NCERT Class 9 Geography Chapter 5 – Natural Vegetation and Wildlife

These NCERT Class 9 Geography Chapter 5 notes explain the distribution of natural vegetation and wildlife in India based on variations in climate, relief, soil and rainfall. The chapter builds conceptual clarity about India’s biodiversity and conservation efforts.

Natural vegetation refers to plant community that has grown naturally without human interference. India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world and possesses nearly 47.7% recorded forest area (including reserved, protected and unclassed forests as per official records referenced in the chapter).

• Forests in India are classified into five major types based on rainfall and climatic conditions:
• Tropical Evergreen Forests,
• Tropical Deciduous Forests,
• Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs,
• Montane Forests, and
• Mangrove (Tidal) Forests.

The chapter also explains key ecological terms like Pneumatophores (breathing roots) in mangroves, biodiversity hotspots, and altitude-based vegetation distribution in the Himalayas.

Wildlife diversity includes about 90,000 species of animals and around 2,000 species of birds, making India one of the richest faunal regions in the world.

These notes strictly follow the NCERT textbook Contemporary India – I and are highly useful for CBSE exams, state board exams and BPSC foundation preparation.

For structured preparation of NCERT Class 9–12 for UPSC, BPSC and State PCS examinations, strengthen your basics with our complete NCERT Book Notes PDF for Class 9-12, available inside the NCERT foundation course level-2.

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1. Natural vegetation of India

• Natural vegetation refers to plant community that has grown naturally without human aid and has been left undisturbed for a long time.
• India possesses rich biodiversity due to variations in relief, climate, soil, and drainage.
• About 47.7% of India’s geographical area was recorded as forest area (as per recent forest surveys including reserved, protected and unclassed forests).
• India is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world.
• Natural vegetation is closely linked with temperature and rainfall patterns.
• On the basis of climatic conditions, forests in India are divided into Tropical Evergreen, Tropical Deciduous, Tropical Thorn, Montane Forests, and Mangrove Forests.

2. Factors affecting distribution of vegetation

• Relief (Altitude) – Vegetation changes with height; for example, tropical forests at low altitudes and alpine vegetation at higher altitudes.
• Temperature – Regions with high temperature and heavy rainfall support dense forests, while low temperature areas have sparse vegetation.
• Precipitation – Areas receiving more than 200 cm rainfall have dense forests, while areas with less than 70 cm rainfall have thorny vegetation.
• Soil type – Alluvial soils support deciduous forests, while sandy soils support thorn forests.
• Human activities such as deforestation, agriculture and urbanisation have modified natural vegetation.

3. Tropical evergreen forests

• Found in regions with more than 200 cm rainfall annually and temperatures above 25°C.
• Located mainly in Western Ghats, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Northeastern States (Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh).
• Trees are tall (up to 60 metres), dense and evergreen throughout the year.
• Important species include Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood, Rubber and Cinchona.
• These forests have multi-layered structure and high biodiversity.
• Due to density, sunlight hardly reaches the ground.

4. Tropical deciduous forests

• Also known as Monsoon Forests, found in areas receiving 70–200 cm rainfall annually.
• Widely distributed in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and parts of Maharashtra.
• Trees shed leaves during dry season to conserve water.
• Important species include Teak, Sal, Peepal, Neem and Shisham.
• Divided into Moist Deciduous (100–200 cm rainfall) and Dry Deciduous (70–100 cm rainfall) forests.
• These forests are commercially important for timber.

5. Tropical thorn forests and scrub

• Found in regions with less than 70 cm rainfall annually.
• Located in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Deccan Plateau.
• Trees are scattered with long roots and thick stems to conserve water.
• Important species include Acacia, Babool, Cactus and Date Palm.
• Vegetation consists of thorny bushes and shrubs.

6. Montane forests

• Found in mountainous regions such as the Himalayas and Western Ghats.
• Vegetation varies with altitude from tropical to temperate and alpine forests.
• At heights of 1,000–2,000 metres, temperate forests with Oak and Chestnut are found.
• At heights above 3,600 metres, alpine vegetation like Junipers and Silver Fir is found.
• Above 4,000 metres, mosses and lichens dominate.
• These forests support wildlife like Snow Leopard and Red Panda.

