Natural Vegetation Wild Life Wildlife in Karnataka Natural

Natural Vegetation & Wild Life Wildlife in Karnataka

Natural Vegetation in Karnataka ü Natural vegetation is plants that have not been grown by humans. It doesn’t need help from humans and gets whatever it needs from its natural environment. ü Varied factors like relief, climate & soils have affected the growth of a great variety of plants, trees & grasses in the state. ü Karnataka has a rich variety of plant species. ü According to report ‘ State of Forests’ of the Department of Forests and Environment of India, the total area of forests in the state is 36, 190 sq km.

Types of Vegetation ü There are four major types of vegetation in Karnataka § Evergreen Forests § Deciduous Forests § Mixed Forests § Grasslands & Shrubs

Evergreen Forests ü The tropical rainforests are confined to areas of heavy rainfall & high temperature. ü Areas which receive more 250 cm of rainfall and have a short dry season are the best area for the rainforest. ü The forest has a multilayered structure. ü Flora – Mahogany, Rosewood, Kino, Teak, Hebbalasu etc. ü Spices – Cinnamon, cardamom, Cloves etc. ü Districts – Uttara Kannada, Dakshina kannada, Shimoga, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Chamarajanagar & Kodagu.

Evergreen Forests (Western Ghats)

Teak Mahogany Rosewood Hebbalasu

Deciduous Forests ü The trees of these forests shed their leaves during dry-winter and dry-summer. ü These are found in areas having 60 cm to 120 cm of annual rainfall. ü These forests can be divided into two types on the basis of availability of water. § Tropical moist deciduous forests § Tropical dry deciduous forests Flora – Teak, mahogany, Neem, Mango, Jackfruit, Banyan, Bamboo etc. Districts – Chikmagalur, Chamarajanagar, Mysore Mandya, Ramnagar.

Deciduous. Forests

Teak Peepal Sandalwood Bamboo

Mixed Forests ü The growing of Evergreen & Deciduous trees together form the mixed forests. ü Annual rainfall is around 120 cm to 150 cm. ü Flora – Mahogany, Teak, Kino, Sandal, Jackfruit & Bamboo etc. ü Districts – Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Chikmagalur, Kodagu, Hassan & Mysore.

Grasslands & Shrubs ü Areas receiving less than 60 cms of rainfall annually have this kind of vegetation. ü Due to scanty rain & dry weathere is short grass, thorny shrub vegetation. ü Flora – Cactus, Acacia, Babul, Palm trees etc. ü Districts – Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Bijapur, Bellary, Chitradurga.

Cacti Babool Acacia Palm

Mangrove Forests ü Large and extensive types of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics. ü Roots of the mangrove plants are submerged under water. ü Hollow roots grow out vertically above water so that roots can breathe.

Mangrove Forests : World Distribution

Mangrove Forest

Wildlife in Karnataka

Bannerghatta National Park

Bandipura National Park

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctury

Ranebennur Blackbuck Sanctury

Nagarhole Tiger Reserve

Anshi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve

National Park vs Wildlife Sanctury National Park Wildlife Sanctury § It is meant for protection of both flora and fauna. § It is meant for protection of only fauna. § Cultivation of land is not permitted. § Cultivation of land is permitted to some extent § Grazing is not allowed. § Grazing is allowed. § Forest products are not harvested. § Forest products are harvested. § Boundary is not well § Boundary is well demarcated.