FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES
CLASS NOTES-CLASS X
1. What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given
ecosystem, or on an entire planet.
Biodiversity is immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse
in form and function, but closely integrated in a system through multiple
networks of interdependencies.
It is important for human lives because the human beings, along with the
biodiversity, form a complete web of ecological system in which we are
only a part and are very much dependent on this system for our own
existence.
2. How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna?
Explain.
Several human activities have affected the depletion of flora and fauna
has led to decline in India’s biodiversity. The main factors responsible for this
damage are:
→ Habitat destruction, mainly due to overpopulation leading to expansion of
agriculture, mining, industrialisation and urbanisation and consequent wiping
out of large forest areas.
→ Hunting and poaching and illegal trade of animal skin, tusk, bones, teeth,
horns, etc have lead many species to the verge of extinction.
→ Environmental pollution, poisoning of water bodies due to discharge of
industrial effluents, chemicals, wastes, etc. leading to animal deaths.
3. Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and
wildlife in India?
In India, forests are also home to some of the traditional
communities. In some areas of India, local communities are
struggling to conserve these habitats along with government
officials, recognising that only this will secure their own long-term
livelihood.
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 1,200 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 not only
successfully resisted deforestation in several areas but has also
shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can
be enormously successful.
In India joint forest management (JFM) programme furnishes a
good example for involving local communities in the management
and restoration of degraded forests.
Nature worship is an age old tribal belief based on the premise that
all creations of nature have to be protected. Such beliefs have
preserved several virgin forests in pristine form called Sacred
Groves (the forests of God and Goddesses)
Certain societies revere a particular tree which they have preserved
from time immemorial. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota
Nagpur region worship mahua and trees, and the tribals of Odisha
and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango trees during
weddings. To many of us, peepal and banyan trees are considered
sacred.
In and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, herds of blackbuck,
(chinkara), nilgai and peacocks can be seen as an integral part of
the community and nobody harms them
4. Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.
In the 1960s and 1970s, conservationists demanded a national
wildlife protection programme. The Indian Wildlife (Protection)
Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for
protecting habitats.
An all India list of protected species was also published. The thrust
of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population
of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal
protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife
The central government also announced several projects for
protecting specific animals, which were gravely threatened,
including the tiger, the onehorned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or
hangul, three types of crocodiles – fresh water crocodile, saltwater
crocodile and the Gharial, the Asiatic lion, and others
Central and many state governments established national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries
Most recently, the Indian elephant, black buck (chinkara), the great
Indian bustard and the snow leopard, etc. have been given full or
partial legal protection against hunting and trade throughout India.
Nowadays, many non-governmental organisations are working
towards creating public awareness for conserving depleting forest
cover and vanishing wildlife.
A recently developing practice towards conservation is the search
for different conservation measures. Biodiversity is the new by-
word of good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.
Various communities, especially in tribal areas, who are Dependent
on forests for their living are now taking an active role
5 What has been the contribution of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act in
protecting habitats in India. Explain.
The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with
various provisions for protecting habitats.
• An all-India list of protected species was also published.
• The main focus was on protecting the remaining population of certain
endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their
habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.
• Central and many state governments established national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries.
• The central government also announced several projects for protecting
specific animals, which were seriously threatened such as tiger, one-
horned rhinoceros etc. (Any three)in this form of conservation.
6 How many types of forest are classified in India?
Reserved Forests: More than half of the total forest land has been
declared reserved forests. Reserved forests are regarded as the most
valuable as far They are maintained for the production of timber
and other forest produce and for protective reason
Protected Forests: Almost one-third of the total forest area is
protected forest, as declared by the Forest Department. This forest
land are protected from any further depletion.
Unclassed Forests: These are other forests and wastelands
belonging to both government and private individuals and
communities
