FOREST RESOURCES

Presented By Chahat Raj Kapoor

Forest Resources

Introduction

What do we get from Forests ?

Distribution of forests

Type of Forests

Animal Kingdom- Birds & Animals

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Flora (forests) and fauna(animals) are one of the renewable Flora (forests) and fauna(animals) are one of the renewable resources of our country. In ancient times the country was resources of our country. In ancient times the country was famous for its dense and continuous forests like Dandakaranya, famous for its dense and continuous forests like Dandakaranya, panchavati, Naimishyaranya etc. But with the advance of panchavati, Naimishyaranya etc. But with the advance of civilization through ages, most part these forests are gone now. civilization through ages, most part these forests are gone now. Only 22 % of the total land of the country is covered with forests Only 22 % of the total land of the country is covered with forests now. The flora of India is diverse. It is estimated that our country now. The flora of India is diverse. It is estimated that our country possesses 45,000 different species of plants.This is the widest possesses 45,000 different species of plants.This is the widest range of diverse plants found in any country in the world. Nearly range of diverse plants found in any country in the world. Nearly 5000 species are found exclusively in India. We can5000 species are found exclusively in India. We can subdivide the subdivide the forests of India into five classes. They are:forests of India into five classes. They are:

1.Tropical Rain Forests (Ever 1.Tropical Rain Forests (Ever green forests) 2.Tropical green forests) 2.Tropical

Deciduous Forests Deciduous Forests

3.Thorn and Scrub 3.Thorn and Scrub Forests Forests

4.Tidal Forests 4.Tidal Forests (Mangrove Forests) and 5. (Mangrove Forests) and 5.

Mountain ForestsMountain Forests

Products We get from Forests !

1.1. Tropical Rainforests Tropical Rainforests (EverGreen Forests): (EverGreen Forests):

These forests grow in areas having a rainfall of These forests grow in areas having a rainfall of

more than 200 cms. These are found in the more than 200 cms. These are found in the mountain ranges of North-eastern India, in the mountain ranges of North-eastern India, in the western slopes of the Western Ghats, along the western slopes of the Western Ghats, along the foot-hills of the Himalayas and in the Andaman foot-hills of the Himalayas and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The trees of these forests and Nicobar Islands. The trees of these forests don’t shed their leaves in any season of the don’t shed their leaves in any season of the year. They always looks green. So they are year. They always looks green. So they are called ‘Evergreen Forests’. Trees like Ablus, called ‘Evergreen Forests’. Trees like Ablus, Mahogany, ebony, rosewood, sisham Mahogany, ebony, rosewood, sisham (Dalbergia Sissoo), Sandalwood (Santalum (Dalbergia Sissoo), Sandalwood (Santalum

album) grow in these forests. The treesalbum) grow in these forests. The trees are tall are tall and form a dense canopy overhead. Trees of and form a dense canopy overhead. Trees of these forests reaches up to a height of 60 these forests reaches up to a height of 60 meters or even more.meters or even more.

Dry deciduous forestsDry deciduous forests cover vast cover vast areas of the country where the areas of the country where the rainfall is between 70 to rainfall is between 70 to 100cms.They have a parkland 100cms.They have a parkland landscape in northern India with landscape in northern India with open formation specially of teak open formation specially of teak and several other tree species with and several other tree species with stretches of open grass. They stretches of open grass. They cover mostly the hills of east cover mostly the hills of east Rajasthan, Western Madhya Rajasthan, Western Madhya Pradesh and parts of central Pradesh and parts of central Deccan Plateau. Deccan Plateau.

2. Tropical Deciduous Forests:Tropical Deciduous Forests:

Deciduous forests are called Monsoon Forests. This is Deciduous forests are called Monsoon Forests. This is because they form the natural cover almost all over India because they form the natural cover almost all over India particularly between regions of 200 and 75 cms of rainfall. particularly between regions of 200 and 75 cms of rainfall. This forest- cover accounts for more than half of the total This forest- cover accounts for more than half of the total forest area of India. They are very Important from economic forest area of India. They are very Important from economic point of view. They are subdivided into two parts: point of view. They are subdivided into two parts: Moist Deciduous ForestMoist Deciduous ForestDry Deciduous Forests.Dry Deciduous Forests. They are called ‘They are called ‘deciduous forestsdeciduous forests’ because the trees of these ’ because the trees of these forests shed their leaves in the dry season of the year. forests shed their leaves in the dry season of the year. Moist Moist DeciduousTreesDeciduousTrees like Teak (Tectona gradis), Sal(Shorea like Teak (Tectona gradis), Sal(Shorea rabusta), Sandalwood (Santalum album), Shisham (Dalbergia rabusta), Sandalwood (Santalum album), Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Hurra (Terminalia chebula), Khair(Acacia catechu), sissoo), Hurra (Terminalia chebula), Khair(Acacia catechu), Bamboo and Cane grow in these forests. These forests are Bamboo and Cane grow in these forests. These forests are confined to north-eastern India, eastern slopes of the Western confined to north-eastern India, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, Chhotnagpur Plateau, Orissa, Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, Chhotnagpur Plateau, Orissa, Chhatisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.Chhatisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

