Natural Vegetation: Meaning, Types, Importance and Conservation

Natural vegetation is the plant cover that grows in an area on its own, without being planted or cared for by people. Forests, grasslands, shrubs and tundra are its main types. Which type grows in a place depends mainly on climate, soil and the shape of the land.

This guide is the starting point for everything on plants and vegetation on this site. It explains the meaning of natural vegetation, its types and where they grow, how India classifies its forests, and why natural vegetation matters. Each topic links to a detailed article for deeper study.

What is natural vegetation?

Vegetation is the plant life that covers an area of land. Natural vegetation is the part of that plant life that grows by itself. Nobody sows it, waters it or harvests it as a crop.

NCERT’s Class 11 geography textbook India: Physical Environment gives a precise definition. It describes natural vegetation as a plant community left undisturbed over a long time, so that its species adjust as fully as possible to the climate and soil.

A natural forest is a good example. The Forest Survey of India defines natural forests as forests made of native trees that are not planted by people. In other words, they are forests without plantations.

Natural vegetation is not one single kind of plant. It is a plant community: a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, climbers, mosses and lichens that live together. The mix changes from place to place. A rainforest, a savanna and an Arctic plain each have very different natural vegetation.

Natural vegetation is also linked to animals. Plants give animals food and shelter, and animals spread seeds and graze plants. This is why school geography often studies natural vegetation and wildlife together. Our notes on natural vegetation and wildlife cover this link in detail.

What is the difference between vegetation and natural vegetation?

The two words are close, but they are not the same. Vegetation includes every plant growing in an area. Natural vegetation includes only the plants that grow there without human help.

Here is a simple test. If people planted a stand of trees, it is a plantation. The Forest Survey of India defines a plantation as a stand made mainly of trees established by planting or artificial seeding. A plantation is vegetation, but it is not natural vegetation.

Be careful with forest statistics. In India’s forest reports (as of ISFR 2023), “forest cover” counts all land of more than one hectare with tree canopy density of at least 10%. It also includes orchards, bamboo and palm. So forest cover is not the same as natural vegetation.

What factors decide the natural vegetation of a place?

NCERT’s earlier Class 8 book, Resources and Development, says that the growth of vegetation depends mainly on temperature and moisture. National Geographic adds soil, the ability of soil to hold water, and the slope of the land. These factors work together.

• Rainfall (precipitation): Plenty of rain supports tall, dense forests. Less rain supports grasses and shrubs. Very little rain supports only scattered, water-saving plants.
• Temperature: Warm places allow plants to grow all year. Very cold places allow only short, low plants that can survive frost.
• Soil: Deep, fertile soil supports rich plant growth. Thin, sandy or frozen soil limits what can grow.
• Relief and slope: Steep slopes lose soil and water quickly. Height above sea level also matters, because it gets colder as you climb a mountain.

Because these factors change from place to place, the world has many different kinds of natural vegetation.

How many types of natural vegetation are there?

There is no single fixed number. The answer depends on how finely you classify plants.

• Four broad types (NCERT): NCERT’s earlier Class 8 book, Resources and Development, groups the major vegetation types of the world as forests, grasslands, scrubs and tundra. This is in Chapter 2, “Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources”. It is the grouping most school books use.
• Five vegetation regions: National Geographic divides Earth’s land into five major vegetation regions: forest, grassland, tundra, desert and ice sheet. In this scheme, deserts are a separate region. The ice sheet region has almost no vegetation at all.
• Detailed national systems: National systems can use much finer groups. For example, the Forest Survey of India uses 16 forest type groups for India’s forests alone.

In this guide we follow NCERT’s four broad types. They are explained one by one below, with their climate, where they are found and typical plants.

Forests: where are they found and what is their climate?

National Geographic describes forests as areas where trees grow close enough for their leaves to shade the ground. Forests grow almost anywhere trees can survive, from below sea level to high in the mountains. They need more water than grasslands or scrub.

Forests are usually grouped by climate and by the kind of trees they contain.

