Chapter

2: Forest and Wild Life

Resource
i.
Forests plays a key role in the ecological system as these are also the primary
producers on which all other living beings depend.
ii. Our country has 8 per cent of the total number of species in the world.
iii. Critical species are that which are on the verge of extinction like the
cheetah, pink-headed duck, mountain quail and plants like madhuca insignis.
iv. Plants and animal species are categorized based on the International Union
for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
v. Normal Species population levels are normal for their survival, such as
cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc.
vi. Endangered Species are in danger of extinction such as black buck,
crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, etc.
vii. Vulnerable Species population has declined they are likely to move into the
endangered category such as blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin.
viii. Extinct Species are not found after searches of areas such as Asiatic
cheetah, pink head duck.
ix. Endemic Species are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by
natural or geographical barriers such as the Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon.
x. The greatest damage done on our forests was during the colonial period.
xi. Agricultural expansion is one of the major causes of depletion of forest
resources.
xii. Tribal areas have been deforested by shifting cultivation (jhum).
xiii. Large scale river valley projects like the Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya
Pradesh would inundate forests.
xiv. The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened by the
dolomite mining.
xv. The depletion of forest resources is also caused by grazing and fuel-wood
collection.
xvi. The loss of biodiversity has resulted in the loss of cultural diversity.
xvii. Forest losses have marginalised and impoverished many indigenous and other
forest-dependent communities.
xviii.Within the poor, women are affected more than men by the loss of forests.
xix. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various
provisions for protecting habitats.
xx. In 1980 and 1986 under IWA, Insects such as butterflies, moths, beetles, and
one dragonfly have been added to the list of protected species.
xxi. In 1991, for the first time plants were also added to the protected species list.
xxii. Reserved and protected forests are also referred to as permanent forest
estates.
xxiii.Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests: 75% of its
total forest area.
xxiv.Reserve forests have higher degree of protection of species where rights to all
activities such as hunting, cutting, grazing are banned.
xxv. Protected forests have lesser degree of protection of species and grazing is
allowed sometimes but with restrictions.

xxvi.
In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against
mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act.
xxvii.
In Alwar district, Rajasthan villagers have themselves declared forests
as the Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri, for protecting wildlife.
xxviii.
Chipko (Hugging Trees) movement in the Himalayas successfully
resisted deforestation.
xxix.
Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya are for diversification
of crops.
xxx. Many societies in our country worship trees known as Sacred Grooves.
xxxi.
The Mundas people of Chhota Nagpur worship Mahua trees and the
tribals of Orissa and Bihar worship the Tamarind and Mango trees during weddings.
Many of us worship Peepal and Banyan trees.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q.1
Define the term biodiversity.
Ans.
Large variety of plants and animals diverse in their form and functions
and form a complex web of ecosystem which is interdependent is called biodiversity.
Q.2
India is one of the worlds richest countries in terms of its vast array of
biological diversity. Justify this statement with examples.
Ans.
i.
India has nearly 8 per cent of the total number of species in the world
(estimated to be 1.6 million).
ii. This is possibly twice or thrice the number yet to be discovered.
iii. Over 81,000 species of fauna and 47,000 species of flora are found in this
country.
iv. Of the estimated 47,000 plant species, about 15,000 flowering species are
endemic (indigenous) to India.
Q.4
Name the species of plant and animals which are categorized as critical
or they are on the verge of extinction.
Ans.
It is estimated that at least
a. 10 per cent of Indias recorded wild flora
b. 20 per cent of its mammals are on the threatened list
c.
Animals like the cheetah, pink-headed duck, mountain quail, forest spotted
owlet,
d. Plants like madhuca insignis (a wild variety of mahua) and hubbardia
heptaneuron,(a species of grass).
Q.5
Classify the different categories of existing plants and animals species of
our country.
Ans.
Based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN), we can classify as follows
i.
Normal Species: Species whose population levels are considered to be
normal for their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc.
ii. Endangered Species: These are species which are in danger of extinction.
The survival of such species is difficult if the negative factors continue to operate. The
examples of such species are black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion
tailed macaque, sangai (brow anter deer in Manipur), etc.
iii. Vulnerable Species: These are species whose population has declined to
levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future.
The examples of such species are blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin, etc.

iv. Rare Species: Species with small population may move into the endangered
or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. The
examples of such species are the Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert
fox and hornbill, etc.
v. Endemic Species: These are species which are only found in some particular
areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Examples of such species
are the Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, mithun in Arunachal
Pradesh.
vi. Extinct Species: These are species which are not found after searches of
likely areas where they may occur. A species may be extinct from a local area, region,
country, continent or the entire earth. Examples of such species are the Asiatic
cheetah, pink head duck.
Q.6
Explain the factors which has caused depletion of the flora and fauna in
India.
Ans.
Nature has been over exploited by humans to obtain resources and it is
the humans who have depleted the forests and wildlife. Some reasons are:
i.
During the colonial period due to the expansion of the railways, agriculture,
commercial and scientific forestry and mining activities our forests and wildlife were
damaged.
ii. Agricultural expansion: Forest area has been converted into agricultural
land. For example: Forest areas of tribal belts of the northeastern and central India
is under threat due to deforestation by shifting cultivation (jhum), a type of slash and
burn agriculture.
iii. Large-scale development projects: Forest area has been cleared for river
valley projects. For example: Clearing of forests is still continuing with projects like
the Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh, which would submerge 40,000
hectares of forest.
iv. Mining activities: It has disturbed the natural habitat and blocked the
migration route of many species. For example: The Buxar Tiger Reserve in West
Bengal is seriously threatened by the ongoing dolomite mining. It has blocked the
migration route of Indian elephant.
v. Over grazing and fuel wood collection: Many foresters and
environmentalists believe that the factor behind the depletion of forest resources is
grazing and fuel-wood collection.
Q.7
Ans.

