Q. 1. Describe fertilizers and pesticide problems?

Ans. Problems due to use of fertilizers and pesticides.

1. If they are not applied with caution, artificial fertilizers cause contamination and fail to
give their full potential.
2. Exercise levels of nitrates !"#$ in groundwater and surface water are increasingly a
problem in Europe, %&' and other parts of the world.
#. Phosphates have been accumulating in soils, river and la(e sediments for decades, as a
conse)uence of the use of phosphatic fertilizers, disposal of sewage and leaching of poorly
sealed landfill sites. *his poses a serious threat for domestic water supply and for the ecology
of rivers, la(es and other water bodies. Increased levels of phosphates in water bodies
particularly la(es$ are responsible for entrophication.
+. Pesticites are harmful chemicals employed to (ill pests but their use cause following
problems
a$ toxicity and slow brea(down.
b$ pesticide resistance and pest resurgence.
c$ tendency to be concentrated by foodweb.
d$ misuse or unsafe methods of application.
e$ creation of new pests due to the (illing of beneficial predators that previously (ept a
number of pests under control.
,. *he effects of pesticides on human health can be
a$ &hort-term, including acute poisoning and illness caused by relatively
high doses and accidental exposures. and
b$ long-term / including, cancer, birth defects, immunlogical problems, Par(inson0s
disease and other chronic degenerative diseases. *he long term health effects are caused by
very low doses of variety of different chemicals and are difficult to tie to a specific source.

Q 2 Discuss effects of dams on forests and tribal people?

Ans.
1. *he effects of dams on forests and tribal people.
*he most significant environment effect of dams results from the displacement of human
pollutions. 1ecause people normally settle along rivers, where water for drin(ing, power,
irrigation and transport are readily available, reservoir flooding can displace huge populations.
' series of dams on India0s !armada river will inundate the homes of 1., million people along
with 2,33,333 acres of farm land. In such cases, people will need to find new places to live
and clear new land to grow food.
2. 4ams and reservoirs change sediment deposit in rivers.
#. 5iparian or stream side habitats suffer both above and below dams.
+. *hey can be habitat loss, erosion and declining water )uality.

Q. 3. Differentiate soil erosion and so desertification.

Ans. &oil Erosion/ 6oss of top layer of the soil by natural and man-made processes is
called soil erosion. &oil loss is maximum in regions with high population density. 7ontinuous
cultivation of same crop also adds to soil loss. *he present rate of soil erosion is over 2,33
millions tonnes per year. India is faced with severe silting problems in 1ha(ra and other
multipurpose dams. 5iver 8anga carries about 1., billion tonnes of soil to ocean every year.
9inds of &oil Erosion / 1ased on the rate at which soil loss ta(es place, there are two main
types of soil erosion
1. !ormal or 8eological Erosion / It occurs under natural conditions without any
interference of man. It is a very slow process and there is e)uilibrium between loss and build
up.
2. 'ccelerated &oil Erosion / *he loss of soil is very rapid and never (eeps pace with the
soil formation. It is generally caused by an interference of an agency li(e man and other
animals.
#. 4esertification / *he process of formation of deserts either due to natural process lin(ed
to climatic change or due to excessive use of land.

Q. 4. Discuss benefits of Dam?

Ans. 1enefits of 4ams/ :ore than +,333 dams all over the world are estimated to support
about #3-+3; of land worldwide and supply 1<; of total world0s electric power. *hus, they
play ma=or role in development of communities and economies.
1. 4ams provide water for intensive planned irrigation.
2. 4ams are source of hydroelectric energy to meet urban and industrial consumption.
#. 4ams chec( floods.

Q. 5. Discuss the use of bio energy as a noncon!entional source of energy.

Ans. 1iomass energy is obtained from those materials whose origin can be traced to
photosynthesis i.e. trapping of solar energy, dried residues, fresh water and marine algae,
agricultural and forest residue. >uel wood provide energy for domestic use. 1iogas obtained
from biomass is used for domestic and commercial purposes. 1iogas produces a fewer
pollutants.
Q. ". #hat are ill effects of deforestation?

Ans. 4eforestation / *he unplanned cutting off the forests is called deforestation.
*he main causes of deforestation are explosion of human and livestoc( population of
increased demand for timber, fuel wood, expansion of croplands, construction of roads and
dams. 4eforestation causes deterioration of the )uality of life in a society, because of the
following factors
1. It results in reduced shade and there is )uic( run off which causes erosion and floods.
2. it causes decreased rain fall which ultimately leads to drought.
#. It also reduces the water retention power of soil which leads to drought.
+. 4eforestation causes increased convection which again leads to drought.
,. >loods and drought caused by deforestation disturbs plant and animal life.

Q. $. #hat are causes of formation of %aste land?

Ans. ?aste land. *he various purposes for which land can be used, include agriculture and
horticulture for food production, energy production, human dwelling and industrial@commercial
purpose. 1ut its overuse ma(es it unfit for human use termed waste land.
7auses for formation of wasteland
?astelands include degraded forests, overgrazed pastures, drought struc( pastures,
eroded valleys, hilly slopes, waterlogged marshy lands, barren land etc. *he main causes of
wasteland formation are as
1. Indiscriminate and over utilization of forest produce.
2. "vergrazing of grasslands.
#. &alination.
+. ?ater logging
,. 4esertfication.
2. &ide-effects of development pro=ects.
A. :isuse and unscientific land management.

Q. &. #hat are impacts of human acti!ities on %atershed ?

Ans. Impacts of human activities on watershed / ?atershed is defined as the land area
from which water drains under gravity to a common drainage channel. *hus watershed is a
delineated area with a well defined topographic boundary and one water outlet. ?atershed
comprises complex interactions of soil, landform vegetation, land use activities and water.
People and animals are an integral part of a watershed having mutual impacts on each
other.
1. Buman activities li(e uncontrolled, unplanned and unscientific land use are degrading
the watershed.
2. *here is increased concentration of soluble salts in the soil due to intesive agricultural
practices.
#. "vergrazing, deforestation, mining, contruction activities, industrialization, shifting
cultivation, natural and artificial fires also result in forming water shed.
+. &oil erosion and ignorance of local people have been responsible for degradation of
various waterlands.

Q. '. Define deforestation and to causes?

Ans. 4eforestation. 4estruction of forests is termed deforestation. *he present forest
cover of India and compare it with that of the past, we will realise that it has shrun( and at
present it is about 23; of the total land area.
Inspite of the fact that we are very poor as regards this precious resource for economic
development and environmental stability, yet unfortunately the rate of deforestation at 2.#;
1,,33,333 ha@year$ is much high, compared to reforestation at 3.22; 1#C333 ha@yr$
7auses of deforestation in India
1. Increased demand of timber, fodder and fuel wood.
2. Expansion of cropland and enhanced grazing by livestoc(.
#. 7onstruction of roads through forests.
+. 4evelopment of industries.
,. Extensive wor( for mining, )uarrying, irrigation and agriculture.
2. >alling of trees to meet the demand of fuelwood, paper and wooden crates.
A. Poor forest management.


