2.4   Natural Vegetation

. Natural Vegetation Natural vegetation refers to a plant community unaffected by man either directly or indirectly. It has its existence in certain natural environment. Natural vegetation includes all plant life forms such as trees, bushes, herbs and forbs etc., that grow naturally in an area and have been left undisturbed by humans for a long time. Climate, soil and landforms characteristics are the important environmental controls of natural vegetation. On the basis of the above factors the natural vegetation of India can be divided into the following types. Tropical Evergreen Forest These forests are found in areas with cm or more annual rainfall. The annual temperature is about more than °C and the average annual humidity exceeds percent in this region. Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andaman-Nicobar Islands, Assam, West Bengal, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya states have this type of forests. The most important trees are rubber, mahogany, ebony, rosewood, coconut, bamboo, cinchona, candes, palm, iron wood and cedar. These have not been fully exploited due to lack of transport facilities. Tropical Deciduous Forest These are found in the areas with to cm annual rainfall. These are called ‘ Monsoon Forests ’. The mean annual temperature of this region is about o C and the average annual relative humidity is to percent. The trees of these forests drop their leaves during the spring and early summer. (Sub Himalayan - Region from Punjab to Assam, Great Plains- Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Central India - Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, South India - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala states are notable for this type of natural vegetation.) Teak and sal are the most important trees. Sandalwood, rosewood, kusum, mahua, palas, haldu, amla, padauk, bamboo and tendu are the other trees of economic importance. These forests also provide fragrant oil, varnish, sandal oil and perfumes. Tropical Dry Forest These are found in the areas with to cm annual rainfall. They represent a transitional type of forests. These are found in East Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Western