Class 8 Geography Chapter 3: Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources

Vocabulary and concept definitions for Chapter 3: Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources (Class VIII Geography).

Forest

A cluster of trees growing close together.

Ecosystem

The interaction between plants and animals with their environment.

Grasslands

Regions inhabited by grass-eating animals as well as flesh-eating animals.

Factors Affecting Natural Vegetation

Relief of the land, climate (temperature and moisture), and human factors (economic development of a region).

Coniferous Forests

Forests found between $55^{\text{o}}$ and $70^{\text{o}}$ latitudes in both hemispheres.

Mediterranean Forest Vegetation

Vegetation consisting of trees such as olive, oak, cork, fig, laurel, pine, fir, cedar, cypress, and citrus fruits like orange and lemon.

Tropical Forests

Forests with tall, dense hardwood trees and broad leaves forming overhead canopies and distinct vegetation storeys, including trees like mahogany, ebony, cinchona, rosewood, and rubber.

Tundra Vegetation

Vegetation in polar regions and high latitudes comprising mosses, lichens, grasses, dwarf shrubs, birch, willow, and various seasonal flowers.

Xerophytes

Desert vegetation characterized by stunted trees and shrubs with thick and spongy stems, long roots, and thorny wax-coated leaves to retain water.

Tropical Grassland

Grassland found on either side of the equator (mainly Africa, South America, Australia) featuring hot climate, $75 - 150\text{ cm}$ annual rainfall, less fertile soil, tall coarse grasses, and scattered trees like acacia and baobab.

Temperate Grassland

Grassland in mid-latitudes (North America, South America, Central Asia, Europe) with moderate climate, $25 - 75\text{ cm}$ annual rainfall, very fertile soil, and short, soft grasses with few or no trees.

Desert Vegetation Region

Very hot and dry regions receiving less than $25\text{ cm}$ of rainfall annually, with sandy or rocky soil that is poor in organic matter and low in moisture.

Downs

A term for temperate grassland located in Australia.

Taiga

Forest regions in cold climates predominantly characterized by coniferous trees.

Canopy

An overhead roof-like layer formed by the crowns of tall, dense trees in a forest.

Van Mahotsav

An initiative and tree-planting festival designed to protect and conserve natural vegetation.