The biogeographic zones of India
contents
- Introduction
- Zone 1. Trans-Himalaya
- Zone 2. The Himalayas
- Zone 3. The Desert
- Zone 4. Semi-arid Region
- Zone 5. Western Ghats
- Zone 6. The Deccan peninsula
- Zone 7. Indo-Gangetic Plains
- Zone 8. The Coastal Region
- Zone 9. North-eastern India
- Zone 10. The Andaman and Nicobar islands
- Biodiversity and People of India
Introduction
India, a country with a rich diversity that only makes up 2.4% of the world's surface area, is home to 7–8% of all known species, including more than 45,000 plant and 91,000 animal species. It is located at the intersection of three regions: the Afrotropical, Indo-Malayan, and Palaearctic, all of which are home to a diverse range of wildlife. India, one of the 17 countries designated as megadiverse, has 10 biogeographic zones and is home to 8.58 percent of the mammalian species known to exist. The country also has 13.66 percent of avian species, 7.91 percent of reptiles, 4.66 percent of amphibians, 11.72 percent of fish, and 11.80 percent of plant species. The Himalayas, Indo-Burma, the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, and Sundaland (a biogeographical region of South-eastern Asia) are four of the world's 34 biodiversity hotspots that are present in India.
India is a recognised hub for agricultural diversity and is home to thousands of different crop plants, including millets, rice, and maize. A range of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, desert, coastal, and marine ecosystems that support and harbour abundant biodiversity and contribute to human well-being, have developed as a result of the different physical features and climatic conditions (MoEF, 2014).
Rodgers and Panwar described India's biogeographic zones (1988). However, these did not take into account people and their activities in these areas, which is a crucial factor given that natural and cultural landscapes across the nation constitute a complex mosaic. The key characteristics of each zone will be briefly covered in the paragraphs that follow.
Zone 1. Trans-Himalaya
Scrubby alpine terrain. Large portions of the region are covered in glaciers and are stony. Large areas of the landscape are covered in herbaceous flowering plants in the summer. Ibex, snow leopards, marmots, wild sheep and goats, and blacknecked cranes are among the fauna. Shepherds enjoy the area's extensive pastures as well. On these little terraces, agriculture is practised in the mountains. The climate is quite chilly in the cold desert area. Despite the difficulties caused by the environment, there have been human settlements in the area for many millennia that have not changed substantially until lately. In most cases, water from glaciers is diverted through a complex network of water canals to provide the water needed for agriculture. Traditional water specialists were responsible for maintaining these waterways. This is an example of transhumance, a sort of pastoralism that involves seasonal long-distance travel by people and their animals. In order to provide yaks and pashmina goats, which are well adapted to the severe climate, with grazing land, transhumant pastoral communities relocate from lower to higher altitudes throughout the summer.
Zone 2. The Himalayas
In the north of India, the Himalayas, which include a number of mountain ranges covered in snow and river valleys, act as a substantial natural barrier. This region includes Northern Assam, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh. The Himalayan region has a great biodiversity as a result of the height gradient. Both altitude and climatic factors affect the flora and wildlife. The Eastern Himalayas are covered in tropical rainforests, whereas the Central and Western Himalayas have extensive subtropical and alpine forests.
A wide diversity of orchids can be found in the Himalayan foothills. There are tree rhododendrons on the eastern slopes. Devdar and Chir coniferous forests can be found in some areas of the ranges. There are also temperate broad-leaved oak forests in this area. The temperate and subalpine zones are home to serow, goral, and Himalayan thar. Alpine carnivores include the brown bear and snow leopard. The most elusive mammals in the Himalayas are carnivores. The higher highlands are home to a variety of smaller carnivores, some of which are uncommon and endangered.
The construction and growth of commercial pine plantations at the expense of wild woods during colonial times permanently altered the terrain. Today, the Eastern and Western Himalayas, respectively, are used to raise wheat and rice. In addition, a variety of temperate fruit and vegetable crops are grown. The region is well-known for its seasonal veggies and apple orchards. In several areas of the Himalayas, local rivers have been dammed for irrigation and hydropower purposes. Growing tourism also threatens the ecosystem due to issues with unchecked trash and excessive use of water and land resources.