Q. 1(. )arrate the ad!antages and disad!antages of hydropo%er?

Ans. Bydroelectric power. In this techni)ue, potential energy of stored river water in high
dams is converted into (inetic energy to run the turbines at the bottom that generate electric
power. 1etween 1<,3 and 1<A3, hydropower generation in the world increased seven times.
*he important hydel power pro=ects of India are 1ha(ra !angal, Bira(ud dam, 4amodar
Dalley, *hem 4am, etc.
In India, hydel power plays a great role in electricity generation and has the potential to
generate 13,333 :? of electricity.
'dvantages of hydroelectric power
i$ It is a pollution free and renewable source of energy.
ii$ Its operational cost is low.
iii$ It helps in chec(ing floods and the stored water can be used for irrigation, fisheries,
drin(ing water and for recreational eg, boating, water sports$ purposes.
4isadvantages of hydroelectric power
i$ *here is problem of planning and construction of dams at suitable sites.
ii$ 7onstruction of dams may change the topography of an area and may harm local flora
and fauna.
iii$ 4ams can bloc( routes of fish migration re)uired for their survival and reproduction.
iv$ *here is problem of silting of water reservoirs of dams due to soil erosion of
catchment areas, particularly, by their deforestation.

Q. 11. #hy is %ater a uni*ue resource?

Ans. ?ater plays a vital role in supporting system as follows/
1. It has an influence in regulating climate.
2. "cean acts as heat ban( for coastal regions releasing and absorbing heat.
#. ?ater falls, tides and river currents are used to move machine and generate
hydroelectric power.
+. ?ater is essential for agriculture and industry.
,. It provides surface for navigation.
2. ?ater provides hydrogen re)uired in living system. *hus water is a Euni)ue resource0.

Q. 12. #hat are fossil fuels and %hy they are nonrene%able?

Ans. >ossil >uels. *hey are non-renewable conventional energy resources found inside
earth0s crust where they have been formed through heat and compression on forests and
other organic matter buried underneath due to earth)ua(es, landslides, lava, etc. &ince they
were formed in particular periods, their presence underneath can be (nown from specific
palynofossils@ microfossils.
>ossil fuels can be solid coal, lignite$, li)uid petroleum$ or gaseous natural gas$ *hey
meet A3; of total energy needs of the world and CA.+; of all commercial energy. Per capita
index of energy consumption is :*"E metric tonnes of oil e)uivalent$. It is maximum for
7anada <.1, :*"E$, high for %.&.'. A.# :*"E$, mediocre for 1ritiF and >rance #.C :*"E$
and low for India 3., :*"E$. In India ,C; of commercial energy is got from coal and .#C;
from petroleum along with natural gas.
7oal is used for coo(ing, heating, in industry and thermal power plants. Petroleum is used
fo transport, agriculture and some industries. 6P8 is li)uefied petroleum gas. !atural gas is
employed both in coo(ing and in industry. >ossil fuel resources are, however, limited. 7oal
resources and natural gas may last for over 133 years. 8ood coal reserves occur in %.&.'.,
7hina, 5ussia and India 1ihar, 1engal, "rissa and :.P.$. In future, it may be li)uefied. ' lot
of natural gas goes waste some 2+; in India$. 9nown reserves of petroleum are expected to
last upto 23#3 '.4.
In India, petroleum reserves are low, being mainly present in 'ssam, 8u=arat, 1ombay
Bigh and !armada 1asin. *hey do not meet even ,3; of total petroleum re)uirement. 4espite
limited reserves, demand for fossil fuels is rising, annually by 2; on global basis and 1,; in
India.
*herefore, conservation of fossil fuels, prevention of their wastage and alternate
sources of energy are urgently re)uired. 8asification of coal, compressed natural gas 7!8$,
gasohol petrol G alcohol$ are being tried.

Q. 13. Define desertification and underline the causes.

Ans. 4esertification. It is a process whereby the productive potential of arid or semiarid
lands fall.
7auses of 4esertification
1. 4eforestation. *he process of deforestation initiates a desert producing cycle that
continues of its own. &ince there is no vegetation to hold bac( the surface run off, water
drains off )uic(ly. It can not be soa(ed into the soil to nourish the plants or to replenish the
groundwater. *his increases soil erosion, loss of water.
2. "vergrazing. 4ue to overgrazing of grass lands and forests by cattle, the land is
denuded. Its vegetation cover is removed. ?hen the earth is denuded, the microclimate near
the ground becomes unsuitable to seed germination. *he top fertile layer is lost and plant
growth is hampered in such soil. *he dry barren land reflects more of the sun0s heat, changing
wind patterns, driving away moisture laden clouds leading to further desertification.
#. 4rought 7onditions. 4esertification usually begins in areas made susceptible by drought
or overuse by human population. 4eserts are found to occur in the arid and semiarid areas of
all the continents.
+. :ining and Huarrying. *hese activities are also responsible for loss of vegetal cover and
denudation of extensive land areas leading to desrtification.
Q. 14. +i!e t%o e,amples of successful -ndian attempts in %ater conser!ation.

Ans. *he need of the hour is to ma(e people aware of the dangers of water scarcity and
to launch a Esave water0 campaign. >ollowing measures may be ta(en for the better mane
ement of world0s water resources sustainably
1. 1uilding several small reservoirs instead of few large pro=ects, developing small
catchment dams and protecting waterlands.
2. 8anga 'ction Plan.
#. 5ain water harvesting.

Q. 15. Differentiate bet%een rene%able and nonrene%able natural resources?

Ans. 5enewable resources are those which are being continuously consumed by man but
renewed by nature e.g. water, wood, natural pastures, soil and living organisms etc. *he
resources reappear by the )uic( replacement, recycling and reproduction in a particular time.
!on-renewable resources. *hey are not rene0iable after use and are not replenished
by nature e.g. fossil fuel, metallic ores viz. copper. iron etc. >ossil fuels include coal,
petroleum etc.

Q. 1". Differentiate bet%een %ater logging and salinity.

Ans. ?ater logging. ?hen excessive irrigation is done with bra(ish water, it raises the
water table gradually leading to water logging and salinity problems. &alinity. It refers to the
increased concentration of soluble salts in the soil due to wrong agriculture practices. *he
carbonates, chlorides and sulphates of sodium and traces of calcium and magnesium form a
layer on the surface of soil and poses a threat to the survival of plants.

Q. 1$. .,plain solar air conditioning ?

Ans. &olar 'ir-7onditioning. It includes solar-powered refrigeration systems of 5an(ine
cycle systems1 absorption refrigerator systems and solar-regenerated desiccant cooling
systems. "ut of these, open-cycle absorption desiccant cooling systems seemed to offer the
best prospects. In a typical desiccant cooling cycle, ambient air is adiabatically cooled,
dehumidified, cooled both sensibly and evaporatively, and then ducted to the living area. In
the regenerative stage, air is evaporatively cooled, heated as it cools the supply air stream,
heated again by solar collectors, and humidifed. &imulation and analysis of desiccant cooling
systems suggest that solar-regenerated systems can be cost-competitive with conventional
vapour-compression or absorption systems. 4esiccant cooling seems best suited for regions
with about e)ual heating and cooling loads and high humidity.