• Tropical forests grow near the Equator, for example in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Central America. National Geographic reports temperatures in tropical forests of about 20 to 31°C. Tropical rainforests are tall evergreen forests that receive more than 203 cm (80 inches) of rain a year. Tropical rainforests contain more than half of the world’s biodiversity. Read more about the tropical rainforest.
• Temperate forests grow across eastern North America and Eurasia, where there are four clear seasons. Many of their trees, such as maple, oak and birch, are deciduous. Deciduous trees shed their leaves in one season.
• Boreal forests (taiga) grow across Siberia, Scandinavia, Alaska and Canada. Average temperatures there are below freezing. The main trees are needle-leaved conifers such as spruce, fir and pine. See taiga, the boreal forest.
• Mangrove forests are made of trees and shrubs that grow in salty or brackish water along tropical and subtropical coasts. See mangrove forests.

Coniferous forests hold some record-breaking trees. They include the tallest tree species (coast redwood), the largest (giant sequoia) and the oldest (bristlecone pine). For a full tour of forest types, read our guide to the types of forests of the world.

Grasslands: where are they found and what is their climate?

Grasslands are flat, open areas where grasses are the main plants. National Geographic notes that grasslands are found on every continent except Antarctica.

NCERT explains the link with rainfall. As moisture decreases, trees become smaller and fewer. In regions of moderate rainfall, short stunted trees and grasses grow, forming the grasslands of the world.

The kind of grassland depends on climate. There are two main kinds.

• Tropical grasslands (savannas): These grow where it is warm all year and usually fairly dry. The most famous savannas are in Africa, such as in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
• Temperate grasslands: These grow where summers are hot and winters are cold. They stretch from the prairies of North America to the veld of South Africa.

In cool, mild climates such as northwest Europe, grasslands are dominated by tough plants that grow all year. To see how plants and animals interact in grasslands, read about the grassland ecosystem.

Shrubs and scrub: where are they found and what is their climate?

A shrub is a woody plant that is smaller than a tree. The Forest Survey of India defines a shrub as a woody perennial plant with a persistent woody stem. It usually branches from the base and does not normally grow taller than 3 metres.

Scrub is land covered mainly by shrubs, often with a few scattered trees. Indian forest reports use “scrub” for forest land with tree canopy density below 10%, generally with shrubs among the trees.

The same NCERT chapter explains where scrub grows: thorny shrubs and scrubs grow in dry areas of low rainfall. In such areas, plants have deep roots. Their leaves have thorny and waxy surfaces that reduce the loss of moisture through transpiration.

• Desert scrub: National Geographic defines deserts as areas with an average annual precipitation of less than 25 cm (10 inches). Desert plants have long roots, small leaves, water-storing stems and spines. Cacti are a well-known example in the deserts of North and South America.
• Thorn forests and scrub in India: NCERT’s Class 11 book says tropical thorn forests grow where rainfall is less than 50 cm. They are found in semi-arid parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Common plants include babool, ber, khair, neem and khejri. Read more about tropical thorn forests in India and the desert ecosystem.

Tundra: where is it found and what is its climate?

Tundra is a cold, mostly treeless region with low plants. National Geographic explains that the word comes from a Finnish word meaning a barren or treeless hill.

There are two kinds of tundra.

• Arctic tundra lies on high-latitude land above the Arctic Circle. Examples are parts of Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland, Iceland and Scandinavia.
• Alpine tundra lies very high up on mountains, above the tree line. The tree line is the height above which it is too cold and harsh for trees. National Geographic notes that most of the Tibetan Plateau is alpine tundra.

The climate is extreme. Tundra regions usually get less than 25 cm (10 inches) of precipitation a year. Average temperatures stay below freezing for six to ten months of the year. Plants have only about six to ten weeks of warm weather to grow.

In the Arctic, much of the ground is permafrost, soil that stays frozen all year. Only a thin top layer thaws in summer. So tundra plants are small and grow close to the ground: small shrubs, grasses, mosses, sedges and lichens. National Geographic notes that scientists estimate roughly 1,700 different species live in the tundra, which is not many compared with forests and grasslands. Our article on tundra vegetation explains how these plants survive the cold.

Types of natural vegetation at a glance

This summary table compares the four broad types of natural vegetation. Forests take two rows, because tropical forests and temperate or boreal forests differ so much.

How is natural vegetation in India classified?

NCERT’s Class 11 textbook India: Physical Environment (Chapter 5, “Natural Vegetation”) divides Indian forests into five groups, based on the main vegetation type and the climatic region. The five are tropical evergreen and semi evergreen, tropical deciduous, tropical thorn, montane, and littoral and swamp forests. NCERT notes that India’s vegetation changes from one region to another with variations in climate and soil. The Forest Survey of India uses a finer system of 16 forest type groups. Our guide to the forest types of India explains each group, with its rainfall, regions, trees and the latest forest-cover figures.

