Forest and Wildlife Resources — Class 10 Social Science
Geography — Contemporary India-II · Chapter 2
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Chapter summary
Key ideas & terms
- Biodiversity
- The variety of plant and animal life in a region.
- Endangered species
- Species in danger of extinction if the causes of decline continue.
- Endemic species
- Species found naturally only in a particular area.
- Extinct species
- Species that are no longer found anywhere on Earth.
- Reserved forests
- Forests strictly protected for conserving forest and wildlife resources.
- Chipko Movement
- A community movement that protected trees by hugging them to stop felling.
- Joint Forest Management
- A scheme involving local communities in protecting and managing forests.
- Project Tiger
- A 1973 conservation programme to protect the tiger and its habitat.
Extra questions & answers
What are the main causes of the depletion of forest and wildlife?
The expansion of agriculture, large development and irrigation projects, mining, overgrazing, hunting and pollution, often made worse by unequal access to resources.
What is the IUCN classification used for?
It classifies species by conservation status — normal, endangered, vulnerable, rare, endemic and extinct — to guide protection efforts.
How are forests classified on the basis of management?
As reserved forests (most protected), protected forests, and unclassed forests.
How does community participation help conservation?
Local involvement, as in the Chipko Movement and Joint Forest Management, conserves forests sustainably while meeting people’s needs and giving them a stake in protection.
Why should we conserve forests and wildlife?
They maintain ecological balance, preserve genetic diversity, provide resources and livelihoods, and sustain the water, air and soil cycles on which life depends.
What are the main causes of the depletion of forests and wildlife?
Expansion of agriculture, large development and mining projects, overgrazing, hunting and pollution, often worsened by unequal access to resources.
How are forests classified on the basis of management?
As reserved forests, protected forests and unclassed forests, in decreasing order of protection.
What is the IUCN classification used for?
To group species by their conservation status — such as endangered, vulnerable, rare, endemic and extinct — so that protection can be focused.
How does community participation help in conservation?
Local involvement, as in the Chipko Movement and Joint Forest Management, protects forests sustainably while meeting people’s needs and giving them a stake in conservation.
What is Project Tiger, and why was it launched?
A conservation programme started in 1973 to protect the tiger and its habitat from extinction due to poaching and loss of habitat.
Activity
Find out stories prevalent in your region which are about the harmonious relationship between human beings and nature.
A well-known example is the tradition of the Bishnoi communities of Rajasthan. They regard trees and wild animals as part of their community and protect blackbuck, chinkara, nilgai and peacocks from harm. Another example is the preservation of sacred groves, where local people leave patches of forest untouched because they believe that nature is sacred.
Activity
Collect more information on the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of India and cite their locations on the map of India.
Some important protected areas and their locations are Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal, Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan, Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam, Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala and Kaziranga National Park in Assam. These may be marked in their respective states on a political map of India.
Gharial on the brink
Can you find out the reasons for the above mentioned problems?
The gharial population is threatened by the destruction and shrinking of river habitats, pollution of water, depletion of fish on which it feeds and human interference in rivers. The deaths of birds in the Yamuna are linked to toxic substances and stagnant, polluted water. These problems arise mainly from careless disposal of waste, excessive exploitation of natural resources and inadequate protection of aquatic habitats.
Activity
Write a short essay on any practices which you may have observed and practised in your everyday lives that conserve and protect the environment around you.
Several simple practices in everyday life help conserve the environment. I avoid wasting water by closing taps properly and using only the amount required. I switch off lights and electrical appliances when they are not in use. At home, reusable bags, bottles and containers are preferred to disposable plastic products. Waste is separated so that recyclable material can be recovered and biodegradable waste can be composted. Planting and caring for native trees also supports birds and other small animals. I avoid disturbing nests, feeding wild animals unsuitable food or damaging plants. Walking, cycling and using public transport whenever possible reduce pollution. These habits may appear small, but when followed regularly by many people, they conserve resources, reduce waste and protect the natural environment.
EXERCISES
(i) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation?
(a) Joint forest management (c) Chipko Movement
(b) Beej Bachao Andolan (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries
(d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries
Reserved forests
Forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources.
Protected forests
Forest lands are protected from any further depletion.
Unclassed forests
Other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.
(i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
Biodiversity is the variety of wildlife and cultivated species that are interconnected within an ecological system. It is important because plants, animals and microorganisms maintain the quality of air, water and soil and support the life-support systems on which human survival depends.
(ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.
Human activities have depleted flora and fauna through deforestation, mining, hunting, poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Expanding settlements and other developmental activities shrink and damage natural habitats. Overexploitation of forests and the depletion of prey species further disturb ecological relationships and endanger wildlife.
(i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?
Local communities have played an important role in conserving forests and wildlife. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, villagers opposed mining by using the Wildlife Protection Act. Five villages in Alwar declared about 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’ and made rules against hunting and outside encroachment. The Chipko movement resisted deforestation and encouraged afforestation with indigenous species. Sacred groves have remained untouched because communities consider them holy. The Bishnoi communities protect blackbuck, chinkara, nilgai and peacocks. Through joint forest management, village institutions protect degraded forests and receive non-timber forest produce and a share of harvested timber in return. These examples show that conservation becomes more effective when local people participate in managing natural resources.
(ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.
Good conservation practices combine legal protection, ecological care and community participation. National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and species-protection programmes prevent hunting, trade and habitat destruction. Conservation should protect entire ecosystems and biodiversity rather than only a few animals. Local communities should participate in managing and restoring forests through programmes such as joint forest management. Traditional practices, including sacred groves and the protection of culturally valued trees and animals, should be respected. Community afforestation should use indigenous species. Movements such as Chipko, Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya demonstrate the value of preventing deforestation, preserving diverse crop varieties and practising farming without harmful synthetic chemicals. Developmental activities should be people-centred, environmentally friendly and economically rewarding.