Zone 3. The Desert
India's hot deserts are located in Rajasthan and Gujarat's Kutch and Thar areas, respectively. The Thar, a sizable, desert area in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent, serves as a natural border between Pakistan and India. It is the ninth-largest subtropical desert in the world and the 17th-largest desert overall. Tropical dry deciduous woods and tropical thorn forests make up Thar's native vegetation. In the major estuaries, sand deserts coexist with seasonal salt marshes and mangroves. Typical plants include phog, which grows on sand dunes, and pali, or Sewan grass, which covers sizable regions.
There are several bug species found in the Thar desert. Here, you can see indigenous birds and 43 different types of reptiles. During their winter migration, several birds pass via this area from different countries. The black buck, once the most common mammal in the desert, is now restricted to a few isolated enclaves. The Rann of Kutch, which is also where flamingos breed on the Indian subcontinent, is now the only place where the Nilgai, the largest antelope in India, and the wild ass, a unique subspecies, may be found. There are numerous more species here, including the desert cat, chinkara, great Indian bustard, and desert fox.
The fact that Thar is the most populous desert in the world shows that people have figured out how to survive in this harsh environment. People have been able to survive thanks to traditional water collection and storage methods. Near ponds and small rivers, patches of dry farms, primarily made of bajra, can be spotted. Large-scale animal breeding is essential to farming. Here, there are numerous pastoral settlements with old-fashioned animal breeds. The ambitious "Indira Nahar Project" transformed numerous desert areas into irrigated farmlands on a large scale. Cash crops were grown on subsistence farms in arid terrain. Due to water stagnation and salt, the land degraded over the course of ten years.
Zone 4. Semi-arid Region
Punjab, Rajasthan, and parts of Gujarat are included in the zone. Along the desert, semi-arid regions serve as a transitional zone. Thorn forest makes up the area's native flora. This area is distinguished by irregular vegetation cover, wide stretches of bare soil, and a seasonal soil-water deficit.
Tropical thorn woods, tropical dry deciduous forests, moisture forests (extreme north), and mangroves make up the region's native vegetation. Acacia and Prosopis trees can be found in the sandy plains. Euphorbia plants cover the rocky areas, whereas Salvadora and Tamarix species are primarily found close to saline depressions. Calotropis, Gymnosporia, etc. are located on the rocky plains.
In this region, the Gir Forest National Park's Asiatic lion is an endemic species. Some areas have grasses, thorny bushes, and some bamboos. In this semi-arid tract, there are a few xerophytic herb species and a few ephemeral herb species. In this area, you can also see birds, leopards, eagles, snakes, jackals, fox, and buffaloes. In the past, this area's vast stretches were covered in grasslands. however, there hasn't been much rain today. In the past, pastoralists dominated the grassland environment, but they are much less prevalent now. Here, arid-climate crops like moong, jowar, tur, and bajra are farmed. The new cash crops being promoted in this area include soybean and cotton. In the area, irrigation has brought about a lot of changes. The Green Revolution's agricultural innovations in the 1960s included irrigation, which drastically altered the semi-arid plains of Punjab.
Zone 5. Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadris, are a lava-formed escarpment of the Deccan plateau (Kale, 2009). High levels of rain fall seasonally. In the past, there were many areas that were forested, and some of those areas still exist. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are among the states where the Western Ghats may be found. Only 5% of India's area is covered by them, but they are home to more than 4,000 plant species, including 1800 indigenous ones. From dry deciduous to evergreen forests, this region has a great variety. The Western Ghats are home to several amphibian and reptile species, including the Malabar grey hornbill, Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, and Nilgiri tahr.
There were a variety of subsistence farmers in the area, who cultivated minor millets like ragi and varai by shifting cultivation in addition to paddy in terraced fields. There were numerous tribal tribes in the area, and they mixed subsistence farming, fishing, and hunting and gathering. In Gujarat, the Bhils and Kokanas, and in Maharashtra, the Mahadeo Kolis, Warlis, Katkari, and Thakars, people resided in forested areas. There are still several spots where you can view their old temples and sacred woods. Plantations for commercial coffee, tea, and sugarcane production have altered the Western Ghats' terrain. The main danger that depletes enormous regions of vegetation and wrecks river systems is mining. The region is changing as a result of urbanisation and industry.
