Geography [3 Mark Question Answer]

(i) Climate: (a) They are found in the areas having a temperature less than 20°C. 12°C to 13°C is ideal for their growth.
(b) They thrive well where rainfall is about 100 to 300 cm.
(ii) Characteristics:
(a) Mixed type of vegetation is found in them which includes Deciduous, evergreen, and Coniferous type of vegetation.
(b) Trees found here include spruce, silver fir, cedar, pines, deodar, etc.

(i) Characteristics: (a) The plants are stunted and forests are thin.
(b) They have long roots, thorns, small or no leaves.
(ii) Occurrence: Western Rajasthan, south-western Punjab, and rain shadow area of Deccan plateau.
(iii) For examples, the Neem, khejari, acacia (babul), date palm, plums, cacti, etc.

(i) Temperature 24°C to 27°C, Rainfall 100 to 200 cm
(ii) Characteristics:
(a) Trees shed their leaves for about 6-8 weeks in early summer to overcome the shortage of water.
(b) Trees are found in pure stands.
(iii) Occurrence: They are found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, etc.

(i) Temp. 25°C to 27°C
Rainfall-More than 200 cm
(ii) Characteristics:
(a) Trees are very tall growing to the height of 40 to 60 m.
(b) Trees are of hardwood type and evergreen.

(i) Indiscriminate cutting of trees must be banned.
(ii) Forests must be protected from fires.
(iii) Proper legislation and their implementation should be done.
(iv) Alternative sources of energy such as biogas, solar energy must be encouraged.
(v) Shifting cultivation needs to be controlled. (Any Three)

(i) These plants are adopted to survive in both fresh and salty water.
(ii) These forests are dense and almost not easy to penetrate due to their dense growth.
(iii) Their trunks are supported by stilted roots which support them in marshy land.
(iv) They have breathing roots which are termed as pneumatophores.
(v) Their wood is strong and resistant to water.

(i) Trees grow up to the height of 40 to 60 m.
(ii) This forest is evergreen as different trees shed leaves at different times.
(iii) They grow tall with varying heights to compete for sunlight.
(iv) They are not found in pure stands that is variety of trees grow together.
(v) These forests are very dense and multilayered.
(vi) The leaves are broad and wood is hard.

We find them useful because:
(i) Forests are biodiversity hotspots: 80% of the terrestrial species of plants and animals are found in forests. They provide shelter to wildlife.
(ii) Forests serve as a watershed: A watershed is a high piece of land that catches rainfall and other precipitation and divides the flow of water into streams, rivers, lakes, marshes, etc.
Forested watersheds is able to absorb more water, recharge aquifers, sustain stream flow, slow down the flow of water, filters the pollutants and also provide habitat for the aquatic animals.