1

1) Biodiversity or Biological

Diversity: - It is immensely

rich in wildlife and cultivated

species, diverse in form and

function but closely

integrated in a system

through multiple networks of

interdependencies.

2) Beej Bachao Andolan: - The

literal meaning of The Beej
Bachao Andolan means “save
the seeds movement”. This
movement began in the late
1980s. It was led by a farmer
and social activist named -
Vijay Jardhari. A village
known as Jardhargaon in
district Tehri of the Garhwal
region became the birthplace
of this movement.

3) Navdanya: - Navdanya is a
movement for Earth
Democracy based on the
philosophy of 'Vasudhaiv
Kutumbakam' (The Earth as
one Family). It is an Indian-
based non-governmental
organisation which promotes
biodiversity conservation,
biodiversity, organic farming,
the rights of farmers, and the
process of seed saving.
 2
4) Enrichment Plantation: -
Enrichment plantation is the
practice of clearing out
forests to grow a single
commercially valuable
species. This practice is
responsible for eliminating
many species in India. An
example of enrichment
plantation are the teak
monocultures in South India
and Chir Pine (Pinus
roxburghii) plantations in the
Himalayas have replaced the
Himalayan oak (Quercius
spp.) and Rhododendron forests.
 3

Q. 1. Give different Species which are on the verge of extinction. (NCERT Page No. 14) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) Some estimates suggest that

at least 10 % of India’s

recorded wild flora and 20 %

of its mammals are on the

threatened list.

2) Many of these would now be

categorised as ‘critical’, that
is on the verge of extinction
like the cheetah, pink-
headed duck, mountain
quail, forest spotted owlet,
and plants like madhuca
insignis (a wild variety of
mahua) and hubbardia
heptaneuron, (a species of
grass).
3) In fact, no one can say how

many species may have

already been lost.

Q. 2 Give an account of the forest cover in India. (NCERT Page No. 15) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The dimensions of
deforestation in India are
staggering. The forest and
tree cover in the country is
estimated at 79.42 million
hectare, which is 24.16% of
the total geographical area
(dense forest 12.2%; open
forest 9.14%; and mangrove
0.14%).
2) According to the State of
Forest Report (2015), the
 4
dense forest cover has increased by 3,775 sq. km since 2013.
3) However, this apparent increase in the forest cover is due to conservation measures, management
interventions, and plantations, etc., by different agencies.

Q. 3 Give the Difference between Normal Species and Endangered Species. Or

Distinguish between endangered species and extinct species of wild animals with example. Or
Name six groups of flora and fauna under which they are classified by International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). (NCERT Page No. 15) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -

1) Normal Species: - Species

whose population levels are

considered to be normal for

their survival, such as cattle,

sal, pine, rodents, etc.

2) Endangered Species: - a)

These are species which are

in danger of extinction.

b) The survival of such species

is difficult if the negative

factors that have led to a

decline in their population

continue to operate.

c) The examples of such species

are black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion tailed macaque, sangai (brow anter deer in

Manipur), etc.
 5

3) 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 if
the negative factors continue
to operate. The examples of
such species are Blue Sheep,
Asiatic elephant, Gangetic
dolphin, etc.

4) 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.

5) 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.
 6

6) Extinct Species: - These are

species which are not found
after searches of known or
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. 4 Give the main characteristics of the Asiatic Cheetah. Where has it gone? (NCERT Page No. 15) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The world’s fastest land mammal, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubantus), is a unique and specialised
member of the cat family
and can move at the speed
of 112 km./hr.
2) The cheetah is often
mistaken for a leopard. Its
distinguishing marks are the
long tear-drop-shaped lines
on each side of the nose
from the corner of its eyes to
its mouth.
3) Prior to the 20th century,
cheetahs were widely
distributed throughout Africa and Asia.
4) Today, the Asian cheetah is nearly extinct due to a decline of available habitat and prey. The species
was declared extinct in India long back in 1952.

