MP Board Class 9th Social Science Important Questions Chapter 6 India: Natural Vegetation and Wild Life

Students get through the MP Board Class 9th Social Science Important Questions Chapter 6 India: Natural Vegetation and Wild Life which are most likely to be asked in the exam.

MP Board Class 9th Social Science Important Questions Chapter 6 India: Natural Vegetation and Wild Life

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Why does India possess a great variety of forest? (MP 2015)
Answer:
India is a vast country and she possess nearly 47,000 types of species of plants. Natural vegetation depends on climatic conditions, temperature, soil, amount of rainfall and land forms. India possess variety of land forms various types of soils, various amount of rainfall and temperature. So, India possesses a great variety of vegetations.

Question 2.
What is Bio-reserve? Give two names.
Answer:
Bio-reserve is large area of forests in which special efforts are being made to preserve endangered species of plants, wildlife birds and animals, etc. Such as (i) The first biosphere reserve has been set up in Nilgiri. Its area is 5,500 sq. km. This reserve extends to the bordering regions of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was set up in 1969. (ii) In 1988, the second biosphere reserve of India was set up in Nanda Devi in Uttar Pradesh.

Question 3.
How does forest affect climate?
Answer:
Forest maintains ecological balance between various gases. Plants take carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which is a life saving gas. It is helpful in rainfall. It reduces hot temperature and evaporation and makes climatic conditions pleasant. It makes the climatic conditions healthy.

Question 4.
Differentiate the evergreen and deciduous forests.
Answer:
Difference between Evergreen and deciduous forests:
Evergreen:

1. These forests are found in areas receiving more than 200 cm. of rainfall.
2. They cover the areas of Western ghats, West Bengal, Orissa and U.P.
3. The forests having trees which remain green throughout the year.
4. Such forests are a common feature of equatorial climate.
5. Trees like oat, eucalyptus, mahogany, economic rose wood are common in these.

Deciduous forests:

• The deciduous forests are found in areas receiving rainfall between 75 to 200 cm.
• These are commonly found in M.P., Bihar Chhota Nagpur plateau.
• These are leave shedding forests.
• The deciduous are common in subtropical regions.
• The deciduous forests have value, oak, teak, elm are important teak products.

Question 5.
Why is forest essential for ecological balance?
Answer:
There is direct relation between forest and ecological balance. Forest make the environment pure and controls the temperature. They are helpful for wildlife and birds because they provide habitat for animals. Bio reserves and Bird Sanctuary is possible only by forest. For ecological balance 33% area should be covered by forest.

Question 6.
Why is ecosystem essential for survival of human bein?
Answer:
It is essential for the survival of human being because man is directly or indirectly dependent on vegetation and wildlife.

Many elements of Ecosystem are used by human beings for his use. For example he depends on cotton for clothes, soil for growing crops, wood for various purposes. All these he gets from Ecosystem or Ecological system. Thus maintenance of Ecosystem is essential for human being.

Question 7.
Write the causes of destruction of forest.
Answer:
The main causes are:

• The clearing of forest for agricultural land.
• Forests are cut down for obtaining fuel wood.
• Due to uncontrolled rearing of animals and shifting cultivation method adopted by tribal people forest is destroyed.
• Due to construction of new colonies, industries, roads and rail lines forest are cleared.
• Forest fire and spread of insects destroyed the forest.

Question 8.
Differentiate between National Park and Sanctuary.
Answer:
Difference between National Park and Sanctuary:
National Park:

1. They are relatively a large area where different ecosystem exists.
2. Exploitation and acquisition could not change this region.
3. For specific scientific educative and recreative interests plants and animal species, with their geomorphological sites and habitats are preserved here.
4. Hunting, grazing and human interference are totally banned in national parks.

Sanctuary:

1. A wild life sanctuary is similar to a national Park but is dedicated to protect wild life and conserve species.
2. Exploitation and acquistion could change this region.
3. Perfection is given only to founa and operation such as harvesting of timber, collection of minor forest product and private ownership right are permitted.
4. Without permission hunting is restricted, but grazing and regular movement of row and other animals is permitted. Human activities are allowed in a sanctuary.

Question 9.
Name the factors that affect the vegetation of an area.
Answer:
The important factors affecting the vegetation of an area are rainfall, temperature, humidity, soil, and geological structure.

Question 10.
What is meant by ecological system?
Answer:
The physical environment and the organisms which live there, are collectively called ecological system.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What are the four major natural vegetation zones in India? Give detailed account of monsoon forests in India.
Answer:
Barring the Himalayan region, the whole country is divided into four main vegetation zones, i.e., (i) The tropical rain forests, (ii) The tropical deciduous forests, (iii) The thorny and shrub forests and (iv) The tidal forests.

