write a brief note on Himalayan vegetation
Answers
The vegetation also varies from the unexplored tropical rainforests of the Eastern Himalayas, to the dense subtropical and alpine forests of the Central and Western Himalayas to the sparse desert vegetation of the cold desert areas of the Transhimalaya.
However, the floral wealth of the Himalayas have also been affected by man. Over the centuries, man has always been dependent on his forests for a number of his needs. But earlier, these needs were few, the forests were able to replenish the resources, and the delicate natural balance was maintained. But over the years, the human population increased dramatically, and with it the number of industries that depended on forests. Extraordinary demands were made on the forests. Forests were cut down for firewood and to feed the growing number of forest-based industries. They were also cleared to accommodate the growing population. As a result, many species of trees that were very common even 50 years ago, are now rare or have completely disappeared from certain areas.
Rain forests in Arunachal
Credit: Karamjeet Singh
Tropical forests
There are mainly two types of tropical forests that are found in the Himalayas - the tropical rainforests, and the tropical deciduous forests. The tropical rainforests are dense, evergreen, gloomy and similar to the forests of the Amazon basin and other equatorial areas. They occur mainly in the eastern Himalayas which receives very heavy rainfall.
Tropical deciduous forests are found in regions of slightly lower rainfall. They are common in the lower slopes of the Himalayas. These forests shed their leaves in certain seasons. Also the forests tend to be less dense than the rainforests. Forests of teak and sal are common in areas of deciduous vegetation.
Answer:
The vegetation of the Himalayas can be broadly classified into four types: tropical, subtropical, temperate, and alpine, each of which exists in a zone defined primarily by elevation and precipitation.
Explanation:
Evergreen rain woods extend up to an altitude of around 1200 meters in the east. Monsoon deciduous woods, however, can be found up to 1000 meters in the west. Up to 2000 meters in the east, evergreen oaks predominate. Magnolia is fairly widespread. Beeches and laurels are other types of oak.
Conifers predominate from 2500 meters to 3900 meters. Deodars, Firs, Spruce, etc. are all present here. Silver firs can be found in the higher limit. Thododendron trees are a specific type of tree. Alpine plants and bushes Thododendrons can be found above 3900 meters. Plants with vivid flowers grow in the summer. Where the Alpine meadows terminate, eternal snow begins.
Chir pines predominate between 1000 and 2000 meters in the western Himalayas. Oaks, Deodars, Firs, Cedars, Spruce, and Birches can be found at elevations above 2000 meters and as high as 3400 meters. The same kind of plant as in the east can be found in Alpine meadows higher up. Dwarf conifers and juniper thickets can also be found here. Snow never melts above 4400 meters.
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