Q. 5 Write major reasons for the depletion of forest cover in India. (NCERT Page No. 16) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -
 7

1) Deforestation: - The

greatest danger to wildlife is

the deforestation. The

cutting of trees for

agriculture, homes, dams

and highways etc. destroys

the habitat of wildlife.

2) Shifting Cultivation: - For

shifting cultivation large
areas of forest has been
cleared by tribal
communities. When they
move to new areas for
shifting cultivation they
leave the land unplanted
which was cleared for
cultivation earlier, this lead
to problems of decrease in
forest cover, land
degradation and other
environmental issues.

3) Mining: - Mining is generally

very destructive to the

environment. It is one of the

main causes of

deforestation. In order to

mine, trees and vegetation

are cleared and burned.

After mining operations the

land areas leave as it is, leads

to soil erosion and land degradation.

 8

4) Development of River

Valley Projects: - Large-

scale development of river

valley projects also leads to

deforestation and loss of

biodiversity as large areas

needs to be cleared for

making dams.

5) Environmental Pollution

and Forest Fires: -

Environmental pollution and

forest fires have also led to

depletion of forests. They

also lead to a deterioration

of the air quality, and loss of

property, crops, resources,

animals and people.

6) Exploitation of Plants: -

Plants are useful for

medicinal purposes and

some plants have the

potential to cure many

diseases which has led to

huge exploitation of them.

 9

Q. 6 Write three adverse impacts of dolomite mining in the Buxa Tiger Reserve on the ecosystem.
(NCERT Page No. 16) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
Adverse effects of dolomite
mining in the Buxa Tiger
Reserve: -
1) The Buxa Tiger Reserve in
West Bengal is seriously
threatened by the ongoing
dolomite mining.
2) It has caused ecological
damage.
3) It has disturbed the natural
habitat of many species.
4) It has blocked the migration
route of several species e.g. the great Indian elephant.

Q. 7 Give an account of the Himalayan Yew highlighting its importance. (NCERT Page No. 17) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The Himalayan Yew is in
trouble. The Himalayan Yew
(Taxuswallachiana) is a
medicinal plant found in
various parts of Himachal
Pradesh and Arunachal
Pradesh.
2) A chemical compound called
‘taxol’ is extracted from the
bark, needles, twigs and
roots of this tree, and it has
been successfully used to
treat some cancers-the drug is now the biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the world.
3) The species is under great threat due to over-exploitation.
4) In the last one decade, thousands of yew trees have dried up in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and
Arunachal Pradesh.

Q. 8 List the factors which have led to the decline in India’s biodiversity. Or
(NCERT Page No. 7) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -
 10

1) Habitat destruction: -
Habitat destruction (also
termed habitat loss and
habitat reduction) is the
process by which a natural
habitat becomes incapable of
supporting its native species.
Habitat destruction is the
leading cause of biodiversity
loss.

2) Hunting & Poaching: -

Hunting is the act of pursuing

a living thing for food, for

game, or trade while

poaching is the illegal taking

and killing of wild plants and

animals usually associated

with land use rights.

3) Over-exploitation: -
Overexploitation means
harvesting species from the
wild at rates faster than
natural populations can
recover. Presently it is the
most important factor that
negatively affecting
biodiversity.
 11

4) Environmental Pollution: -

Pollution is the introduction

of contaminants into the

natural environment that

causes adverse change.

5) Poisoning: - Use of chemical

and fertilizers also affect

biodiversity. Some pesticides

are typically used to kill

pigeons, starlings, rats and

mice.

Q. 9 Write four most important causes of environmental destruction/degradation.

(NCERT Page No. 17) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -

1) Unequal Access to
Resources: - An unequal
access to resources is unfair
because it gives more power
or privileges to one person or
group of people than to
others which leads to dive
the society into two parts i.e.
the rich and the poor
 12

2) Inequitable Consumption

of resources: - Inequities in
access to resources
contribute to ecological
imbalance. Sometimes the
rich and powerful overuse
resources for their economic
development but poor and
powerless are unable to
complete their basic needs.

