WBBSE Solutions For Class 10 Geography And Environment India – Natural Vegetation Of India

Geography Class 10 West Bengal Board India – Natural Vegetation Of India True Or False Type:

Question 1. The “Central Forest Research Institute of India” is located at Dehradun.
Answer: True

Question 2. Tropical Evergreen forests are found in the states of Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
Answer: False

Question 3. Madhya Pradesh has the maximum forest area.
Answer: True

Read and learn all WBBSE Solutions For Class 10 Geography And Environment

Question 4. Xerophytic vegetation is common in the desert region.
Answer: True

Question 5. Deciduous trees are common in interior India.
Answer: True

Question 6. The equatorial forest is found in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Answer: True

Question 7. Grassland can be seen in the Deccan Plateau.
Answer: True

Question 8. Cutting of trees is called afforestation.
Answer: False

Geography Class 10 West Bengal Board

Question 9. Van-Mahotsava was started in 1952.
Answer: True

Question 10. Forests prevent soil erosion and the expansion of deserts.
Answer: True

Question 11. Forests help to reduce air pollution.
Answer: True

Question 12. Sunderbans are the mangrove forests of India.
Answer: True

Question 13. Thorny plants are found in the Thar desert of India.
Answer: True

Question 14. The total forest area of India is about 23 per cent of the total land area.
Answer: False

Question 15. India has a vast temperate forest region.
Answer: True

Question 16. Evergreen forests is found in desert area.
Answer: False

Question 17. Conservation of forests is necessary to maintain the environment.
Answer: True

Question 18. Van Mahotsav is a good programme formulated by the Govt of India.
Answer: True

Question 19. The Himalayan regions have large forest resources.
Answer: True

Question 20. Sundarbans have a mangrove forest.
Answer: True

Question 21. Arjun is a type of deciduous tree.
Answer: True

Question 22. Acacia Arabica is xerophytic vegetation.
Answer: True

Question 23. Pine trees are found in the desert region.
Answer: False

Geography Class 10 West Bengal Board

Question 24. The Sundari tree is found in the Sundarban.
Answer: True

Question 25. Forest controls the climate.
Answer: True

Question 26. The desert vegetation has long roots.
Answer: True

Question 27. Felis is situated at Delhi.
Answer: False

Question 28. The evergreen forest in India receives more than 200 cm of annual rainfall.
Answer: True

Question 29. The coniferous trees are mostly seen in desert regions.
Answer: False

Question 30. The forest is a non-renewable source of resources.
Answer: False

Question 31. The forest helps in reducing soil erosion.
Answer: True

Question 32. Social forestry is practised in the urban areas of India.
Answer: False

Question 33. The forests do not help in maintaining ecological balance.
Answer: False

Question 34. The equatorial forest is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Answer: True

Question 35. Natural vegetation controls the climate.
Answer: True

Class 10 Geography WBBSE India – Natural Vegetation Of India Fill In The Blanks Type:

Question 1. The percentage of forest in India is ______.
Answer: 22.27%.

Question 2. Bamboo is used as raw material in ______ industry.
Answer: Paper.

Question 3. Forest called ______ Sponge.
Answer: Natural.

Question 4. _____ forest is found in the coastal region.
Answer: Littoral.

Question 5. March 21 is observed as ______.
Answer: Forestry day.

Question 7. Sundarban is covered with ______ trees.
Answer: Sundari.

Question 8. Desert vegetation has ______.
Answer: long roots.

Geography Class 10 West Bengal Board

Question 9. Natural vegetation depends on ______ and soil.
Answer: climate.

Question 10. Xerophytic vegetation is found in ______ region.
Answer: desert.

Class 10 Geography West Bengal Board India – Natural Vegetation Of India Very Short Answer Type:

Question 1. Which type of natural vegetation is found in the desert region of India?
Answer: Xerophytes or Deciduous.

Question 2. In which forest of India lion is found?
Answer: Giri.

Question 3. Mention the dominant factors that determine the natural vegetation of a country.
Answer: Soil and Climate.

Question 4. Where do you find a coniferous forest in India?
Answer: In the Himalayan region.

Question 5. Where do you find xerophytic plants in India?
Answer: In the western part of India (Thar Desert).

Question 6. Name one coniferous tree.
Answer: Pine/Fir/Spruce.

Question 7. Name one desert plant.
Answer: Acacia Arabica (Babul Tree).

Question 8. Which state has the largest forest area in India?
Answer: Madhya Pradesh.

Question 9. Where do you find Sundari trees in India?
Answer: In the Sundarban delta region in West Bengal.

Question 10. Name one tree of Karnataka that you never find anywhere else in India.
Answer: Sandalwood tree.

Class 10 Geography West Bengal Board

Question 11. Name one valuable tree in an Indian forest.
Answer: Teak.

Question 12. Where do you find Forest Research institutions in India?
Answer: Dehradun.

Question 13. Name the state having the highest forest cover in India.
Answer: Madhya Pradesh.

Question 14. What percentage of the area is under forest cover in India?
Answer: 20.55%.

Question 15. Who initiated the chipko movement?
Answer: Sundarlal Bahuguna.

Question 16. Name two deciduous and two coniferous trees in the Himalayas.
Answer:
Deciduous: Oak and Maple.
Coniferous: Pine and Fir.

Question 17. What is hardwood?
Answer: Timber obtained from various types of broad-leaved or deciduous trees is hardwood.

Question 18. What is lumbering?
Answer: A basic occupation of cutting timber in the forest; it includes varied activities such as logging, splitting and hauling.

Question 19. What type of vegetation is mainly found in the desert regions?
Answer: Xerophytic Type (Acacia, Aratica, Thorny bushes).