7. Mangrove forests

• Also called Tidal Forests, found in coastal areas influenced by tides.
• Located mainly in Sundarban Delta (West Bengal), Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri deltas.
• Trees have special aerial roots called Pneumatophores for breathing in saline water.
• Important species include Sundari Tree, from which the Sundarban Delta derives its name.
• These forests provide habitat for Royal Bengal Tiger and protect coastlines from cyclones.

8. Wildlife of India

• India has about 90,000 species of animals, including 2,000 species of birds.
• Major wildlife includes Elephant, Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros and Deer.
• The Asiatic Lion is found only in Gir Forest (Gujarat).
• The One-horned Rhinoceros is found in Kaziranga National Park (Assam).
• The Royal Bengal Tiger is India’s national animal and is found in many reserves like Jim Corbett, Sundarban and Ranthambore.
• India also has rich marine biodiversity in Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

9. Conservation of forests and wildlife

• Rapid deforestation and poaching threaten biodiversity.
• The Wildlife Protection Act (1972) was enacted to protect endangered species.
• The Project Tiger (1973) was launched to conserve the tiger population.
• India has established more than 100 National Parks and over 500 Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Biosphere reserves like Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve conserve ecosystems.
• Conservation is essential for maintaining ecological balance and sustainable development.

10. Conclusion

• India’s natural vegetation reflects diversity in climate, relief and soil conditions.
• Forests and wildlife are vital for biodiversity, climate regulation and livelihood support.
• Conservation measures like Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger aim to protect endangered species.
• Sustainable management of forests is crucial for India’s environmental security.

11. Important Exam Oriented Facts

• 47.7% – Recorded forest area of India.
• 12 Mega Biodiversity Countries – India is one among them.
• More than 200 cm rainfall – Supports Tropical Evergreen Forests.
• 70–200 cm rainfall – Supports Tropical Deciduous Forests.
• Less than 70 cm rainfall – Supports Tropical Thorn Forests.
• Sundarban Delta – Largest mangrove forest in India.
• Pneumatophores – Aerial roots in mangroves.
• Gir Forest – Only habitat of Asiatic Lion.
• Kaziranga National Park – Habitat of One-horned Rhinoceros.
• Wildlife Protection Act (1972) – Legal protection for wildlife.
• Project Tiger (1973) – Conservation programme for tigers.
• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve – First biosphere reserve of India.

Understanding NCERT Class 9 Geography Chapter 5 – Natural Vegetation and Wildlife is essential to analyse how climate and relief influence forest types and biodiversity in India.

The chapter clearly explains how areas receiving more than 200 cm rainfall support Tropical Evergreen Forests, areas with 70–200 cm rainfall support Tropical Deciduous Forests, and regions with less than 70 cm rainfall support Thorn Forests.

For school examinations, students must focus on key terms such as Sundarbans (largest mangrove forest), Gir Forest (Asiatic Lion), Kaziranga National Park (One-horned Rhinoceros), and conservation laws like the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and Project Tiger (1973).

For BPSC and civil services foundation studies, this chapter provides insight into environmental conservation, forest management, ecological balance and biodiversity protection.

Continue reading NCERT Class 9 Geography Chapter 6 – Population to understand how population distribution and demographic structure influence resource use in India.

FAQs

Q1. What is NCERT Class 9 Geography Chapter 5 about?
It explains the types of natural vegetation in India and the diversity of wildlife along with conservation measures.

Q2. How are forests classified in India?
Forests are classified into Tropical Evergreen, Tropical Deciduous, Thorn, Montane and Mangrove forests based on rainfall and climate.

Q3. What is special about the Sundarbans?
The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in India and habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Q4. What is the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972?
It is a law enacted to protect wildlife and prevent hunting and poaching in India.

Q5. Why is Chapter 5 important for exams?
It explains biodiversity, forest types and conservation laws, which are important for school exams and competitive exams like BPSC and UPSC.

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