Geography – Chapter 2

Forest and Wildlife Resources

1. What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?

Ans. Biodiversity refers to diverse flora and fauna that exists in a given area.
We humans along with all living organisms form a complex web of
ecological systems. Plants, animals and human beings are interdependent
for their existence. For example the plants, animals and microorganisms
recreate the quality of air we breathe, water we drink and the soil that
produces our food without which we cannot survive.

2. How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna?
Explain.
OR
What are the negative factors that cause decline of India’s biodiversity?
● Human activities like agricultural expansion, mining, grazing, fuel wood
collection, large scale development projects and
Industrialisation has led to large scale deforestation and loss of
habitat of animals.
● The greatest damage on Indian forest happened during the colonial
period due to the expansion of railways, commercial and scientific
forestry and mining activities.
● In north eastern India, deforestation and degradation occurred
because of shifting cultivation.
● Since 1951 over 5000 sq km of forest has been cleared for river valley
projects. Ex. Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh.
● The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened by
dolomite mining.

3. How is biological loss correlated with the loss of cultural diversity? ●

In many society’s women bear the major responsibility of collection of
fuel, fodder, water and other basic needs. As these resources are
depleted, the burden of women increases and they have to walk for
 many kilometers to collect these resources.
● This causes serious health problems for women and negligence of
home and children.
● The indirect impact of degradation such as drought or floods also hits
the poor hardest. Poverty in these cases is a direct outcome of
environmental destruction.

4. Why do we need to conserve our forest and wildlife? ●

Conservation preserves 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.
● For example, in agriculture we are still dependent on traditional crop
varieties. Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of
aquatic biodiversity.

5. How has the Indian government taken conservation measures to

protect both flora and fauna?
● The Indian wildlife Act was implemented in 1972 with various
provisions for protecting habitats.
● An all India list of Protected species was 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.
● Central and State governments established national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries.

6. Write a brief description about Project Tiger.

Ans. It was launched in 1973 to protect the tiger population. It showed

success as the tiger population went up to 4334 in 1989. There are 27 tiger
reserves in India covering an area of 37,761 Sq Km. The major threats to
tiger population are poaching for trade, shrinking habitat, depletion of
prey, trade of tiger skins and bones.
7. How can we classify the forest on the basis of their protection or
conservation?
● Reserved forest: These are regarded as the most valuable as far as
the conservation of forest and wildlife resources are concerned.
More than half of the total forest land has been declared as reserved
forest.
● Protected forest : Almost one third of the total forest area is
protected forest as declared by the Forest department. This forest
land is protected from any further depletion.
● Unclassed forest : These are other forests and waste land belonging
to both government and private individuals and communities.

8. Describe how communities have conserved and protected forest and

wild life in India.
● In some areas of India local communities are struggling to conserve
the habitats along with government officials, recognizing that this
would secure their livelihood also.
● In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against
mining.
● 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.

9. How has nature worship helped in the preservation of diverse and rare
species?
● Nature worship is an age-old tribal belief that all creations of nature
have to be protected.
● Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests called sacred
groves.
● Mahua, Kadamba, tamarind, mango, peepal and banyan trees are
considered as sacred.
10. What are the different conservation movements of India to protect
flora & fauna?
 1. Chipko movement: It was organized in the Himalayan region by
Sunderalal Bahuguna to resist deforestation in several areas. They
also opted for community afforestation to save indigenous species.
2. Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya : Farmers and citizens' groups in
Tehri have shown that diversified crop production is possible without
the use of synthetic chemicals.
3. Joint Forest Management (JFM) : This programme aims to involve
local communities in the management and restoration of degraded
forest. This was started in 1988 when the state of Orissa passed the
first resolution for Joint Forest Management. The members of these
communities are given intermediary benefits like non-timber forest
produce and share in the timber harvested by successful protection.

11. How can we classify the different categories of existing plants and
animal species? (Refer reader page: 15 and elaborate)
Ans. Normal species. Endangered Species, Vulnerable species, Rare species,
Endemic species, Extinct Species.

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