Natural vegetation is a plant community that grows naturally over a period of time without human interruption. In India, we found a diverse variety of natural vegetation due to varied climatic and geographical conditions.

Natural Vegetation in India

•  Natural vegetation refers to a plant community that has been left undisturbed over a long period of time. The natural vegetation includes tall trees, shrubs, grasses, bushes, and flowering plants which live in association with one another in a given area.
• One of the basic differences between vegetation and forest is that the forest broadly includes the entire vegetation (natural/ unnatural), wildlife, and surrounding environment and it has economic importance for us.
• There is a close relationship between the height of the land and the characteristics of the vegetation. The climate varies with the change in altitude, due to which the nature of the natural vegetation changes.
• With around 47,000 plant species, India ranks 10th worldwide and 4th in Asia regarding plant variety. India is home to about 15,000 flowering plants or 6% of all flowering plants worldwide.
• Himalayan heights are marked with temperate vegetation, the Western Ghats and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have tropical rainforests, the deltaic regions have tropical forests and mangroves, the desert and semi-desert areas of Rajasthan are known for Cacti, a wide variety of bushes and thorny vegetation.
• India is home to different types of natural vegetation, ranging from tropical forests to tundra vegetation owing to the different relief features and soils found here.

Factors Affecting Natural Vegetation

The factors affecting natural vegetation are as follows

• Land The slope of the land plays an important role in determining natural vegetation. 
• Fertile lands are Soil the threadless of soils and different types of soil affect natural vegetation. Mangroves and deltaic used for agriculture.
• Climate Temperature and rainfall are two major climatic components that influence vegetation. vegetation are found on marshy soils.
• Trees are scarce if there is not much rainfall during warm growing season.

Vegetation Regions and Their Areas

Forest

• A forest is a large geographical area dominated by trees, animals of various species, aquatic biomes and micro-organisms. Forests provide us with shelter, livelihoods, water, food, and fuel security.

Forest Based on Administrative

On the basis of administration, forests in India are classified as

• Reserved Forests These forests are under the direct supervision of the government, where no public entry is allowed for collecting timber and grazing of cattle. They are 53% of the total forest area in India.
• Protected Forests These forests are looked after by the governments, but the local public are allowed to collect timber/firewood and graze their cattle without causing serious damage to the forests. They are 29% of the total forest area in India.
• Unclassified Forests These are unclassified forests, where there is no restriction on cutting trees or grazing animals. They are 18% of the total forests in India. 

Forest Based on Constitutional Division

On the basis of constitutional division, forests in India are classified as 

• State Forests These are under the full control of the government (State/Central) and include almost all the important forest areas of the country. They are about 93.8% of the total forest area in India
• Communal Forests: These forests, constituting approximately 4.9% of India's total forest area, are owned and administered by local bodies such as Municipal Corporations, Municipal Boards, Town Areas, District Boards, and Village Panchayats.
•  Private Forests: Under private ownership, these forests are undergoing rapid conversion into wastelands. Odisha boasts the highest private forest area in the country, accounting for nearly 1.3% of the total forest area in India.

Forests Based on Commercial Aspects:

• Merchantable Forests: Covering about 82% of the country's forest area, these accessible forests facilitate easy movement.

• Non-Merchantable Forests: Situated in higher mountain regions, constituting around 18% of the country's forest area.

Forests Based on Structure:

• Conifer Forests: These temperate forests cover 6.5% of the country's forest area.
• Broad-Leaf Forests: Encompassing tropical and temperate monsoon forests, 94% of the country's forest area falls under this category. These forests are predominantly found in plain, plateau, and mountainous regions.
• Forest Based on Exploitability: Approximately 58% of the country's forest area falls under this category, consisting mostly of reserved forests intended for future use.

Government Initiatives for Forest Conservation:

• National Forest Policy, 1952: Introduced as the first national forest policy, it aimed to expand forest cover to 1/3rd of the entire Indian landmass. The new National Forest Policy, 2020, focuses on increasing forest cover from the present 6% to 25% by 2030.
• Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF): Enacted in 2016, the CAF Act manages funds collected for compensatory afforestation. 90% of CAF money goes to states, and 10% is retained by the center.
• National Bamboo Mission: Aiming to increase bamboo plantations in non-forest land, this mission contributes to farm income, climate change resilience, and raw material availability for industries. Implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, it seeks to double farmers' income and benefit the rural economy.

