Class X Social Science

Revision Notes - Geography Chapter 2 Forest and Wildlife Resources

Biodiversity is extremely diverse on earth and works interdependently. It is a system of closely

knit networks that sustains the ecosystem. India has world’s largest biodiversity thriving on its
land and 10 per cent of the recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of its mammals are on the
threatened list.

Based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), we
can classify different categories of existing plants and animal species as follows:
Normal Species: Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival,
such as cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc.

Endangered Species: These species are in danger of extinction and would eventually decline if
the present conditions continue. For examples, species are black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass,
Indian rhino, lion tailed macaque, sangai (brow antler deer in Manipur), etc.

Vulnerable Species: These are species whose population has declined to levels that it is likely to
move into the endangered category in the near future if it continues to decline in the same
manner. E.g.: Blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin, etc.

Rare Species: Species with a small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable
category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. The examples of such species
are the Himalayan 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, Mithun in Arunachal Pradesh.

Extinct Species: These species may be extinct from a local area, region, country, continent or
the entire earth. E.g.: Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck.

Causes of environmental degradation

 Between 1951 and 1980, according to the Forest Survey of India, over 26,200 sq. km. of
forest area was converted into agricultural land all over India and substantial parts of the
tribal belts, especially in the northeastern and central India were deforested to practice
shifting cultivation (jhum), a type of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.
 Around 5,000 sq km of forest lands have been cleared to progress river valley projects,
since 1951. For example: About 40,000 hectares of forests were cleared for the Narmada
Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh.
 Excessive consumption of natural resources for fulfilling human needs such as wood,
barks, leaves, rubber, medicines, dyes, food, fuel, fodder, manure, etc.
 The expansion of the railways, commercial and scientific forestry and mining activities.
 Large-scale development of projects
  Mining causes large scale deforestation. For example, The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West
Bengal is threatened by the ongoing dolomite mining.
 There are various factors like poaching, over-exploitation, pollution, hunting, forest fire
etc. that contribute to decline in the vast biodiversity India harbours.
 Overpopulation in third world countries is a prime cause of environmental degradation.
 Unequal access, inequitable consumption of resources and differential sharing of
responsibility for environmental well-being.

Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India

Conservation is vital since it will help us to protect our environment and protect our ecosystem
which in turn helps to preserve the genetic diversity that ecosystem has.
 The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, which made various
provisions for protecting habitats.
 The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals,
which were gravely threatened, including the tiger, the one horned rhinoceros, the
Kashmir stag or hangul, three types of crocodiles – fresh water crocodile, saltwater
crocodile and the Gharial are some of the animals.
 Government has also provided partial or full legal protection to animals such as Indian
elephant, black buck, snow leopard etc. to protect them from extinction.
 Wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986 added several hundred butterflies, moths, beetles, and one
dragonfly to the list of protected species.
 In 1991, for the first-time plants were also added to the list, starting with six species.

Project Tiger
 The tiger population in 1973 declined to 1,827 from the estimated 55,000 and hence
forced the authorities to take a serious action towards the same.
 Tigers face major threat and are at the verge of extinction because of shrinkage of their
habitat due to growing human population, poaching, depletion of prey base species etc.
 The trade of tiger skins and the use of their bones in traditional medicines, especially in
the Asian countries has left the tiger population on the verge of extinction.
 “Project Tiger” was launched in 1973 and was not only an effort to save tigers but also
preserving the biotypes.
 Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal,
Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan,
Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam and Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala are some of the tiger
reserves of India.

Types and Distribution of Forest and Wildlife Resources

The forests are classified as following:
(i) Reserved Forests: These are the most vital for conservation of forest and wildlife and
about half of the total forest land has been placed under this category. More than half
of the total forest land in India has been declared reserved forests. Reserved and
protected forests are also referred to as permanent forests, which are maintained for
 the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce, and for protective reasons.
Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests.

(ii) Protected Forests: Forest Department had declared one-third of the total forest area as
protected forest which saves it from further depletion.

(iii) Unclassed Forests: Both private individuals, government and communities own these
lands. They mostly include forests and wasteland. North-eastern states and parts of
Gujarat have a very high percentage of their forests as unclassed forests

Community and Conservation

Conservation of the forest and wildlife resources is very important. Here are a few steps were
taken by common people:

 In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the
Wildlife Protection Act.
 In five villages located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, the inhabitants have declared
1200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’. They came up with their own
rules and don’t allow hunting in these regions. Thus, protect the wildlife from an outside
harm.
 Sacred groves are not having religious sentiments attached but also saves a wealth of rare
species. These beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in pristine form called Sacred
Groves (the forests of God and Goddesses).
 Mahua is worshipped by the Mundas and the Santhal of Chhota Nagpur region while
tamarind and mango is worshiped by the tribes of Odisha and Bihar during weddings. In
Indian Hindu society, peepal tress is considered sacred.
 Blackbuck, peacocks and nilgai are seen as an integral part of the Bishnoi villages in
Rajasthan and aren’t harmed or killed.
 The Chipko moment has successfully helped in saving the flora but has also brought
people together to save the environment. The movement has also resulted in community
afforestation.
 Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya has promoted people to stop using
synthetic chemicals as sufficient crop harvest can be produced even without the use of
chemical fertilizers.
 Joint forest management (JFM) programme involves local people and communities to
restore forests. It was first started in Odisha in 1988.