Question

1. Tropical rainforests
2. Tropical deciduous forests
3. Desert vegetation
4. Mangrove forests
5. Wildlife in India

Answer 1

1. Tropical rainforests: These forests are found in areas of heavy rainfall. They are called evergreen forests because their trees do not shed leaves in a particular period during the year. Thus, they remain green throughout the year. Ebony, mahogany and rosewood are the tree varieties found in these forests. In India, they are found in the Western Ghats and parts of Odisha and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

2. Tropical deciduous forests: These forests are also known as monsoon forests because the trees of these forests shed their leaves for a period of few weeks, though the time in which these trees shed their leaves is not the same. Teak and sal are important tree varieties of these forests. In India, they are found in the foothills of the Himalayas and parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

3. Desert vegetation: Desert areas are characterised by low rainfall and extreme temperatures. Hence, to reduce the loss of water through evaporation, vegetation here is modified accordingly. Thick bark and long thorns prevent the loss of water. Shrubs and bushes are found here. In India, they are found in the western parts of Rajasthan.

4. Mangrove forests: Mangrove forests are found along salt marshes, coastlines and backwaters. The trees in these forests can survive in both saltwater and freshwater. In India, the delta region of Ganga and Brahmaputra has these forests. The Sunderbans comprise a tree variety called Sundari; the wood of this tree is very hard and durable.

5. Wildlife in India: India has a wide variety of flora and fauna. It has more than 5,000 species of trees, 80,000 species of animals and 1,200 species of birds. But due to the ever-increasing population, these numbers are going down, so there is a need to conserve these species. For this purpose, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries have been established in large parts of the country.