Question 20. Where do you find littoral forests?
Answer: In the coastal regions.

Question 21. Name two important trees of Sundarban.
Answer: Sundari, Gurjan.

Question 22. Where do you find lion sanctuary in India?
Answer: In the Gir Forest of Gujarat.

Question 23. Name one bird sanctuary of Rajasthan.
Answer: Bharatpur bird sanctuary.

Question 24. Name one tiger project in India.
Answer: Sundarban tiger project.

Class 10 Geography West Bengal Board

Question 25. Where do you find the wild ass in India?
Answer: In the Rann of Kutchchh.

Question 26. Mention the main feature of desert vegetation.
Answer: Long roots, thick barks and waxy leaves.

Question 27. Name two important and valuable trees of the Indian forest.
Answer: Segun (Teak) and Sal.

Geography Class 10 Solutions WBBSE India – Natural Vegetation Of India 2 Marks Questions And Answers:

Question 1. State the characteristics of the natural vegetation of the hot desert region.
Answer: Desert vegetation grows in areas where rainfall is less than 50 cm. Mostly thorny bushes, babul, acacia, cactus and some grasses are found in the hot desert regions. Khejur and palm trees grow near the oasis. This vegetation has long roots to tap water beneath the soil. The trees are stunted and the leaves become thorny and the stems are thick fleshy. These are the adaptations to store water and minimise transpiration and resist drought. In India, desert vegetation is seen in the state of Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat.

Question 2. Mention two characteristic features of desert vegetation in India.
Answer: The main features of the tropical desert vegetation are that the trees are scattered and stunted due to scanty rainfall. Most of the plants are leafless. The two main species of trees found in the region are khejri and cacti.

Question 3. What are the types of trees that grow in the mangrove forest of Sundarbans?
Answer: The trees found in the mangrove forest of Sundarbans are Sundari, Garan, gaon, keya, Hetal, golchapata, etc.

Question 4. What are the forest conservation measures taken by the Government of India?
Answer: The steps towards the forest conservation measures are:
1. Celebration of ‘Van Mahotsava’ to plant new saplings,
2. Increasing forest area by afforestation,
3. Planting trees on wastelands,
4. Stopping felling of immature trees,
5. Protection of plants from diseases and forest fires.

Question 5. What are the uses of Himalayan vegetation?
Answer: The coniferous forest of the Himalayan region is commercially very useful. It provides raw materials for the paper industry, packing box industry, furniture making, etc. Wood is also used for fuel. Himalayan forest is a storehouse of medicinal plants in our country. Besides, the slopy meadows as used for pasture where cattle, goats, sheep, yak, etc. are reared.

Class 10 Geography West Bengal Board

Question 6. Name some species of deciduous and coniferous forests.
Answer: The important species of
1. Humid deciduous forests are sal, shogun, shimul, jarul, mahua, Shirish, mango, banyan, etc.
2. Dry deciduous forests are Sabai grass, elephant grass, Palash, berries, Shirish, etc.
3. Coniferous forest includes pine, fir, silver, spruce, laurel, deodar etc. trees.

Question 7. Name major vegetation regions to which Babul and Teak belong.
Answer: Babul belongs to the thorn and scrub forests in north-western Rajasthan. The teak tree belongs to tropical deciduous/monsoon forests which are typical of our country.

Question 8. Name the major vegetation regions to which Ebony and Sundari’s trees belong.
Answer: The ebony tree belongs to tropical rain forests like the windward side of Western Ghats. Sundari is a tree of tidal forests which are found in Sundarbans.

Question 9. What kind of forest is found on the saline soil of the delta? Give examples.
Answer: Mangrove forests are found on the saline soil of the delta. The main trees are Sundari, Garan, Keora, etc.

Question 10. What is the use of Sundritrees?
Answer: The Sundri trees provide hard durable timber or construction, building purposes and boat making.

Question 11. What do you mean by natural vegetation?
Answer: Natural vegetation refers to the plant cover that has not been disturbed over a long time, so as to allow its individual species to adjust themselves fully to the climate and soil conditions. Thus, grasses, shrubs and trees, which grow on their own without any interference, constitute the natural vegetation of an area.

Question 12. Write a note on Chipko movement.
Answer: The famous Chipko movement of 1972 of Garhwal, Uttarakhand started under the able leadership of Shri Sundarlal Bhuguna. The clearing of village woodlands were resisted by the local people (especially women) who clung to the tree trunk when loggers came to cut the trees. In this way, they resolved to sacrifice their lives before a single tree was struck or cut.

WBBSE Class 10 Geography Solutions India – Natural Vegetation Of India Short Notes:

Question 1. Social forestry.
Answer: Social forestry is a philosophy of growing trees/forests outside the periphery of well-known forested areas with different governmental statuses. It includes farm forestry, rural extension forestry, roadside plantation or agriculture and urban or recreational forestry, etc.

Objective: It is an instrument of sustainable development having the potential to resolve three basic needs of the poor, namely, food scarcity, fuel scarcity and livelihood security with an eco-friendly approach to development.
Mechanism: Its success depends upon the direct participation of the poor people and or NGOs who can mobilise masses for the afforestation of village and town wastelands.
Limitation: Several studies reported that, instead of poor people, the affluent section of society extracts more out of the projects because of some operational inadequacy.

Class 10 Geography WBBSE

Question 2. Himalayan Forest.
Answer: Himalayan forest varies considerably along the slopes of mountains:
1. On the foothills of the Himalayas upto a height of 1500 metres, evergreen trees (sal, teak, bamboo and cane) grow abundantly,
2. On higher slopes between 1,500 metres to 3,500 metres, temperate coniferous trees (pine, fir, oak, maple, deodar, laurel, spruce, cedar) grow. At the higher altitude of the Himalayas, rhododendrons and junipers are found. Beyond these vegetation belts, alpine grasslands appear up to the snowfield.

