Download Ans: Natural Vegetation depends on

GEOGRAPHY
India- Natural Vegetation (A)
STD 9
1.On what does natural vegetation depend?
Ans: Natural Vegetation depends on climate, soil, elevation/altitude and other local factors.
2. Describe briefly the value of forest to man.
Ans: Forests provide:
a) Timber for fire wood, furniture, matches and bamboo for paper.
b)They provide forest products like gum, leaves, fruits flowers, medicinal herbs,
beewax , honey, turpentine, oil , lac and artificial fibers.
c) They provide grazing grounds and fodder for cattle as well as shelter for birds and
animais.
d) They provide employment for many people and industries depend on forests for raw
materiais.
e) They help conserve soil fertility.
f)They influence the climate of a region Prevents direct isolation of the ground thus
lowering the temperature.
g) They help to bring about rains as clouds passing over forest cover gets cooled,
h)They check soil erosion by checking the flow of the flood water.
i) Forests are tourist attractions.
3. What is the percentage of total forest cover in India?
Ans: About 22 percent.
4. What are the reasons for shrinkage of forest in India?
Ans: The shrinkage is due to growth in population which leads to increased demand of
agricultural land, urbanizing and development of industries and development of towns.
5. What is silviculture?
Ans: Silviculture is timber farming that is the preparation of the soil to grow trees for
timber in a scientific way for a sustained yield.
6. What is deforestation?
Ans: Deforestation is the indiscriminate cutting of trees in the forest.
7. What is afforestation?
Ans: Afforestation is the growing of trees in the areas where there are no forests. In this
scheme there is careful supervision of the forest.
8. What is reafforestation?
Ans: Reafforestation is planting two saplings to replace every tree felled in the areas which
were once forested.
1
9. Give two reasons why reafforestation is undertaken in India.
Ans.Because people have cut down trees indiscriminately for cultivation
Realization that trees are important to pollution control
To prevent soil erosion
Prevent floods
Help retain moisture in the ground
Moderates the climate of a place
10. Name one centre in the north and south of India for forest research.
Ans: North - F.R.I(Dehra Dun), U.P, 2) Ranger's College Dehra Dun; Kurseong (W.8)
South - Ranger's College, Coimbatore (T.N.)
11. Name the biosphere reserves of India. How many places are allotted for this?
Ans: There are 13 places allotted for this. The biosphere reserves are:Nilgiri, Nanda Oar, The valley of flowers (U.P.), Norkreck (Meghalaya), Thai Desert
(Rajasthan), Kachch (Gujarat)
12. What are the results of deforestation?
Ans: Soil erosion, floods, disturbs the ecological balance, brings about drought, depletion of
our priceless flora and fauna, changes weather patterns and also soil becomes acidic.
13. Name two states and the movement each is associated in order to preserve
forests.
Ans: Maharashtra - Chipko movement; Karnataka- Apico Movement
14. State the steps taken by the Government for development of forestry in
India.
Ans a)The five year plan states that 1/3 of the total area of the country must remain covered
with forest so various afforestation programmes have brought many hectares of land under
forest cover.
b)The Forest Research Centers (FRI) Dehra Dun and the Ranger's College at Coimbatore
(TN) Kurseong (WB) have been set up as center for research in forests and forest products.
c) Thousand of trees are planted along roads and railway lines in Kuchch and Rajasthan
desert.
d) Sanctuaries, Reserves and National parks have been set up to protect plant and animal life.
e) Social forestry carried out.
f) Siviculture.
g) Central Board of forestry set up by the Government
2
15.What are the reasons of backwardness in India?
a) Lack of good means of transport: The wood is heavy and there fore needs efficient
means to
transport
b) Poverty and low standard of living hence the demand for timber and other forest
products are
very meager
c) Destruction of forests: as a result of overgrazing, forest-fires, destroying of forests for
cultivation and practice of Jhumming.
d)Industrial backwardness: hence demand for commercial wood poor.
e) Lack of rained personnel to look after the forest
16.a) What is Social Forestry? Why is it important?
Ans: Society is made aware of the importance of trees and forestry. Society actively
participates in the re-afforestation and afforestation programmes. They grow trees that could
be used as fuel. This is important because additional sources of income can be got and at the
same time this protects the environment so that the ecological balance is maintained. It also
helps to conserve the fast depleting natural resources of the Earth.
