Notes on Forest and Wild Life Resources | Geography | Class 10

Concepts of the lesson

Trees and animals species:
(1) Normal species
(2) Endangered species
(3) Vulnerable species
(4) Rare species
(5) Endemic species
(6) Extinct species
Types of Forest
(1) Reserved forests
(2) Protected forests
(3) Unclassed forests
Biodiversity:
Biodiversity is immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in form and function,
but closely integrated in a system through multiple networks of interdependence.
Short Answer Type Questions of Forest and Wild Life Resources
Q.1: In what ways the forests were harmed by the colonial government?
Answer:
The forests were harmed by the colonial government in the following ways:
(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. (Any three)
Q.2: What do you know about Permanent forest estates? Name the state which has the
largest area under these forest estates.
Answer:
Reserved and protected forests are also referred to as Permanent forest estates.
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)
Q.3: Humans are dependent on the ecological system for their existence. Explain.
Answer:
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 micro-organisms recreate the quality of these
non-living components.

Q.4: Distinguish between reserved and protected forests.

Answer:
Reserved Forests
(1) The reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable.
(2) More than half of the total forests have been declared reserved forests
(3) These forests are majorly found in Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttaranchal,
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and 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 majorly found in Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and
Rajasthan & Orissa.
Q.5: Name any two North Eastern States of India having over 60 percent of Forests
cover. Give two reasons.
Answer:
States
(i) Arunachal Pradesh (ii) Manipur
Two reasons of having over 60 percent of Forests cover:
(1) There is an abundance of rainfall in N.E. States.
(2) The hilly terrain of these states protects the forests from human exploitation.
Q.6: What is Biodiversity? Why is it important for human lives?
Answer:
Biodiversity or Biological Diversity means inherited variation within species, the variety of
species in an area and the variety of habitat types within a landscape. In other word it refers to
the variety of living organism. It is an interconnected in which every organism has a role.
Various organisms play different role of producers, consumers and decomposers. It is this role
that other organisms, including humans depend for their existence. Human along with the
other living organisms form a complex web of ecological system in which they are only a part
and very much dependent on this system for their existence. For example, the plants, animals
and other micro-organisms re- create the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and
the soils that produce our food. Forest also plays a key role in the ecological system as they
are the primary producers on which all other living beings depend.
Q.7: Classify the different categories of existing plants and animals species based on
the international Union for conservation of Nature and Resources?
Answer:
Plants and animals species can be classified in the following ways:Normal Species: - Species whose population is normal for their survival such as cattle, Sal,
pine, rodents etc.
Endangered Species: - These are species which are in danger of extinction. For example,
black buck, crocodile, Indian wild aes, Indian rhino, Lion tailed macaque, sangai (brown antler
deer in Manipur) etc.
Vulnerable Species: - These are species whose population has decreased over a period of
time and in danger of extinction. For example, blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, gangetic dolphin
etc.
Rare Species: - Species which are small in number and in danger of extinction if not been
taken care of. For example, brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox and hornbill etc.
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 etc.

Extinct Species: - This species have vanished from a local area, region, country, continent or
the entire earth. Examples of such species are the Asiatic Cheetah.
Q.8: Write briefly about the different types of forests found in India?
Answer:
The following types of forests are found in India:Reserved Forest: - reserved forests are the forests that are regarded as the most valuable as
far as the conservation of forest and wild life resources are concerned. More than half of the
total forest land has been declared as reserved forest.
Protected Forests: - This forest land is protected from any further depletion. Almost one- third
of the total forest area is protected forest, as declared by the forest department.
Unclassed Forest: - These are other forests and waste lands that belong to both government
and private individual and communities.
Reserved and protected forests are also known as permanent forest estate maintained for the
purpose of producing timber and other forest produce and for protective reasons. Madhya
Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forest consisting 75% of its total forest area.
Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and
Maharashtra have large percentages of reserved forest of its total forest area. All north eastern
states and parts of Gujarat have a very high percentage of their forests as unclassed forest.
Local communities manage these forests.
Q.9: Write a note on good practice towards conserving forest and wildlife?
Answer:
a) The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas has successfully resisted deforestation in
several areas. It has also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can be
enormously successful.
b) Attempts have been made to revive the traditional conservation methods. At the same time
new methods of ecological farming have also been developed. Farmers and citizens group
like the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of
diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible as well as
economically viable.
c) In our country Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme offer a nice example for
involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. JFM
depends on the formation of local (village) institution that under taken protection activities
mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department. In return the members of
these communities are given the right to intermediary benefits such as non- timber forests
produce and share in the timber harvested by successful protection.
Long Answer type questions of Forest and Wild Life Resources
Q.1: What are the negative factors that cause such fearful depletion of flora and fauna?
Answer:
(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. (Any four)
Q.2: Distinguish between endangered and extinct species.
Answer:
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, lion-tailed 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, etc.
Q.3: How forests are useful to man?
Answer:
(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 in enhancing the quantity of rainfall.
(4) They provide certain types of herbs which are in turn used to produce useful medicines.
Q.4: Write a short note on Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme in India.
Answer:
This program involves local communities in the management and restoration of degraded
forests. JFM depends on the formation of local institutions that undertake protection activities,
mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department. In return, the members of
these village communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non timber forest produces
and share in the timber harvested by successful protection.
Q.5: Describe the methods of forest conservation.
Answer:
(1) The cutting of trees in the forest must be stopped at all costs. Our government has taken
various steps in this direction.
(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.
Q.6: Describe the steps taken to conserve the flora and fauna of the country?
Answer:
(i) Several conservation projects have been initiated. These projects are now focusing on
biodiversity rather than on a few of its components.
(ii) There is now a more intensive search for different conservation measures.
(iii) Even insects are beginning to find a place in conservation planning.
(iv) In the notification under wildlife acts 1980 and 1986, several hundred butterflies, moths
beetles and one dragonfly have been added to the list of protected species.
In 1991, for the first time plants were also added to the list, starting with six species.