1. The tropical rain forests: These forests are found in the region having a rainfall of 200 cm and above. In India they are found on the western slopes of western ghats, the plains of Bengal, Orissa and in the north-east M.P.

Important trees: Ebony, Mahogany, Rose-wood are the important trees of these forests. These trees cannot be completely exploited commercially.

2. The tropical deciduous forests: These forests are generally found all over India, particularly between regions of 75 and 200 cm of rainfall. Economically they are very important. These forests are subdivided into two groups.

(i) Moist deciduous forests: These forests are most common in the northeastern parts of peninsula, i.e., around Chhota Nagpur plateau, East Madhya Pradesh, South Bihar and West Orissa. They are also common along the Shiwaliks in the north.
Important trees: Teak is an important tree here. Other important trees are Bija, Tamarind, Mango, etc.

(ii) Dry deciduous forests: These forests are found in all those regions in India which receive an average rainfall between 75-150 cm.
Important trees: Sal is an important tree. Other important trees are Neem, Mango, Bija, Sheesham, etc.

3. The thorny and shrub forests: These forests are found in the north-western part of the country from Saurashtra in the south to Punjab plains in the north. They are also spread over eastern Madhya Pradesh and south-west Uttar Pradesh. The regions receiving an average rainfall less than 75 cm. The thorns and shrubs found in the desert region.
Important trees: Kikar, Babul, Khair, Date palm, etc.

4. The tidal forests: In the deltas of the Ganga Brahmaputra and other rivers mangrove trees are found. Semdan is a well-known mangrove tree.

Question 2.
Why the conservation of forest essential? Suggest some measures.
Answer:
Need of conservation of natural vegetation: According to accepted norm for ecological health of a country it should have a forest cover of about 33% of its total area. But in our country, it is only 19.47%. 752.3 lacs hectare land is under the forest cover. Now, present good forests are much more restricted in extent because of the following reasons:

• The clearing of extensive forest areas took place to achieve agriculture land.
• Practice of shifting cultivation.
• Tree: Cutting for timber and fuel.
• Forest lands were cleared for development purposes as for construction of dams, roads, industries and for residence.
• There is mounting pressure of increasing population on our forests. They need more land for agriculture, inhabitation, pastures, etc.
• Desert extends due to absence of forests and heavy floods also occur.
• Heavy soil erosion takes place in absence of forests.

Attempts of conservation of forests: Despite heavy population pressure we have to conserve our forests. It is not enough to conserve them but to regenerate them is essential. For this the following attempts have been made:

• Attempts are made to regenerate forests and grasslands.
• The areas are extended by improved methods of silviculture and planting of fast growing plant species.
• Social forestry has played an important role in the regeneration of vegetal cover in the country. Through observ ation of tree planting weeks and Vanmahotsav.
• Nearly all the states and central territories have imposed prohibition on cutting trees without permission.

Question 3.
Write short note on conservation of wildlife and importance of forest.
Answer:
Conservation of wildlife: India has an extreme variety of animal kingdom, but with the cutting down of forests the animal species are being abolished day by day. For these reasons special efforts are being made to preserve endangered species of wildlife, time to time census is done to know about the animal population.

To control it the government of India formed national wildlife sanctuary in 1983. There are 13 zones in total. In 1986 first reserve was opened at Nilgiri, again in 1988 another reserve was opened at Nanda Devi in U.P., Nokrek in Meghalaya was the third reserve. Fourth was established in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Now the country has 63 national parks, 358 wildlife sanctuaries and 35 zoological gardens covering 1,30,000 sq. km.

Question 4.
Forests play an important role in the country. Explain.
Or
Forest is known as the wealth of nation. Explain.
Answer:

• Forests play an important role in the country’s economy. They are generally divided into two categories, t.e., major product and minor product.
• Wood is one of the major products used as fuel or as timber, for building houses, bridges, railway sleepers, furnitures, packing paper, cellulose, sal and teak are the two important ones.
• Bamboos are used for making pulp. Rosewood is used for furniture and decorative pieces of wood carvings. Sandalwood is also used for decorative purpose.
• Our forests provide a large number of major products, they include lac, resins, gums, herbs, fodder etc. Charcoal is also obtained from it.
• The forests constitute an important part of our environment. They keep it free from pollution.
• Many industries are based on forests as they yield raw materials.
• Forests affect the climate of a place. Rainfall is caused due to forest only. They keep the places cool and pleasant.
• Soil erosion is checked by the roots of the plants.
• Forest keeps the atmosphere free from pollution carbon dioxide produced by the factories is consumed by the forest.
• From the commercial point of view also forests are very important, they are helpful in developing economy.

Question 5.
Classify forest on the basis of altitude or height.
Or
What is the effect of height on the mountain regions for spread of vegetation?
Answer:
Altitude is an important consideration in the distribution of vegetation in mountainous regions, as temperature decreases with increasing altitude. They are divided into four regions.

1. Tropical deciduous forest: The Shiwaliks, the foot hills of Himalayas are clothed with tropical, moist, deciduous flora. Sal and bamboo are the important species.

2. Evergreen forest: Heights ranging from 1000-2000 metres above sea level. Trees are broad leaved, here it rains heavily. Trees of oaks, chestnuts, apples are common, whereas chir and chil trees dominate.

3. Coniferous forests: These are about 1600 to 3000 metres above sea level, grow in temperate regions and drier climate of the Himalayas, i.e., pine, cedar, silver fir are important species.

4. Alpine forest: The forest about 3600 metres above sea level is called Alpine forests. They also consist of birches and junipers, silver firs, pines. Alpine forests give way to Alpine grasslands through shrubs and scrub.

Question 6.
Write three indirect advantage of forest.
Answer:

• The forests constitute an important part of our environment. They keep it free from pollution.
• Many industries are based on forests as they yield raw materials. For all the able advantages of forests is called ‘Treasure of India’.
• Soil conservation is possible by forests. Thus, flood is controlled by forest.
• Forests help in attracting clouds and cause rainfall.
• Forests help to reduce desert areas and swamy areas. It provides humus to soil.
• Forest make the climatic conditions healthy.
• It provides shelter for animals.

I. Choose the correct alternatives:

Question 1.
State with minimum forest area in India is: (MP 2011)
(a) Assam
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Jharkhand
(d) Haryana
Answer:
(b) Rajasthan

Question 2.
Sundari trees are found in: (MP 2010)
(a) Tropical forests
(b) Himalayan forests
(c) Mangrove forests
(d) Tropical deciduous forests
Answer:
(c) Mangrove forests

Question 3.
Natural vegetation of Rajasthan is: (MP 2009)
(a) Tropical moist evergreen forests
(b) Tropical moist semi evergreen
(c) Tropical thorny forest
(d) Alpine forest
Answer:
(c) Tropical thorny forest

Question 4.
Natural habitats reserved for Indian lion is: (MP 2012, IS)
(a) Gujarat Gir forest
(b) Kaziranga forest area of Assam
(c) Sundarvan of west Bengal
(d) Nilgiri forest area
Answer:
(a) Gujarat Gir forest

II. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1.
In M.P. ………………. of total area is covered by forest.
Answer:
30%

Question 2.
In India wildlife protection Act was passed in …………………. (MP 2011)
Answer:
1972

Question 3.
Tiger development programme was started in …………………..
Answer:
1973

Question 4.
The natural habitat of lion in the country is the ………………………. forest of Gujarat. (MP 2010)
Answer:
Ghir

Question 5.
Crocodile breeding and management project was started in ……………………….
Answer:
1975

III. Match the following:

A	B
1. Bay of Bengal	(a) Shivpuri
2. Nanda Devi	(b) Mandala
3. Sundervan (MP 2012)	(c) Tamil Nadu
4. Kanha	(d) W. Bengal
5. Madhav (MP 2012)	(e) Uttranchal
6. Bandhavgarh	(f) Umariya
7. Van Vihar	(g) Bhopal

Answer:
1. (c)
2. (e)
3. (d)
4. (b)
5. (a)
6. (f)
7. (g)

IV. Write ‘true’ or ‘false’:

Question 1.
Natural vegetation can be divided into four parts.
Answer:
False

Question 2.
Wild bears are the animals of mountains.
Answer:
True

Question 3.
Forest is essential for human life.
Answer:
True

Question 4.
Forest is not the source of natural balance.
Answer:
True

Question 5.
There are 14 Biosphere Reserve set up in different regions of the country.
Answer:
True

V. Give answer in one word:

Question 1.
Known as terror of Bengal. (MP 2015)
Answer:
Jal kumbhi

Question 2.
The birds coming for short-period. (MP 2012)
Answer:
Migratory birds

Question 3.
Programme encouraging plantation of trees.
Answer:
Social forestry

Question 4.
The forest which is green forever.
Answer:
Evergreen forest

Question 5.
The movement to conserve the endangered species of tiger.
Answer:
Project tiger

Question 6.
Wet and Marshy area near bhabhar where dense forests and variety of wild life exists. (MP 2010)
Answer:
Tarai

Question 7.
Natural habitat reserved for Indian lion is. (MP 2009)
Answer:
Gujarat Gir forest

Question 8.
State with minimum forest area in India is. (MP 2009)
Answer:
Haryana

Question 9.
Heavy trees, which shed their leave during a particular season of the year. (MP 2011)
Answer:
Deciduous forest