3) Differential Sharing of
Responsibility: - Different
people and different
countries have different
levels of responsibility for
maintaining the
environment. For example,
developing countries argue
that rich countries like the
USA should make more
efforts to resolve the
environmental problems like
climate change as they have
more technological
advancement than others.

4) Over-population: - The ever

increasing growth of human

population has led to

deforestation, ecological

imbalance and reduction of

wildlife.

Q. 10 The destruction of forests and wildlife is not just a biological issue. The biological loss is strongly
correlated with the loss of cultural diversity. Explain. Or
 13
“The destruction of biodiversity is highly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity.” Give four facts to
support this statement. (NCERT Page No. 18) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) Impact on Indigenous
People: - The biological loss
have a negative impact on
the lives of many indigenous
and other forest-dependent
communities, who directly
depend on various
components of the forest
and wildlife for food, drink,
medicine, culture,
spirituality, etc.
2) Impact on Women: -
Within the poor, women are
affected more than men. In
many societies, it is major
responsibility of women to
collect fuel wood, fodder,
water and other basic
subsistence needs. As these
resources are depleted, the
efforts of women increase
and sometimes they have to
walk for more than 10 km to
collect these resources. This
causes serious health
problems for women
because of the increased
hours of work, which often
has serious social
implications.

3) Impact on Poor: - The

indirect impact of
degradation such as severe
drought or deforestation-
induced floods, etc. also hits
the poor the hardest. Poverty
in these cases is a direct
outcome of environmental
destruction.
 14
Therefore, forest and wildlife are vital to the quality of life and environment in the subcontinent. It is
imperative to adapt to sound forest and wildlife conservation strategies.

Q. 11 Why do we need to conserve our biodiversity? Or

Assess the need for the conservation of forests and wildlife in India. (NCERT Page No. 18) (3)
 Answer Key Points: - Conservation of biodiversity is necessary because it: -
1) Conservation of biodiversity
is necessary because it
preserves the ecological
diversity.
2) 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.
3) 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.
4) Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity.
5) 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.

Q. 12 Why is biodiversity important for human lives? Give main points. (Value ßased) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) All living organisms form a
complex web of ecological
systems in which we are only
a part and are dependent on
this system for our own
existence.
2) Human beings depend on
biodiversity for their very
survival.
3) The plants, animals and
micro-organisms re-create
the quality of air, water and
soil which human use for
their survival.
4) Forests play a key role in the
ecological system as these are also the primary producers on which all other living beings depend not
only for food but indirectly for many other forest products.
5) Biodiversity maintains an ecological balance and our life support systems (air, water and soil).
Q. 13 “Forests play a key role in the ecological system.” Highlight the value of forests in our life. Or
 15
‘33% of area should be under forests’. Justify the statement highlighting the environmental values of
forests. (Value ßased) (3/55)
 Answer Key Points: -

1) Forests are considered

essential for maintenance of
the ecological balance.
2) The livelihoods of millions of
people who live on the
fringes of these forests
depend upon it.
3) Forests plays a key role in the
ecological system as these
are also the primary
producers on which all other
living beings depend.
4) 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.
5) The destruction of forests have marginalised and impoverished many indigenous forest dependent
communities.
6) The indirect impact of degradation is severe drought or induced floods. Poverty is a direct outcome of
environmental destruction.

Q. 14 Write major steps taken by the Government for conservation of wildlife. Or

Explain any three methods of forest conservation adopted by the government after independence. Or
What are the steps taken by Government to conserve flora and fauna of the country? Or
Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife. (NCERT Page No. 18) (5)
 Answer Key Points: - Five steps that have been taken to protect the wildlife in India:

1) Wildlife Protection Act

1972: - In 1972, the Indian
Wildlife (Protection) Act was
implemented. It made for
the protection of specific
habitats. A list of wildlife
species that had to be
protected was published.
Hunting these animals and
trading of these animals
were declared illegal.
 16

2) Establishment of Wildlife

Sanctuaries: - Many wildlife

sanctuaries have been

developed and National

Parks have been set up for

the protection of wild

animals.

