1. Write features of Tropical Deciduous forests.
(i) Such forests are found on the foothills of Himalayas, north-eastern states, Jharkhand, West Orissa, Chhattisgarh and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
(ii) During the dry season, the trees in these forests shed their leaves.
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(iii) These forests have teak, shisham, sal, sandalwood, as well as thick undergrowth of shrubs and bamboo.
(iv) These forests are also economically very significant for India.
(v) In these forests the common animals found are lions, tigers, elephants, deer, tortoise, pigs and a great variety of birds and insects.
2. Give main features of Tropical Thorn Forest and Scrubs.
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(i) These forests occur in areas which have less than 70 cm of rainfall annually.
(ii) They are found in the north-western parts of the country including semi-arid areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
(iii) The commonly found trees in these forests are short, stunted and scattered.
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(iv) Besides Acacia (Babul) dateplams, cupharbies and cactus trees, different shrubs and grasses commonly grow in between these trees.
(v) In these forests the common animals found are goats, wild asses, horses, camels, wolves, tigers and lions etc.
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3. State features of Temperate Forests and Grasslands.
(i) In the foothills of the Himalayas, tropical deciduous forests are found and trees like teak, shisam, sal and rosewood etc. predominate. They flourish upto height of about 1000 metres.
(ii) Above the tropical decidous forests, between 1000 to 2000 metres wet temperate type of forests flourish. Here evergreen broad-leave trees like oaks and chestnuts predominate.
(iii) Above that, upto a height of 3000 metres, temperate forests fluorish. Here coniferous trees like pine, deodar, silver fir, spruce and cedar are commonly found.
(iv) At still higher elevation, temperate forests grasslands are quite common.
(v) The common animals found in these forests are wild sheep and goats antelops, yaks, show leopards, rabbits, squirrels etc.
4. State the features of Montane or Alpine and Tundra vegetation
(i) Here temperate forests and grasslands are replaced by Alpine type of vegetation or forests.
(ii) In these Alpine type of forests, trees like silver fir, junipers, birches and pines etc. are found.
(iii) As these trees approach the snow line, they get progressively stunted.
(iv) They, ultimately, through scrubs and shrubs merge into the Alpine grasslands. These grasslands provide superb grazing fields to the nomadic tribes like the Bakarwals and Gujjars to feed their sheep and goats etc.
(v) The common animals are leopards, yaks, sheeps and goats etc.
5. Write features of Tidal Forests.
The Tidal Forests:
(i) The tidal forests are the most important vegetation in areas near the coasts and rivers where tides are common.
(ii) Such forests are covered by mangrove trees with their roots submerged under water.
(iii) The deltas of the Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna are covered by such forests.
(iv) Sunderi is the well-known mangrove tree, after the name of which the forested parts of Ganga-Brhamaputra delta are known as Sunderb
(v) Besides the Bengal Tiger, other animals found are Crocodiles, Gharials, turtles and snakes etc.
6. Why has ‘India a rich heritage of flora and fauna.
(i) Land affects bio-diversity. Different type of vegetation occurs in mountains, plateau eind plain areas or in dry wet regions. Each type of terrain and vegetation gives habitat to different types of animals.
(ii) Different types of soils provide basis for different types of vegetation. For example, sandy soils support cactus and thorny bushes while wet marshy, deltaic soils support mangroves.
(iii) Temperature, humidity and precipitation also affect the type of vegetation and wildlife. In hot wet regions of Assam and Kerala, elephants and tropical evergreen trees are found. In high mountains, coniferous forests are seen. In Alpine, tundra region mosses and lichen grow and snow-leopards are found.
(iv) Varying amount of rainfall from 20 cm to 300 cm. Duration of rainfall period also varies and gives variety of vegetation. The variation in duration of sunlight at different places due to difference in latitude and altitude, season and duration of the day also affect vegetation. Due to longer duration of sunlight, trees grow faster.
7. Explain the main reasons for deforestation in four points.
(i) With the increase in population, there is increasing demand for forest products.
(ii) Several forests have been cleared for agriculture.
(iii) Due to practice of shifting agriculture, especially in North-eastern parts of our country, intensive damage has been done to forests.
(iv) Overgrazing and cutting trees for fuel.
8. Suggest five measures to conserve forests.
(i) Planting fast growing trees and preventing the felling of young trees.
(ii) Preventing forest fires.
(iii) Create public awarness about the importance of forests.
(iv) We must celebrate Van Mahotsava and plant trees in those areas which are not suitable for agriculture.
(v) All National Day celebration programmes should follow a programme of tree plantation.
9. Name any five medicinal plants found in India and give their uses.
(i) Sarpagandha, it is used to treat blood pressure. It is found in India.
(ii) Jamun, the juice from ripe fruit is used to prepare vinegar and has digestive properties. The powder of the seeds is used in controlling diabetes.
(iii) Arjun, the fresh juice of the leaves is a cure for earache. It is also used to regulate blood pressure.
(iv) Babool, the leaves are used to cure eye sores. Its gum is used as tonic.
(v) Neem, it has high antibiotic and antibacterial properties.
(vi) Tulsi plant, it is used to cure cough and cold.