CBSE - Forest and Wildlife Resources

Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna?
(a) Agricultural expansion
(b) Large scale developmental projects
(c) Grazing and fuel wood collection
(d) Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation
ANS (c) Grazing and fuel wood collection

Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation?
(a) Joint forest management
(b) Beej Bachao Andolan
(c) Chipko Movement
(d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries
ANS (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries

Match the following animals with their category of existence.

Answer

Animals/Plants
Category of existence
Black buck -Endangered
Asiatic elephant - Vulnerable
Andaman wild pig - Endemic
Himalayan brown bear - Rare
Pink head duck - Extinct

Reserved forests  - other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities
Protected forests -  forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources
Unclassed forests - forest lands are protected from any further depletion

Ans

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

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.

Several human activities have affected the depletion of flora and fauna and 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 speices to the verge of extinction.
→ Environmental pollution, poisoning of water bodies due to discharge of industrial effluents, chemicals, wastes, etc. leading to animal deaths.
→ Forest fires often induced by shifting cultivation wiping out valuable forests and wildlife.
→ Large scale development projects and destruction of forests.
→ Grazing and fuel wood collection.
→Over-exploitation of forest products
Other important causes of environmental destruction are unequal access, inequitable consumption of forest resources and differential sharing of responsibility for environmental well-being.

Indian forests are home to different communities. These communities have a complex relationship with their environment. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chhota Nagpur region worship Mahua and Kadamba trees; the tribals of Orissa and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango trees. Similarly, the Bishnois of Rajasthan hold the antelopes in high reverence. For these communities, particular flora and fauna are integral to their identity, so they take a number of steps to protect the same. Villagers around the Sariska Reserve have opposed mining activities in the region as these activities endanger wildlife. Villagers in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have banned hunting and lumbering activities in a 1200 hectare area they have marked as Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri'. Such activities have helped preserve patches of virgin forest land.

Good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife are plenty. Nowadays, many non-governmental organisations are working towards creating public awareness for conserving depleting forest cover and vanishing wildlife. Central and state governments in India have set up national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to protect forests and endangered species in 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 in this form of conservation.

 The diverse flora and fauna of the planet are under great threat mainly due to :
(a) Global Warming
(b) Lack of water availability
(c) Insensitivity to our environment
(d) Increasing pollution

ANS  C

Which one of the following is an endangered species of Manipur ?
(a) Blue Sheep
(b) Asiatic Buffalo
(c) Sangai (brow anter deer)
(d) Cattle

ANS C

“The species that are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur” are known as :
(a) Normal species (b) Vulnerable species
(c) Extinct species (d) Rare species

ANS C

Which one of the following is a medicinal plant used to treat some types of cancer ?
(a) Himalayan Yew (b) Himalayan Oak
(c) Madhuca insignis (d) Hubbardia heptaneuron

ANS A

 In which year, the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented ?

(a) 1970 (b) 1971
(c) 1972 (d) 1974

ANS A

Which one of the following was launched in 1973 ?

(a) Project Tiger (b) Indian Wildlife Act
(c) Wildlife Act   (d) Indian Wildlife Protection Act

ANS A

Which one of the following is located in West Bengal ?

(a) Corbett National Park (b) Sundarbans National Park
(c) Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (d) Bandhangarh National Park

ANS B

In which one of the following states is Periyar Tiger Reserves Located ?

(a) Rajasthan (b) Assam
(c) Uttranchal (d) Kerala

ANS D

Which one of the following States has the largest area under permanent forest?

(a) Uttar Pradesh (b) Jammu & Kashmir
(c) Punjab (d) Madhya Pradesh

ANS D

Which one of the following is a great achievement of the Chipko Movement ?

(a) More trees are planted
(b) Development in Himalayan region
(c) Successfully resisted deforestation
(d) Soil erosion get declined.

ANS C

(1) For expansion of railways.
(2) For expansion of agricultural field.
(3) For expansion of commercial and scientific forestry.
(4) For expansion of milling activities.

Reserved and protected forests are also referred to as “Permanent forest estates”
(1) These forest states are maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce and for protective reasons.
State : Madhya Pradesh (75 percent of its total forest area)

As a part of the ecological system human beings are dependent on it for their existence.
For example :
(1) We breathe in air, we drink water, we grow crops in soil, etc. These are the non living components of the ecological system.
(2) On the other hand plants, animals and other microorganisms recreate the quality of these non living components.

States ­ (i) Arunachal Pradesh (ii) Manipur
(1) There is an abundance of rainfall in N.E. States.
(2) The hilly terrain of these states protects the forests from human exploitation.

Reserved Forests 
(1) The reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable
(2) More than half of the total forests has been declared reserved forests
(3) These forests are majority found in Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttranchal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal & Maharashtra.

Protected Forests
(1) The forests lands are protected from any further depletion
(2) Almost one third of the total forest area is declared protected forests 
(3) These forests are majority found in Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan & Orissa.

(1) Expansion of railways.
(2) Conversion of forest land into agricultural land
(3) Mining activities.
(4) Large Scale development projects like river valley project etc.
(5) Grazing of Pastoral animals.
(6) Hunting and poaching of wild animals.

Endangered Species 
(1) These are species which are in danger of extinction.
(2) The survival of such species is difficult if the negative factors that have led to a decline in their population continue to operate

(3) Examples : Blackbuck, wild ass, Indian rhino, crocodile, lion­tailed macaque etc.

Extinct Species

(1) These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur.
(2) They are already missing and their survival is suspicious.
(3) Examples : Asiatic cheetah, pink headed duck, Vultures etc

(1) The raw materials for paper industry, match making, gums and resins are also extracted from the forest products.
(2) They help in controlling soil erosion.
(3) They help to bring rainfall.
(4) They provide certain types of herbs which are in turn used to produce useful medicines.

(1) The cutting of trees in the forest must be stopped at all costs. Our government has introduced so many awareness programmes like Vanamahotsav.
(2) Mass Media like newspapers, radio, television and cinema can help a lot in this direction.
(3) We should bring more and more areas under forests (at least up to 33%) for the balanced development of our country.
(4) The people on their parts also cooperate to check the falling of trees. “Chipko Movement” to check the careless falling of trees in the forests.