/hort Ans%er 0ype Questions

Q. 1. Discuss role played by noncon!entional energy resources to%ards
the protection of en!ironment ?

Ans. ' source of energy is one that can provide ade)uate amount of energy in a usable
form over a long period of time fossil fuels are the common sources of energy but they are
non-renewable. *hus there is need for non-conventionl sources of energy and that can by
used again and again in a endless manner.
Energy 5esources. 4aily per capita re)uirement of energy was 2333-+333 (cal in hunting
and food gatherer stage. >ire was then used for coo(ing and (eeping warm. In agriculture
stage, animal power was added. In developing countries per capita energy consumption is
13,333 (cal 2333 (cal in 1<A3$. In industrial stage of 1<th century, r capita consumption of
energy rose to A3,333 (cal in advanced countries. Present day per capita energy consumption
of %.&.'. is 2,3,333 (cal. Industrialised countries with #3; of world population are consuming
C3; of energy.
1. 'nimal Power. It is a renewable conventionl energy resource got from draught animals.
4raught animals are used in transport, drawing water and agriculture, e.g., bulloc(s,
buffaloes, camels, horses.
2. >irewoo+f>uelwood. It is a renewable conventional resource used for coo(ing and
heating in villages, remote areas, urban poor, wayside dhabas, crematoria, etc. :ore than two
billion persons employ wood as fuel, consuming 1-C billionm# of it.
#. "rganic ?astes. *hey constitute a newable resource. 'vailability in India is over #333
million tonnes. "ut of this 12,3 million tonnes is animal dung, night soil and wastes from food
processing industry. 4ried dung ca(es are used for heating and coo(ing. *he amount is over
233 million tonnes. It is a wasteful use of a resource.
+. 1iogas. "rganic wastes can be more profitably used in generation of biogas. India can
produce +C billion m# of biogas and +33 million tonnes of manure per year through biogas
techni)ue.
,. Energy plantation. It is growing of firewood trees on non-forest and nonagricultural
lands.
2. Energy 7orpping. It is growing crop which yield fuel. 'lcohol can be obtained from
Potato, &ugarcane, :aize and *apioca. 6atex having long chain li)uid hydrocarbons is present
in plants called petroplants, e.g. Iatropha, Euphorbia lathyrus, 1ric(ellia.
A. *idal Energy. *idal waves of the sea can be used to generate electricity. It is an
alternative source of energy to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.
C. ?ind Power. It has been used for centuries to run the wind mills for grinding grains in
certain areas. It is being now developed on scientific lines. *he limitation is that the wind does
not always blow with re)uired intensity all the year round and in all areas. Bence, it can be
used in certain regions and on certain days only.
<. 8eothermal Energy. &team and hot water coming out of the earth in some places can
be used for heating buildings and water and for generating electricity. Bowever, the
geothermal resources are limited.
13 &olar energy. It is used for coo(ing air conditioning.

Q. 2. 1ritically e,amine the use of alternati!e energy sources.

Ans. 5efer to H. !o. 1 &'H$.

Q. 3. Discuss the causes for desertification and its measures ?

Ans. 4esertification / In drier parts of the world, deserts are increasing rapidly from a
combination of natural processes and human activities, a process (nown as desertification or
land degradation. 'n annual rainfall of less than 2, cms will produce a desert anywhere in the
world. In the semi-arid areas along the desert margins, where the annual rainfall is around +3
cms, the ecosystem is the desert margins, where the annual rainfall is around +3 cms, the
ecosystem is inherently fragile with seasonal rains supporting the temporary growth of plants.
5ecent changes in the climate of these regions have meant that the rains are now unreliable
and the lands that were once semi-arid are now becoming deserts. *he process of
desertification is precipitated by prolonged droughts, causing the top layers of the soil to dry
out and blow away. *he aeroded soils become unstable and compacted and do not readily
allow for seeding. *his means that desertified areas do not regenerate by themselves but
remain bare and continue to erode. 4esertification of grazing lands or croplands is
accompanied, therefore, by a sharp drop in the productivity of the land.
>actors affecting desrtification and effects
1. !atural desertification is greatly accelerated by human activities that leave soils
vulnerable to erosion by wind and water. *he drier grasslands with too little rain to support
cultivated crops have traditionally been used for grazing livestoc(. ?hen semi-arid land is
overgrazed by (eeping too many animals on too little land$, plants that could survive
moderate grazing are uprooted and destroyed altogether. &ince plant roots no longer bind the
soil together, the expossed soil dries out and is blown away as dust. *he destruction and
removal of the topsoil means that soil productivity drops drastically. *he obvious solution to
desertification caused by overgrazing is to limit grazing to what the land can sustain.
2. "ver-cultivation, deforestation, salting of the soil through irrigation and the ploughing
of the marginal land.
#. *hese destructive practices are intensfied in developing countries, rapid population
growth, high population density, poverty and poor land management. *he conse)uences of
desertification in some countries mean intensified drought and famine and lowered standards
of living.
+. In marginal areas throughout the world, traditional farming practices can lead to
desertification. Ploughing turns the top layer of the soil upside down, burying and (illing weeds
but exposing bare soil to erosion. In arid areas, the exposed soil dries out rapidly and is easily
lost through wind erosion.
:easures to restore land
1. :ulching of soil to hold moisture and protection of seedling.
2. 5eforestation is another way.

Q. 4. #hy is dependence of man on nature greater than that of any other
organism?

Ans. :an0s dependence on the environment is greater than that of other organisms
because he -
1. has developed curiosity for more comforts and security.
2. consumes large amount of material and energy.
#. has developed a new (ind of socio-economic environment which consists of things
developed by man through his tools and techni)ues.

Q. 5. .,plain soil as a resource.

Ans. &oil as resource. 6and forms about 1@,th of earth is a ma=or constituent of
lithosphere and is the source of many materials, which are used by man.
'll the terrestrial plants obtain their water and mineral nutrients from the soil. Jield of all
biotic products in terrestrial ecosystem depends upon soil. !umerous microbes bacteria and
fungi$ and many animals which are involved in the decomposition process live in soil. 'll of
them form humus by accumulation of partially synthesised organic materials. &oil is the most
important component of land. It is the fertile surface layer of the earth capable of supporting
plant growth. It is a mixture of mineral matter, air, water, organic matter humus$ and
organisms. &oil provides water and minerals to plants and serves as a habitat for bacteria,
fungi and many (inds of animals. Buman activities have aggravated soil erosion, salinisation
water logging, acidification, al(alination, leaching, impoverishment and silting. *hese
phenomena are a serious threat to land as a resource. Productive land is reducing due to
coming up of dams, roads, railways, urban settlements, factories, canals, mines, playgrounds
and other things. :an should seriously ta(e effective steps for the conservation of soil. !ature
also restores soil fertility in various ways.

Q. ". .numerate the importance of soil.

Ans. Importance of top soil
&oil plays a multiple role in the life of organisms
1. It provides water and mineral nutrients to the terrestrial plants.
2. It is the medium in which plant and animal materials are decomposed. *he inorganic
components, namely 7"2 and B23, formed as the end products of decomposition are released
into the environment for reuse by plants.
#. It provides habitat for microbes.

Q. $. Discuss the agents of soil erosion.

Ans. 'gents of soil erosion
1. ?ater erosion. *his type of soil erosion is caused by water. *he rain drops fall on the
superficial layers and erosion ta(es place due to the flow of water.
2. ?ind erosion. In deserts soil erosion ta(es place continuously due to wind and cyclones.
#. 6and slides or &lip erosion. 4ue to heavy rains, edges of hills are washed away and due
to gravity they fall.
+. &tream ban( erosion. 4ue to floods the ban(s of rivers are eroded.

Q. &. +i!e a brief account of principles of soil erosion.

Ans. Principles of soil erosion.
1. !ormal or geological erosion. *his is a slow process. It is a common natural
phenomenon. ' balance is maintained between formation and erosion.
2. 'ccelerated soil erosion. In this type of erosion, a balance is not maintained between
erosion and formation. *he speed of erosion is so fast due to man or any other reason that it
is impossible to have a similar formation speed. 4ue to this type of soil erosion, man has to
face many problems.

Q. '. #rite the names of biological methods of soil conser!ation.

Ans. 1iological methods of soil conservation.
1. 7ontour agriculture
2. :ulching
#. 7rop rotation
+. 4ry farming.

Q. 1(. 2o% %ill you restore soil fertility?

Ans.
1. 'pplication of biofertilizers is useful in enhancing the soil fertility.
2. Darious organic farming measures, which provide increase input to soil have long term
beneficial effects on soil fertility.

Q. 11. #hat are the ma3or sources of %ater on earth?

Ans. &ources of water. *he sources of water on earth are oceans, rivers, la(es,
soil moisture and ground water.
"ceans contain <A; 1.+ billion cubic (ilometre (m#$ of remaining water. Ice in the polar
ice caps and permanent glaciers had about #; of remaining water. 5est of the water is in the
form of water vapours, la(es, rivers and ground water. -

Q. 12. #rite a note on fresh %ater a!ailable.

Ans. >resh water. "ut of the #;, AA.2; is stored in glaciers and icecaps and 22.+; is
ground water and soil moisture. *he remaining 3.#2; is present in la(es, rivers, streams,
swamps etc. *his fresh water is available for drin(ing and irrigation purposes. In the
atmosphere there is 3.33 I of water.
*hough ocean water is also very important for man(ind. :an0s direct relation is more with
fresh water. 5ainfall is due to evaporation of ocean water and as a result of this fresh water is
available. <3; of the total evaporated oceanic water reaches bac( into the ocean through
rivers.
Q. 13. #hat are methods of conser!ing %ater resources?

Ans. 7onservation of water resources. >or conservation and management of fresh water,
following methods can be employed
1. 5educing agricultural water wastage by increasing efficiency of irrigation system.
2. 'fforestation and protection of watersheds to improve economy.
#. >ormation of artificial clouds, so that a change can be brought in the atmosphere.
+. 7hanges in the vegetation of a particular area, so that even in the dry season
maximum amount of water can be stored. In addition to this, dams should be constructed to
stop the drainage of rain water.
,. 7ontrol the distribution of water by constructing big dams.
2. 4esalinization of sea water and saline ground water.
A. Proper utilization of underground water.
C. 'ttempt to extract minerals from water.
<. :elt the glaciers and snow for using as a fresh water resource.
13. 5egular dredging and desiltation of water bodies.

Q. 14. #hat do you understand by 4orest5 4orestry5 6ungles and /il!iculture?

Ans. i$ >orest. It is an ecosystem comprising living and non-living components.
"r
>orest is land outside the fences and boundaries of village covered with a closed canopy of
trees and shrubs.
"r
>orest is any area set aside for timber, climatic or protective purposes.
ii$ >orestry. *he branch of (nowledge concerned with scientific, rearing and tending of
forest trees in order to derive the maximum benefit is (nown as forestry.
iii$ Iungle. It is an unmanaged area of land lying outside human settlements. It is
covered over by trees and shrubs.
iv$ &ilviculture. It is the programme for establishment, development, care and
reproduction of pure crops of valuable timber trees.

Q. 15. 1omment 74orest as a resource.8

Ans. E>orest as a resource.0 >orests provide medicinal plants, food, fodder, fuel, fibres,
tools, shelter to ma=ority of biota, timber, non-wood products apart from protection of
environment are all provided by the forests. >orests also serve as home to diverse plants and
animals besides serving as a sin( to polluting gases and maintaining the balance of
atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Q. 1". #rite a brief note on -ndian 4orests.

Ans. Indian >orests. In India the forests cover an area of about C la(h s)uare (m. *here
are about 1,333 species of flowering plants and almost #333 species of nonflowering plants
are present. >rom the forests, timber, fuel wood, bamboo, medicines, fibres, gum, resins,
rubber, aromatic oil, colours, oil, seeds and number of other small products are obtained,
without which our daily life cannot be imagined.
India0s main forest areas are / Bimalayan area, valley area, 8anges K &indhu plains,
5a=asthan, &undarban and eastern and western ghats, south India, 'ndaman !icobar
and 6a(shdeep and eastern India.

Q. 1$. #hat is the importance of forest resources?

Ans. '. Productive functions
1. >orests provide wood. Indian forests yield valuable timber wood li(e tea(, sal,
deodar, shisham etc.
2. >orests provide paper. *he conifers and bamboos are used as raw material to prepare
paper.
#. :edicinal plants of forests provide medicine of great importance.
+. >orests provide number of products li(e resins, gums, rubber, food and insecticides.
,. >orest provide shelter to variety of animals.
2. >orests also provide the cor( e.g. oa( Huercus$
1. Protective functions
5ole of forests in the protection of lands. >orests play a vital role in the life and economy
of all tribes living in the forests.
1. >orests prevent erosion of soil by wind and water.
2. 6arge trees provide shade which prevents the soil from becoming dry and friable during the
summer.
#. *hey chec( the velocity of rain drops or wind stri(ing the ground and reduce dislodging of
the soil particles.
+. *he root system of plants firmly binds the soil.
7. 5ole of forests in retaining sub-soil water. >orests improve the )uality of soil by
increasing its porosity. *he forest soil absorbs water during rains li(e a giant sponge and does
not allow it to evaporate or run off )uic(ly. It ensures perennial supply of subsoil water in
springs and wells. *hus the hill slopes with vast forest cover in the catchment areas conserve
water and gradually release it into streams, rivers and subsoil springs.

Q. 1&. )ame the forest products of economic importance.

Ans. >orest products of economic importance.
!ame of products
a$ 8um b$ *annin c$ 5esin
d$ "il e$ 1everage f$ 5ubber
g$ :edicines h$ Paper

Q. 1'. 2o% does deforestation cause deterioration of the *uality of life in a
society?

Ans. 4eforestation. *he unplanned cutting off the forests is called deforestation. *he main
causes of deforestation are explosion of human and livestoc( population of increased demands
for timber, fuel wood, expansion of croplands, construction of roads and dams. 4eforestation
causes deterioration of the )uality of life in a society, cause of the following factors
1. It results in reduced shade and there is )uic( run off which causes erosion and floods.
2. It causes decreased rain fall which ultimately leads to drought.
#. It also reduces the water retention power of soil which leads to drought.
+. 4eforestation causes increased convection which again leads to drought.
,. >loods and drought caused by deforestation disturbs plant and animal life.

Q. 2(. #rite a note on any three schemes of afforestation launched by 9nion and
/tate go!ernments.

Ans. *he %nion and &tate governments have launched several schemes of afforestation
and forest conservation.
1. *he &ocial >orestry Programme is one such scheme. In this scheme, the common lands and
public places are utilised to produce fire wood, fodder and small timber in order to meet the
demand of rural population and thus decrease the pressure on the forests.
2. 'groforestry is another programme of forest conservation according to which the old
practice of growing trees, cultivation of agriculture and animal
husbandry are simultaneously carried out in the same area.
#. %rban >orestry programme is yet another scheme according to which the shade trees,
flowering trees and fruit trees -are planted along the roads, around and within the par(s,
inside the compounds and vacant lands in urban areas. It adds to the aesthetic beauty of the
place and tones down the harshness of the urban environment besides giving protection
against scorching heat to the travellers.

Q. 21. #rite a short note on 1hip:o mo!ement.

Ans. 7hip(o :ovement. *he 7hip(o movement was born in :arch 1<A#, in the remote
hill town of 8opeshwar in 7hamoli district of then %ttar Pradesh. 7hip(o movement reached its
climax in 1<A+ when the women of village 5eni led by 8aura 4evi barred the path to the forest
which went through the village.
*he genesis of the 7hip(o movement has both an ecological and an economic bac(ground.
*wo leaders-7handi Prasad 1hatt from 8opeshwar and &under 6aL 1ahuguna from *ehri region
have contributed immensely in ma(ing it a big success and also spreading it amongst people.
It is confined to. tree protection and plantation only, but also concerns itself with the safety
and preservation of environment as a whole including the habitat and the wildlife.

Q. 22. #rite a note on Appi:o mo!ement.

Ans. 'ppi(o movement. It is a successful conservation movement on &outh India and
originated in %ttara 9annada. 'bout fifty years ago as much as C2 per cent of district was
covered with forests rich in tea( trees. *here was excessive use of the tea( trees and in 1<C#-
C+ forest cover dropped to 23 per cent. 's a result not only soil in the area degraded but also
water resources and water cycle was affected.
*hen the local people especially youths were motivated into direct action. *hey re)uested the
people to stop clearing the forests, and the appeal was ignored by those persons involved in
utilization. *hen the activists too( oath to protect the trees the same way as the 7hip(o
movement activists did. *his movement was led by Pandurang Begde.
'ppi(o movement has created a mass awa(ening about conservation of forests in
&outh India.

Q. 23. #rite a note on forest conser!ation5

Ans. >orest conservation. 1efore man0s evolution A3; of the land was covered by forests,
which is now only 12;. *he forests were depleted due to river valley pro=ects, commercial
use, agriculture development etc. *o stop the destruction of forests, forest management,
social forestry and public efforts are also necessary.
>orest management should be such that along with protection of forests, the production
should also increase.

Q. 24. #hat is %etland ? #hat are its types ?

Ans. ?etlands. ?etlands are low lying areas usually covered by shallow water and have
characteristic soils and water-tolerant vegetation. ?etlands may be either fresh-water or salt
water coastal$. >reshwater wetlands include marshes where grassli(e plants dominate$,
swamps where trees or shrubs dominate$, and periodically flooded riverine forests found in
lowlands along streams.
?etlands occupy almost 2; of the world0s land surface and provide crucial environmental
services. ?etlands are often drained, dredged or filled up for housing and industrial purposes.
*hey are increasingly threatened by agriculture, pollution and engineering constructions such
as dams$.
Q. 25. #hy are %etlands considered ecologically important?

Ans. Importance of wetlands.
1. *hey serve as ground water recharging areas.
2. *o help clean and purify water run off.
#. *hey are highly productive area.
+. In salt water wetland as the mangroves hold sediment and accumulate soil along shore line.
,. 'n mangroves expand into ocean other plants colonize the soil left behind.

Q. 2". #hat are the !arious %ays of conser!ing nonrene%able natural resources
?

Ans. *he conservation of non-renewable natural resources. *he availability of minerals for
human use along the time scale is called life time of earth minerals. *he pro=ect life span of
various minerals can be extended by recycling, substitution and synthesis.
*he conservation of fuel is possible only by their =udicious use and by finding out
the new resources of energy such as a$ hydro-power b$ wind power and c$ nuclear power.
&un energy is also a useful form of energy. Indian scientists have been able to invent the
sun bas(et, solar coo(er in which the sun0s rays are utilised directly to coo( meals. It will save
fossil fuel.

Q. 2$. Discuss the role of %ater as essential component of life supporting
system.

Ans. ?ater is the ma=or constituent of hydrosphere and covers four-fifths of earth0s
surface. ?ater form about 23-<,; of living material i.e. protoplasm is an essential substance
for carrying out various vital processes of life. It plays a role in vital supporting system as
follows
1. It has an influence in regulating climate.
2. "cean acts as heat ban( for coastal regions releasing and absorbing heat.
#. In stream use water falls, tides and river currents are used to move machine and generate
hydroelectric power.
+. Irrigation water is essential for agriculture.
, It provides surface for navigation.
2. ?ater provides hydrogen re)uired in living system.
A. 4omestic use. *he domestic use includes drin(ing, bathing, washing, cleaning, air-
conditioning, coo(ing, washing dishes, flishing toilets, watering lawns and gardens. Per person
use of water increases with his economic status. In India it ranges from 13 to 233 litres per
person per day. :ore domestic water is wasted than used. "ver and above about 23; loss of
water is on account of lea(ing water pipes and casual public attitude towards it.
C. Industrial %se. :ost of wter use for industries is for cooling. >or example electric power
generating plants use ater to cool steam for recovering the water bac(. It is also used to
dissipate and transport the waste products. 1oth community, and industrial use contaminate
water, and treatment is re)uired before returning it to the river.

