Geography Ls 2

Forest and wildlife resources

Q 1 Describe different categories of plants and animals.
A. 1 The international Union for Conservation of Nature and natural
resources classifies plants and animals.
a) Normal species : Species whose population levels are considered to
be normal for their survival
eg. Cattle, sal, pine, rodents
b) Endangered Species : These species are in danger of extinction.
Eg. Black buck, crocodile, Indian wild qss.
c) Vulnerable species : The numbers of these species have 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.
Eg. Blue sheep, Asiatic elephant
d) Rare species : Species with small population may move into the
endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them
continue to operate eg. Wild Asiatic buffalo, hornbill.
e) Endemic species : These are species which are only found in some
particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers.
Eg.Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon.
f) Extinct species : These are species which are not found after searches
of known or likely areas where they may occur.
Eg. Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck.
Q. 2 How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and
fauna?
A 2 Human activities have affected the depletion of flora and fauna in
the following ways :

a) We obtain resources from the forests like wood, bark, leaves, rubber,
medicines without doing anything about replenishing them.
b) Expansion of railways, agriculture and mining activities have affected
flora and fauna.
c) In North eastern India forests have been degraded by shifting
agriculture.
d) Large scale development projects (river valley projects) Narmada
Sagar Project have contributed to loss of forests.
Q. 3 What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human
lives?
A 3 Biodiversity is a term coined by E.O. Wilson (1988) to describe the
number and variety of living organisms at all scales from individual
parts of communities to ecosystems, regions and the entire biosphere.
This term includes the genetic diversity of an individual species, the
subpopulations of an individual species, the total no. of species in a
region, the number of endemic species in an area and the distribution of
different ecosystems.
b) Human beings are an important part of the system and much
dependent on the system for our own existence.
c) 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.
Q. 4 Define biosphere reserves. Name any two biosphere reserves.
A 4 Biosphere reserves are those areas where wildlife is protected and
kept in its natural environment.

b) It is one of measures taken by the government to conserve the

wildlife which is depleting as a result of depletion of forest cover,
hunting and poaching.
c) Two biosphere reserves are Nilgiri and Nokrek.
Q. 5 India has diverse flora and fauna.
Explain with examples.
A 6 India is oneof the worlds richest countries in terms of its vast array
of biological diversity.
b) India has nearly 8% of the total no. of species in the world. Over
81,000 species of fauna and 47,000 species of flora are found here.
c) This variety exists because of varied relief features, climatic
conditions and soil since the vegetation is so varied the animal life is
also varied.
d) Variety in vegetation : Tropical evergreen, Tropical Deciduous,
Mangrove, Thorny bushes.
e) Variety in fauna : Elephant, blackbuck, rhino, lion, bear, fox etc.
Q. 7 How is the Himalayan yew important for us? Why is it at great
risk of extinction?
A7 The Himalayan yew is a medicinal plant found in various parts of
Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
b) A chemical compound, called taxol is extracted from the bark,
needles, twigs and roots of the tree. This compound is used to used to
treat some cancers.
c) The drug is the largest selling anti cancer drug in the world.
d) The Himalayan Yew is under great threat due to over-exploitation.

Q. 8 Indias environment is at great threat? Why?

OR
What are the factors responsible for decline of Indias biodiversity?
OR State the factors responsible for environmental destruction?
A 8 There are several factors that pose a threat to the environment. They
are:
a) Destruction of natural habitat due to destruction of forest cover
b) Hunting and poaching
c) Over exploitation of resources
d) Environmental Pollution
e) Forest fires
f) Factors which cause environmental destruction are unequal access to
available resources, inequitable consumption of resources.
g) Differentialsharing of responsibility for environmental well-being.
h) Environmental degradation is also caused by over-population.
Q. 9 Why was Project Tiger formulated? OR
Write a note on Project Tiger.
A 2 Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to protect the dwindling tiger
population.
c) Initially it showed success as the tiger population went up to 4002 in
1985 and 4334 in 1989. but in 1993 the tiger population had dropped to
3600.
d) There are 27 tiger reserves in Indiacovering an area of 37,761 sq. km.
Q 10 . How are people affected by the destruction of forest and wild
life?

A 10 The loss of forest cover is strongly correlated to the loss of cultural

diversity.
b) Loss of forests cover has marginalized and impoverished many
indigenous and other forests dependent communities
c) Amongst the poor who depend on forest women are affected more
than men because it is the responsibility of women to collect fuel,
fodder, water and other basic subsistence needs.
d) As resources get depleted women have to walk long distances to
collect these resources. This causes serious health problems for women
and negligence of the home and children.
e) The poor are hit the hardest due to drought and deforestation induced
floods.
f) Forest and wildlife are vital to the quality of life and the environment.
Q. 11 Why do we need to conserve our forests and wildlife?
A 11 We need to protect our forests and wildlife because
a) It preserves the ecological diversity and our life support systems
water air and soil.
b) It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better
growth of species and breeding.
c) Fisheries are also dependent on the maintenance of aquatic
biodiversity..
Q. 12 What is the focus of conservation projects these days?
A 12 Conservation projects are now focusing on biodiversity rather than
on a few of its components.
b) There is now a more intensive search for different conservation
measures.

c) Even insects and plants are finding a place in conservation planning.