Forest Conservation Act, 1980

• The Forest Conservation Act of 1980, enacted by the Parliament of India, ensures the preservation of forests and their resources. It addresses deforestation by prohibiting the indiscriminate felling of trees for non-forestry purposes without prior clearance from the Central Government.

Chipko Movement

• The Chipko Movement, a non-violent agitation in 1973, aimed to protect and conserve trees. Originating in Uttar Pradesh's Chamoli district (now in Uttarakhand), the movement quickly spread to other states in North India. Villagers, symbolizing the movement's name "embrace," hugged trees to prevent them from being felled.

India State of Forest Report, 2021

• The India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2021 reveals an increase of 261 sq km in India's forest and tree cover compared to the previous assessment in 2019. Mangrove cover has grown to 4992 sq km, witnessing a 17 sq km increase. Aligned with the National Forest Policy, of 1988, India aims to maintain one-third of the country's total area under forest and tree cover. Madhya Pradesh leads in forest cover, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

Social Forestry

• In social forestry, communities, and the government collaborate to grow forests for environmental, societal, and rural development. 

• Tree plantation on barren land is a key aspect of social forestry, addressing environmental, social, and rural development goals. Coined by the National Commission on Agriculture in 1976, social forestry aims to alleviate strain on forests.

Types of Social Forestry

• Agro-Forestry: Combining trees and farming for sustainable agricultural practices, addressing climate issues, and increasing farmers' income.
• Community Agro-Forestry: Forestation on common public barren land, growing Khejri trees for fodder, fuel, and medicine. Aims to involve landless people in forestry for mutual benefits.
• Urban Forestry: Managing trees and forest resources in urban communities for physiological, sociological, economic, and aesthetic benefits. Cities like Gandhinagar and Chandigarh lead in per capita urban greenery in India.

Farm Forestry

• Under farm forestry, farmers grow trees for commercial and non-commercial purposes on their lands.
• In farm forestry, tree plantation and management is purely on private lands.
• Individual farmers are encouraged to plant trees on their own farmland to meet the domestic needs of the family

Forest Survey of India (FSI)

• Forest Survey of India (FSI) is a Government of Indian Organisation under the Ministry of Environment and Forests established on 1st June, 1981. Its main task is to undertake a survey and assessment of the forest resources of the country regularly.
• The organization's precursor was the Pre-Investment Survey of Forest Resources (PISFR), a project that started in 1965, with aid from UNDP and FAO.

Prelims Facts

• Where are evergreen forests found in India?

Western Ghats (UPPSC (Pre) 2015]

• Presence of Tropical rainforest in India is in

- Assam and Kerala [JPSC (Mains) 2016]

• In which forest of India, the Teak is a dominant tree species?

- Tropical moist deciduous forests [UPPSC (Pre) 2007

• In India which type of forest among the types of forest occupies the largest area?

-Tropical moist deciduous forest [IAS (Pre) 2010]

•  Which state of India has the largest area of Teak forest?

- Madhya Pradesh (MPPSC (Pre) 2021]

• Which type of tree is found at the highest altitude above see level?

-Pine (UPPSC (Pre) 2007]

• Forests of which state of India are classified as semi-tropical?

- Madhya Pradesh [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2003]

• Which state of India is covered with dense deciduous forests?

- Madhya Pradesh (BPSC (Pre) 2019]

• Which district is surrounded by the densest deciduous forest area?

- West Champaran (BPSC (Pre) 2014]

• Lisa, an important non-primitive forest produce obtained from

- Pine (UKPSC (Mains) 2002)

• Major resources of the Western Himalayan region is

-Forest (RAS/RTS (Pre) 2010]

• Mangrove (Tidal Forest) vegetation is mainly found in dia in

- Sundarbans (CGPSC (Pre) 2012

• Which Indian state has the maximum percentage of mangrove cover in the country?

West Bengal [Odisha PSC (Pre) 2016]

•  Which regions of India has a combination of mangrove forests, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?

- Andaman and Nicobar Islands [IAS (Pre) 2015]

• What is the scientific name of the 'Flame of the Forest'?

Butea Monosperma (Palash) Tree [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2010)

•  Which forest (territorial) circle is the largest in the Chhattisgarh

- Bilaspur forest circle [CGPSC (Pre) 2021)

• Tidal forests of the Ganga -Brahmaputra delta mainly consist of

- Hardwood Palms (Tripura PSC (Pre) 2017)

• What is the minimum land area recommended for forest to cover to maintain proper ecological balance in India?

-33% (JPSC (Pre) 2021)

• What percentage of the total forest area of MP, Teak trees are found?

-About 20% (MPPSC (Pre) 2021]

• As per 'India State of Forest Report 2021' which state has registered the maximum increase in forest cover?

- Andhra Pradesh (UPPSC (Pre) 2022)

Self Check

1. Where among the following are evergreen forests

UPPSC (Pre) 2015

(a) Malwa plateau

(b) Eastern Ghats

(c) Western Ghats

(d) Chota Nagpur plateau

2. In which of the following ecosystems, the organic matter of plants is maximum?

UPPSC (Pre) 2017

(a) Tropical Deciduous Forest

(b) Tropical Rainforest

(c) Temperate Deciduous Forest

(d) Desert Shrubs

3. Where is sandalwood commonly found?

(a) Tropical Evergreen Forest

(b) Tropical Scrub Land Areas

(c) Alpine

(d) Tropical Deciduous Forests

4. Which state of India has the largest area of teak forest?

MPPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) Jharkhand

(b) Andhra Pradesh

(c) Uttarakhand

(d) Madhya Pradesh

5. Which of the following districts is surrounded by the densest deciduous forest area?

BPSC (Pre) 2014

(a) West Champaran

(b) Gaya

(c) Kaimur

(d) Nawada

6. Spruce and Cedar are varieties of tree species, found in which forests?

UPPSC (Pre) 2017

(a) Equatorial Forests

b) Temperate Coniferous Forests

(c) Temperate Deciduous Forests

(d) Monsoon Forests

7. Which one of the following trees is pre-dominant in the temperate belt of the Western Himalayas?

(a) Pine

(b) Cedar 

(c) Silver Fir

(d) Blue Pine

8. Which one of the following is not essentially a species of the Himalayan vegetation?

IAS (Pre) 2008

(a) Juniper

(b) Mahogany 

(c) Silver Fir 

(d) Spruce

9. Which of the following Indian States/Union Territories has the maximum percentage of mangrove cover in the country?

Odisha PSC (Pre) 2016

(a) Gujarat

(b) West Bengal

(c) Andaman and Nicobar

(d) Odisha

10. With the point of view of availability, which of the following forest (territorial) circles is the largest in Chhattisgarh?

CGPSC (Pre) 2021.

(a) Bilaspur Forest Circle

(b) Sarguja Forest Circle

(c) Bastar Forest Circle

(d) Raipur Forest Circle

11. Among the following states, which has the highest forest density in India?

JPSC (Pre) 2022

(a) Mizoram

(b Assam

(c) Gujarat

(d) Nagaland

12. As per the Indian State of Forest Report 2021 which of the following states has registered the maximum increase in the forest cover during the last two years?

UPPSC (Pre) 2022

(a)  Andhra Pradesh

(b) Telangana

(c) Arunachal Pradesh

(d) Kerala

13. What is the minimum land area recommended for forest cover to maintain proper ecological balance in India?

JPSC (Pre) 2021

(a) 30%

(b) 33%

(c) 25%

(d) 27%

14. Consider the following trees

IAS (Pre) 2023

1. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
2. Mahua (Madhuca indica)
3. Teak (Tectona grandis)

How many of the above are deciduous trees?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

15. Consider the following statements with reference to Uttar Pradesh

IAS (Pre) 2023

1. forests constitute about 12.8% of the total geographical area of the state.
2. the districts of Jaipur, Ghazipur and Ballia have no forest land.

Select the correct answer from the code given below

(a) Only 2

(b) Neither 1 nor 2

(c) Only 1

(d) Both 1 and 2

Know Right Answer

1 (C)

2 (b)

3 (b)

4 (d)

5 (a)

6 (a)

7 (b)

8 (b)

9 (b)

10 (a)

11 (a)

12 (d)

13 (a)

14 (a)

15 (a)