Forest and Wildlife Resources

What is the importance of flora and fauna to mankind?

Flora and fauna is of great importance to mankind.

1. We humans, and all living organisms, form a complex web of ecological system, in which we are only a part and are very much dependent on this system for our existence.

2. For example, the plants, animals and microganisms that recreate the quality of the air we breath, the water we drink and the soil that produces our food without which we cannot survive.

3. Forests also play a key role in the system as they are the primary producers on which all other living beings depend

Explain the Indian Wildlife Act of 1972

1. The Indian Wildlife Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisons for protecting habitats.

2. An all India list of protected species was also published.

3. The thrust of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species, by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.

Why is the conservation of Flora and Fauna important?

1. Conservation in the background of rapid decline in wildlife population and forestry has become essential.

2. Conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life support systems- water, air and soil. It also presrves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and breeding.

3. Fisheries too are dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity.

Give an account of forest cover available in India

(i) Reserved forests

1. More than half of the total forest area has been declared reserved forest.

2. Reserved forest is the most valuable as far as conservation of forest and wildlife resources is concerned

(ii) Protected forests

1. Abot one third of forest area has been declared protected forest by the forest department.

2. These forest areas are protected from further depletion

(iii) Unclassed Forests

1. These are other forests and wastelands that can be owned by government agencies, private individuals, as well as communities.

2. Protected forests and reserved forests are also called permanent forest estates maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce and for protective reasons

3. Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forest with about 75% of its total forest area as permanent forest.

4. States like Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttrakhand and Maharashtra have a high percentage of their total forest area as reserved forest whereas states like Bihar, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab have a bulk of it under protected forests.

5. All the North-Eastern states and some parts of Gujarat have a high percentage of unclassed forests that are managed by local communities.

Describe how local communities have conserved and protected forests in India

1. In Sariska Tiger Reserve Rajasthan, villagers fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act.

2. The inhabitants of 5 villages in Rajasthan, declared 1200 hectares of land as Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri, declaring their own rules and regulations, which do not allow hunting, protecting wildlife from outside harm.

3. The famous Chipko movement in the Himalayas has not only successfully resisted deforestation in several areas but has also shown that community afforestation for indigenous species can be enormously successful.

4. Attempts to revive traditional conservation methods or develop new methods of ecological farming are now widespead.

5. Farmers and citizen’s groups such as Beej Bachao Andolan have shown that diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals is possible and economically viable.

Explain the Joint Forest Management Programme

1. In India, Joint Forest Management Programme furnishes a good example for involving local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests.

2. The programme has been in formal existence since 1988, when the state of Odisha passed the first resolution for the joint forest management programme.

3. JFM depends on the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake protection activities on mostly degraded forest lands under the forest department.

4. In return, the members of the communities are entitled to intermediary benefits such as non timber produce and a share in timber harvest y successful protection.