Q 13. How are forests classified in India ?
State the difference between unclassed forests and protected forests.
A 13 In India forests are classified under the following categories.
a) Reserved Forests:Reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable
as far as the conservation of forests and wildlife resources are
concerned.
More than half the total forests land has been declared as Reserved
forest.
b) Protected forest : Almost 1/3 of the total forest area is protected
forests as declared by the forest Department. This forest land is
protected from any further depletion.
The above two are also referred to as permanent forest estates
maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forests
produce.
These are owned and managed by the Govt. through the Forest
Department or other Govt. departments.
c. Unclassed forests : These are other forests and wastelands belonging
to both govt. and private individuals and communities.
Q. 14 What are the measures taken by the Govt. to conserve the
endangered species of wildlife?
A 14

Various measures are taken by the Govt. to conserve the

endangered species of wildlife.

a) The Indian Wildlife Protection Act was implemented in 1972 with
various provisions for protecting habitats.
b) An all India list of protected species was published.

c) The programme /Act was aimed at protecting the remaining

population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving
legal protection to their habitats and restricting trade in wildlife.
d) As a result of this Act many state Govts. Established national parks
and wildlife sanctuaries.
e) The central govt. also announced several projects for protecting
specific animals which were gravely threatened eg. Project Tiger, the
one-horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag, Asiatic lion etc.
Q. 15 What is JFM ?
A 15 The JFM : Joint Forest Management is an initiative of the Indian
Govt. to involve local communities in the management and restoration
of degraded forests.
b) This programme has been in formal existence since 1988 in Orissa.
c) It involves the formation of local village institutions that understate
protection initiatives mostly on degraded forest land managed by the
forest department.
d) In return the members of these communities are entitled to
intermediary benefits like non-timber forest produce and share in the
timber harvested by successful protection.
Q. 16 Explain how communities have taken measures for
conservation of forests in India.
A. 16 Local communities have to be involved in some kind of natural
resource management.
b) In some areas of India local communities are struggling to conserve
habitats along with govt. officials recognizing that only this will secure
their long term livelihood.

Eg. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against

mining by citing the wildlife protection Act.
The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have
declared 1200 hectares of forest as the BhairodevDakavSonchuri,
declaring their own set op rules and regulations which do not allow
hunting and are protecting the wildlife against any outside
encroachments.
c) Local communities must accept only those economic or
developmental activities that are people centric, environment friendly
and economically rewarding.
Q. 17 Write a note on good practices towards conserving forests and
wildlife.
A 17. Good practices towards conserving forests and wildlife are :
a) The inhabitants of five villages in Alwar district have declared 1200
hectares of forest as the BhairodevDakavSonchuri declaring their own
set of rules and regulations which do not allow hunting and are
protecting the wildlife against any outside encroachments.
b) The Chipko movement in the Himalayas.
c) BeejBachaoAndolan and Navdanya have shown that adequate level of
diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are
possible and economically viable.
d) In the Bishnoi village in Rajasthan herds of black buck, nilgai and
peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community and nobody
harms them.
Q. 18 Prove with examples how sacred groves help in the
conservation of forests ?

A 18. In India several communities and cultures are involved in nature

worship. It is based on the premise that all creations of nature have to be
worshipped.
b) As a result of this several forests have been preserved in the form of
sacred Groves.
c) These forests are untouched by the local people.
d) The Mundas and the Santhals of Chota Nagpur region worship Mahua
and Kadamba trees.
The tribals of Bihar and Orissa worship the tamaried and mango trees.
Q. 19 Explain the main characteristics of the Chipko movement.
A 19. The Chipko movement was a conservation movement started by
SunderlalBahugune in Uttarakhand.
a) It has successfully resisted deforestation in several areas. It has
worked on community afforestation programmes with indigenous
species of trees.
b) It has made attempts to revive traditional conservation methods and
develop new methods of ecological farming.
d) Farmers and citizens groups like the BeejBachaoAndolan in Tehri and
Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of diversified crop
production without use of synthetic chemicals is possible and
economically viable.
Q. 20 How were colonial forest policies responsible for the depletion
of forest resources in our country?
A 20.During the colonial period great damage was inflicted on Indian
forests.

a) Forest land was cleared for railways,agriculture, commercial and

scientific forestry and mining activities.
b) Forest laws classified certain forests which were rich in timber as
protected and local communities were restricted from entering these
forests.
Q. 21 What are the steps taken to conserve flaura and fauna?
A 21.Protection and conservation of flora and fauna is of utmost
importance. For this the Indian Government implemented the Indian
Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. with various provisions for protecting
habitats.
- An all India list of protected species was published.
- The idea was to protect the remaining population of certain endangered
species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats and
restricting trade in wildlife.
- As a result of the Act, many state govts. And the central govt.
established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
- The central govt. announced several projects for protecting several
animals which were gravely threatened.
Eg. Project Tiger one horned rhino, Kashmir stag, Asiatic lion.
-

In 1980 insects were also included in the protected list.

In 1991 six plants were included in protected list.

In 1991 six plants were included in protected list.

Q. 22 What is the difference between endangered and extinct

species?
- Endangered species
These are species which are in danger of extinction.

The survival of such species is difficult if the negative

factors that have led to a decline in their population
continue to operate.

Eg. Black buck crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino,

lion tailed macaque, sangal.

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.

Eg. Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck.