Littoral and Swamp Forests| Class 11 Geography Notes

Class 11 Notes Littoral and Swamp Forests: Littoral forests and Swamp forests, also known as wetland forests, are abundant in India. These forests are mainly located in various places such as the reservoirs of the Deccan Plateau, the salty coasts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and the Gulf of Kutch, the deltas along the eastern coast, the lakes and rivers of Kashmir and Ladakh, and the swamps in Northeast India. They form an important part of India’s natural vegetation. In this article, we will learn in detail about Littoral and Swamp Forests.

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Littoral and Swamp Forests: Overview

Title	Details
Found in	Swamp forests are found on peat-poor soils that are permanently waterlogged. There are vast and impenetrable trees in some of these areas which are home to evergreen forests.
Temperature conditions	A moderate temperature(26°C to 29°C) is required for Littoral Swamp Forests.
Rainfall Range	The littoral forest has warm, wet climatic conditions and rainfall is about 200cm.
Distribution	The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as the Ganga and Brahmaputra delta areas, are home to this species. The Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna deltas are also significant locations.

Littoral and Swamp Forest: About

India has a lot of different wetland habitats, covering about 3.9 million hectares in total. These habitats are divided into eight categories:

1. Deccan Plateau Reservoirs and Southwest Coast Lagoons: This includes reservoirs on the Deccan Plateau in the south and lagoons and other wetlands along the southwest coast.
2. Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Gulf of Kutch: Wetlands found in these regions.
3. Freshwater Lakes and Reservoirs in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh: Lakes and reservoirs in these states.
4. Delta Wetlands and Lagoons of the East Coast: Wetlands in the deltas and lagoons along the eastern coast.
5. Freshwater Marshes of the Gangetic Plain: Marshes in the Gangetic plain region.
6. Himalayan Foothills and Floodplains of Brahmaputra: Wetlands in the foothills of the Himalayas and along the Brahmaputra River.
7. Lakes and Rivers of the Montane Region of Kashmir: Wetlands in the high-altitude region of Kashmir, including lakes and rivers.
8. Wetlands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Wetlands found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Characteristics of Littoral and Swamp Forests

• Littoral and swamp both mean wetlands. These forests are found by the sea or creeks.
• They grow in places like river mouths, swampy island edges, and beaches. Mangrove forests live in salty areas like marshes and estuaries. The soil is a mix of silt, sand, and clay. Many birds call these places home.
• Mangroves do well in salty spots like marshes and estuaries. They’re made up of different plants that can handle salt.
• Some areas have lots of big trees that are hard to get through. Not many types of plants grow in these forests.
• Littoral and swamp forests mostly have trees like whistling pines, mangrove dates, and palms. Their roots are spongy so they can breathe in water. Along the coast, mangroves grow in salty spots like marshes and estuaries. They’re made up of plants that can handle salt.
• Some places have lots of trees and are tough to move around in. Only a few plants grow in these evergreen forests.
• Most of the plants like whistling pines and palms grow in littoral and swamp forests. Their roots are spongy so they can breathe underwater. Swamp forests grow in wet soil that’s always flooded

Classification of Littoral and Swamp Forests

Littoral and Swamp Forests come in different types, like Beach Forests, Tidal Forests, and Freshwater Swamps. Let’s look at each in detail:

Beach Forests

These forests line the shores and river deltas. The rainfall varies depending on the place, ranging from 75 cm to 500 cm. The soil here is sandy and has lots of lime and salts but lacks nitrogen and other important minerals. Common species in these forests include Manilkara littoralis, Thespesia, Spinifex littoreus, and Casuarina equisetifolia.

Tidal Forests

Also known as mangrove forests, these grow in spots like river estuaries, swampy island edges, and along beaches. They’re found in salt marshes, tidal creeks, and estuaries, with soil made up of silt, silt-loam, silt-clay, and sand. Many birds call these forests home. Tidal forests have four main types:

1. Tree mangrove forests are on both east and west sea shores.
2. Low mangrove trees grow on soft tidal mud near estuaries that are flooded by salt water.
3. Saltwater forests are beyond tree mangrove forests in big river deltas flooded by tidal water.
4. Brackish water forests are near river deltas where the forest floor floods at least once a day.

Freshwater Swamps

These thrive in low-lying areas where rain or river water gathers for a long time. Here you can find plants like Salix tetrasperma, Acer, Putranjiva, Holoptelia, Cephalanthus, Barringtonia, Olea, Phoebe, Ficus, Murraya, Adhatoda, Canna, and various grasses. In India, mangrove forests cover 6.740 square kilometers, which is about 7% of the world’s mangrove forests. They’re well developed in places like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the West Bengal Sunderbans. Other important spots include the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna deltas. However, these forests are also facing encroachment and need protection.

Conclusion – Class 11 Notes Littoral and Swamp Forests

Human activities like cutting down trees, building cities, polluting water, excessive farming, and dirty industries are all big problems for littoral and swamp forests. Mangrove forests, in particular, struggle with saltiness caused by human actions. Also, less fresh water flowing into these areas is a serious threat to the wetland environment.

FAQs on Class 11 Notes Littoral and Swamp Forests

What is the other name of Littoral forests?

Littoral Forests are also called Littoral and Swamp Forests and also Wetlands Forests.

Where are littoral forests found in India?

In India, littoral forests are found in the saline coast of Rajasthan and Gujarat, along the rivers of Ladakh and Kashmir, Swamps of Northeast India, etc.

What is the meaning of littoral forest?

Littoral forests are salt-tolerant forests found near the shore and in cayes. They can be found in spots and thin swaths along the mainland and caye coasts.

Are swamps freshwater or saltwater?

Freshwater swamps and saltwater swamps are the two main types of swamps. Trees predominate in swamps.

What are the characteristics of Littoral and Swamp Forests?

The following are the characteristics of Littoral forests:

• They are found along the coast and cays.
• Twiners and climbers are significant features of littoral forests.
• They occur in patches and narrow strips along the coastlines.