Zone 6. The Deccan peninsula
About 43% of India's entire land area is made up of the Deccan Peninsula, a sizable flat region. The Satpura Hills in the north, the Western Ghats in the west, and the Eastern Ghats in the east encircle the area. The plateau is 900 metres high in the west and 300 metres high in the east. The wetlands in this area, which are supported by four significant rivers and contain fertile black and red soil, are abundant. Tropical dry deciduous woods can be found in the plateau's northern, middle, and southern regions. In Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, the eastern portion of the plateau is covered in moist deciduous woods. Wildlife including tigers, elephants, sloth bears, wild boar, gaur, sambar, and chital, as well as tiny populations of wild buffaloes and barasingha, may be found all over the Deccan Plateau. Numerous tribal populations that practise subsistence farming and live in and around woods can be found in the central highlands of Madhya Pradesh. The Satpuda and Balaghat region's Korku and Gond tribes are well-known tribal groups. Major rivers that originate in the Western Ghats and run towards the Bay of Bengal are the Kaveri, Krishna, and Godavari. The landscape has been enhanced by the rivers. The development of rice and other cash crops was aided by irrigation. Today, industrialization and urbanisation are vying for the same land and water resources.
Zone 7. Indo-Gangetic Plains
One of India's most fertile areas is the Ganges plain. The Ganges and its tributaries' alluvial deposits contributed to the formation of the soil in this area. Eastern Rajasthan is bordered by the Gangetic plains, which continue across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. The vast forest area is covered in tropical dry deciduous forest, and the Sunderbans' coastal and mangrove zones are connected to the Gangetic plain's southern end to the east. Blackbuck, gazelle, elephants, Bengal floricans, gharials, freshwater turtles, and a sizable waterfowl population are among the species of the Indo-Gangetic plains. The most fruitful areas of the Indian landscape are the Ganga river flood plains in UP and Bihar. The area's two main crops, farmed in wide terrace fields, are rice and sugarcane. Numerous tribal groups reside in the lush Sal forests. The area has a high population density, and urbanisation is growing.
Zone 8. The Coastal Region
8,118 kilometres of shoreline can be found in India. Since ancient times, the nation's coastline regions have been crucial for trade and defence. Mangroves and species from the littoral zone make up the natural vegetation of coastal regions. Dolphins, dugongs, turtles, crocodiles, and birds are among the species of animals. There are five different types of marine turtles that live, eat, and lay their eggs on suitable beaches in coastal seas. In just three or four nights, around 200,000 Olive Ridley turtles travel to the coast of Odisha to lay their eggs. The Sunderbans, which are located on the east coast and border the Bay of Bengal, have the largest density of tigers. Along the coasts, rice, coconut, areca, and spice orchards are also grown. Up until recently, the main source of income in coastal areas was fishing and related industries. However, the development of ports, jetties, thermal power plants, and the oil and natural gas sectors has significantly altered the coastal region.
Zone 9. North-eastern India
Evergreen forest belts in the Terai and eastern sub-Himalayan regions are a known hotspot for biodiversity worldwide. Here you can find dense, damp evergreen forests that are home to numerous indigenous plant and animal species. North-east India has a diverse range of tropical evergreen flora, including semi-evergreen and evergreen rain forests, moist deciduous monsoon forests, marshes, and grasslands. There are 390 species of mammals in the fauna. In Assam, there are one-horned rhinos, while in Manipur, there are brow-antlered deer, also known as sengai. There are several lesser carnivores in the region. Here you'll find the greatest concentration of elephants in the nation. Over the years, a number of tribal communities from Mynamar and China have migrated to these territories and lived there. They engage in terrace farming in the valleys and Jhum (shifting agriculture) cultivation on the slopes. The seven states of the North-east are collectively referred to as "the seven sisters," and because they were mostly free of colonial influence, they continued to live according to their traditional ways until quite recently. But due to the demands of urbanisation and modernization, changes have begun to take place, and traditional living is being replaced by a modern way of life.
Zone 10. The Andaman and Nicobar islands
There are 325 islands in this group, with Nicobar to the south and Andaman to the north. The islands experience considerable rainfall brought on by both the Northeast and Southwest monsoons. Only 21 of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands' 325 islands are inhabited at the moment. The tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous woods, littoral, and mangrove forests are all present on the islands. Here, there are numerous endemic plants and animals. 200 of the 2,200 plant species found on the islands are indigenous. These islands are the sole place to see wild boar, the Andaman day gecko, the harmless Andaman water snake, huge robber crabs, 4 types of turtles, and a total of 112 bird species. The Narcondam hornbill is a sizable woodland bird with a huge beak that can only be found in Narcondam. In the Andamans, coral reefs cover an area of 11,000 square kilometres, and in Nicobar, 2,700 square kilometres.
