Forest and Wildlife Resource

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of wildlife and plant which are diverse or varied in form and function but are closely integrated in a system through interdependencies.

What were the provisions of the wildlife protection act?

1. It listed out endangered species and gave them protection by banning their hunting and restricting trade.

2. National parks and wildlife sanctuaries were established to protect biodiversity.

3. Government announced many projects to protect the threatened species like tigers , one horned rhino etc. giving them full legal protection against hunting , poaching and illegal trade

4. It was extended to include many insects like butterflies , moths , beetles and dragonfly to the included species.

5. in 1991 , plants were also added to the list for the first time starting with six.

Write a short note on Project Tiger

1. It was launched to curb the major decline in tiger population.

2. The major threats to the tiger population was poaching , habitat loss , human population growth etc.

3. The trade of tiger skins and bones for traditional medicines resulted in near extinction of the species.

4. Tiger conservation is an effort to save endagered species.

5. Tiger reserves in India include Corbett National park , Sunderban National Park , Badhavagarh National Park , Manas Tiger Reserve , Periyar Tiger Reserve

What are the types of forest classification in India?

Reserved Forests

1. They constitute around half of the forests in India

2. They are owned by the government and all human activities like collection of timber , grazing of cattle etc. are not allowed in these forests.

3. They are regarded as the most valuable forests in terms of conservation of biodiversity.

4. Jammu Kashmir , Andra Pradesh , Kerala , Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Protected Forests

1. They are also owned by the government but the local people are allowed to perform activities such as grazing and timber collection without causing serious damage to the forests.

2. They constitute of about one third of the total forest and it prevents the forests from further depletion.

3. Haryana , Odisha , Punjab and Rajasthan have high amounts of protected forests.

Unclassed Forests

1. These are the other forests and wastelands belonging to private individuals , government and communities.

2. The north eastern states and Gujarat have high amounts of unclassed forests.

What are permanent forest estates

1. Reserved forests and protected forests are collectively called as permanent forest estates.

2. These forests are maintained for producing timber and other forest products and for protective reasons.

3. Madhya Pradesh has the maximum forest cover under permanent forests.

What are the efforts taken by the community for conservation?

1. Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan , the villagers fought against mining by referring to the Wildlife Protection Act

2. Inhabitants of 5 villages in the Alwar district of Rajashtan declared 1200 hectares of forest land as the Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri , they declared their own set of rules and regulation which do not allow for hunting and outisde encroachment.

3. The Chipko Movement was conducted to resist deforestsation and promote community afforestation.

4. Groups like Beej Bacha ANdolan and Navdanya show it is possible and economically viable to produce adequate diverse crops without use of artificial chemicals

Write a short note on Joint Forest Management

1. It involved the local communities in managing and restoring the degrading forests.

2. It was first established in the state of Odisha.

3. The local villages instituions take protection activities on the degraded forest land managed by the forest department.

4. In return the members of these communities are allowed to get benefits like non timber forest produce and also share in the timber harvested by conservative production.

What are the methods of wildlife conservation

1. To protect forests and wildife the communities have to be involved in some kind of natural resource management.

2. The government should adopt environmentaly freindly development policies.

Write a short note on sacred groves.

There is an old tribal belief that all creations of nature have to be protected. This belief preserved several forests that are called Sacred Groves , any interference in these forests is banned by the local people.

1. The Mundas and Santhals of Chota Nagpur Region worship mahua and Kadamba

2. The tribals of odisha and Bihar worship tamarind and mango trees during weddings.

3. Peepal and banyan trees are also considered sacred in India.