Bio-reserves are the large areas where vegetation, wildlife and the environment are conserved to preserve the biological diversity. In totality there are 14 bio-reserves in India. For e.g. Sunderbans Bio-reserve in West Bengal and Nanda Devi Bio-reserve in Uttaranchal.

Tropical animals: Tiger, Elephant
Montane animals: Snow Leopard, Spotted dear

Flora	Fauna
The Plant species of particular region or period are called Flora.	The animal species of particular region or period are called Fauna.

Tropical Evergreen Forests	Tropical Deciduous Forests
These are also called Rain Forest	These are also called Monsoon Forest.
Since the region is warm and wet throughout the year, there is no definite time for the trees to shed their leaves	The trees shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks in dry summer
Examples: ebony, mahogany, rubber, rosewood	Examples: teak, bamboo, sandalwood, peepal, neem
Common animals found in these forests are elephants and monkeys.	Common animals found in these forests are lions and tigers
Present in areas receiving more than 200 cm of rainfall	Present in areas receiving rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm

The different types of vegetation found in India are:
(i) Tropical Evergreen Forests
(ii) Tropical Deciduous Forests
(iii) Tropical Thorn Forests and Scrubs
(iv) Montane Forests
(v) Mangrove Forests
Alpine vegetation is found at places over 3,600 m in height. The trees common to these are silver fir, junipers, pines and birches. The trees get stunted as they reach the snow line. There are shrubs and scrubs that ultimately merge into Alpine grasslands. Tundra vegetation is limited to lichens and mosses.

Few species of plants and animals are endangered in India because of:
→ Increase in population.
→ Urbanization and Industrialization.
→ Large scale deforestation.
→ Pollution.
→ Hunting for pleasure and commercial purpose, etc.

India has a rich heritage of flora and fauna due to following reasons:
→ India is a diverse country with different relief features (i.e. mountains, plateaus, plains, etc.) Different types of vegetations are found in these regions and the vegetations support different type of animals.
→ Availability of different types of soil providing base for different type of vegetations.
→ Variation in the climatic conditions (Temperature, humidity, etc.). Climate of India differs from north to south and east to west. Thus, supporting large variety of flora and fauna.
→ India has a monsoon type of climate where rainfall varies from 20 cms to 300 cms distributed through out the year supporting large amount of flora and fauna.
→ Variation in the duration of sunlight at different places due to difference in the latitude and altitude.

On an outline map of India, label the following.
(i) Areas of Evergreen Forests
(ii)Areas of Dry Deciduous Forests
(iii)Two national parks each in Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western parts of the Country

Answer