3. THE THORN AND SCRUB FORESTS:3. THE THORN AND SCRUB FORESTS:

These are confined to areas with a rainfall of less than 75cms. It spreads over north-western part of the country from Saurashtra in the south to Punjab plains in the north.It is found in parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and also in parts of south India. Kikar, babul, khair, acacia, munj and sawai grass are found in these forests. These forest areas are being converted into residential areas due to population pressure. Thorn and cactus are found in western Punjab and western Rajasthan where the rainfall is less than 50 cms.

4. TIDAL FORESTS:

The tidal areas along the coast of India particularly the lowlands and river-mouths of the eastern coast is covered with mangrove forests. Mangrove trees can survive both in fresh and saline water- the major characteristic of the tidal areas. Sundari is a well-known mangrove tree. It is after the name of this tree that the name sundarban has been given to the vast tidal mangrove forests of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta in West Bengal. Due to the abundance of Hental trees, the mangrove forests of the Mahanadi-Brahmani mouth are called ‘Hentalban’. It is also called ‘The Little Sundarbans’.

55. MOUNTAIN FORESTS (ALTITUDINAL ZONES OF . MOUNTAIN FORESTS (ALTITUDINAL ZONES OF VEGETATION IN MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS OF VEGETATION IN MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS OF INDIA):INDIA):

Altitude is an important factor in the distribution of Altitude is an important factor in the distribution of vegetation in the mountainous regions because of vegetation in the mountainous regions because of the decrease of temperature with the increase of the decrease of temperature with the increase of altitude. The Himalayas are covered with all types of altitude. The Himalayas are covered with all types of vegetation starting with tropical rain forests in the vegetation starting with tropical rain forests in the foothills to tundra vegetation on the peaks. Due to foothills to tundra vegetation on the peaks. Due to the hot and humid climate, siwaliks, the foothills of the hot and humid climate, siwaliks, the foothills of the Himalayas are covered with tropical rain forests the Himalayas are covered with tropical rain forests and moist deciduous flora. Sal is the most important and moist deciduous flora. Sal is the most important and dominant species. It is then succeeded by wet and dominant species. It is then succeeded by wet hill forest between 1000 and 2000 meters. Evergreen hill forest between 1000 and 2000 meters. Evergreen broad leave oaks, chestnuts and apple trees are broad leave oaks, chestnuts and apple trees are common trees in these altitudes. common trees in these altitudes.

Further up between 1600 and 3300 meters above sea Further up between 1600 and 3300 meters above sea level, pine, cedar, spruce and silver fir are found level, pine, cedar, spruce and silver fir are found which are some of the most important species in which are some of the most important species in these altitudes. These forests are the coniferous these altitudes. These forests are the coniferous forests of the temperate regions of the world found in forests of the temperate regions of the world found in these altitudes of the Himalayas. Temperate these altitudes of the Himalayas. Temperate coniferous forests is succeeded by Alpine Forests coniferous forests is succeeded by Alpine Forests which is found generally at altitudes between 2750 to which is found generally at altitudes between 2750 to 3600 meters above sea level. These forests are 3600 meters above sea level. These forests are covered with species like silver firs, pines, birches covered with species like silver firs, pines, birches and junipers. Above 3600 meters above sea level, and junipers. Above 3600 meters above sea level, Alpine Forests give way to Alpine Grasslands. The Alpine Forests give way to Alpine Grasslands. The peaks of the Himalayas are covered with perpetual peaks of the Himalayas are covered with perpetual snowsnow..

Mountanious Forests

Animal Kingdom

Different types of Birds

A terrestrial animal spends its entire life cycle outside of water. If it enters the water to feed or for other activities, the total time spent in water is insignificant relative to the animal's life span.

Different Types Of Animals- Terristrial Animals

Aquatic Animals

An aquatic animal spends its entire life cycle in a liquid medium that is mostly water.

Pollution & Land Degradation

The forest cover of India is receding at an alarming rate due to developmental activities and large scale felling of trees by the timber mafia. This has created a number of environmental problems leading to frequent flood and draught over the decades of the last century. Hence appropriate measures should be taken for the protection of this valuable wealth of India.

THE END