GEOGRAPHY
CH-2 FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES
(NOTES)
INTRODUCTION:
• Our earth is home for millions of living beings, starting from micro-
organisms and bacteria, lichens to banyan trees, elephants and blue
whales.
Biodiversity:
Biodiversity or Biological Diversity is immensely rich in wildlife and
cultivated species, diverse in form and function but closely integrated in
a system through multiple networks of interdependencies.
FLORA AND FAUNA IN INDIA:
• India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its vast array of
biological diversity, and has nearly 8 per cent of the total number of
species in the world (estimated to be 1.6 million).
•At least 10 percent of India’s recorded wild flora and 20 per cent of its
mammals are on the threatened list.
•Many are categorized as ‘critical’, that is on the verge of extinction like
the cheetah, pink-headed duck etc.
CONSERVATION OF FOREST AND WILDLIFE:
• Conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life support
systems – water, air and soil.
• Due to conservationist's demand, The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act
was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting
habitats.
→ The aim of the programme was protecting the remaining population
of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal
protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.
→The central and many state governments established national parks
and wildlife sanctuaries.
→ The central government also announced several projects for
protecting specific animals, which were gravely threatened, including
the tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros and others.
• Project Tiger was also launched by the Government of India in the year
1973 to save the endangered species of tiger in the country.
• Under Wildlife Act of 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.
TYPES AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOREST AND
WILDLIFE RESOURCES:
• In India, much of its forest and wildlife resources are either owned or
managed by the government.
Although the Forest Department or other government departments.
• The forests are classified under the following categories:
→ Reserved Forests: These forests are regarded as the most valuable as
far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources are concerned. It
covers half of the total forest land.
→ Protected Forests: This forest land is protected from any further
depletion. Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest.
→ Unclassed Forests: These are other forests and wastelands belonging
to both government and private individuals and communities.
COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION:
• The forests are also home to some of the traditional communities.
→ Local communities are struggling to conserve these habitats along
with government officials, to secure their long-term livelihood.
• In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against
mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act.
• The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas has successfully
resisted deforestation in several areas.
→ Also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can
be enormously successful.
• Farmers and citizen’s groups 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 and
economically viable.
• Joint forest management (JFM) programme introduced in 1988 in the
state of Odisha shown good example for involving local communities in
the management and restoration of degraded forests.
