Ch 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources Notes I Geography Class 10

Ch 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources — Geography Class 10

 India is one of the world’s “Mega-Biodiversity” hotspots. From the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger to the tiny insects in your garden, every living being is part of a complex web called the Ecological System. We aren’t just observers of this web; we are a part of it, and if the web breaks, we go down with it.

I. Biodiversity: Our Biological Wealth

The Logic: Biodiversity (or Biological Diversity) refers to the immense variety of life forms on Earth. In India, we have nearly 8% of the world’s total species (estimated at 1.6 million).

• The Crisis: At least 10% of India’s recorded wild flora and 20% of its mammals are on the threatened list. Many, like the Cheetah, Pink-headed duck, and the Mountain quail, are already on the verge of extinction.

II. Classification of Species (The IUCN Guide)

The Logic: Not all “threatened” animals are in the same level of danger. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has a specific “Warning System” to classify them.

III. The Vanishing Forests

The Logic: Forests are the primary producers on which all other living beings depend.

• The Reality: India’s forest and tree cover is estimated at 80.72 million hectares (24.56% of total area).

• The Problem: This sounds good, but the quality of forests is declining. The “Dense Forest” cover is only about 12.4%.

IV. Factors for Depletion: Why are we losing them?

The Logic: It’s a mix of historical choices and modern greed. Use this logic chain to understand the “Human Footprint” on nature.

1. Colonial Legacy: The British expanded Railways, Agriculture, Commercial Mining, and Scientific Forestry. They replaced diverse forests with “Single-species” plantations (e.g., Chir Pine replacing Himalayan Oak).

2. Agricultural Expansion: Between 1951 and 1980, over 26,200 sq. km. of forest area was converted into agricultural land (especially in North-Eastern and Central India).

3. River Valley Projects: Since 1951, over 5,000 sq. km. of forest was cleared for projects like the Narmada Sagar Project in MP.

4. Mining: A major factor. For example, Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened by ongoing dolomite mining.

5. Inequitable Consumption: An average American consumes 40 times more resources than a person from Somalia. Similarly, the richest 5% in India cause more ecological damage than the poorest 25%.

V. “Scientific Forestry” vs. Biodiversity

The Logic: The British introduced “Enrichment Plantation,” where a single commercially valuable species was planted, and others were eliminated.

• Teak Monoculture: Has damaged the natural forests in South India.

• Chir Pine (Himalayan Pine): Plantations have replaced Himalayan Oak and Rhododendron forests, leading to soil acidity and loss of local flora.

Silly Mistake “Radar”

• Endangered vs. Endemic: * Endangered: High risk of dying out soon.

  • Endemic: Found only in one specific spot (like Nicobar). An endemic species can be endangered, but they aren’t the same thing!

• Cheetah Status: Many students think Cheetahs are endangered. Correct fact: They were declared Extinct in India in 1952. (Though recently reintroduced, the NCERT fact remains the benchmark).

The Keyword “Vault”

• Biodiversity: The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

• Flora & Fauna: Flora refers to plant life; Fauna refers to animal life.

• Monoculture: The cultivation of a single crop or tree species in a given area.

• IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.

VI. Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India

The Logic: Conservation isn’t just about saving “pretty” animals. It preserves Ecological Diversity and our life support systems—air, water, and soil.

• The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: * This was the “Big Law.” It created an all-India list of protected species.

  • It banned hunting and gave legal protection to habitats.

  • The Shift: Initially, the focus was on big animals (Tigers, Rhinos, Lions). Recently, the focus has shifted to even smaller beings like butterflies, moths, beetles, and even dragonflies.

VII. Project Tiger (1973)

The Logic: The Tiger isn’t just an animal; it’s an “Umbrella Species.” If you save the tiger, you save the entire forest it lives in.

• The Decline: In 1900, there were 55,000 tigers; by 1973, there were only 1,827.

• Threats: Poaching for skins, thinning of prey base, and habitat shrinkage.

• Famous Tiger Reserves in India:

  • Corbett National Park: Uttarakhand

  • Bandhavgarh National Park: Madhya Pradesh

  • Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary: Rajasthan

  • Manas Tiger Reserve: Assam

  • Periyar Tiger Reserve: Kerala

  • Sundarbans National Park: West Bengal

VIII. Classification of Forests (Who owns what?)

The Logic: In India, the government (Forest Department) manages most forests. They are divided into three “Security Levels.”

Note: Reserved and Protected forests are also called Permanent Forest Estates used for timber and protection. Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests (75%).

IX. Community and Conservation

The Logic: Nature conservation isn’t just a “Government Job.” In India, many local communities fight to protect forests because their own survival depends on it.

• Sariska (Rajasthan): Villagers fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act.

• Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’ (Alwar, Rajasthan): Five villages declared 1,200 hectares of forest as their own sanctuary with their own set of rules—no hunting allowed!

• Chipko Movement (Himalayas): Famous for successfully resisting deforestation and showing that community afforestation with indigenous species is possible.

• Beej Bachao Andolan (Tehri): Farmers showed that diversified crop production without synthetic chemicals is possible.

• Joint Forest Management (JFM): Started in Odisha (1988). Local communities manage degraded forests in return for “intermediary benefits” like non-timber forest produce.

Silly Mistake “Radar”

• Project Tiger Date: It started in 1973, one year after the Wildlife Act (1972). Don’t swap them!

• Reserved vs. Protected: * Reserved is “VIP Access Only” (No humans).

  • Protected is “Safety First” (Limited human activity allowed).

• JFM Origin: The first formal resolution for JFM was passed by Odisha, not Uttarakhand or MP.

The Keyword “Vault”

• Project Tiger: A wildlife conservation project launched in 1973 to protect the Bengal Tiger.

• JFM (Joint Forest Management): A program involving both local communities and the forest department to restore degraded forests.

• Sacred Groves: Patches of forest left untouched by local communities due to religious beliefs (Nature worship).

• Ecological Diversity: The variation in the ecosystems found in a region or the whole planet.

The Answer Architect: 5-Mark Practice

Q: “Describe the steps taken by the government and communities to protect wildlife in India.”

• Intro: India has a dual approach to conservation, combining strict legislation with grassroots community movements.

• Point 1 (Legislation): The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provided a legal framework for protecting habitats and banning hunting.

• Point 2 (Species Projects): Targeted projects like Project Tiger (1973) and Project Rhino were launched to save specific high-risk species.

• Point 3 (Habitat Classification): The government established National Parks and Sanctuaries, classifying forests into Reserved and Protected categories for better management.

• Point 4 (Community Action): Grassroots movements like the Chipko Movement and Beej Bachao Andolan successfully involved locals in saving trees and biodiversity.

• Point 5 (Joint Management): The JFM (Joint Forest Management) program created a partnership between the state and local villages to revive degraded forests.

• Conclusion: This integrated approach ensures that conservation is both legally backed and socially accepted.

padhayi.com “Quick-Fix” Summary

1. Biodiversity: India is a “Mega-diversity” hub, but many species are vulnerable/endangered (IUCN).

2. Depletion: Caused by colonial “Scientific Forestry,” mining (Buxa), and large river projects.

3. Project Tiger: A landmark 1973 project to save the apex predator and its ecosystem.

4. Forest Types: Reserved (VIP), Protected (Safe), and Unclassed (Common).

5. Community Power: Success stories like JFM, Chipko, and Alwar’s Sonchuri show that locals are the best guards.