GEOGRAPHY NOTES

CHAPTER – 2

FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity or Biological Diversity is immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse
in form and function but closely integrated in a system through multiple network of
interdependencies.
Plants, Animals and Human beings are interdependent. It is necessary for human being as we
get fresh air, water, food, etc from them. Thus, the existence of human being depends on them.

The main factors responsible for decline in India’s biodiversity-

I) Habitat destruction, hunting, poaching, over- exploitation, environmental pollution, and
forest fires are the main factors that have led to the decline in India’s biodiversity.
ii) Other factors - Unequal access, inequitable consumption of forest resources.
iii) Differential sharing responsibility for environmental well being. For example:
On an average America consumes 40 times more resources as compared to an average Somalia.
Similarly, the richest five per cent of Indian society probably cause more ecological damage
iv) Over Population is also one of the major causes of decline of biodiversity.

Adverse effects of the decline of India’s Biodiversity-

 Frequent occurrence of floods and droughts.
 Impoverishment of forest- dependent communities.
 Increase in drudgery of human of forest communities whose main work is collection of
fuelwood, fodder, water etc from forests.
 Pollution of environment.
 Ecological imbalance.

Relationship between – Loss of biodiversity is correlated to loss of cultural diversity.

i) The destruction of forests and wildlife has affected the livelihood of many communities
who are directly dependent on forests. They depend on forests for their food, medicine, drink,
livelihood, cultural trait and spirituality.
ii) In certain societies women are involved in fuel wood collection, fodder for animals and
water for their basic needs. Due to large scale deforestation these forest produce are not
available to them and the life of these people especially women is largely affected. Women
have to travel long distances leaving their family in search of these forest products. This causes
serious health problems for women and negligence of home and children because of the increased hours
of work, which often has serious social implications.
iii) The destruction of forest has led to natural calamities like- severe droughts and floods
which has affected these communities badly.
iv) These people are living in extreme poverty which is a direct result of the environmental
degradation.
Therefore conservation of forests and wildlife is essential to provide better quality of life and
environment.

IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION : Biodiversity

 It preserves ecological diversity
 It preserves our life support system – water, air and soil.
 It preserves Genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and breeding.
 They support variety of industries and provide livelihood for many communities.
 They offer scenic view for recreation

Conservation of Forest and wildlife

1) In 1960s and 70s , conservationists demanded a national wildlife protection programme. The
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting
habitat.
2) An all India list of protected species was also published.
3) The thrust of the national wildlife protection Programme:
a) Protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning  hunting
b) Giving legal protection to their habitat and restricting trade in wildlife.
4) Central and many state governments established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
5) The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals,
which were gravely threatened, including - the tiger, the one horned rhinoceros, the Kashmir
stag or hangul, three types of crocodiles – fresh water crocodile, saltwater crocodile and the
Gharial, the Asiatic lion, and others. Most recently, the Indian elephant, black buck (chinkara),
the great Indian bustard (godawan) and the snow leopard, etc. have been given full or partial
legal protection against hunting and trade throughout India.

Note : The conservation projects are now focusing on biodiversity rather than on a few of its
components. Increasingly, even insects are beginning to find a place in conservation planning.

In the notification under Wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986, several hundred butterflies, moths, beetles, and
one dragonfly have been added to the list of protected species.
In 1991, for the first time plants were also added to the list, starting with six species.

PROJECT TIGER
1) Project Tiger’ was launched in 1973 for conservation of tiger population in India. The
authorities realised that the tiger population had dwindled to 1,827 from an estimated 55,000 at the turn
of the century.
2) The major threats to tiger population are –
a) poaching for trade, shrinking habitat, depletion of prey base species, growing human population, etc.
b) The trade of tiger skins and the use of their bones in traditional medicines, especially in the Asian
countries left the tiger population on the verge of extinction.

Note: Since India and Nepal provide habitat to about two-thirds of the surviving tiger population in the
world, these two nations became prime targets for poaching and illegal trading.

3) “Project Tiger”, one of the well publicised wildlife campaigns in the world. Tiger conservation has
been viewed not only as an effort to save an endangered species, but with equal importance as a means
of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude.

Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal, Bandhavgarh National
Park in Madhya Pradesh, Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan, Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam and
Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala are some of the tiger reserves of India.