Q. 2&. #hat is %ater cycle ?5 2o% do humans interfere in %ater cycle?

Ans. ?ater 7ycle. It is a highly complex natural system. t is never ending circulation of
water. It is a combination of evaporation, precipitation, interception, transpiration, infiltration
seepage, storage and run off. It is powered by solar energy and force of gravity. It shows the
dynamic nature of water movement in the total hydrosphiere. It illustrates how water can
occur in form of three natural states0 i.e. li)uid, solid and gas.
Buman interference in water cycle
?ater cycle is dynamic. It is highly complex natural system. 1ut in the present time, it is
becoming more complex due to interference by man (nowingly or un(nowingly.
Buman interference can be discussed as follows
1. :an has been trying to ma(e artificial rain ma(ing to ensure better water resources in time
and space
2 7onstruction of dams
#. 7anal networ( created by man for irrigation.
+. 'rtificial recharge of ground water reserve.

Q. 2'. ;ist the important marine resources.

Ans. 6ist of marine resources/
1. *hrough the global hydrological cycle ocean maintain a regular flow of fresh water to be
used by man, various animals and plants.
2. "cean is a reservoir of many substances of biological cycles and many other materials.
#. :arine vegetation acts as producers.
+. 9elps and a few marine animals are used as food.
,. Iodine and industrial gums are produced from sea weeds.
2. 'gar is produced from green algae.
A. 'lgin is derived from &argassum and *urbilaria.
C. Pearls obtained from pearl oyster are used as valuable =ewellery.
<. &hells of molluscs are used to obtain )uic( lime.
13. &odium chloride, magnesium and bromide are extracted from sea water.
11. PetroiMm and natural gas are obtained from continental shelves.
12. "ceans are also sources of deuterium, uranium, gold, manganese, iron, lead and sulphur.

Q. 3(. +i!e brief account of global distribution of %ater.

Ans. 8lobal distribution of water. It is believed that life originated present plants and
animals$ in sea-water in the form of a unicellular cyanobacteria blue-green algae.$ "ver a
long period of time, these single called organisms formed multicellular organisms which
resulted in the evolution of present day plants and animals.
*he total )uantity of water on our planet is fixed and its distribution is highly uneven.
'lmost <,; of the total water present on this earth is chemically bound into roc(s and does
not cycle. "f the remainder, about <A.#; is in the ocean, about 2.1; exists as ice in the polar
caps and permanent glaciers and the rest is fresh water present in the form of atmospheric
water vapour, ground water, and inland surface water. *hus, less than one per cent of the
total fresh water participates in the hydrological cycle
?ater occurs in springs, ponds, rivers and seas. ?ater exists as snow in 'ntarctica. ?ater
vapours exist in the atmosphere.

;ong Ans%er 0ype Questions

Q. 1. <a= Deri!e an e*uation to find out the number of years <0= re*uired to
deplete a *uantities of reser!e <>= %hen the present rate of consumption of ?( and
e,ponential gro%th rate of consumption is @rA.
<b= 1onsider the fossil fuel scenario by 2(2( in the present rate of population
gro%th.
<Bay5 2(($=

Ans. *he e)uation to find out the number of years re)uired to deplete a reserve, is as follows

where
* is time in years
5 is )uantity of reserve
P3 is the rate of consumption
r is the exponential growth rate of consumption
's the )uality of modern life goes to a betterment the * decreases rapidly. * is going
down at a frightening rate because available supplies can only go down as consumption goes
up. Even if available resources could be (ept constant by recycle or other means, the situation
deteriorate as long as population and especially per capita consumption increases at a rapid
rate.
b$ 5efer to H. !o. 12 D&'H.

Q. 2. #rite an essay on the impact of dams on people ? #hat are the benefits and
negati!e impacts on people?

Ans. :ost dams are built to control flood hazards, to store water for irrigation or other
uses or to produce hydroelectricity. In India, where nearly A, percent of the population
depends on agriculture, the execution of 5iver Dalley Pro=ects and dam building are some
important steps of growth strategy of the country.
1enefits of 4ams
1. 4ams are needed for power, they can have a positive effect in offsetting environmental
costs associated with other power sources. Bydropower is cleaner and safer than nuclear
power. ?ater turbines are also cleaner than coal-fired generators. >urthermore, both nuclear
and coal power re)uire extensive mining with great damage to .environment.
2. *he dams have tremendous potential for economic upliftment and growth.
#. *hey can help in chec(ing floods and famines, generate electricity and reduce water and
power shortage.
+. Provide irrigation water to lower areas
,. Provide drin(ing water in remote areas and promote navigation, fishery etc.
!egative Impact of 4ams
1. 4isplacement due to 4ams. *he big dams are being constructed everywhere in tribal or hilly
areas. *he people of these regions are being uprooted to provide power to big cities, industries
and irrigation water to comparatively more prosperous area. *his is unethical. 1ig river valley
pro=ects li(e Bira(und dam "rissa$ 1ha(ra !ngal dam Pun=ab$, *ehri dam %ttaranchal$,
&ardar &arovar Pro=ect 8u=arat$ and 4amodar Dalley pro=ect ?est 1engal$ etc., have caused
large scale displacement of local people. In the last ,3 years more than 23 million people have
been displaced by dams.
2. 6oss of forests, flora and fauna
#. 7hanges in fisheries and the spawning grounds
+. &iltation and sedimentation of reservoirs
,. 6oss of non-forest land
2. &tagnation and water logging near reservoir
A. 1reeding of vectors and spread of vector-borne diseases
C. 5eservoir induced seismicity 5I&$ causing earth)ua(es
<. 8rowth of a)uatic weeds.
13. 7hanges in the micro climate
11. 5educed water flow and slit deposition in river
12. >lash floods
1#. &alt water intrusion at river mouth
1+. 6oss of land fertility along the river since the sediments carrying nutrients get deposited in
the reservoir.