Question 3. Agro-forestry.
Answer:
Agro-Forestry: Agroforestry is a part of social forestry and represents the intermediate stage between forestry and agriculture. Agro-forestry refers to “the sustainable system of managing a piece of land through combined production of agricultural crops and forest crops and animal rearing, to ensure the most efficient land use under a management system in accordance with socio-cultural practices of the local people”. Agro-forestry aims to provide conservation of the land and its improvement in order to achieve a combined production of forest and agricultural crops.

School Geography Class 10 WBBSE India – Natural Vegetation Of India 3 Marks Questions And Answers:

Question 1. Explain with examples the influence of raw materials on the development of industries in India.
Answer: The decision regarding the location of a particular industrial activity is guided by the availability of raw materials in a particular area. The earliest industries in India developed near the sources of raw materials. For example, the textile mills of Mumbai received the supply of cotton from Gujarat and the jute mills of the Hooghly region got raw material from the deltaic region of the Ganga.

Similarly, the iron and steel industry is located in the region where iron ore, limestone, manganese and coal are available. The availability of raw materials nearby reduces the cost of transportation. The nature of raw materials also decides the location of industries.

For example, perishable raw materials have to be processed without loss of time before manufacturing. That is why sugar mills are located in areas of sugarcane production.

Availability of iron ore: High-graded iron ores are available in Singbhum district of Jharkhand, Mayurbhanj, Bonai and Sundargarh district of Orissa, and Dhalli-Rajhara of Durg district, Bailadila of Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. It determines the location of Iron and Steel plants in East and Central India.
Availability of Coal: Like iron ores, coal is essential for Iron and Steel plants. The Jharia coalfield of Jharkhand supplies high-quality coal. Coal fields are also located in the East-Central parts of India such as Raniganj, Bokaro, Giridih, Korba, Talcher, etc. It is one of the most important factors causing this concentration.
The concentration of the other raw materials: Other raw materials for Iron and Steel plants are manganese, limestone, dolomite, water and others. They are also available in the Eastern-Central parts of the country. It also encourages its development.

Question 2. Mention three differences in characteristic features of tropical evergreen and tropical deciduous vegetation of India.
Answer:
Tropical Evergreen Rain Forests: These forests grow in areas where rainfall is more than 200 cm. They are mainly found on the slopes of the western and northeastern regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, the Tarai areas of the Himalayas and the Andaman groups of the Island. The trees in these forests never shed their leaves all at a time in any part of the year. Under humid tropical conditions, subsoil water never dries up completely. So that during the dry season, trees in these forests do not shed their leaves due to a lack of sub-soil water supply. The trees in these belts have dense — growth. Important varieties of trees are sisham, chaplash, rosewood, mahogany, bamboo, garden and sandalwood.

Class 10 Geography WBBSE

Deciduous or Monsoon type of Forests: These forests are found in areas where the rainfall is between 100 cm and 200 cm. These forests grow on the lower slopes of the Himalayas, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and the adjoining regions. These trees shed their leaves during dry winter and dry summer. The main trees are teak, sal, sandal-wood, deodar, bluegum, ebony, steam, jackfruit, mahua, Palash, Khair and bamboo. Teak and Sal are valuable trees. These forests supply valuable timber.

Question 3. State the three main characteristics of Tropical Evergreen Rain Forests.
Answer:
1. They are evergreen forests as the trees of these forests do not have a distinct season of shedding leaves.
2. They form the natural cover nearly all over the country where the rainfall is moderate (100-200 cm) but the more rich and useful cover extends over the Sahyadris, the north-eastern part of the Peninsula and along the foothills of the Himalayas in the Siwaliks, the Bhabar and the Terai.
3. The typical landscape consists of tall teak trees with other trees, bamboo and shrubs growing fairly close together so as to form thickets. There are also open grass patches.

Question 4. What do you know about the influence of forests?
Answer:
Influence of forest: Forests are regarded as one of the country’s valuable natural resources. Chief influences are:
1. Forest regulates climate.
2. Forests protect soil erosion and increase the fertility of soils.
3. It supplies raw materials to a number of industries like paper, paper pulp, rayon, and medicine.
4. It supplies valuable fibres, juices, leaves and fruits.
5. Forest provides employment to a large number of people.
6. Forests supply fuel wood to 35 crores of people in India.
7. Forests are supplying medicinal herbs.
8. Forests are the home of India’s rich and varied wildlife. 70 national parks and 412 sanctuaries have been set up for the preservation of wildlife.
9. Forests supply fodder to a large number of cattle.
10. a Large number of health resorts and sanitoriums have been set up in forest areas.
11. Forests are the homes of a large number of tribal people.
12. Forests control floods also.

Class 10 Geography WBBSE

Question 5. Write in short about the Afforestation Programme in India.
Answer:
Afforestation Programme in India: Through the Vana, Mahotsava was introduced in response to the National Forest Policy of 1952 and the National campaign like ‘Tree or Every Child’ and ‘Plant Tree, Support Life’. The preservation of forests by planting new trees is being encouraged.

According to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, no forest area can be diverted for non-forest purposes without the prior approval of the Government. Seventeen Forest Development Corporations of forest resources have been established. World Forestry Day is celebrated every year on March 21 by planting new trees.

Forest departments at the state level have been created. The Forest Research Institute has been established at Dehradun by the Government of India for research in forestry. Several steps have been taken for the creation of forests. Jim cultivation is restricted to certain areas. Indiscriminate cutting of trees is prohibited. The creation of social forestry is introduced.

