Forest and Wildlife Resources

We share this planet with millions of other living beings, from micro-organisms and bacteria to elephants and blue whales, and together they form an ecosystem on which human life depends. India is one of the world's richest countries in biological diversity, with nearly 8% of the total number of species in the world. In this chapter you will learn about the importance of forests and wildlife, and the categories of species defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): normal, endangered, vulnerable, rare, endemic and extinct, with Indian examples such as the black buck, the Asiatic elephant, the Andaman teal and the Asiatic cheetah. You will study the causes of the depletion of flora and fauna, including colonial expansion of railways and agriculture, commercial forestry, mining, large river valley projects and shifting cultivation. You will then learn about conservation through the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and Project Tiger, the classification of forests into reserved, protected and unclassed forests, and the role of communities through the Chipko movement, Beej Bachao Andolan, sacred groves and Joint Forest Management.

Detailed Worksheet: Forest and Wildlife Resources Section A - Definitions (10 marks) 1. What is biodiversity? Why is it important for human lives? (2 marks) 2. Distinguish between endangered and vulnerable species, giving one Indian example of each. (2 marks) 3. What are endemic species? Give two examples from India. (2 marks) 4. What is Project Tiger? When was it launched? (2 marks) 5. Define reserved forests and protected forests. (2 marks) Section B - Calculations and Applications (15 marks) 6. India's tiger population was estimated at 1,827 in 1973, when Project Tiger began, and at about 3,682 (mean estimate) in the 2022 tiger census. Calculate the percentage increase. Give two reasons for this increase. (3 marks) 7. India's geographical area is about 32.87 lakh sq km, and its forest cover is about 21.7% of this. Calculate the area under forest. The National Forest Policy aims for 33% of the area under forests. Calculate the additional area needed to meet this target. (3 marks) 8. Between 1951 and 1980, about 26,200 sq km of forest area was converted into agricultural land in India. Calculate the average area lost per year. Name two other activities that caused large-scale loss of forests. (3 marks) 9. The Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh alone would submerge about 40,000 hectares of forest. Convert this area into square kilometres. Explain why large river valley projects threaten biodiversity. (1 sq km = 100 hectares) (3 marks) 10. In the Alwar district of Rajasthan, five villages have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri'. If the area were divided equally among the five villages, what area would each conserve? What rules do the villagers follow there? (3 marks) Section C - Diagrams (10 marks) 11. On an outline map of India, locate and label any four tiger reserves: Corbett, Sunderbans, Bandhavgarh, Sariska, Manas and Periyar. (4 marks) 12. Draw a flowchart showing the IUCN classification of species with one Indian example for each category. (3 marks) 13. Draw a mind map of the causes of depletion of forests and wildlife in India. (3 marks) Section D - Analysis and Higher-order Thinking (15 marks) 14. 'The destruction of forests and wildlife is not just a biological issue. It is also closely correlated with the loss of cultural diversity.' Explain with examples of tribal and forest-dwelling communities, and the effect on women who collect fuel, fodder and water. (5 marks) 15. Evaluate the role of communities in conserving forests in India with reference to the Chipko movement, Sariska Tiger Reserve, the Bishnois and Joint Forest Management. Why is community participation more effective than government action alone? (5 marks) 16. 'Conservation projects are now focusing on biodiversity rather than on a few of its components.' Explain this shift with examples of conservation of insects and plants under the Wildlife Act, and discuss whether the large-scale development projects of the past were justified. (5 marks) Instructions: Time allowed 2 hours. Attempt all sections. Mark places on the outline map neatly with names. Use Indian examples in all answers.