CLASSIFICATION OF FORESTS:
The forest are classified under the following categories:

1) Reserved Forest – These forests are permanently earmarked either for production of timber
or other forest produce. Right of grazing and cultivation is seldom allowed in these forests. In
India more than half of the total forest land is declared as reserved forest. These forest are
regarded as the most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources are
concerned.
Areas : Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Kerala,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

2) Protected Forest – Right of grazing and cultivation are allowed subject to few restrictions.
1/3rd of the forest area consists of protected forests. These forests are protected from further
depletion.
Areas : Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan.

3) Unclassed Forest – These forests consists of inaccessible forests or unoccupied forests. They
belong to both government and private individuals and communities.
Areas : North eastern states and few parts of Gujarat

COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION

Forests are also home to some of the traditional communities. In some areas of India, local communities
are struggling to conserve these habitats along with government officials, recognising that only this will
secure their own long-term livelihood.

1) In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife
Protection Act. In many areas, villagers themselves are protecting habitats and explicitly rejecting
government involvement.

2) The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200 hectares of
forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, declaring their own set of rules and regulations which do
not allow hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against any outside encroachments.

3) Sacred Groves : Some trees and animals are considered sacred by certain communities
which helped in the preservation of forests and wildlife. For Example The MUNDAS and
SANTHALS of Chhota Nagpur worship Mahua and Kadamba trees. The tribals of Orissa and
Bihar worship Tamarind, Mango Tree during wedding. Other trees like tulsi, neem, and peepal
are also considered sacred.

4) Certain animals like Macaques and langurs are found in some temples. The Bishnoi tribes of
Rajasthan significantly played an important role towards preservation of black buck, nilgai and
peacock.
5) Sacred qualities are often ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants and animals which are closely
protected.

Forest conservation programme initiated by certain communities are:

i) Chipko Movement in the Himalayas.
ii) Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri
iii) Joint Forest Management Programme (JFM).

1) CHIPKO MOVEMENT: It was started in Himalayan region by Sunder Lal Bahuguna and
successfully resisted deforestation. It has shown that community can play an important role in
afforestation .

2) Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of
diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and
economically viable.
3) Joint Forest Management Programme (JFM) is a good example of how local communities
were involved in the management and restoration of degraded forests. The progamme has been
in existence since 1988 in the state of Orissa when the first resolution was passed for joint forest
management. Under this programme local or village institutions undertake protection activities
on degraded forest land managed by the forest department and in return local communities get
benefits like non timber forest produces and share in timber harvest by “successful protection”.
Thus JFM, shows that the local communities should be involved everywhere in the natural
resource management.

Extra questions:

Differentiate between Reserved and Protected Forest? (3 marks)

Reserved Forest Protected Forest
i) These forests are i) Right of grazing and
permanently earmarked either cultivation are allowed subject
for production of timber or to few restrictions.
other forest produce. Right of
grazing and cultivation is
seldom allowed in these
forests.
ii) In India more than half of ii) 1/3rd of the forest area
the total forest land is declared consists of protected forests.
as reserved forest. These These forests are protected
forest are regarded as the most from further depletion.
valuable as far as the
conservation of forest and
wildlife resources are
concerned.
iii) Areas : Madhya Pradesh, iii) Areas : Bihar, Punjab,
Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Kerala, Orissa, Rajasthan.
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and
West Bengal.

Discuss the various negative factors responsible for depletion of flora and fauna?
Or
How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna?
i) Over Utilisation of forest products - Forest provide many products like wood medicines,
dyes, food, fuel, fodder, manure etc.
ii) The greatest damage caused during Colonial period was due to expansion of the railways,
agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry and mining activities.
iii) After Independence, agricultural development was a major cause of depletion of forests.
Extensive parts of the tribal belts especially in the north eastern states and central India have
been deforested by shifting agriculture or slash and burn agriculture.
iv) Large scale development projects like clearing of forest for river valley projects like
Narmada Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh which would submerge 40,000 hectares of forest.
v) Mining is another major cause for deforestation. Buxa Tiger reserve in West Bengal has
been under great threat due to dolomite minning. It has disturbed the natural habitat of the Great
Indian Elephant and migration of several species.
vi) In some areas fuel collection and grazing are also major cause of depletion of forest.