Question 6. Classify and describe the forests of India according to administration.
Answer: For the aim of the safety and protection of forests, Indian forests have been divided into the following groups:

1. Reserved Forests: Those forests in which entry without a chief warden is totally prohibited. Here cutting of trees or grazing is strictly restricted. About 52% of the total forests are of this type.
2. Protected Forests: Those forests in which entry can be done with the permission of forest officers and local people. Cutting of trees and grazing are allowed by the permission of the Govt. About 34% of the total forests are of this type.
3. Open or Unclassified Forests: Those forests in which there is no obstruction on entry. Wild animals are also found here. Cutting of trees or grazing of animals are not prohibited. About of 14% the total forests are of this type.

Question 7. What steps has been taken for the conservation of forests in India?
Answer: Steps for Conservation of Forests in India:

Under the scheme of forest conservation, the following measures have been adopted by the Forest Department:
1. Prevention of indiscriminate destruction of forests.
2. Prevention or control of forest fires.
3. Conduction of research to prevent diseases of trees and to make the forest more productive.
4. Preservation of wildlife within the boundaries of the Reserved Forests.
5. Development of environmental and social forestry.

Class 10 Geography WBBSE

Question 8. Write three characteristics of monsoon or tropical deciduous forests.
Answer: Characteristics of Tropical Deciduous Forests:

1. Monsoon or tropical deciduous forests form the natural cover nearly all over the country where rainfall is moderate (100-200 cm), but the more rich and useful cover extends over the Sahyadris, the north-eastern part of the Peninsula, and along the foothills of the Himalayas in the Siwaliks, the Bhabar and the Terai.
2. During the dry/summer season, these trees shed their leaves.
3. They need a lot of care as they are less resistant to fire but are economically very important with a variety of trees like teak and sal.

Question 9. Why does natural vegetation differ in the different parts of the Himalayas?
Answer: In the Himalayas, all types of vegetation are found. Types of vegetation is influenced by the range of rainfall. Evergreen forests are found in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas because of heavy rainfall (more than 200 cm). Among the trees so, rosewood, garden, etc. are prominent. Higher up where the rainfall range is (100 — 200) cm deciduous forests are found. In deciduous forests, valuable trees like pine, fir, etc. grow in large numbers. In the western part of the Himalayas, the rainfall is much less (less than 50 cm). Thorny bushes and shrubs are found there. That’s why natural vegetation differs in the different parts of the Himalayas.

Question 10. Why is the conservation of forests necessary in India?
Answer:
Importance of Conservation of the forest: Forests are gifts of nature. Their beauty and grandeur has always fascinated man. They are the eternal source of peace and vital energy. They have occupied an important place in India’s cultural life.

Class 10 Geography WBBSE

They are very useful to man in the following ways:
1. They control temperature and bring rain.
2. They prevent soil erosion.
3. Improve soil fertility by providing compost.
4. They provide medicinal herbs.
5. They supply valuable timber and firewood.
6. They supply fodder to cattle.
7. They are the natural habitat of wildlife.
8. They maintain ecological balance. To maintain ecological security, fuel, fodder and domestic needs of the population and for developing different small-scale and large-scale industries, forests need to be conserved and protected.

Question 11. Write three differences between vegetation & forest.
Answer: Distinction Between Vegetation and Forest:

Question 12. State the objectives of agro-forestry.
Answer: Objectives of Agro-forestry:

The main objectives of agro-forestry include the following:
1. To reduce pressure on the natural forests for obtaining timber as well as non-timber forest produce.
2. To check soil erosion and maintain the natural fertility of the soil.
3. To maintain ecological balance along with proper utilisation of farm resources.
4. To make the best use of all the available resources like land, manpower, livestock, ecological factors, etc. to obtain a variety of forest products such as food, fuel, fodder, livestock, recreation, and a variety of forest products sustainably from the same land.

Question 13. What are the objectives of social forestry?
Answer:
Objectives of Social Forestry: The main objectives of Social Forestry, as recommended by the National Commission on Agriculture, include the following :

1. Providing fuel wood, fodder for cattle, timber and minor forest products to rural people.
2. Utilising the available land according to its productive capacity.
3. Developing of local cottage industries by providing raw materials.
4. Providing efficient conservation of soil and water.
5. To provide employment opportunities to rural people.
6. Increasing agricultural production by using cow dung as manure.
7. Fulfilling the recreational needs of the people.
8. Improving the aesthetic scene of the area.
9. Achieving all-around rural development as a part of the integrated rural development programme.

Class 10 Geography WBBSE

Question 14. State the important trees of mountain forests.
Answer:
1. Deodar: It is medium-weight wood which is very sturdy in use and durable. It is used for construction work and for railway sleepers. It is also suitable for beams, floor boards, ports, window frames and light furniture.
2. Chir: The wood is light reddish brown, moderately hard and is largely used for making tea chests, furniture, match industry and railway sleepers. It yields resin and turpentine.
3. Blue Pine: It is used for making doors, windows, furniture and railway sleepers. It also yields resin and turpentine.
4. Spruce: Its soft and white wood is used for construction work, railway sleepers, cabinet making, packing cases and wood pulp.
5. Walnut: Its wood is used for musical instruments and cabinet work. It is used extensively in Kashmir and north India for carving. It is also used for gun stocks.
6. Birch: It is largely used for furniture, plywood work, radio cabinet, etc.
7. Cypress: Its wood is durable and is used for making furniture.
8. Jamun: It is an average good wood for construction work and house building. It is also used for furniture and cabinet work.

Question 15. State the important trees of the tropical desert forests with their economic uses.
Answer: The important trees found here include, babool, date palm, Khair, neem, Mukherji, palas, kanji, cacti, Kokko, etc.

