SMT.

SULOCHANADEVISINGHANIASCHOOL
STD.10 GEOGRAPHYWORKSHEET
Natural Vegetation

1.Explain the term natural vegetation

ANS]It refers to the plant cover that has grown on their own without any interference
By humans and has not been disturbed over a long period of time so to allow its
Individual species to adjust them fully to the climate and soil condition.
2.What are the significance of forests in maintaining the ecological balance?
ANS]- Helps in regulating or moderating the climate
- Helps in controlling soil erosion by binding the soil with their roots.
- Helps in recharging under groundwater by avoiding surface run-off hence also
Reduces chances of flood.
- Helps in increasing the fertility of the soil by adding humus.
- Purifies the air by absorbing carbon-dioxide hence controls atmospheric
pollution.
- Provides protected and natural habitat for wild animals.
- Helps in providing rainfall through transpiration.
3.What is Van Mahotsav?
ANS]This movement was launched in 1950 to make people aware of the importance
Of planting trees. Every year free saplings are distributed during the monsoon
Season in the first week of July. These saplings are planted in schools, colleges,
Alongside of roads and are as affected by soil erosion.
4.With reference to tropical evergreen forests answer the following:
a. Explain why these forests are evergreen?
ANS] The trees shed their leaves at different times of the year.
b. Why are these forests not of great commercial importance?
ANS]The trees grow in mixed stands, the forest is very dense with thick undergrowth
hence transportation is difficult.
c. How do these forests affect the climate of the region?
ANS]Forests help in regulating or moderating the climate. It also helps in providing
Rainfall through transpiration.
d. What are the characteristic features of the trees of this region?
ANS]- The trees are tall with a height more than 45m.
- The trees do not have fixed time to shed their leaves hence appear evergreen
Throughout the year.
- The trees have less economical value as they are difficult to cut as the timber
Is hard.
- The trees are broadleaved that forms a canopy which does not allow the
Sunlight to reach the ground.

5. With reference to tropical deciduous forests answer the following:

a. Why do the trees shed their leaves?
ANS]Trees shed their leaves together almost for six to eight weeks during spring and
Early summers to conserve the water during the dry season.
b. Why are these forests commercially the most exploited?
ANS]Trees are found in pure stands, the forest is less dense and they provide good
Quality timber used for construction, making furniture, ship building, railway sleepers.
6. With reference to mountain forests answer the following:
a. Why does vegetation change with altitude?
ANS] As altitude increases temperature decreases hence vegetation also varies with
altitude.
b. Why are these forests absent in the Western Ghats?
ANS] These forests of Western Ghats are little different than the forests of North
Himalayan region as the height of these mountains rarely exceeds 1500m.
c. Why are trees absent above a certain height?
ANS] Trees cannot grow beyond snowline as this region is permanently snow covered
And the frozen sub-soil does not support the growth of the trees.

7.With reference to mangrove forests answer the following:

a. How are these ecologically important?
ANS] -The tangled roots provide excellent conditions for nesting and breeding of
A variety of marine fishes, birds and aquatic animals.
-The trees along the coast act as a buffer to reduce the impact of sea waves or
Tsunamis hence prevents soil erosion.
b. Why do they need breathing roots?
ANS] The trees have specialized breathing roots known as Pneumatophores that
Contains small pores which enable the tree to respire during hightide.
c. Name two important species of trees found here.
ANS] Keora, Amur, Sundari, Rhizophora
8.With reference to thorn forests answer the following:
a. How do they adapt to the environmental challenge?
ANS] – The leaves are modified into spines to reduce transpiration rate.
- They have long roots in search of under groundwater.
- The trees remain leafless for most parts of the year to conserve water.
- Trees have succulent and thick fleshy stem to store water.
b. Where do they grow and why?
ANS] N.W India including Western Rajasthan, Gujarat, M.P, Chhattisgarh, Central
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh.
These regions experiences very scanty rainfall of less than 50cm annually.
c. Name two trees of economic importance and state their use.
ANS] Babool- The gum of tree has immense medicinal value.
Kikar-It provides timber for construction and furniture making. Its leaves are
Used as fodder.
d. State the conditions under which they grow.
ANS] Climatic conditions- Temp-25-27°C
Rainfall-below 50cms
Humidity-Less than 47%
9.What is Social forestry? State the objectives of Social forestry.
ANS] Social Forestry-It refers to the management and protection of the forest and
Afforestation on barren land with the purpose of helping in environmental, social and
Rural development.
Objectives-
a. Providing fuelwood, fodder for cattle, timber and minor forest products to
Rural people.
b. Providing employment opportunities to the rural people.
c. Increasing agricultural production by using cow-dung as manure.
10. What is deforestation? State the causes and consequences of deforestation.
ANS] Deforestation-It is indiscriminate cutting down of trees over a large area.
Causes of deforestation-
a. Rapid population growth and demand for agricultural land.
b. Construction of multi-purpose dams led to submergence of forest area.
c. Increasing urbanization and industrialization also causes degradation of
forest area.
d. Increasing demand for forest products such as timber, wood pulp etc.
e. Overgrazing
f. Shifting agricultural practices
Consequences-
a. Increase in soil erosion.
b. Erratic rainfall, increased chances of floods or drought like conditions.
c. Increase in temperature of atmosphere due to green-house gases
leading to global warming.
d. Desertification
11.What is Agro-forestry? State the objectives of agro-forestry.
ANS] Agro-forestry-It refers to the sustainable system of managing
a piece of land through combined production of agricultural crops, forest crops and
animal rearing
Objectives-
a. To reduce pressure on natural forests.
b. To maintain ecological balance along with proper utilization of farm
resources.
c. To check soil erosion and to maintain the natural fertility of the soil.
12. State the measures to conserve forests.
ANS] -Afforestation, reafforestation, social forestry, agro-forestry, farm forestry,
silviculture to increase the forest cover.
-People should be educated and encouraged to participate in Van-Mahotsav.
13. Differentiate between-
Afforestation Reafforestation
Scheme of planting new trees on barren The restoration of forestland where the
land. trees are indiscriminately cut.
Thousands of trees are planted during Two saplings are planted to replace every
afforestation programmes like Van cut tree
Mahotsav and the newly planted trees are
carefully supervised.

Tropical Evergreen Forests Tropical Deciduous Forests

Trees shed their leaves at different times Trees shed their leaves together in the dry
of the year. season.
Trees are found in mixed stands. Trees are found in pure stands
Forest is difficult to be commercially Forests are commercially most exploited.
exploited.
More dense Less Dense
Trees are taller (more than 45 mts) Comparatively shorter trees (30-45 mts)

Social Forestry Agro- forestry

It refers to the management and It refers to the sustainable system of
protection of the forest and managing
Afforestation on barren land with the a piece of land through combined
purpose of helping in environmental, production of agricultural crops, forest
social and crops and
Rural development. animal rearing

Practised on a large scale by the entire Practised on a small scale by the farmer.
community.

Tropical Desert Forests Tidal Forests

The leaves are modified into spines to The leaves are comparatively broader
reduce water loss by transpiration
Long roots that go deep in search of Breathing roots that helps in respiration
underground water. during high tide.
Forest is less dense with scattered trees Very dense
and thorny bushes.
14. Give reason-
a. Iron and steel plants have green belts around them
ANS] Because to control noise and air pollution.
b. People’s participation is of utmost significance if any forest conservation initiative
ANS] Because the people are the ultimate users or final beneficiaries.
c. Xerophytic plants remain leafless for most part of the year.
ANS] Due to scanty rainfall the availability of water is very less in desert areas
Hence to reduce transpiration and to conserve water.
d. The Mangroves have stilt roots.
ANS] The stilt roots support the trees in swampy conditions and shifting mud.
e. The Rainforest appear green throughout the year.
ANS] The trees shed their leaves at different times of the year.
the year.
f. Forests help to reduce floods.
ANS] The roots of the trees reduce the surface run-off.
The trees also bind the soil and prevent silting and flooding of rivers.