverse forms across the globe.
• Conservation efforts through resource management, afforestation, and wildlife programs are vital for their preservation.
• Protecting and conserving natural vegetation and wildlife is essential for sustaining life on our planet.

Read also: Ecosystem Biosphere

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