1. Ber: Its fruit is eaten raw or made into pickles or beverages. It is rich in Vitamin C. Its timber is hard, strong, tough and durable. It is used to make legs for bedsteads, boat ribs, agricultural implements, charcoal, etc.
2. Babool: Its bark and gum have medicinal value.
3. Date Palin: It is eaten raw and also used as an astringent, as a decoction, syrup or paste for sore throat, cold, fever, etc.
4. Neem: Neem bark and roots have medicinal properties. It helps to cure skin infections, in treating diabetes, allergies, ulcers and several other diseases. Neem oil, leaves and neem extracts are used to manufacture health and beauty products. Neem is also used as an insecticide.

Question 16. State the important trees of dry deciduous forests with their uses.
Answer: The trees of these forests are teak, tendu, sal, rosewood, palas, amaltas, bel, Khair, Hazlewood, etc.

1. Tendu: Tendu leaves are used as wrappers for bidi making.
2. Teak: Its wood is moderately hard, durable and easy to work. It is used for construction purposes, shipbuilding, furniture making, railway carriages, sleepers and bridges.
3. Sal: Its wood is very hard, heavy and tough. It is used for making beams, planking and railing of bridges, doors, window posts of houses, railway sleepers, etc.
4. Palas: Its leaves are used in rearing shellac worms.
5. Amaltas: The fruit, seed, pulp and roots of amaltas have medicinal value. Amaltas helps in relieving the symptoms of asthma, leprosy, ringworms, fever and heart-related diseases.
6. Khair: Its wood is hard and used for making rice pestles, hookahs, ploughs, and handles for knives, daggers and swords. It is also used for making charcoal. The wood extract is used for tanning and dyeing.
7. Axlewood: It is used for making furniture, kitchen cabinets, radios, TV and stereo cabinets, wardrobes, etc.

School Geography Class 10 WBBSE

Question 17. State the important trees of moist deciduous forests with their uses.
Answer: The common trees of such forests are sal, teak, Arjun, shisham, mahua, mulberry, palas, simple, sandalwood, etc.

1. Sal: Its wood is very hard, heavy and tough. It is used for making beams, planking and railing of bridges, doors, window posts of houses, railway sleepers, etc.
2. Teak: Its wood is moderately hard, durable and easy to work. It is used for construction purposes, ship building, furniture making, railway carriages, and sleepers. and bridges.
3. Shisham: Its wood is hard, and heavy with great strength, elasticity and durability. It is used for construction purposes, for making furniture, bullock carts, agricultural implements, musical instruments and railway sleepers. It can be worked into decorative ornamental carvings.

4. Mahua: Its fruit is used for extracting oil and flowers for making wine.
5. Mulberry: It is used for the manufacture of sports goods like hockey, badminton and squash rackets, cricket stumps, etc.
6. Palash: Its leaves are used in rearing shellac worms.

7. Semul: Its timber is soft and white. It is used for making toys, packing cases, matchboxes, pen-holders, plywoods, etc. Its fruits yield soft fibre which is used in pillows.
8. Sandalwood: It is used for making statues and ornamental objects. It is also used in making aromatic substances and extracting sandalwood oil.

Question 18. State the important trees of tropical monsoon forests with their uses.
Answer: The main variety of trees found in these forests include rosewood, ebony, mahogany toon, chaplains, sissoo, gurjan, teaser, etc.

1. Rosewood: It is used in furniture-making, floor boards, wagon parts, etc. It is used as decorative wood for carving and ornamental ply-boards and veneers.
2. Ebony: It is used for ornamental carving and for decoration. It is used for inlaying, for making musical instruments, sports goods, piano keys and caskets.
3. Chaplains: It provides strong and durable timber, and hence, is used for ship-building, furniture-making and packing boxes.

4. Gurjan: It is used for construction work, for packing boxes, tea boxes, panelling and flooring and carriage and wagon construction.
5. Telsur: Its wood is hard, strong and durable and is, therefore, used for manufacturing bridges, piles, boats, masts, carts and railway sleepers.
6. Sissoo: Its wood is hard and heavy. Due to its strength, elasticity and durability, it is used for building construction, furniture making, bullock cart, agricultural implements, musical instruments and railway sleepers.
7. Toon: It is used for making tea boxes, toys and furniture.

Question 19. Distinguish between flora, vegetation and forest.
Answer: There is a difference between flora, vegetation and forest. Flora refers to plants of a particular region or period, listed as species and considered as a group. For example, the Eastern Himalayas have about 4000 species of plants which vary from tropical to temperate and Alpine with increasing altitude.

Vegetation, on the other hand, refers to the assemblage of plant species living in association with each other in a given environmental set-up. For example, the redwood forests, coastal mangroves, roadside weed patches, cultivated gardens and lawns, etc. all are encompassed by the term vegetation.

The major vegetation types of the world are grouped as forests, grasslands, scrubs and tundra. Finally, the word ‘forest’ refers to a large track of land covered by trees and shrubs.

School Geography Class 10 WBBSE

Question 20. State the features of the tropical desert forests.
Answer: Features of Tropical Desert Forest:

1. These forests grow in areas having 50 cm to less than 50 cm of rainfall,
2. The plants grow apart from each other.
3. They have long roots and thick fleshy stems where they store water to survive during long droughts.

Question 21. State the features of the littoral forest.
Answer: Features of Littoral Forest:

1. Because of saline soil the roots of these trees cannot breathe properly. So, they develop breathing roots or pneumatophores.
2. They have stilt roots to give support to the plant.
3. The forest gets submerged by tidal water during high tides and so are also called tidal forest.
4. Other names- Mangrove forest, Sundarbans (West Bengal).