Explain the factors which have led to the decline in Indias biodiversity.
major causes of environmental degradation or loss of biodiversity are: i.
Habitat destruction of plants and animals
ii. Hunting and poaching of animals for commercial purposes,
iii. Over-exploitation of resources
iv. Environmental pollution and poisoning caused by industrial activities
v. Forest fires.
vi. Unequal access and inequitable consumption of resources.
vii. Disparity in sharing of responsibility for environmental well-being.
viii. Over-population in third world countries is often cited as the cause of
environmental degradation.
ix. Rich and developed countries consume more resources and create more
wastes than poor and less developed countries. An American consumes 40 times more
resources than an average Somalian. Similarly, the richest of Indian society cause
more ecological damage because they consume 25 per cent more than the poor.

Q.8

Explain the adverse effects of loss of biodiversity in India.

OR
The loss of biodiversity has resulted in the loss of cultural diversity. Justify this
statement with examples.
Ans.
The biodiversity loss is many adverse effects:
i.
The loss of biodiversity has resulted in the loss of cultural diversity.
ii. It has marginalized (sidelined) and impoverished (made poor) many
indigenous and other forest-dependent communities, who directly depend on forest
and wildlife for food, drink, medicine, culture, spirituality, etc.
iii. Women are affected more than men. As the biodiversity is depleted, in some
places women have to walk for long distance to collect fuel, water, food. This causes
serious health problems for women.
iv. Basic family set up is affected the most as women has less time to look after
the home and children because of the increased hours of work.
v. The intensity of severe droughts and floods increases which affects the poor
the adversely.
vi. As a result the poverty increases in these areas.
Q.8

Why conservation of forest and wildlife is necessary in India.

Ans.
Conservation of wildlife population and forestry is essential.
i.
Conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life support systems
water, air and soil.
ii. It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth
of species and breeding. For example, in agriculture, we are still dependent on
traditional crop varieties.
iii. Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic
biodiversity.

Q.9
Ans.

Describe the main measures taken to conserve forests and wildlife in India.
Major steps taken to conserve the forest and wildlife of India are:
i.
The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various
provisions for protecting habitats.
ii. An all-India list of protected species was also published.
iii. For protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species
following steps were taken:
a.
Banning hunting,
b.
Giving legal protection to their habitats,
c.
Restricting trade in wildlife.
iv. Subsequently, central and many state governments established national parks
and wildlife sanctuaries.
v. The central government also announced several projects for protecting
specific animals, which were gravely threatened, including the tiger, the one-horned
rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or hangul, three types of crocodiles fresh water
crocodile, saltwater crocodile and the Gharial, the Asiatic lion, and others. Most
recently, the Indian elephant, black buck (chinkara), the great Indian bustard
(godawan) and the snow leopard, etc. have been given full or partial legal protection
against hunting and trade throughout India.
vi. Now the focus is on the conservation of biodiversity. For example, even
insects and plants are have been added to the list of protected species.

Q.10

Describe types of forest and wildlife resources found in India.

Ans.

These are classified under the following categories.

Reserved Forests:

These are maintained for the purpose of protecting biodiversity

and producing timber and other forest produce.

More than half of the total forest land has been declared
reserved forests.

Reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable as far as

the conservation of forest and wildlife resources are concerned.

Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Kerala,

Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have large percentages of reserved
forests.

Protected Forests:
a.
These are maintained for the purpose of producing timber and
other forest produce.
b.
Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest.
c.
These forest lands are protected from any further depletion.
d.
Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa and
Rajasthan have a large area under protected forests.

Un-classed Forests:
a.
These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both
government and private individuals and communities.
b.
All North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a very high
percentage un-classed forests which is managed by local communities.

Q.11

Q.12

What is Community conservation technique?

Ans.
Community conservation is adopting such conservational strategies
which are people centric, environment-friendly and economically rewarding. Local
communities participate in the natural resource management.
Describe the examples of community conservation in India.
Ans.
Local communities in India have adopted conservation techniques such
as:

In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining

by citing the Wildlife Protection Act.

In Alwar district, Rajasthan villagers have made Bhairodev Dakav

Sonchuri, for protecting wildlife and have their own rules and regulations for forests
conservation.

Chipko (Hugging Trees) movement in the Himalayas successfully resisted

deforestation.

Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya are for diversification of

crops.

Many societies in our country worship trees known as Sacred Grooves.

The Mundas people of Chhota Nagpur worship Mahua trees and the tribals of
Orissa and Bihar worship the Tamarind and Mango trees during weddings. Many of us
worship Peepal and Banyan trees.
Q.13
What do you mean by Joint Forest Management Programme?
Ans.
JFM programme is a good example for involving local communities in the
management and restoration of degraded forests. This programme was started in
Orissa in 1988. Under this local (village) institutions are formed that undertake

protection of degraded forests. In return, the members of these communities get

benefits like non-timber forest products and share in the timber harvested.