Question
Give an account of the natural vegetation of West Bengal.
Answer
West Bengal has diverse natural vegetation due to variations in climate, topography, and soil. The state can be broadly divided into three regions based on vegetation: the Himalayan region, the Terai-Dooars region, and the Coastal region.
- Himalayan region: The Himalayan region of West Bengal is located in the northernmost part of the state. The vegetation here varies according to altitude. At higher altitudes, the vegetation is Alpine and consists of shrubs, grasses, and mosses. As the altitude decreases, the vegetation changes to temperate and sub-tropical forests. These forests have a variety of trees like oak, rhododendron, chestnut, and maple.
- Terai-Dooars region: The Terai-Dooars region is a narrow strip of land located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is a flat land with a fertile alluvial soil that is perfect for growing crops. The natural vegetation in this region is tropical forests. The forests have trees like Sal, Teak, and Shisham. There are also extensive grasslands in this region which are used for grazing cattle.
- Coastal region: The Coastal region of West Bengal is a narrow strip of land along the Bay of Bengal. The vegetation in this region is mainly mangrove forests. The Sundarbans, one of the largest mangrove forests in the world, is located in this region. The Sundarbans are home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and many other species of animals and birds. Apart from the mangrove forests, the coastal region also has saltwater tolerant trees like the Casuarina.