Class 10 Geography WBBSE India – Natural Vegetation Of India 5 Marks Questions And Answers:

Question 1. Describe in brief the influence of climate on the distribution of natural vegetation in India.
Answer: Natural vegetations are a gift of nature. They grow naturally and they follow the climatic variables. Due to a variety of climates, a wide range of natural vegetation grows in India. Types of natural vegetation vary according to climate, soil, and altitude. A study of the distribution of forests in India reveals that there is a marked relation between the rainfall zones and their belts of natural vegetation.

 

The following are the principal types of vegetation in India:
1. Tropical Evergreen Rain Forests: These forests grow in areas where rainfall is more than 200 cm. They are mainly found on the slope of the Western and the northeastern regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, the Terai areas of the Himalayas, and the Andaman group of Islands. The trees in these forests never shed their leaves all at a time in any part of the year. Under humid tropical conditions, subsoil water never dries up completely. So that during the dry season trees in these forests do not shed their leaves due to a lack of sub-soil water supply. The trees in these belts are dense in growth. Important varieties of trees are sisham, chaplash, rosewood, mahogany, bamboo, garden, and sandalwood.

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2. Deciduous or Monsoon type of Forests: These forests are found in areas where the rainfall is between 100 cm and 200 cm. These forests grow on the lower slope of the Himalayas, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and the adjoining regions. These trees shed their leaves during dry winter and dry summer. The main trees are teak, sal, sandalwood, deodar, bluegum, ebony, sisam, jackfruit, mahua, Palash, Khair, and bamboo. Teak and sal are valuable trees. These forests supply valuable timber.

3. Dry Deciduous Forests and Shrubs: These forests grow in areas where the rainfall is between 50 cm and 100 cm. These are found in areas of the central Deccan plateau, southeast of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Dwarf deciduous trees and long grasses grow in these regions. Most of these areas are used for agriculture.

4. Semi-desert and desert vegetations: These types of vegetation grow in areas where rainfall is less than 50 cm. Mostly thorny bushes, acacia, babul, and sand-binding grasses are found in this vegetation zone. The Indian wild date, known as ‘khejur’ is common in these deserts. These plants grow far apart from each other. They have long roots and thick fleshy stems in which they store water to survive during the long drought. These vegetation are found in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, Punjab, and Karnataka.

5. Tidal or Mangrove Forests: These forests grow along the coast and on the edges of the deltas, e.g. the deltas of the Ganga, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri. They are called Tidal Forests because their dense growth depends upon tidal water which submerges the deltaic lands during high tides. They are also known as Littoral Forests. In West Bengal, these forests are known as ‘Sundarbans’.

The ‘sundry’ is the most significant tree in these forests. The other notable trees of these forests are hola, garan, gewa, golchapata, gilepata, pastor, etc. These forests supply timber and firewood. Palm and coconut trees adorn the coastal strip.

6. Mountain forests: Mountain forests vary considerably according to altitude with varying rainfall and temperature along the slopes of the mountain:
1. On the foothills of the Himalayas up to a height of 1,500 meters evergreen trees, such as sal, teak, bamboo, and cane grow abundantly.
2. On higher slopes between 1,500 meters to 3,500 meters, temperate conifer trees, such as pine, fir, oak, maple, deodar, laurel, spruce, and cedar grow. At the higher altitude. of the Himalayas, rhododendrons and junipers are found. Beyond these vegetation belts, alpine grasslands appear up to the snowfield.

Question 2. State the measures to conserve our forests.
Answer: The following measures should be adopted in order to conserve our forests:

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1. Prohibition of indiscriminate deforestation: Indiscriminate deforestation or the felling of trees causes an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide warms. up the atmosphere to a great extent contributing to global warming. Plants absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and in the process give out oxygen too. So, the cutting of trees should be restricted.
2. Reduction of felling of premature trees: Trees should be given time to mature. They can be utilized fully if they are properly grown (mature). So, the feeling of premature trees should be stopped by law.
3. Use of alternate sources of energy instead of fuel wood: Burning of firewood leads to carbon dioxide emission which results in global warming. Straws instead of firewood provide cheaper but more powerful energy. Straws are designed to be burned and so have a very low moisture content, about only 2.5%. This means they can burn hotter for longer and are much cleaner.

4. Prevention of forest fire: Forests should be protected from natural hazards like a forest fire. The best protection against fire is a closed system of lookout towers and air patrols to give the earliest possible warnings for fire outbreaks. Spraying chemicals from the air and fighting the fire from the ground to be taken up when a fire breaks out. A better system of public education in fire prevention and control will have to be devised.
5. Control of diseases of forest trees chemically and biologically: Regular inspection of forests and spraying with insecticides are two ways to prevent the spreading of pests and diseases. Control by biological method, i.e., the introduction of insect or animals which preys on unwanted insect (causing disease in plants) can be done. Animals like goats, sheep, and rabbits which eat up the seedings should be kept out of the forest lands.

6. Controlled grazing of cattle: in India, villagers bring their cattle or goats into the forests for grazing. In this way, they cause hindrance to the regeneration of the forest land. The grazing of cattle should be controlled and the animal-land ratio should be strictly maintained.
7. Afforestation and reforestation: Forests felled for timber should be replanted with seedling trees. This ensures both timber supply and protects the soil from depletion. At the same time, fallow lands and wastelands should be planted with trees for increasing forested areas.
8. Adaptation of forest management like the felling of mature trees and selective tree felling operation: Emphasis should be given to selective cutting and felling of trees. Only mature or weak or diseased trees which are wasting space should be removed. Felling of trees from pure stands should be encouraged so as to minimize cutting of different types of trees.