Q.7: How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.
Answer:
Causes of the Depletion of flora and fauna:Expansion of the commercial and scientific forestry and mining activities: - During the
colonial period due to the expansion of the railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific
forestry and mining activities Indian forests depleted to an extent.

Agriculture Expansion: - Even after Independence agricultural expansion continues to be

one of the major causes of depletion of forest resources. Between 1951 and 1980 over
26,200sq km of forest area was converted into agricultural land especially in the north eastern
and central India for shifting cultivation (jhum) and a type of slash and burn agriculture.
Enrichment Plantation: - Was a plantation in which a single commercially valuable species
was widely planted and other species reduced.
Development Projects: - Large scale development projects have also contributed significantly
to the loss of forest. Projects still in continuation like the Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya
Pradesh have swallowed up 40,000 hectares of forest.
Mining: - Mining is another important factor behind deforestation. The Buria Tiger Reserve in
W. Bengal is threatened by the ongoing dolomites mining. It has distributed the natural habitat
of many species and blocked the migration route of several others including the great Indian
Elephant.
Unequal Access to Resources: - The wealthiest 5% of Indian Society cause more ecological
damage because of the amount they consume that the poorest 25 % and shares minimum
responsibilities for environmental well-being.
Habitat Destruction: - Habitat destruction, hunting, poaching, over exploitation, environmental
pollution, poisoning and forest fires are factors which have led to the decline in Indias
biodiversity.
Q.8: Describe how communities have conserved and protected forest and wild life in
India?
Answer:
Forests in India are home to a number of communities. These communities have a complex
relationship with the flora and fauna around them. In some areas of India local communities
are struggling to conserve these habitats along with government officials.
In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan villagers have fought against mining by citing the wildlife
Protection Act.
In many areas villagers themselves are protecting habitat and openly rejecting government
involvement. The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared
1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav Sonehuri declaring their own set of rule and
regulation which do not allow hunting and are protecting the wildlife against any outside
encroachments.
Nature worship is an age old tribal belief based on the premise that all creations of nature have
to be protected. Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in pristine from called
Scared Groves.
These patches of forest or part of large forest have been left untouched by the local people
and any interference with them is banned. Even trees are preserved in name of worship. The
mundas and the santhal of Chhota Nagpur region worship mahua and kadamba trees and the
tribals of Orissa and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango trees during weddings. To many of
us peepal and banyan trees are considered scared.
Troops of macaques and langurs are found around several temples. They are fed daily and
treated as a part of temple devotees. In and around Bishnai villages in Rajasthan, herds of
black buck, nilgai and peacock can be seen as an integral part of the community and nobody
harm them.
The famous Chipko movement in the Himalaya and joint forest management (JFM)
programme offer good examples for involving local communities in the management and
restoration of degraded forests.
Q.9: What are the three main types of forest as identified by the forest department?
Answer:
The three main types of forests identified by the forest department for the purpose of

management are: i) Reserved Forest: - 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 concerned.
ii) Protected Forests: - Almost one- third of the total forest area is protected forests as declared
by the forest department. These forest lands are protected from any further depletion.
iii) Unclassed Forests: - These are other forest and waste lands belonging to both government
and private individual and communities.
Q.10: Mention the Human factors that have led to decline in Indias biodiversity?
Answer:
Several human activities have affected the depletion of flora and fauna and have led to decline
in Indias biodiversity. The main factors responsible for this damage are as follows:Habitat destruction mainly due to overpopulation leading expansion of agriculture, mining,
industrialisation and urbanisation and consequent wiping out of large forest areas.
Hunting and poaching and illegal trade of animals skin, tusk, bone, teeth, horns etc, have lead
many species to the verge of extinction.
Environmental pollution, poisoning of water bodies due to discharge of industrial effluents
chemical, wastes etc leading to animals 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.
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