Tag: natural vegetation and communities dependent on forest

The Himalayas consist of a mosaic of diverse forest ecosystems and ecoregions, with different forest types suited for distinct elevation bands. Ths with the variation in the altitude, we have different types o forests in the Himalayas viz. European Oak forests, Coniferous forests and Alpine vegetation as well.

Covering approximately 10,000 km2 the Sundarbans in the Northern Bay of Bengal is the largest contiguous mangrove forest on earth. Mangroves forests are highly productive and diverse ecosystems, providing a wide range of direct ecosystem services for resident populations. In addition, mangroves function as a buffer against frequently occurring cyclones; helping to protect local settlements including the two most populous cities of the world, Kolkata, and Dhaka, against their worst effects. While large tracts of the Indian Sundarbans were cleared, drained and reclaimed for cultivation during the British colonial era, the remaining parts have been under various protection regimes since the 1970s, primarily to protect the remaining population of Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris ssp. Tigris). 

The character and extent of vegetation are mainly determined by temperature along with the humidity in the air, precipitation and soil. On the slopes of Himalayas and the hills of Peninsula above the height of 915 metres, the fall in the temperature affects the types of vegetation and its growth, and changes it from tropical to subtropical temperature. So in the mountainous area with the increase in altitude there is corresponding decrease in temperature, which leads to change in vegetation types. 

Tropical rainforests are the forests consisting of evergreen trees with green foliage throughout year. They constitute 6 to 7% of earth’s land surface. Such forest give shelter to 50% of world’s species.

Stems are succulent and leaves are mostly thick. This means that the vegetation is found in the area of Tropical thorn forests and scrubs. This is an adaptation which turn leaves thick and succulent to prevent water loss from transpiration.