GRADE X FOREST & WILDLIFE RESOURCES GEOGRAPHY
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Biodiversity Definition
• Immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species
• Diverse in form and function
• Closely integrated in system
• Through multiple network of interdependencies
Classification of Species based on IUCN
• Normal Species: Their population levels are normal for their survival.
E.g. Cattle, rodents etc.
• Endangered Species: They are in danger of extinction as their population is fast
dwindling.
E.g. Black buck, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion, crocodile etc.
• Vulnerable Species: Their population has decreased to the level of being endangered in
the near future.
E.g. Asiatic elephant, blue sheep, Gangetic dolphin etc.
• Rare Species: Species those are very small in number. May become endangered or
vulnerable in future.
E.g. Hornbill, Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox etc.
• Endemic Species: The species that are found only in a particular region and are isolated
by natural barriers are called endemic species.
E.g. Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig etc.
• Extinct Species: These species no longer exist on Earth.
E.g. Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck etc.
Asiatic Cheetah
• World’s fastest land mammal
• Could run at a speed of 112 km/hr
• Its distinct mark are the long teardrop shaped lines on each side of the nose.
• Declared extinct in 1952
• It was mainly found in Asia and Africa
Vanishing Forest
Forest cover 807276 sq km, which is 24.56% of the total geographical area.
Dense forest: 12.4%
Open forest: 9.26%
Mangrove: 0.15%
Enrichment plantations
In which a single commercially valuable species was extensively planted and other species
are eliminated.
Eg : Chir pine plantations have been replaced by the Himalayan oak and Rhododendron
forests in Himalayas
Causes of Depletion of Biodiversity
• Over-exploitation of natural resources for meeting human needs.
• Large scale hunting of animals for their skin and other products such as antlers and fur.
• Expansion of agriculture for the growing population even after independence.
• Slash and burn agriculture practiced by people of North-eastern and central India
• Colonial forest policy practiced by Britishers (Expansion of railway network, agriculture
activities etc.)
• Mining (Eg. The Buxa Tiger Reserve in west Bengal is threatened by ongoing Dolomite
mining)
• Commercial and scientific forestry( Enrichment Plantation) E.g. Teak monoculture in
South India, chir and pine plantation in the Himalayas have replaced the oak and
rhododendron forests.
• Over-grazing
• Large scale development projects. (E.g. Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh that
has submerged a large area under forests.)
• Hunting, poaching, habitat destruction, environmental pollution, poisoning, Forest fires
etc.
Himalayan yew: Medicinal plant from which taxol is extracted which is used as anti-cancer
drug. They are under great threat due to over exploitation.
Loss of cultural diversity because of destruction
• It has marginalised and impoverished many indigenous and other forest-dependent
communities
• Women are more affected than men as they bear the major responsibility of collection of
fuel, fodder, water and other basic subsistence needs
• 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.
Why is conservation of forest and wildlife essential (Benefits of Conservation)
• Conservation 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.
• Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity.
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act
• An act for conservation of biodiversity of India. Passed in 1972.
• Published a list of protected species in the country.
• Legal protection was provided to the habitats of endangered species by banning hunting,
giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.
• The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals,
which were gravely threatened, including the tiger.
• Established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries throughout the country.
• Projects such as Project Tiger, Project Elephant etc. that were specific to a particular
species were formulated
Project Tiger: Initiated in 1973.
• Tiger population has dwindled to about 1827 from 55000 at the turn of the century.
• The main reasons for decline in the number of tigers include:
-Poaching for trade in tiger skin
-Shrinking habitat
-Depletion of prey species
-Growing human population
Some major Tiger reserves under the Project Tiger.
• Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand) Sunderbans National Park (West Bengal)
• Bandhavgarh National Park (M P) Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (Raj)
• Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam) Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala)
Distribution of Forests
• Reserved Forests: 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.
• Protected Forests: Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest, as declared
by the Forest Department. This forest land are protected from any further depletion.
• Unclassed Forests: These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both government
and private individuals and communities.
Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests, constituting 75 per cent of
its total forest area.
Sacred Groves: They are a form of nature worship practiced by the tribal people of India.
Tribes consider forests as gods and goddesses and preserve them in their pristine form. Any
human interference is banned in these sacred groves.
Nature Worship by Tribes
Tribe Region Revered tree/animal
Mundas and Santhal Chota Nagpur plateau Mahua and Kadamba trees
Bishnoi tribe Rajasthan Blackbuck, Nilgai
Tribes of Orissa and Bihar Orissa and Bihar Tamarind and mango trees
Bishnoi villages Rajasthan chinkara, neelgai, peacocks
Wildlife Conservation Efforts
Chipko Movement: Started in 1970s in Garhwal in Uttarakhand.
• Trees were prevented from being cut by forming a human circle around them.
• It spread across the country.
• Afforestation and use of indigenous species, developed new methods of ecological farming
Beej Bachao Andolan: Started in 1980s in Tehri region of Uttarakhand.
• Led by farmer and social activist Vijay Jardhari.
• Aimed at saving the traditional seeds of the hills and promoting agricultural biodiversity,
sustainable agriculture and local traditions.
Joint Forest Management: Started in 1988 by the Government of India.
• First launched in Orissa.
• Involves local communities for conserving wildlife and restoring degraded forests.
• The members of the local communities undertake protection activities
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