Forest and Wildlife Resources

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering Class 10 Geography: Forest and Wildlife Resources, including IUCN categories, conservation legislation, Project Tiger, forest classifications, and community conservation initiatives.

How is biodiversity (or biological diversity) defined?

It is immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in form and function, but closely integrated in a system through a multiple network of interdependencies.

According to estimates, what percentage of India's recorded wild flora and mammals are listed as threatened?

At least $10\%$ of India's recorded wild flora and $20\%$ of its mammals are on the threatened list.

Which specific threatened plant species are highlighted as being on the verge of extinction in India?

Madhuca insignis (a wild variety of mahua) and Hubbardia heptaneuron (a species of grass).

What was the total forest and tree cover in India according to the State of Forest Report (2019)?

$807{,}276\,\text{sq km}$, which constitutes $24.56\%$ of the total geographical area (dense forest $12.4\%$, open forest $9.26\%$, and mangrove $0.15\%$).

How much did dense forest cover increase between 2017 and 2019 according to the State of Forest Report (2019)?

It increased by $3{,}976\,\text{sq km}$, primarily due to conservation measures, management interventions, and plantations by different agencies.

What are 'Normal Species' according to the IUCN classification, and what are some examples?

Species whose population levels are considered normal for their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, and rodents.

What are 'Endangered Species' according to the IUCN, and what examples are provided?

Species in danger of extinction whose survival is difficult if negative factors causing population decline continue; examples include black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion tailed macaque, and sangai (brow anter deer in Manipur).

What are 'Vulnerable Species' under the IUCN system, and which examples are given?

Species whose populations have declined to levels where they are likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if negative factors persist; examples include blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, and Gangetic dolphin.

How does the IUCN define 'Rare Species', and which animals belong to this group?

Species with small populations that may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if negative factors continue; examples include the Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox, and hornbill.

What are 'Endemic Species' under the IUCN classification, and what are key Indian examples?

Species found only in particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers; examples include the Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, and mithun in Arunachal Pradesh.

What are 'Extinct Species' according to the IUCN, and what examples are cited?

Species not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur (locally, regionally, nationally, or globally); examples include the Asiatic cheetah and pink head duck.

What is the running speed of the Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubantus), and when was it declared extinct in India?

It can run at a speed of $112\,\text{km/hr}$, and it was declared extinct in India in $1952$.

What distinguishing facial feature differentiates a cheetah from a leopard?

Long teardrop shaped lines on each side of the nose running from the corner of its eyes down to its mouth.

What valuable chemical compound is extracted from the Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallachiana), and what is it used for?

Taxol, extracted from the bark, needles, twigs, and roots; it is the biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the world.

How did colonial 'enrichment forestry' harm native forests in South India and the Himalayas?

Teak monoculture damaged natural forests in South India, while Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) plantations in the Himalayas replaced native Himalayan oak (Quercus Spp.) and Rhododendron forests.

How much forest area was converted to agriculture in India between 1951 and 1980?

Over $26{,}200\,\text{sq km}$ of forest land was converted into agricultural land all over India, according to the Forest Survey of India.

What are two major examples of deforestation caused by large-scale developmental projects and mining?

The Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh inundating $40{,}000\,\text{hectares}$ of forest, and dolomite mining seriously threatening the Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal.

What stark disparity exists in resource consumption between developed nations and developing countries, and within India?

An average American consumes $40$ times more resources than an average Somalian, and the richest $5\%$ of Indian society causes more ecological damage through consumption than the poorest $25\%$.

What specific hardships does environmental degradation impose on women in forest-dependent communities?

Women bear the main burden of collecting fuel, fodder, and water, sometimes walking more than $10\,\text{km}$, causing severe health problems and negligence of home and childcare.

When was the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act implemented, and what were its primary goals?

It was implemented in $1972$ to protect remaining populations of endangered species by publishing an all-India protected list, banning hunting, protecting habitats legally, and restricting wildlife trade.

Which three types of crocodilians receive protection under Indian wildlife conservation projects?

The freshwater crocodile, the saltwater crocodile, and the Gharial.

When were insects and plants formally integrated into Indian wildlife protection lists?

Insects (hundreds of butterflies, moths, beetles, and one dragonfly) were added under notifications in $1980$ and $1986$, while plants were first added in $1991$ starting with six species.

When was Project Tiger launched, and what prompted its initiation?

Launched in $1973$, after authorities discovered the tiger population had plummeted to $1{,}827$ from an estimated $55{,}000$ at the turn of the century due to poaching, habitat shrinkage, and trade.

Which prominent tiger reserves were created across India under Project Tiger?

Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand), Sunderbans National Park (West Bengal), Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh), Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan), Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam), and Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala).

What characterizes 'Reserved Forests' in India's forest classification?

They constitute more than half of India's total forest land and are regarded as the most valuable for the conservation of forest and wildlife resources.

What defines 'Protected Forests' and 'Unclassed Forests'?

Protected Forests make up nearly one-third of total forest area and are shielded from further depletion; Unclassed Forests include other forests and wastelands managed by government, communities, or private individuals.

Which state has the largest area under permanent forests in India?

Madhya Pradesh, where permanent forests constitute $75\%$ of the state's total forest area.

What rules were declared by five villages in Alwar district, Rajasthan, for the Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri'?

They declared $1{,}200\,\text{hectares}$ of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri' with their own community rules banning hunting and protecting wildlife from external encroachments.

What have citizen and farmer movements like Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya shown?

They proved that diversified crop production without using synthetic chemicals is viable and economically sustainable.

When was the Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme formally started in India, and how does it operate?

It began in $1988$ when Odisha passed the first resolution; local village institutions protect degraded forest land managed by the forest department in exchange for non-timber produce and a share in timber.

Which specific trees are worshipped as sacred by the Mundas, Santhals, and tribals of Odisha and Bihar?

The Mundas and Santhal of Chota Nagpur worship mahua (Bassia latifolia) and kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba), while tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) during weddings.

Which animals are strictly protected as integral community members in and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan?

Herds of blackbuck (chinkara), nilgai, and peacocks.