Under the Vanmahotsav program thousands of trees are planted alongroads railways.
b)What does the national forest policy initiated by the government stress on?What are
its objectives?
Ans:It stresses on sustainable forest management, the need to expand and conserve
forest reserves, as well as meet the needs of the local people.
Restoring the ecological balance where it has been adversely affected
Preserving Flora and fauna
Checking soil erosion especially in catchment areas.
Checking the extension of sand dunes
Increasing forest cover in the country by afforestation and social forestry programmes
Meeting the requirements of the tribal people ie their need for fuel wood,and minor
forest produce
Creating massive Peoples movement to protect forests.
c)(i) What isAgro forestry?
Ans; It is a part of social forestry.It is an intermediate between forestry and agriculture.
It involves managing a piece of land by combining production of agricultural crops,forest
crops,and animal rearing.All this is done keeping in mind the socio cultural practices of the
local people.
3
(ii)What is the objective of Agro forestry?
To reduce pressure on foest for obtaining timber and other forest produce
To check soil erosion
To maintain ecologica balance
To properly use farm resources
To make best possible use of available resources such ahs land ,livestock to obtain
forest products such as fuel,fodder.
17. Why forests are called the hand-maids of agriculture?
Ans: This is because they are useful to agriculture in many ways both directly and indirectly.
They help to conserve the soil of its nutrients and bind the soil together preventing soil
erosion, thus increasing soil fertility.
a) They increase humidity in the region.
b)They regulate the climate by blocking of solar radiation by day and ground radiation by
night thus the temperature around these regions are lowered
c) They help to bring about rainfall in the area.
18 a) Give reasons why there is little natural vegetation in the Indo Gangetic Plain?
Ans: Most of the forests in this area have been cut down so as to provide land for
cultivation as this area is very fertile. Thus there is little or no natural vegetation left here.
b)
19. Why are the forests in and around iron and steel producing cities?
Ans: The furnaces give out plenty of carbon dioxide and pollute the air; hence the trees
reduce the carbon dioxide level in the air and increase the oxygen content in air.
20. Why do the southern slopes of the Himalayas have a thick forest cover?
Ans:This is because the area receives more than 200 cm of rainfall and the temperature
ranges between 25°C - 27°C.
India - Natural Vegetation (B)
21. Where are the Tropical Evergreen forests found?
Ans: They are found in areas receiving more than 200 cm. of annual rainfall. The area
receiving this amount of rainfall is the Western slopes of the Western Ghats that is the
western side of ( Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala). They also occur on the windward
side of the Garo, Khasi, Jayantia hills. They are also found in the Terai region.
22. Why are trees in the tropical forest evergreen?
Ans: They are evergreen as there is no period of drought. Different trees germinate and
whither at different times allowing the entire vegetation to look green at all times.
4
23. What are the characteristics of the trees found in tropical rain forests?
Ans: The trees are tall, evergreen and there is dense undergrowth. The wood is finegrained and hard and the leaves are broad.
24. Why are the trees broad in the Tropical Evergreen Forests? Name one area
south of River Tapi where Tropical Evergreen Forests are found.
Ans:
i) To give cut excess moisture by evapo-transpiration
ii) More surface area helps receive more sunlight and thus manufacture more food
It is found in Western slopes of Western ghats.
25. Name the trees found in the Tropical Rain Forests?
Ans: Rosewood, Ebony, Sisam, Toon, Mahogany, Gurjan, Bamboo, Ironwood, Cinchona.
26. Explain with reference to l)Relief and 2) Rainfall - why are Evergreen
Forests in the Western Ghats /Assam /terai / Garo, Khasi, Jaintia Hills and
Thorn and Scrub forest in Kutch and Saurastra in Gujarat.
Ans. The Evergreen forests are found in the Western Ghats because they are hilly and
they form the barrier for the SouthWest Monsoon Arabian Sea Brach which brings plenty
of rain (over 200 cm). They are on the windward sides of the Western Ghats and so has
abundant rain.
Assam/ terai/Garo, Khasi,Jaintia -,"egions have evergreen Rain Forests because the SW
monsoon Bay of Bengal branch brings plenty of rain as it is on the windward side of the
Gao, Khasi Jaintia Hills and receives over 200 cm of rainfall.
