Q.1 Why are Forests and Wildlife Important?
Ans: Forests and wildlife are crucial for maintaining the balance of nature. They provide us with essential resources
like oxygen, timber, and medicines. They also regulate climate, prevent soil erosion, and provide habitat for
countless species. Forest play a key role in the ecological system.
Q.2 What are the threats to our natural treasures?
Ans:
Threats to Our Natural Treasures
Deforestation
Cutting down forests for timber, agriculture, or development leads to habitat loss, soil erosion, and climate change.
Poaching
Illegal hunting and trading of animals threaten the survival of many endangered species.
Habitat Loss
As human populations grow, forests and wildlife habitats are cleared for agriculture, settlements, and infrastructure.
Human-Wildlife
Conflict Competition for resources and space can lead to conflict between humans and wildlife, often resulting in
harm to both.
Q.3 What are the steps taken by government for conservation of Forest?
Ans: Steps taken by government for conservation of Forest:
i)The Forest Conservation Act (1980) and Wildlife Protection Act (1972) provide legal frameworks for protecting
forests and wildlife.
ii)Central and many state governments has established numerous national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere
reserves to conserve biodiversity.
iii) The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals, which were gravely
threatened, including the tiger, the Asiatic lions etc.
iv) Under wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986, several hundred butterflies, moths, beetles and one dragonfly have been
added to the list of protected species.
Q.4 How are forests classified under different categories? Explain with examples.
Ans: Forests are categorized under three 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 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 forest, as declared by the Forest Department. This forest land
are protected from any further depletion.
iii) Unclassed Forests:
These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.
Q.5 Write a short note on ‘Project Tiger’.
Ans: ‘Project Tiger’ was one of the well-published wildlife campaigns in the world, launched in 1973. Initially it has
shown an increase in tiger population till 1989 but in 1993 the tiger population had dropped. There are 27 tiger
reserves in India covering an area of 37,761 sq km. Tiger conservation has been viewed not only as an effort to save
an endangered species but with equal importance as a means of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude. Corbett
National Park, (Uttarakhand), Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal), Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya
Pradesh), Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan), Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam) and Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala) are
some of the tiger reserves in India.
Q.6 Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?
Ans:
a. In India many traditional communities still live in the forests and depend on their livelihood for forest
produce. These communities are working hand in hand with the government to conserve forests.
b. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers fought against mining activities. In Alwar district of Rajasthan,
local communities belonging to five villages have set their own rules and regulations in 1,200 hectares of
forest land. They have named it as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’. Hunting is not allowed in these lands and
outside encroachments are prohibited.
c. The famous Chipko movement was started in the Himalayan region to stop deforestation. People belonging
to the local community took to afforestation in a big way. Indigenous species were cultivated and protected.
d. Involving local communities in protecting the environment, and stopping degradation of forests has reaped
many benefits.
Q.7 What are the main objectives of JFM?
Ans:
a. Under the Joint Forest Management programme, local communities are involved in the management and
restoration of degraded forests.
b. The major purpose of the JFM is to protect the forests from encroachments, grazing, theft and fire and also
to improve the forests in accordance with an approved Joint Forest Management plan.
c. In return, the members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non-timber forest
produces.
Q. 8 How is biological loss of forest and wildlife correlated with loss of cultural diversity?
Ans : Biological loss of forest and wildlife correlated with loss of cultural diversity in the following ways.
a. Destruction of forests and wildlife has affected the livelihood of many communities which are directly
dependent on forests.
b. They depend on forests for their food, medicine, water, livelihood and cultural traits.
c. In certain societies, women are involved in fuel collection, fodder for animals and water for their basic
needs. Due to large-scale deforestation these forest products are not available to them and the life of these
people, especially women, is largely affected.
d. Women have to go in search of food, water and fuel over long distances leaving their family for a long time
resulting in social tensions.
e. it has resulted in severe droughts and floods which has affected these communities adversely. These people
live in extreme poverty, which is the direct result of the environmental degradation. Conservation of forests
and wildlife is essential to provide better quality of life and environment.
Q. 9 What are permanent forest?
Ans: Reserved and protected forests are also referred to as permanent forest estates maintained for the purposes of
producing timber and other forest produce and for protective reasons.
Q.10 Which area has the largest area under permanent forests?
Ans: Madhya Pradesh
Q.11 Which States of India have high percentage of following forests
a) Reserved Forests b) Protected forests c) unclassed Forests
Ans: a) Reserved Forests: Jammu Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh , Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and
Maharashtra have large percentages of reserved forest of its total forest area.
b) Protected Forests: Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have bulk of it under
protected forests.
c) Unclassed Forests: All North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a very high percentage of their forests as
unclassed.