Q. 3. #rite short note on rene%able and nonrene%able energy resources.

Ans. !atural 5esources@Earth 5esources. *hey are those living and nonliving components
of atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere which can be drawn upon for supporting life or
have potential of being used by humans for their re)uirements. 5esources may vary from
society to society. 5esources may be inorganic e.g. minerals, water$, organic organisms or
their products$ or mixed e.g., soil$. *hey can be national minerals, land$, multinational
certain rivers, migratory animals$, or international e.g., sunlight, air$.
Inexhaustible 5esource. It is a natural resource which is found in such abundance that it is
unli(ely to diminish or get exausted, e.g., air, clay, sand. *he )uality of resource may
deteriorate due to pollution.
Exhaustible 5esource. It is a natural resource which is li(ely to diminsh and then get
exhausted due to continuous use or exploitation e.g. , minerals, fossil fuel, forests, pastures,
a)uatic organisms. Exhaustible resources are of two types, renewable and non-renewable.
5enewable 5esources is a natural resource which gets replenished recylced or reproduced and
should not be used beyond its renewability e.g., forest, underground water, wildlife, a)uatic
organisms. !on-renewable 5esource is a natural resource which is li(ely to get exhausted with
use because of its lac( of recycling e.g., fossil fuel$ or very long recycling time e.g.,
minearls$.
7onservation of non-renewable resources
7onservation of minearis
*he following methods have been suggested for the conservation of minearis.
i$ *here is a need for the development of techni)ues for the extraction of minearis from the
sea.
ii$ %se of atomic energy for extraction of metals from mineral ores.
iii$ &craps and waste products of minerals should be recycled for use.
7onservation of fossil fuels
Existing fuel will finish altogether one day or another. *herefore, there is need for
alternative sources of energy. *he alternative energy resources are
i$ Bydroelectric power
ii$ ?ind energy
iii$ 'tomic energy
iv$ &olar energy.
!eed to conserve the non-renewable resources. If world0s population remains at its present
level and if the current rate of consumption of the various minerals does not increase, the
following changes are possible/
1. *he world reserve of crude oil, natural gas, uranium-2#,, tungsten, copper, lead, zinc, tin,
gold, silver and platinum wifi be exhausted until about 2,<3- 2C33 '.4.
2. *he world reserves of coal, iron and chromium are li(ely to be available until about 2,33-
2C33 '.4.
#. 'luminium, cobalt, manganese and molybdenum are li(ely to last until about
2132-2233 '.4.
+. *he world0s (nown oil and natural gas0 reserves are li(ely to be depleted by the end of this,
century while that of coal is li(ely to last much longer but certainly not indefintely.

Q. 4. #hat is soil ? +i!e an account of soil erosion. Discuss methods for
conser!ation of soil.

Ans. &oil. *he top layer of the land constitutes soil. It is the region which supports
vegetation by providing enormous water and mineral nutrients. Bowever of the total land area
of 1#,#<# million hectares, only 11; is available for agriculture, the rest covered by human
dwellings, roads, canals, railways, meadows, pastures and forests.
&oil erosion. 4amageN or removal of top soil renders the soil infertile. Erosion may occur
in many ways
1. *op soil is carried away by wind sweeping across ploughed soil left unused in dry season.
2. 6oss of forests by felling or fire starts erosion. &oil is carried away by rivers and streams
and deposited in the oceans. !o doubt, the forests are renewable, it ta(es many decades to
have full grown forests again. Erosion continues till then.
#. %nprotected fields are erode+ by wind and water.
+. 1urrowing animals contribute to soil erosion. *hey ma(e the soil loose and liable to be
carried away by water.
,. "cean waves and glaciers also cause soil erosion.
2. Buman activities, such as felling of trees, overgrazing, overcropping and faulty tilling
accelerate soil erosion.
:ethods of soil conservation. *he various means of soil conservation are/
a$ 1io-technology. %nder this different types of agricultural methods are used. >or example,
contour agriculture, mulching, crop rotation, dry farming and other agricultural practices.
b$ Engineering methods. :a(ing basins for collection of water on land suitable for agricultural
purposes. &oil conservation can be done even by ma(ing contours, on the surface.
c$ "ther :ethods. *he plantation, ma(ing drainage lines, planting trees at certain al#gles in
the desert area which will decrease the speed of strong winds$.
4ecreasing soil pollution is also a method which helps in soil conservation.

Q. 5. #hat steps %ould you propose for sustained de!elopment %ithout depletion of
a!ailable resources and ecodegradation ?


Ans. :an0s increasing economic activities have atremendous impact on the physical and
biological resources of the world. >or sustained development with depletion of available
resources and ecodegradation following steps should be ta(en/
1. %se of alternative for fossils fuels as source of energy such as solar energy, wind mills, tidal
energy etc.
2. &top over-exploitation of natural resources to save for future.
#. 7onservation of forests is essential.
+. 7onservatic of wild life and to maintain gene pool.
,. Planned industries to avoid pollution of urban areas.
2. *o chec( pollution of land, water and air.
A. :aintain environment balance.
C. 7hanges in/ landscape have gradually attend the regional and global climate, thus to avoid
changes in landscape.
<. *o control increase in human population.
13. "vergrazing results into degradation of grasslands. it may lead to formation of deserts.
11. :isuse of land by digging of sediments for bric( ma(ing and shifting cultivation should be
stopped.
Q. ". Discuss the policies for conser!ation of en!ironment.

Ans. Policies for 7onservation. :an has caused great harm to environment in the last two
centuries. &o efforts are on to conserve environment at global level. In 1<A2, a conference on
conservation of environment was held at &toc(holm between ,th and Iune. >rom this day,
Iune , is celebrated as ?orld Environment 4ay all over the world. :ain suggestions for
conservation of environment are as following/
1. Every man has a right to live in clean and self sustaining environment. 'longwith this,
conservation of environment is his primary duty.
2. Environment affects )uality of life and economic development in an area. &o people of the
area should conserve environment.
#. %se of resources should be rationalised as it affects environment and causes water and air
pollution.
+. !atural habitat of wild animals should be protected.
,. ?e should use renewable resources instead of non-renewable so that development is
sustainable.
2. !on-renewable resources should be used =udiciously so that these can be used for a long
period of time. 'lternative resources should also be developed.
A. !atural ecosystems should be protected.
C. "ceans should not be made dumping grounds. ?e should not throw garbage and industrial
effluents in water bodies.
<. !ational institutes should be established to conserve environment and utilize natural
resources.
13. &cience and technology should be used to conserve environment.
11. Every country should ta(e care that industries and other wor( in his territory do not affect
environment of a neighbouring country.
12. Every citizen should be educated and guided to conserve environment.
'fter the &toc(holm conference, many efforts were made to conserve environment. In
1<A2, +2nd amendment was made in the 7onstitution of India. In this amendment, attention
was focussed on forests, wild life and other related environmental issues.
4irective Principles and 1asic 4uties were formulated. 4epartment of Environment was
established in 1<C3. It was converted into :inistry of EEnvironment and >orests0 in 1<C,.
Darious government policies were changed (eeping in view the environment conservation such
as
1. 'gricultural Policy. &ince Independence, the govt. of India laid emphasis on increase of
foodgrains by increasing per hectare yield. It was possible with use of chemical fertilizers,
insecticides, pesticides etc. 'fter +2nd amendment, the government stressed to increase yield
and stabilize production of food grains by using green manure, biofertilizers, integrated post
management etc.
2. %rbanisation Policy. &atellite towns were established around all ma=or cities to ease out
traffic and provide better facilities. %nder this policy !oida and 8urgaon were established near
4elhi. &imilarly, :ohali and Panch(ula were established near 7handigarh. &ewage system was
provided in all ma=or cities. In some cities, such as 4elhi, solid waste is being used to prepare
manure and gas.
#. Industrial Policy. Industries pollute air, water, soil etc. !ew Industrial policy was formulated
in which industrial focal points and Industrial centres were established away from existing
industrial complexes so that pollution in these complexes can be controlled. !ew guidelines
were issued regarding smo(e emissions, height of chimneys and discharge of industrial
effluents.
+. Energy Policy. %se of energy resources is increasing day by day. 1urning of fossil fuels
causes air pollution. %nder this policy, compressed natural gas 7.!.8.$ was made a
compulsory fuel in autoric(shaws, taxis, buses and other public vehicles in 4elhi and other
cities. &imilarly, emphasis is being laid on use of solar, tidal, hydro power, biogas etc. so that
use of traditional sources of energy can be reduced.