27.Name one region in India where Monsoon Deciduous Forest are found.
Ans. It is found in regions where the rainfall is 100- 200 cm ie. Central India
(MP) Eastern Ghats (AP, TN) and central Maharashtra.
28. Give reasons why the Monsoon Deciduous forests are found along
the Eastern Ghats / Eastern parts of south India.
Ans. This is because Eastern Ghats receive moderate rainfall 150- 200cm. Most of
the trees shed their leaves for 6- 8 weeks in hot weather to protect themselves
against excessive evaporation.
29. Which is the most valuable tree found in the Tropical Monsoon
Forests? Why?
Ans. Teak. It is strong durable, termite proof and doesn't corrode nails. It can be
used for shipbuilding, furniture and house construction.
5
30. Why are Monsoon Forests called deciduous?
Ans. They are Deciduous because they shade their leaves for 6- 8 weeks during the
period of drought (usually from March to April to prevent lass of moisture through
evapo- transpiration. In these areas the rainfall is not heavy but the temperature is high.
31. What is meant by Tidal forest?
Ans. These forests trees get fully submerged in the Tidal waters and when the tide
ebbs their prop roots can be seen. The plants in this region adapt themselves to the
salt content of the water.eg. Sunderbans.
32. What is the name given to the forest found in the Ganga delta? Why is
it named so?
Ans. Sundarbans. It is named so because the Sundari tree grow in plenty in this
region. It is named after this tree.
33. What are the characteristic of the trees found in the Tidal Forests?
Ans. They are:A) Hard and durable wood.
B) Have stilt like roots
C) Live in salt water.
D)The trunks are supported by number of stilted roots which are under water during
high tide. The tangled root system is a wonderful adaptation for survival in softer
shifting mud.
34.Why is the Ganga -Brahmaputra Deltas known as the Sunderbans?
Ans. They are called so because of the Sundari trees found in the area. It is named
after the trees.
35. Why is Sundari tree used for building boat?
Ans. It is used because the wood is hard, strong and durable. As this wood thrives on salt
water the wood doesn't corrode or decay easily.
36. At what height are the Mountain forests found?
Ans. A) The North- are found at an altitude of 1000m above mean sea level.
B)The South- are found at an altitude of 1500m above mean sea level.
37. Why are the trees in the Coniferous forests cone shaped?
Ans. So that the snow slides away without damaging the tree.
38. Why is there less undergrowth in the Mountain Forest?
Ans. There is less undergrowth because there is less rain (between 100- 200m ), the
temperature is very low (18°- 22°C) and there is no simultaneous falling of leaves
6
39. Why do the pine trees have more wood than leaves?
Ans. This is because the wood stores the food.
40. For what is softwood/ wood of pine trees used?
And. Softwood is used for paper pulp, matches, packing cases and planks.
41. Name the forests that are 'Mixed'. Why are they so called?
Ans. The Mixed forests are the Mountain forests. They are so called because on the
lower slopes you have Deciduous trees which shed their leaves in summer and on the
higher slopes we have the evergreen coniferous forest.
42. In which region is thorn and scrub forest found?
Ans. They are found in areas that receives less than 100cm. of rainfall. The Deccan
Plateau/Karnataka, Wn. T.N. And Central Maharashtra.
43. Explain why thorn and scrub forests are found in arid areas?
Ans.The low rainfall of less than 100cm. is insufficient for growth. The temperature
also ranges between 27and 29°C.
44. Name the states where desert vegetation is found.
Ans. Rajasthan, Gujarat and western Punjab.
45. What types of trees are found in the desert forests?
Ans. Small size Kikar, acacia. They are thorny bush trees with long roots, small leaves
to withstand the heat and dry climate and hard thorn or sharp spines to protect
themselves from the animals.
46. Give the characteristics and the uses of the following trees.
Ans. Rosewood- fine grained hard deep purple coloured. Used for furniture.
Bamboo- Tall grass. Used for paper house construction, furniture, handicrafts.
Teak- Most valuable tree. Hard, durable, strong high oil content, termite proof,
doesn't corrode nails, pale yellow in colour, darkens with age. Used for shipbuilding
hose construction and furniture. Sandalwood- Evergreen tree, small leaves, small tree.
Used for oil- perfumery/Cosmetics- soaps cream. Wood used for handicraft.
7