NOTES - FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

Q.1. In which year was the ‘Indian Wildlife Protection Act’ implemented in India?
Describe the main thrust area of this programme.

● In the 1960s and 1970s, the conservationists demanded some rules to protect
the wildlife. Conceding to their demand, the government enacted the Indian
Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. Under this act, an all-India list of protected
species was published.
● Hunting was banned to protect the remaining population of some endangered
species.
● Trade in wildlife was restricted and the habitats of wildlife were given legal
protection. Many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries were established by
various state governments and the central government.
● Several projects were announced for protecting specific animals, e.g., Project
Tiger. Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to protect tigers from becoming
extinct.

Q.2. Describe the Project Tiger launched by the Indian government.

The Project Tiger Conservation programme was initiated in 1973 in Corbett National
Park of Uttarakhand for the purpose of saving the tiger population from extinction in
India.

The objective of this project was to ensure the survival and maintenance of the tiger
population of India. An estimate of the tiger population in India at that turn of the century
places the figure up to 40,000. Subsequently, the first ever all India-Tiger census was
conducted in 1972 which revealed the existence of only 1827 tigers.

The project of conservation of tiger population was launched by the government of India
with the help of international agencies like World Wildlife Fund etc. Nine Tiger Reserves
in nine states with a total area of 13,017 km were set aside with a tiger population of
about 300.

The main achievements of this project are excellent recovery of the habitat and
consequent areas from a mere 268 in 9 reserves in 1972 to 2,226 in 27 reserves in
2015. Out of the total area an area of 4,936 km was set apart as a core zone free from
all human interference. Cattle grazing in this area has been stopped and many villages
have been moved out.

Q.3. Classify the forests into three categories.

 Reserved Forests Protected Forests Unclassed Forests

These are permanently These are protected These consist of

earmarked either for from any further inaccessible forests
production or other forest
produce. depletion. or wastelands.

More than 50% of the total Almost 1/3rd of the total These consist of
forest land of India has forest area of India is only 16% of the total
been declared as reserved
forests. called the protected forest areas of India.
forest.

These are controlled by These are controlled by These are owned by

the government. the government. government and
private individuals.

The forests of J & K, The forests of Bihar, The forests of north-

Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, eastern states and
Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh, parts of Gujarat fall
Maharashtra fall in this Odisha and Rajasthan under this category.
category. fall under this category.

Q4. What steps have been taken by the government for the conservation of forest
and wildlife in India? Explain.
(i) National parks, biosphere and wildlife sanctuaries : To protect biodiversity, the Indian
government has established 100 national parks, 515 sanctuaries and 17 biosphere
reserves.

(ii) The Indian Wildlife Protection Act :

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.

(iii) Projects for protecting specific animals : The central government has also
announced several projects for protecting specific animals which were greatly
threatened, including the tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or hangul,
the three types of crocodiles – the freshwater crocodile, the saltwater crocodile and the
Gharial, the Asiatic lion and others.

(iv) Forest Policy : India is one of the few countries which had a forest policy since 1894.
It was revised in 1952 and again in 1988. The main plank of the forest policy is
protection, conservation and development of forests.

(v) Forest Research Institutes : The Indian government has created many forest
Research Institutes for the research, protection and development of the forests. IFS
Dehradun is the oldest research institution of the country.

SDP
Q1. Forests and wildlife are vital to the quality of life and environment’. Justify the
statement by giving three reasons.

Forests and wildlife are vital to the quality of life and environment. This is because
destruction of forests and wildlife leads to

(i) Loss of cultural diversity – In addition to the loss of flora and fauna in the forest; the
communities that depend on various forest produce suffer a lot.

(ii) Impact on women – In almost all rural societies women bear the responsibility to
collect firewood, fodder and water. Depletion of these resources makes them work
much harder and the tasks become more time taking. This often leads to various health
problems in them.

(iii) Poverty – When the poor tribal population fail to get their supplies of basic items,
they have to buy those by spending money which is in short supply.

Thus, greater economic pressure is created on them.

Q2.Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife
in India?

In India many traditional communities still live in the forests and depend on their
livelihood for forest produce. These communities are working hand in hand with the
government to conserve forests.

In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers fought against mining activities. In Alwar
district of Rajasthan, local communities belonging to five villages have set their own
rules and regulations in 1,200 hectares of forest land. They have named it as the
Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’. Hunting is not allowed in these lands and outside
encroachments are prohibited.

The famous Chipko movement was started in the Himalayan region to stop
deforestation. People belonging to the local community took to afforestation in a big
way. Indigenous species were cultivated and protected.

Involving local communities in protecting the environment, and stopping degradation of

forests has reaped many benefits.