4. What is Natural vegetation? Natural Vegetation refers to plants that grow and develop by themselves without human help .
5. Why do we have to learn about Natural vegetation? The study of natural vegetation is important to geographers for two reasons. Vegetation is an integral part of the physical environment Humans depend on vegetation for food, fuel, shelter, medicine etc.
6. Natural vegetation occurs Is Natural Vegetation part of something? Animals eat the plants The blood helps the grass & plants to grow Natural Vegetation is part of the ecosystem, which is a living, biological community where the plants, animals and humans interact with one another and with their physical environment. For example: the grasses provide food for the animals, which are hunted by the humans living there. Humans hunt down the animals Animals eat the meat The blood and unwanted meat is left behind
7. Can Natural vegetation be classified into other forms of vegetation? Natural Vegetation can be classified into: Forest vegetation Grass land vegetation Desert vegetation
10. Desert vegetation… Desert vegetation consists mainly of thorny shrubs and other drought-resistant plants such as the cactus.
11. These three main types of natural vegetation can be further classified into different sub-types. The existence and global distribution of the different types of natural vegetation are influenced mainly by climatic conditions particularly precipitation and temperatures
12. Does temperature effect Natural Vegetation? Natural vegetation tends to be most diverse and abundant in areas near the equator where the average annual rainfall and temperature are high. Between the tropic of cancer (latitude 23.5N) and the tropic of Capricorn (latitude23.5S), the dominant type of natural vegetation is the evergreen tropical rainforests and mangroves that spread along the equator. As one approaches latitudes 10 north & 10 south of the equator, the tropical monsoon forests become more widespread. Travelling from the equator towards the poles, one will encounter changes in the types of natural vegetation. As temperatures drop and precipitation decreases and becomes more variable, one dominant type of forest found in the cool temperature areas is the evergreen temperature coniferous forests
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14. How many types of tropical forests are their? There are three types of tropical forests: 1. Tropical rain forests 2. Mangrove forests 3. Tropical monsoon forests
34. Trees can grow to more than 40m to capture direct sunlight
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36. Where are they found? Mangrove forests can be found along tropical and subtropical coastal areas. They are usually found along low-lying, sheltered coasts with muddy and waterlogged land.
37. Difference in plant species… The dominant plants in this type of forests are generally those species that have special breathing roots that would enable them to take in oxygen under waterlogged conditions. These trees also have prop roots to anchor them firmly in the soft, muddy ground.
52. How many types of temperate forests are their? There are two types of temperate forests: 1.Temperate coniferous forests 2. Temperate deciduous forests
63. Importance 0f Forests… Forests are intimately linked to the physical, economic and spiritual well-being of people. They provided the basic essential environment & resources for some ancient civilizations to develop & flourish. They are also the sources of our spiritual & artistic inspirations & the storehouses of natural beauty & riches.
64. Green Lungs of the earth… Trees produce it’s own food through photosynthesis. Caron dioxide is absorbed in the process & oxygen is produced.
67. Shelter.Forests are natural home for many plants & animals. Forests have long been the source of food for humans since their early days as hunters and gathers. Forests are important for humans as they provide with suitable land to carry out traditional shifting cultivation.
71. Recreational Areas Forests are popular for out door activities such as camping, fishing, sight-seeing and hiking.
72. Water Catchment Basins Forests are important water catchment basins. The quantity as well as the quality of water in the rivers & lakes depend on size. Forests are also important for controlling flooding in the lowlands.
