02 Forest and Wildlife Resources

Biodiversity or Biological Diversity : The variety of flora and fauna in a given geographical area is called biodiversity of that area.
India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its vast array of biological diversity, and has nearly 7.5% of the total number of species in the world .
Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India
The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 :
The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972
Various provisions for protecting of wildlife's natural habitats in this act. 
An all India list of protected species was published to protect the endangered species. 
Hunting and trade of wildlife banned to give legal protection to their habitat. 
Various national parks and wildlife sanctuaries was established by central  and state governments.
The central government launched several projects for protecting  critically endangered species.
The Indian elephant, black buck , godawan  and the snow leopard have been given full or partial legal protection against hunting and trade throughout India.
Project Tiger
The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 from the Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand
The main purpose of this project was conserving tigers in their natural habitats.
Poaching for trade, habitat loss and increasing human population are major threats to tiger populations. Therefore, the Government of India launched the Project Tiger programme to protect the natural habitat of tigers and  stop to hunting.
Tiger reserves of India. 
Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand)
Sunderbans National Park (West Bengal)
Bandhavgarh National Park  (Madhya Pradesh)
Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary  (Rajasthan)
Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam)
Periyar Tiger Reserve  (Kerala) 
Types and Distribution of Forest and Wildlife Resources
These are classified under the following categories.
(i) Reserved Forests: More than half of the total forest land has been declared reserved forests. Reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable. 
Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have large percentages of reserved forests.
(ii) Protected Forests: Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest. Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have large percentages of protected forests.
(iii) Unclassed Forests: These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities. All North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a very high percentage of their forests as unclassed forests eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a very high percentage of their forests managed by local communities.

Community and Conservatio
‘Sariska Tiger Reserve’ is situated in Rajasthan, here villagers have fought against mining activities and protecting the natural habitat of wildlife. 
The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, They declared their own set of rules and regulations in this area. Hunting is not allowed in this area  and they are protecting the wildlife against outside encroachments.
Chipko movement by locals in Himalayas successfully resisted the deforestation. 
The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua  and kadamba trees, 
The tribals of  Odisha and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango  trees during weddings. 
Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have proved  that production of diversified crops without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable.
Joint Forest Management (JFM): This programme has been in formal existence since 1988 in Odisha . Joint forest management (JFM) is a program in which there is partnership between the state forest departments and the local communities. It is a good example for involving local Communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. JFM undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department. In return, the community members are entitled to benefits like non-timber forest produce and share in the timber harvested by successful protection. 

1. Which state has the largest area permanent forests?
   Madhya Pradesh
2. What was the aim of Chipko movement ? 
   Forest conservation 
3. Which category of forests are mostly found in the north-eastern states?
   unclassified forest
4. In which state is Periyar Tiger Reserve located?
   Kerala
5. Who are considered primary producers in the ecosystem?

   Forest
6. What was the main objective of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act?

   To protect the remaining populations of some endangered species.
7. Which tree is worshiped by the Mundas and Santhals of Chhota Nagpur region?

   Mahua
8. In which state has Joint Forest Management started?

   Odisha
9. Give the full form of IUCN, JFM.
   IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources   
   JFM: Joint Forest Management 

10. Mention any two factors responsible for depleting our forests and wildlife.

    
    (i) Expansion of agriculture (ii) Mining
11. What are permanent forests? 
    Reserved and protected forests are together called as permanent forests 
    How are forests classified under different categories? Explain with examples.
12. What is Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’? 
    The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, They declared their own set of rules and regulations in this area. Hunting is not allowed in this area  and they are protecting the wildlife against outside encroachments.
13.  Enumerate the features of Joint Forest Management Programme
    1. This programme came into existence since 1988 in Odisha . 
    2. Joint forest management (JFM) is a program in which there is partnership between the state forest department and the local communities. 
    3. It is a good example for involving local Communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests.
    4. JFM undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the forest department. In return, the community members are entitled to benefits like non-timber forest produce and share in the timber harvested
14.  What is biodiversity ? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
    The variety of flora and fauna in a given geographical area is called biodiversity of that area. 
    Humans along with all living organisms form a complex web of ecological system in which humans are only a part and very much dependent on this system for our own existence. Hence, biodiversity is important for human lives. 
15. Describe the Project Tiger launched by the Indian government. 
    (i) The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 from the Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand
    (ii) The main purpose of this project was conserving tigers in their natural habitats.
    (iii) Poaching for trade, habitat loss and increasing human population are major threats to tiger populations. Therefore, the Government of (v) India launched the Project Tiger programme to protect the natural habitat of tigers and  stop to hunting.
    (vi) This is one of the success stories of wildlife conservation in the whole world.
16. When was the Indian Wildlife Protection Act implemented? Describe its main objectives.
    The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972
    1. Hunting and trade of wildlife banned to give legal protection to their habitat 
    2. Various national parks and wildlife sanctuaries was established by central  and state governments.
    3. The central government launched several projects for protecting  critically endangered species.
    4. An all India list of protected species was published to protect the endangered species. 
17. How are forests classified under different categories? Explain with examples.
    
    These are classified under the following categories.
    (i) Reserved Forests: More than half of the total forest land has been declared reserved forests. Reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable. 
    Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have large percentages of reserved forests.
    (ii) Protected Forests: Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest. Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have large percentages of protected forests.
    (iii) Unclassed Forests: These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities. All North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a very high percentage of their forests as unclassed forests eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a very high percentage of their forests managed by local communities.
18. Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?
    
    (i) ‘Sariska Tiger Reserve’ is situated in Rajasthan, here villagers have fought against mining activities and protecting the natural habitat of wildlife. 
    (ii) The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, They declared their own set of rules and regulations in this area. Hunting is not allowed in this area  and they are protecting the wildlife against outside encroachments.
    (iii) Chipko movement by locals in Himalayas successfully resisted the deforestation. 
    (iv) The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua  and kadamba trees, 
    (v) The tribals of  Odisha and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango  trees during weddings. 
    (vi) Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have proved  that production of diversified crops without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable.
19. Describe the steps taken by the government to protect the species from becoming extinct.
    Or Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.
    The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972
    Hunting and trade of wildlife banned to give legal protection to their habitat. 
    Various national parks and wildlife sanctuaries was established by central  and state governments.
    The central government launched several projects for protecting  critically endangered species. “Project Tiger” was lounched in 1973 by the government of India to protect tigers
20.