People’s participation: Conservation of forests can be best done by people’s participation. Most forest management programs now involve local communities in planning, decision-making and implementation. They can be the best guides to promote eco-tourism. Forest Protection Committee (FPC) formed by local people can work in a group to save different forest products like wood, bamboo products, medicinal plants, essential oil, honey, etc. Joint Forest Management (JFM), a concept for developing partnerships between the fringe forest users and the Government forest department, may become an effective method of conservation of forests.

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Question 3. What are the objectives behind the adoption of the national forest policy?
Answer:
National Forest Policy: The Government of India adopted a forest policy in 1952, which was further modified in 1988. This policy lays emphasis on sustainable forest management in order to conserve and expand forest reserves and to meet the needs of the local people. The other objectives of this policy are:

1. Maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and, where necessary, restoration of the ecological balance that has peer adversely disturbed by the serious depletion of the forests of the country.
2. Conserve the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remaining natural forests with a vast variety of flora and fauna, which represent the remarkable biological diversity and genetic resources of the country.
3. Checking soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in the interest of soil and water conservation, for mitigating floods and droughts, and for the retardation of siltation of reservoirs.
4. Increasing substantially the forest/tree cover in the country through massive afforestation and social forestry programs, especially on all degraded and unproductive lands.
5. Meeting the requirements of fuel-wood, fodder, minor forest produce, and small timber of the rural and tribal populations.
6. Increasing the productivity of forests to meet essential national needs.
7. Encouraging efficient utilization of forest produce and maximizing substitution of wood.
8. Creating a massive people’s movement with the involvement of women, for achieving these objectives and to minimise pressure on existing forests.

Question 4. Give an account of the mountain forests.
Answer: In the mountain regions temperature decreases with altitude. This has a corresponding effect on the natural vegetation of the mountain regions.
Mountain forests can be categorised into two types :
1. The Northern Mountain Forests, and
2. The Southern Mountain Forests.

1. The Northern Mountain Forests: These forests include the Himalayan ranges which show a succession of natural vegetation from the tropical to tundra with changes in altitude.

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Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests:
Distribution: These forests cover the entire Himalayan zone from Kashmir to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh between 1500 m and 3300 m altitude.
Characteristic Features: These forests contain mixed species of broad-leaved evergreens and conifers. They also contain scrubs, creepers, and ferns.
Important Trees: Oak, fir, spruce, deodar, chestnut, cedar, maple, kail, yew, and birch are important tree varieties of these forests.
Economical Value: These forests provide fine durable wood for commercial uses.

Himalayan Dry Temperate Forests:
Distribution: Dry Temperate forests occur in Ladakh, Baltistan, Chamba, Lahaul, Sikkim, and in inner Garhwal regions.
Important Trees: These include junipers, chilgozah, maple, ash Celtis, oak, etc.
Economic Value: These forests provide timber. The timber is used for construction work, for railway sleepers, making light furniture, etc.

Alpine Forests:
Distribution: These occur in the high Himalayas from the northwest frontier to the northeast frontier.

Characteristic Features: At the foothills of the Himalayas deciduous forests are found. These are followed by wet temperate forests between an altitude of 1000-2000 m. In the higher mountain ranges of north-eastern India, hilly areas of West Bengal. and Uttarakhand, evergreen broad-leaf trees like chestnut and oak are found. Between an altitude of 1500 and 1750 m, pine forests are found with Chir pine as an important tree. Blue pine and spruce occur at altitudes of 2250 and 3000 m. Temperate grasslands also occur at many places in this zone. In the higher reaches, Alpine forests and pastures are found. At still further higher altitudes, mosses, and lichens form part of the tundra vegetation.

Important Trees: These include silver fir, juniper, pine, birch, plum, magnolia, laurel, cinchona, wattle, oak, fir, spruce, deodar, chestnut, maple, kail, etc. In the western Himalayas, a sweet-scented Alpine species with white flowers — the ‘Brahmakamal’ and the ‘Kuth’ are found. These are used in perfume making.
Economical Value: The Himalayan trees yield valuable timber which is used for making railway sleepers, furniture, packing boxes, wood pulp, paper, match sticks, plywood, etc. It also provides resins, gums, fruit roots, medicinal plants, herbs, etc.

2. Southern Mountain Forests:
Distribution: Such forests are found in three distinct areas of Peninsular India :
(1)The Vindhyas,
(2)The Nilgiris,
(3) the Western Ghats.

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Characteristic Features: These forests have a mixture of tropical and temperate vegetation. This is because the areas which lie closer to the tropics and are only 1500 m above the sea level have temperate vegetation whereas the lower regions of the Western Ghats, especially in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have subtropical vegetation. The temperate forests are called Sholas in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai, and Palani hills.

Question 5. State the importance of forests.
Answer: Forests are considered to be one of the country’s valuable natural resources.

The chief advantages of forests. are the following:
1. Regulation of Climate: Forests regulate climate. They act as reservoirs of water. They absorb the moisture of the rainwater that falls during the monsoon season and give it slowly afterward in the dry season. So the forest is called ‘Natural Sponge’.
2. Arresting Soil Erosion and Increasing Soil Fertility: Forests prevent soil erosion and increase the fertility of the soil by producing humus, etc. Forests also help to prevent sudden floods by absorbing some water from the heavy downpour of rain.

3. ‘Industries: Forests supply valuable timber, juice, fodder, leaves, and fruits.These help in the growth of many forest-based industries. Paper mills, match factories, furniture factories, resin and turpentine industries, etc. are dependent upon the existence of forests.
4. Foreign Exchange: Some of the minor forest products like bamboo, canes, leaves, grasses, essential oils, medicinal plants, lac, resins, gum, tanning materials, etc. are valuable foreign exchange-earners.
5. Employment: Forests provide employment to a large number of people such as wood-cutters, sawyers, carters, carriers, craftsmen, and others.
6. Domestic Fuel: An estimated population of 35 crore people, mainly in rural areas, depend on fuelwood as a source of domestic energy.