3) Animal Protection Acts: -

Many projects have been
started for protecting
specific animals which were
greatly threatened, e.g.
Project Tiger, One-horned
Rhino, the Kashmir Stag
(hangul), three types of
crocodiles i.e. the fresh
water, salt-water and
Gharials, the Asiatic Lion,
etc.

4) Ban on Hunting: - Most

recently, some animals have
been given full or partial
legal protection against
hunting and trading
throughout India, eg., Indian
elephant, black buck, great
Indian bustard and the snow
leopard, etc.
 17

5) Establishment of

Biosphere Reserves:

- 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.

Q. 15 List various provisions made by “The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972” for protecting habitats.
(NCERT Page No. 18) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) The Indian Wildlife
(Protection) Act was
implemented in 1972, with
various provisions for
protecting habitats.
2) An all-India list of protected
species was also published.
3) 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.
4) Central and many state governments established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
 18
5) The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals, which were
seriously threatened such as tiger, one-horned rhinoceros etc.

Q. 16 Write a brief note on ‘Project Tiger’. (NCERT Page No. 18 & 19) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) ‘Project Tiger’ was one of
the well-published wildlife
campaigns in the world,
launched in 1973.
2) Initially it had shown an
increase in tiger population
till 1989 but in 1993 the
tiger population dropped.
3) There are 27 tiger reserves
in India covering an area of
37,761 sq. km.
4) Tiger conservation has been
viewed not only as an effort
to save the endangered
species but with equal
importance as a means of
preserving biotypes of
sizeable magnitude.
5) Corbett National Park,
(Uttarakhand), Sundarbans
National Park (West
Bengal), Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh), Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan) Manas
Tiger Reserve (Assam) and Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala) are some of the reserves in India.

Q. 17 Write the major differences between reserved and protected forests. Or

What are unclassed forests? Name two areas which have high percentages of unclassed forests. Or
Which agency manages forests in India? Name three broad categories in which the forests are classified.
(NCERT Page No. 19 & 20) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) Reserved Forests: -
Reserved Forest (RF) is an
area notified under the
provisions of the Indian
Forest Act or the State Forest
Acts, with a full degree of
protection. 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
 19
concerned.
2) Protected Forests: - An area
notified under the provisions
of Indian Forest Act or the
State Forest Acts having
limited degree of protection.
In Protected Forests, all
activities are permitted
unless prohibited. Almost
one-third of the total forest
area is protected forest, as
declared by the Forest
Department. These forest
lands are protected from any
further depletion.

3) Unclassed Forests: - These

are other forests and
wastelands belonging to both
government and private
individuals and communities.
North-Eastern states and
parts of Gujarat have very
high percentage of unclassed
forests managed by local
communities.

Q. 18 Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?
Write three examples of conservation of biodiversity at community level. Or
Describe the role of the community in forest and wildlife conservation. (NCERT Page No. 20 & 21) (3/5)
 Answer Key Points: -
1) In Sariska Tiger Reserve,
Rajasthan, villagers have
fought against mining and
destruction of forest by citing
the Wildlife Protection Act.
2) 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
 20
allow hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against any outside encroachments.
3) The Bishnois of Rajasthan are well known for protecting black bucks (chinkara) an endangered
species, and herds of black buck, nilgai and peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community
and nobody harms them.
4) The famous Chipko Movement in the Himalayas led by local communities, especially women,
successfully resisted deforestation in several areas.
5) Joint forest management (JFM) is a programme which involves local communities in the management
and restoration of degraded forests.