Q. $. Discuss the economic importance of forests.

Ans. Economic importance of forests. >orest is considered an industry which plays a
significant role in strengthening the economy of a nation. *he followings are the important
uses of forests
1. 7onserve fertility of the soil. *he forests chec( -the soil erosion and conserve the fertile soil.
*hey also improve the soil by increasing porosity.
2. 7limate of a nation. *he climate is considerably affected by forests which protect life from
hot winds and dust storms. >orests also cause rains.
#. >orests provide wood. Indian forests yield valuable timbers wood li(e tea(, sal, deodar,
&hisham etc.
+. >orests provide paper. *he conifers and bamboos are used as material to prepare paper.
,. :edicinal plants of forests provide medicine of great importance.
2. >orests provide number of products li(e resins, gums, rubber, food and insecticides.
A. >orest provide shelter to variety of animals.
C. >orests also provide the cor( e.g. oa( Huercus$.
<. 5ayon and artificial sil( are obtained from cotton linters.
13. Plastics are also prepared from cellulose nitrate.
11. !atural rubber is also obtained from the forests e.g. Bevea.
12. *he other useful products which are obtained from the forests e.g. shellac, natural dyes,
lac, honey, wax.
1#. >orests provide fuel wood.
1+. >orests provide essential oils which are obtained from rosha grass, 9has and sandal wood.
*hey are used in the manufacture of soaps, cosmetic, pharmaceuticals, confectionary, pipe,
tobacco and incence.
1,. &oap substitute such as ritha and shi(a(ai are important commercial products.
12. >orests have a great aesthetic value.

Q. &. #hat steps %ould you suggest for conser!ation of forests ?
Ans. 7onservation of forests. *he increasing demand of timber in the world needs and
intensive utilisation and management of forests. ' planned and well managed forests will yield
trees for regular cuffing. *he following methods may be applied in forest management.
1. Improvement cutting. ?eed trees, damaged trees, crowded trees, croo(ed trees and
diseased trees are removed in improvement cuffing. 's timber trees mature they are removed
by selective cutting.. Extraction of timber should not interfere with watershed protection.
2. 1loc( cutting. In bloc( cutting, stands of timber are left around the bloc( for natural
residing and protection of the exposed land. ?hen small trees are established another bloc(
can be cut.
#. Pest control. Parasitic fungi such as rusts, smuts, mildews, viruses and insects affect the
forests trees. &prays containing 44* and other powerful pesticides are effective against these
pests. 1iological control is also a method to control pests by using natural enemies of forest
insects.
+. 8razing and rearing animals in forests. 8razing of cattle, horses, sheep or
hogs in wood lots will completely destroy trees with the passage of time.
*hus grazing and rearing animals in forests should be chec(ed.
,. *he effect of weather on forests. ?ind, ice and snow are beyond our power to
control. 1ut damage done to forests by natural forces should receive attention.
2. 5eforestation. *he establishment of a forest on previously cleared land is
called reforestation. *he regrowth of a forest in an open area is a slow,
lengthy and costly process, but it is a vital part of conservation programme.
A. 7ontrol of forest fires. >orest fires destroy the standing timber and consume
the seeds and young trees of the future forest. In protected forests the fire
towers are placed at strategic points. *rained rangers survey the forests from
the forest and report any evidence of fire to head)uarters. >ire lines, which
resemble roads, penetrate the forest at regular intervals. *hey serve as avenues
for reaching a fire and provide gaps at which a fire can be stopped.
C. *he use of forest wood should be discouraged to reduce pressure on more
valuable natural forests.
<. *he various afforestation programmes launched by union and state govern
ments should be practised. *hey are social forestry programme, 'groforestry
programme and %rban forestry programme.

Q. '. Describe sources of %ater supply.

Ans. &ources of water.
5ain. It is the prime source of water. ?hen it seeps into the ground, it forms ground water.
Part of it evaporates bac( into the atmosphere and some runs off to form streams and rivers
which ultimately flow into the sea. &ome part of it is ta(en by the plants and is transpired by
the leaves. It is the purest form of water. 7hemically, it is soft water containing only traces of
dissolved solids. !ormally, the rain water does not carry disease causing bacteria. 1ut as it
falls through the atmosphere, it tends to get impure. It pic(s up impurities, such as dust, soot,
bacteria and gases li(e carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and ammonia.
&urface ?ater. It originates from rain water. 5ivers, streams, tan(s, ponds, la(es etc. are
different sources of surface water. In general, surface water supplies possess a high
probability of organic, bacterial and viral contamination.
1rac(ish ?ater. *he content of dissolved salts in brac(ish water is higher than the fresh
water and ranges between 3., to #,;. *hese waters of intermediate salinity range are distinct
from fresh or marine waters. In estuary which represents that tail end of a river, mixing of
fresh water with sea water results in brac(ish water. *he salinity in an estuary increases from
upper middle to lower reaches and at the mouth of the estuary the salinity is nearly e)ual to
that of the sea.
:arine ?ater. *he sea water is highly salty. *he average salinity of sea water remains
almost constant at #, parts of salts per 1333 parts of water by weight and written as #,;.
&ome salt la(es may also have salinity between 2,; to #,;. &alts present in the sea water
includes chlorides of sodium, potassium, magnesium. sulphates of magnesium, calcium and
strontium. 'lso present in sea water are calcium carbonate and sodium fluoride. *he biotic
activity in such habitats is greatly restricted.
*he absence of many fresh water animals and plants from the marine environment is
largely due to their inability to tolerate the high salinity of the sea water. Insects are mostly
absent from marine environment.
8round ?ater. 8round water represents a ma=or subterranean reservoir of fresh water.
In general, it is not tapped by plants as it is too deep and does not suffer from loss due to
evaporation. It slowly flows through the underground porous substratum from one place to
another under the influence of gravity. Its flow may vary from a few millimeters to as much as
a metre or so per day. 't some places ground water reappears at the surface in the form of a
spring.
?ells are the ma=or forms of ground water. *hey may be shallow or deep. *he zone of
sub-surface formation that provides water to wells is called an a)uifer. &ome a)uifers exhibit
an unusually high hydrostatic pressure to force water upto the soil surface when a well is dug.
&uch a well from which water is pushed automatically to the soil surface is called an artesian
well.
In areas deviod of la(es and rivers ground water is the most important source of
water.
*he total exploitable potential of ground water amounts to +2.# x 1313 cubic metres in
India. ' )uarter of it is already being used in the country for irrigation, industries and
domestic uses. In many places ground water withdrawals have already exceeded the recharge
rates causing serious problems.