7. Medicinal Herbs: The Indian forests are very rich in medicinal herbs and drugs.
8. Animal Habitat: Forests are the home of India’s rich and varied wildlife. In India, 70 National Parks and 412 sanctuaries have been set up for the preservation of wildlife.
9. Land of Tribal Culture and also of Spiritual Preparation of life: To over 25 million tribesmen, the forest is their home, their livelihood, and their very existence. Throughout the ages, man has sought spiritual preparation of his life in the solitude of the forests. Many famous events in the history of Indian civilization are associated with forests.
10. Forests have also an aesthetic value: Forests provide fine scenery and excellent healthy air. Many health resorts and sanatoriums have been established in the forested areas.

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Question 6. What do you know about the influence of forests?
Answer:
Influence of Forest: Forests are regarded as one of the country’s valuable natural resources.

Chief influences are:
1. Forest regulates climate.
2. Forests protect soil erosion and increase the fertility of soils.
3. It supplies raw materials to a number of industries like paper, paper pulp, rayon, and medicine.
4. It supplies valuable fibers, juices, leaves, and fruits.
5. Forests provide employment to a large number of people.
6. Forests supply fuel wood to 35 crores of people of India.
7. Forests are supplying medicinal herbs.
8. Forests are the homes of India’s rich and varied wildlife. 70 national parks and 412 sanctuaries have been set up for the preservation of wildlife.
9. Forests supply fodder to a large number of cattle.
10. a Large number of health resorts and sanitoriums have been set up in forest areas.
11. Forests are the homes of a large number of tribal people. (xii) Forests control floods also.

Question 7. State some problems of the Green Revolution.
Answer:
Problems of Green Revolution: The Green Revolution has been a unique event in the agricultural history of independent India, as it has saved the country from the disasters of hunger, starvation, and also. made the Indian peasant more confident than ever before. But it has its own inherent deficiency segments.

Ever since its inception, the income gap between large, marginal, and small farmers has increased; the gap between irrigated and rain-fed areas has widened and some crops have benefited more than others, even at the cost of other crops. This has also given birth to a plethora of socioeconomic problems.

The spiraling prices of fertilizers, the tendency to use them frequently, and the stagnant wheat and rice yields in Punjab and Haryana have combined to confirm that Green Revolution has reached old age. The fatigue of the Green Revolution is also visible. Some of the problems of the Green Revolution are:

1. Inter-Crop Imbalances: The effect of the Green Revolution primarily has been felt on foodgrains including wheat, rice, jawar, bajra, and maize, and production of these crops has gone high. But it has wrested areas from coarse cereals, pulses, and oilseeds.
2. Regional Disparities: The Green Revolution technology has given birth to growing disparities in economic development at inter-regional and intra-regional levels. It has so far affected only 40% of the total cropped area and 60% is still untouched by it. The most affected areas are Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, A.P., and Tamil Nadu in the south but it has hardly any. touched the eastern region including Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, and arid and semi-arid regions. The green revolution also has affected only areas which were already better from an agricultural point of view.

3. Unemployment: Expect Punjab and Haryana farm mechanization under Green Revolution has created widespread unemployment among agricultural laborers in the rural areas and the worst hit is the poor and the landless people.
4. Other Related Problems: Agriculture under Green Revolution has not grown at the rate that was expected in the beginning. The high-yielding variety seeds are also responsive to certain key inputs such as fertilizers, and irrigation; as a result, there is also an increase in the cost of production. Some experts have also commented that the indigenous varieties could also be high yielding under required doses of inputs.

Some experts have also blamed the green revolution for destroying natural mechanisms for controlling pests though due to the loss of diversity the miracle seeds of the green revolution have become a mechanism for breeding new pests and creating new diseases.

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The excessive use of groundwater for proceeding irrigation to high-yielding variety seeds has also led to large-scale depletion of groundwater and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has severely affected the health of the soil.

Though the green revolution did increase food grain production in the country it has been achieved at the cost of intensive use of irrigation water, fertilizers, and other inputs. This has resulted in problems of soil salinization, groundwater pollution, nutrient imbalances, the emergence of new pests, diseases, and environmental degradation. This has also given the problem of regional inequality in the matter of income and production and only the western and some southern parts of the country have got the maximum benefit of the green revolution.

The green revolution has only benefitted some big enterprising farmers whereas the majority of the marginal and small farmers are deprived of benefits. Thus, the overall impacts of the green revolution have failed to influence the agricultural sector.

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Considering all these facts the pioneer of the Indian Green Revolution, Mr. M. S. Swaminathan, presently chairman of the National Commission on Farmers, also gave a new call for another green revolution for doubling the present production level of food grains. For making it a success, he stressed on adopting the best scientific techniques and promoting organic farming. The government has also given urgent attention for initiating another green revolution. The approach paper to Eleventh Plan has aptly highlighted such a holistic framework and suggested the following strategy to raise agricultural output. Such as

1. Doubling the rate of growth of irrigated areas.
2. Improving water management, rainwater harvesting, and watershed development.
3. Reclaiming degraded land and focusing on soil quality.
4. Diversifying agricultural productivity into high-value outputs such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, spices, medicinal plants, and biodiesel but with adequate measures of food security.
5. Promoting animal husbandry and fishery.
6. Providing easy access to credit at affordable rates.
7. Improving the incentive structure and functioning of markets and refocusing on and reforms issues.

Thus, the approach to the second green revolution seems to aim at the efficient use of resources, and conservation of soil, water, and ecology on a sustainable basis and in a holistic framework.