One of the oldest tribal groups in the world is the six tribes of Andaman and Nicobar. The Nicobarese people have evolved and are now farmers and livestock keepers. The forests were destroyed by the settlers' aggressive development, first by the British and then by those from India, and the Great Andamanese and Onges lost their ability to live independently. They rely primarily on outside assistance today. Additionally, various diseases were spread among the tribal people who interacted with Indian settlers. As a result, tribe populations continued to decline. The Jarawas, one of the other tribal groups, are few in number due to diseases that have been introduced, and they have a tense relationship with foreigners. Despite being legally protected, their land is continuously being trespassed upon.
The Sentinelese people have resisted occupying their island and are still by themselves. Their rights are respected thanks to the efforts of the international community. Another isolated tribal community, the Shompen, has a relatively small population.
Biodiversity and People of India
Millions of Indians rely on biodiversity for their means of subsistence and way of life. According to estimates, 275 million rural poor people, or 27% of the population, rely on non-timber forest products (NTFP) for at least some of their basic needs (Malhotra & Bhattacharya, 2010).
A hundred million people are thought to be directly dependent on the gathering and sale of MFP for their livelihoods (Report of the National Committee on Forest Rights Act, 2011). According to a World Bank estimate, the MFP economy supports up to 275 million people in rural India, a large portion of whom are tribal people (cited in "Down To Earth" Report, November 1-15 2010). However, it is impossible to determine how many people rely on MFPs and what proportion of their income comes from them. In addition to many different kinds of food like nuts, wild fruits, honey, etc., they include bamboo, cane, fodder, leaves, gum, waxes, colours, and resins.
MFPs give individuals who live in or close to forests access to both financial revenue and subsistence. They make up a sizable amount of their food, fruits, pharmaceuticals, and other consumables and additionally generate cash through sales. Some MFPs are quite important commercially, namely bamboo and tendu leaf. The six States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh contribute over 75% of the MFPs. Biodiversity is the source of a wide range of socio-cultural values that are philosophical, cultural, and even religious. Through the values affixed to the biodiversity's constituent parts as well as the landscapes, biodiversity and ecosystem variety are represented in the cultural and religious diversity of India.
Ayurveda, Siddha, Yunani, and Unani are just a few examples of the many traditional knowledge systems and ethnomedical practises in India that are founded on a deep understanding of and dependence on biodiversity. In India, the identification of sacred locations and the cultural or religious significance of particular animals are well known. In addition to the long-standing practise of sacred groves, the socio-cultural and aesthetic values associated with species and landscapes are also reflected in the formally designated natural heritage sites, which are frequently also locations of significant local, regional, or national cultural heritage value. Another country where rice is thought to have originated is India. So far, 902 of their wild relatives and 811 cultivated plants have been identified. In addition, India is home to a variety of native varieties of cattle, including 34 breeds of buffalo, 12 breeds of goat, and 21 breeds of sheep. There are also 15 different types of chicken. Numerous of these breeds exhibit beneficial traits like disease resistance, environmental tolerance, high milk or meat yields, etc. It's crucial to preserve these breeds and allow them to thrive.
The Union Ministry of Agriculture has established six national bureaus for plant genetic resources, animal genetic resources, fish genetic resources, agriculturally important insects, agriculturally important microorganisms, and soil sciences to support the conservation of India's rich domesticated biodiversity as well as underutilised crops and animal breeds. To coordinate characterization, evaluation, cataloguing, and the creation of a national database of living creatures in accordance with their responsibilities, these bureaus act as the nodal organisations.
India has established Aichi Biodiversity Targets as a Convention on Biological Diversity signatory. At the latest by 2020,
- People will be educated on the benefits of biodiversity and the actions they may take to protect and sustain its use.
- Values associated with biodiversity have been incorporated into planning, planning procedures, and national and municipal development policies. Additionally, they will be included, as necessary, in national accounting and reporting systems.
- Positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and implemented in accordance with the Convention and other pertinent international obligations, taking into account national socioeconomic conditions. I ncentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out, or reformed in order to minimise or avoid negative impacts.
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