Why is natural vegetation important?

Natural vegetation is the base of life on land. Its main benefits are listed below. Our article on the importance of natural vegetation explains each one with examples.

• Habitat and food: Plants give animals food and shelter. The richest of these habitats are tropical rainforests.
• Soil protection: Roots hold soil together. Plant cover slows rainwater and wind, which reduces soil erosion.
• Climate and carbon: Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and store carbon in wood and soil. National Geographic notes that boreal forests play a significant role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Water: Forests and grasslands help rainwater soak into the ground. This feeds streams and wells.
• Resources for people: Natural vegetation gives wood, fuel, fodder, fruits, fibres, resins and medicines.
• Culture and recreation: Forests, grasslands and mountains are places for tourism, learning and cultural traditions.

How can we conserve natural vegetation?

Natural vegetation is under pressure from clearing for farms, cities, mines and roads. NCERT’s earlier Resources and Development textbook notes that large areas of forest have been cleared to grow crops for a growing population. It warns that forest cover all over the world is vanishing rapidly. National Geographic adds that climate change threatens the tundra and its permafrost.

Conservation means protecting what remains and restoring what has been lost. Key methods include:

1. Protecting areas: National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and other protected areas keep large patches of natural vegetation safe.
2. Stopping illegal felling and overgrazing: Controlled grazing and strict rules on tree cutting let plants regrow.
3. Planting native species: Restoring forests and grasslands with local plants helps the whole ecosystem recover.
4. Preventing forest fires: Uncontrolled fires can badly damage forests and the soil beneath them.
5. Involving local people: Communities that depend on forests are often their best protectors.
6. Measuring change: Reports such as the ISFR track forest cover every two years, so losses can be spotted early.

Read more on forest conservation and on environmental conservation.

Natural vegetation and plants: topic guides

The sections below introduce each detailed article in this topic. Use them to go deeper into the plants that make up natural vegetation.

Natural vegetation and wildlife

Natural vegetation and wildlife depend on each other. These revision notes cover the types of vegetation, the animals that live in them and how both are conserved. They are written for school exams. Read natural vegetation and wildlife notes.

Importance of natural vegetation

Natural vegetation does much more than look green. It protects soil, stores carbon, supports wildlife and gives people many useful products. Read why natural vegetation matters.

Herbs, shrubs and trees

Plants can be grouped by the type of stem. Herbs have soft, green stems. Shrubs have hard, woody stems that branch near the ground. Trees have one tall, woody trunk. See examples of herbs, shrubs and trees.

Difference between herbs and shrubs

Herbs and shrubs are both small plants, so students often mix them up. The key difference is the stem: soft and green in herbs, hard and woody in shrubs. Read the difference between herbs and shrubs.

Gymnosperms and angiosperms

Seed plants are divided into two groups. Gymnosperms, such as pines, have seeds that are not enclosed in a fruit. Angiosperms are flowering plants whose seeds develop inside a fruit. Compare them in gymnosperms vs angiosperms.

Importance of gymnosperms

Many gymnosperms are cone-bearing trees that dominate cold forests, such as the taiga. They give timber, paper pulp and resins, and they protect mountain soils. Read about the economic importance of gymnosperms.

Cedar trees

Cedars are tall, cone-bearing evergreen trees. They are prized for their durable, scented wood. Learn about their characteristics, habitat and uses.

Plant ecology

Plant ecology is the study of how plants interact with each other and with their environment. It explains why certain plants grow in certain places. Read about the meaning and importance of plant ecology.

Creepers and climbers

Some plants have weak stems that cannot stand upright. Creepers spread along the ground, while climbers grow upward using a support. See the differences between creepers and climbers.

Tundra vegetation

Tundra plants survive long, freezing winters and very short summers. They stay small and grow close to the ground. Read how tundra vegetation survives the cold.

Sources

• Forest Survey of India — India State of Forest Report 2023, Volume I
• National Geographic Education — Vegetation Region
• National Geographic Education — Forest Biome
• National Geographic Education — Tundra Biome
• NCERT (earlier Class 8 book) — Resources and Development, Chapter 2: Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources
• NCERT Class 11 — India: Physical Environment, Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation