This document discusses different types of natural vegetation and forests around the world. It describes tropical evergreen, deciduous, and softwood forests, as well as Mediterranean forests. Each forest type is defined based on factors like climate, rainfall, tree height, leaf type, and example locations. The document also discusses the importance of forests and wildlife, threats like deforestation, and conservation measures to protect natural resources.

1. Chapter 3 Natural Resources: Vegetation
and Wildlife
BY KAMLESH KHANNA

2. Natural Vegetation:
• refers to a plant community which has
grown naturally without human aid and
has been left undisturbed by human for a
long time.
• Important factors for the growth of plants :
Temperature and Rainfall
• Ex. Area of heavy rainfall : Thick and dense
forest
• Area of low rainfall : Shrubs and short trees

3. Classification of Forest
Classification of
Forest
Tropical
Hardwood
Forest
Tropical
Evergreen
Forest
Tropical
Deciduous
Forest
Mediterranean
Forest
Temperate
Softwood Forest

6. Tropical Evergreen Forest
• Known as Tropical Rainforest
• Don’t shed their leaves at same time
• Well Distributed – 200 cm rainfall & hot climate
• Trees are very tall ( up to 60 metres)
• Dense growth of vegetation & trees have broad leaves
• Trees- mahogany,ebony,rosewood,rubber & palm
• Animals-elephant,lemur,monkey & deer
• Areas-
• Ivory Coast, Ghana, Camroon & Gabon in Africa
• W.Ghats, Andaman & Nicobar,Kerala & N.E.part of India

7. Tropical Deciduous Forest
• Known as Monsoon forest
• Shed their leaves during the dry season
• Well Distributed – 100-200 cm rainfall & warm climate, wet &
dry season
• Trees are mediun in height ( 30 to 40 metres)
• Not as dense as T.E.Forest & trees have broad & medium size
leaves
• Trees- sal, teak, sandalwood, bamboo & shisham
• Animals-lion, tiger, elephant & numerous kinds of reptiles
• Areas- India, Myanmar, S.China, E. Brazil & Central part of
America

8. Tropical Softwood Forest
• Known as Coniferous forest & in India known as Mountain forest
• Don’t shed their leaves
• Well Distributed – colder region, precipitation (snow) in winter
• Trees are tall & conical in shape
• Trees have leaves thick needle shaped leaves
• Trees- pine, fur, sprus, cedar, deodar, silver fir ,chestnut &
walnut
• Animals-Kashmir stag, spotted deer, Tibetan antelope, snow
leapord,tiger & golden eagle
• Areas- High altitudes of northern hemisphere & high mountain
in Europe, Asia, N. Canada & USA

9. Mediterranean Forest
• Location : around the Mediterranean sea
• Areas : Shores of Europe, Asia, N. Africa, & S. Western parts
of S. Africa
• Climate: dry summer & moderate rainfall during winter
• Vegetation :
• widely scattered & have spiny , waxy, small & leathery- textured
leaves.
• Trees have long roots & thick bark ‘
• Trees: cork, olive & citrus fruit trees
• Animals :Mediterranean monk seal, Greek tortoise, great
busted etc

10. Advantages of Forests
• help us to breathe by converting carbon
dioxide into oxygen
• provide safe habitat to wild animals
• many people depend on forest for their
livelihood
• helps in keeping earth cool
• helps in causing rainfall
• help to raise ground water level & prevent
floods

11. Deforestation leads to
• Depleted important resources
• loss of habitat for wildlife
• ecological imbalance
• soil erosion

12. Measures to protect forests
• Afforestation
• ‘Each one plant one’ policy
• efficient utilisation of forest product
• usage of substitutes of wood
• discouraging shifting cultivation
• enforcement of a number of laws/guildlines
• prohibit deforestation

13. Wildlife
• Importance of wildlife
• important for its aesthetic values & ecological
balance
• boosts tourism 7 creates jobs for the people
• animals behaviour changes at the time of
earthquake so it is early warning system & life
of lots of people can saved
• dead & decaying plants & animals produce
humus which maintains fertility of soil.

14. Conservation of Wildlife
• hunting & poaching of wild animals & birds
have been banned
• killing of wildlife is a punishable offence
• set up of National Park & Wildlife
Sanctuaries