FOREST AND WILDLIFE .
(Chapter Notes)
1. Name four animals and two species of flora which are on the verge of extinction.
Ans:
Animals and plants on the verge of extinction: ‘
Four animals:
• Cheetah
• pink-headed duck
• mountain quail
• forest spotted owlet.
Two plants:
• Wild mahua (madhuca insignis)
• hubbardia heptaneuron (a species of grass).
2. Name six groups of flora and fauna under which they are classified by International
Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
Ans:
• Normal species: Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their
survival.
• Endangered species: Species, which are in danger of extinction because their
population is declining. For example, Black buck, Indian rhino
• Vulnerable species: These are the species whose population has declined so much that
they are likely to move into endangered category in the near future. For example, Blue
sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin.
• Rare species: Species with small population. If care is not taken, they may also become
endangered species. For example, Himalayan Brown bear, desert fox, wild Asiatic
buffalo, hornbill.
• Endemic species: Species which are only found in particular areas usually isolated by
natural or geographical barriers. For example, Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon,
Andaman wild pig.
• Extinct species: These are species which are not found after searches of known or
likely areas where they may occur, i.e., the species which were existing earlier, but are
not seen today
3. Name any four resources which are obtained from our biodiversity.
Ans:
The resources are: wood, rubber, medicines and dyes.
4. Write five major reasons for the depletion of forest cover.
Ans:
• Deforestation for agricultural purposes.
• Shifting cultivation which is still practiced in substantial parts of tribal belts.
• Large-scale development of river valley projects.
• Mining activities have also resulted in deforestation. For example, the tiger reserve in
West Bengal is seriously threatened by the ongoing dolomite mining.
• Environmental pollution and forest fires have also led to depletion of forests.
5. Write three adverse impacts of dolomite mining in the Buxar Tiger Reserve on the
ecosystem.
Ans:
Adverse effects of dolomite mining in the Buxar Tiger Reserve:
• It has caused ecological damage.
• It has blocked the migration route of several species.
• It has disturbed the natural habitat of many species.
6. List six factors which have led to the decline in India’s biodiversity
Ans:
• Habitat destruction
• Over-exploitation
• Environmental pollution
• Forest fires
• Hunting and Poaching
• Poisoning
7. Write four most important causes of environmental destruction/degradation.
Ans:
• Unequal access to resources.
• Inequitable consumption of resources.
• Differential sharing of responsibility for environmental well-being.
• Over-population.
8. List various provisions made by “The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972” for
protecting habitats.
Ans:
An All India list of protected species was published. The thrust was on protecting the
remaining population of certain endangered species by-
• banning hunting;
• giving legal protection to their habitats
• restricting trade in wildlife.
9. Write five steps taken by the Government for conservation of wildlife.
Ans:
Five steps that have been taken to protect the wildlife in India:
• Under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, an All India list of protected
species was published. The thrust was on protecting the remaining
population of certain endangered species by –
o banning hunting,
o giving legal protection to their habitats and
o restricting trade in wildlife.
• Many wildlife sanctuaries have been developed and National Parks have
been set up.
• Many projects have been started for protecting specific animals which were
gravely threatened, e.g. Project Tiger, One-horned Rhino, the Kashmir Stag
(hangul), three types of crocodiles —the fresh water, salt-water and
Gharials, the Asiatic Lion, etc.
• Most recently, some animals have been given full or partial legal protection
against hunting and trading throughout India, e.g., Indian elephant, black
buck, great Indian bustard and the snow leopard, etc.
• Setting up of biosphere reserves for conserving flora and fauna in their
natural surroundings and protection of wetland ecosystems is another step
taken in this direction.
10. Which agency manages forests in India? Name three broad categories in which the forests
are classified.
Ans:
The forests in India are owned and managed by the Government through the Forest
Department.
They are classified under the following categories:
• Reserved Forests
• Protected Forests
• Unclassed Forests
11. What are ‘Permanent Forest Estates’ and why? Which state has maximum forest cover
falling under this category? Write its percentage share in the total forest area of this state.
Ans:
Reserved and protected forests are referred to as the Permanent Forest Estates maintained for
the purpose of producing timber and other forest products.
Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests, constituting 75% of its total
forest area.
12. Name five states which have large reserved and protected forests respectively.
Ans:
States having large percentages of reserved forests are: Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra
Protected Forests: Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan.
13. What are unclassed forests? Name two areas which have high percentages of their forests
as unclassed forests.
Ans:
Unclassed forests are the forests other than reserved forests and protected forests and waste
lands belonging to both Government and private individuals as well as local communities.
Two areas with high percentage of unclassed forests are: North-Eastern states and parts of
Gujarat.
14. Write three examples of conservation of biodiversity at community level. (2025)
Ans:
Three examples of community participation:
• In ‘Sariska Tiger Reserve’, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing
the Wildlife Protection Act. In many areas, villagers themselves, are protecting
habitats and explicitly rejecting Government involvement.
• The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar District of Rajasthan have declared 1200
hectares of forest as the ‘Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri’, declaring their own set of rules
and regulations, which do not allow hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against
any outside encroachments.
• The famous Chipko Movement in the Himalayas has successfully resisted
deforestation and has also shown that community afforestation with indigenous
species can be a great success.
15. Explain the ‘Beej Bachao Andolan’ and ‘Navdanya’ concept.
Ana:
Farmers and Citizens’ groups like the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have
shown that adequate levels of diversified crop production without the use of synthetic
chemicals are possible and economically viable.
16. Write two characteristics of Joint Forest Management Programme and its two benefits
for the community. Which Indian state started this programme first of all and when?
Ans:
Joint Forest Management Programme involves local communities in the management and
restoration of degraded forests. It was first started in Orissa in 1988.
Two characteristics: It depends on—
• the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake protection activities mostly
on degraded forest land managed by the Forest Department and
• the local communities also work towards restoration of such degraded forests.
Two benefits:
• The members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non-
timber forest products.
• They are also entitled to share in the timber harvested by ‘successful protection’.
17. ‘33% of area should be under forests”. Justify the statement highlighting the
environmental values of forests.
Ans:
Forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33% of geographical area, as
outlined in the National Forest Policy (1952).
• Forests are considered essential for maintenance of the ecological balance.
• Forests are also the primary producers on which all other living beings depend.
• The forest preserves the ecological diversity and our life support systems—water, air
and soil.
• It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species
and breeding.
• The destruction of forests has marginalized and impoverished many indigenous forest
dependent communities.
• The indirect impact of degradation is severe drought or induced floods.
• Poverty is a direct outcome of environmental destruction.
18. Assess the need for the conservation of forests and wildlife in India.
Ans:
There is a need to conserve the forests and wildlife in India:
• Conservation of biodiversity is necessary because it preserves the ecological diversity.
• Forests and wildlife preserve our life support systems, i.e., water, air and soil. For
example, the plants, animals and micro-organisms recreate the quality of the air we
breathe, the water we drink and the soil that produces our food without which we cannot
survive.
• It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth and
breeding of species. For example, in agriculture we are still dependent on traditional
crop varieties.
• Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity.
• Forests are primary producers on which all other living beings depend not only for food
but indirectly for many other forest products which are used for varied purposes.
