Natural Vegetation of India

Tropical Evergreen Forests	Av. Rainfall → Above 200 cm Av. Temp. → 24* C Found at Hot & Humid areas of India Tall & Dense → 45 – 60 m Hardwood Forests Found at WGs, A & N islands & Eastern India Sunrays unable to reach earth surface Trees compete & rise high to get sunlight Ex. Rubber, Coconut, Ebony, Mahogany, Palms
Deciduous Forests	Av. Rainfall → 100 -200 cm Av. Height → 25 – 45 m Shed their leaves in summers due to shortage of water Found at Shiwaliks, Ganga valley, WGs, NE India Economically very important forests Ex. Sal, Teak, Shisham, Sandalwood, Deodar, Mahua
Tropical dry Forests	Av. Rainfall → 50 – 100 cm Less dense & Small in size → 6 – 9 m Roots are thick & long to use underground water Thick Bark to prevent undue evaporation Found at Punjab, Haryana, MP, Eastern Rajasthan, Central Deccan Plateau Most of the areas are used for agriculture Dwarf Deciduous trees and long- grasses grow in these regions Ex. Neem, Shisham, Babul, Pipal, Mango

Arid or Desert Forests	Av. Rainfall < 50 cm Prominent features → Small leaves, Thick Bark, Long Roots Indian wild date is common in these deserts. Found at Western Rajasthan, SW Haryana & Punjab, In some parts of Gujrat Ex. Small sized Kikar, Babul, Acacia, Bushes & Shrubs
Tidal Forests	These forests grow along the coast and on the edges of the deltas Famous for Mangrove & Sundari Trees Consists of thick Bushes & Ferns Known as Halophytes → Tolerant of Salinity Found at Sundarbans, A & N Islands, Deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna & Kavery
Mountain forests	Mountain forests vary considerably along the slopes of mountain On the foothills of Himalayas, upto a height of 1500 meters, evergreen trees, (Sal, teak, bamboo and cane) grow abundantly. On higher slope between 1,500 meters to 3,500 meters, temperate conifer trees (pine, fir, oak, maple, deodar, laurel spruce, cedar) grow. At the higher altitude of the Himalayas, rhododendrons and junipers are found. Beyond these vegetation belts, alpine grasslands appear up to snowfield.

34 Percent geographical area under forest cover till 2015
The total forested area in India is about 63.73 million hectares.
In the last 10 years, forest cover in the country has increased by 3.31 million hectares, showing an average 0.46% increase every year.

Problems of Forestry
Over grazing	Forest Fire	Reckless Cutting of Trees	Jhum Cultivation

Reserve & Protected forests
Van Mahotsav Programme → Thousands of trees are planted every year in the months of July and August
Forest Research Institute at Dehradun → For promotion and preservation the forests properly
National Forest policy

National Forest Policy, 1988

Conservation of Biodiversity, Afforestation & Check of soil erosion
33 % Geographical area shall be forest covered
Develop Social Forestry → (Agro Forestry, Community Forestry & Forestry by officials)

Social Forestry

Mainly to reduce pressure on traditional forests by planting trees esp. for fuel wood, Timber & other social supplies
Help in checking water and wind erosion by acting as shelter belts
Employment & additional income generation

Agro Forestry	Planting trees & agricultural crops together on farms for food, fuel, fodder, timber & fruits Forestry + Agriculture Trees bind soil and acts as shelter belts thus check soil erosion Deep roots of trees trap new nutrients and bring them close to the surface Leguminous trees fix atmospheric nitrogen, thus improves fertility of the soil Soil nutrient increases due to addition and deposition of leaf litter
Community Forestry	Trees Planted by community in their respected colonies
Forestry by officials	Trees planted by forest departments to cater needs of community esp. along Roads, canals, Railways etc.

Reserved Forests	Under direct supervision of the government Area notified under the provisions of FRA No public entry is allowed for collection of timber or grazing About 54 % of total forest area Has full degree of protection All activities are prohibited unless permitted
Protected Forests	Area notified under the provisions of FRA All activities are permitted unless prohibited Looked after by the gov. Has limited degree of protection Local people are allowed to collect fuel wood, timber & to graze their animals without causing serious damage to the forests About 29 % of total forest area
Unprotected Forests	No restriction on cutting trees or cattle grazing About 18 % of total forest area

Relatively large area consisting of one or more ecosystems, operates at National Level
No human activity or settlement allowed i.e. human interference is totally prohibited
Villagers cannot graze their animals + Extremely strict rules about jungle produce collection for ex. Honey.

Regulated human activities are allowed → Grazing of animals, Firewood collection, Tourism
can be created for a particular specie which is not the case with national; operates at State Level
A sanctuary can be upgraded to a national park but not vice versa.

Unique ecosystem of terrestrial & coastal areas internationally recognized by UNESCO under Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme
People are allowed to live, own private land & carry own traditional activities but only in outer zone.

Core zone	Central area that has to be kept undisturbed of all activities except research (which don’t disturb wildlife)
Buffer zone	Some light activities like tourism, fishing, grazing etc. are allowed which don’t disturb the core zone. Research activities are encouraged here
Transition zone	Outmost part & not delimited but activities have to be harmonious with the biosphere reserve

Can be declared by the State Governments in any area owned by the government
Particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks and Sanctuaries and those areas which link one Protected Area with another
Such declaration should be made after having consultations with the local communities

Can be declared by the State Government in any private or community land, not comprised within a National Park, Sanctuary or a Conservation Reserve
Mainly where an individual or a community has volunteered to conserve wildlife and its habitat

nancy seni says:

November 28, 2020 at 7:24 am

thankyou very much to share the knowledge.

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prabhakar says:

May 20, 2018 at 6:27 am

soo many thanks

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Diwakar says:

July 17, 2017 at 12:50 pm

Forest Cover in India is 24% not 34%

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1. rahul kumar says:
  
  April 30, 2020 at 2:49 pm
  
  21.05% forest cover in India according to state of forest report 2011 not 24%
  
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G SINGH says:

March 17, 2017 at 9:32 am

THIS IS THE BEST EVER WEBSITE…………………….

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Surendar says:

August 5, 2016 at 9:23 pm

There is not a website like this anywhere….! Extrodinary sir

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prithvi says:

February 15, 2016 at 3:24 pm

nice initiative sir

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Eswar says:

February 14, 2016 at 1:28 pm

Thank u sir

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