Q. 19 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?
(NCERT Page No. 21) (3)
 Answer Key Points: -
Joint Forest Management Programme involves local communities in the management and restoration of
degraded forests. It was first started in Orissa in 1988.
 It depends on
1) The formation of local
(village) institutions that
undertake protection
activities mostly on degraded
forest land managed by the
Forest Department and
2) The local communities also
work towards restoration of
such degraded forests.

1) The members of these

communities are entitled to
intermediary benefits like
non-timber forest products.
2) They are also entitled to
share in the timber harvested by ‘successful protection’.

Q.1. Find out stories prevalent in your region which are about the harmonious relationship between
human beings and nature?
 Answer: -

Q.2. What are the negative factors that cause such fearful depletion of the flora and fauna?
 Answer: - The negative factors include the following (a) Cutting of forests for developing
agriculture. This leads to decline of habitat as well as prey for the wild animals. (b) Depletion of
forest resources like wood, bark, leaves, etc. for use in manufacture of rubber, medicines, dyes,
foodstuffs, etc.
 21

Q.3. Are colonial forest policies to be blamed?

 Answer: - Yes, the colonial forest policies are needed to be blamed for the depletion of natural
forest in India, as they introduced "Scientific Forestry" in India in which the natural forests were
cut down and tress with higher economic values were planted in a straight row.

Q.4. Have you noticed any activity which leads to the loss of biodiversity around you? Write a note on it
and suggest some measures to prevent it.
 Answer: - Cutting of useful trees on a large scale for various purposes.

1) Firstly we need to reform the land use patterns to prevent habitat destruction.
2) There's an immediate need for ' plans about careful land management '.
3) The government should fund for research on bio diversity and methods to prevent it.

Q.5. Collect more information on the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of India and cite their
locations on the map of India.
 Answer: -
1) The wildlife of India is
diverse and its national
parks and biosphere
reserves are home to
many endangered
wildlife species like
Royal Bengal Tigers
and Red Panda, the
vulnerable one-horned
Rhinoceros and Snow
Leopards, and critically
endangered Great
Indian Bustard, among
many other species of
flora and fauna.
2) India boasts 104
national parks, 551
Wildlife Sanctuaries,
131 Marine Protected
Areas, 18 Biosphere
Reserves, 88
Conservation Reserves
and 127 Community
Reserves, covering a
total of 1,65,088.57 sq.
km. In total, there are 870 Protected Areas which make 5.06% of the geographical area of the country.
3) The oldest national park in India is Corbett National Park. Sprawling in the foothills of the Himalayas
in Uttarakhand, this national park was established in 1936.
 22

Q.6. 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.
 Answer: -
1) Celebration of the Van Mahotsav by planting trees in various parts of the colony and watering them.
2) Segregation of kitchen waste and other household waste into recyclable and biodegradable categories
by keeping them in different bins at home. This helps the municipality in easy disposal of these wastes
and keeps the environment clean.

Q. 1 Multiple choice questions.

(i) 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

(ii) 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

Q. 2. Match the following animals with their category of existence.

Animals/Plants Category of existence

Black buck Extinct
Asiatic elephant Rare
Andaman wild pig Endangered
Himalayan brown bear Vulnerable
Pink head duck Endemic

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

Q. 3. Match the following

Reserved other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private
forests individuals and communities
Protected forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest
forests and wildlife resources
 23
Unclassed forest lands are protected from any further depletion
forests
 Answer: -
Reserved Forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest
forests and wildlife resources
Protected Forest lands are protected from any further depletion
forests
Unclassed Other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private
forests individuals and communities

Q. 4. Write the answers of the following questions in 30 words.

(i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
 Answer: - Already Done.

(ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.
 Answer: - Already Done.

Q. 5. Write the answers of the following questions in 120 words.

(i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?
 Answer: - Already Done.

(ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.
 Answer: - Good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife are plenty.
1) Nowadays, many non-governmental organizations are working towards creating public awareness for
conserving depleting forest cover and vanishing wildlife.
2) Central and state governments in India have set up national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to protect
forests and endangered species in wildlife.
3) 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.
4) 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.