Chapter-2, forest and wildlife resource

NOTES AND SUMMARY

Remember These Points

♦ IUCN: It full name is International Union for Conservation of Nature.

♦ Biosphere Reserve: It is vast area having great biological diversity. In these areas, natural plants and animals are protected for future generation. Example – Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve in Uttrakhand.

♦ Biosphere : Part of the earth which is covered by living organisms both plants and animals. or Variety of plants and animals found in an area is called biodiversity.

♦ Ecosystem : An integrated unit consisting of the community of living organisms and the physical environment.

♦ Flora : Plants of a particular region or period are referred to as flora.

♦ Fauna : Species of animals are known as fauna.

♦ Forest : Extensive area covered with trees.

♦ Wildlife Sanctuary : A reserved area for preserving natural beauty, e.g., wildlife.

♦ Biodiversity : It is the sum total of all the varieties of species of plants, animals and micro-organisms living on the earth.

♦ Wasteland : Land which is not fit for cultivation.

♦ Normal species : The species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival, such as cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc.

♦ Endangered species : The species which are in danger of extinction.

♦ Vulnerable species : These are some species whose population has declined to levels from where it is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the negative factors continue to operate.

♦ Rare species : Species with small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate.,

♦ Endemic species : These are species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. For example Nicobar pigeon.

♦ Extinct species : These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur. A species may be extinct from a local area, region, country, continent or the entire earth. Examples of such species are the Asiatic cheetah, pink head duck.

♦ The Indian Wildlife Act : It was an act implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting natural habitats.

♦ Reserved Forests : These are the most valuable forests as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources are concerned.

♦ Protected forests : These are the forests which are protected from any further depletion.

♦ Unclassed forests : These are forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.

♦ Permanent forests : Reserved and protected forests are referred as permanent forest estates maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce and for protective reasons.

♦ Chipko Movement : It was a movement launched by the people of the Himalayas against deforestation.

♦ Joint Forest Management : It was a programme launched for management and restoration of degraded forests.

Biodiversity [Flora & Fauna] in India

• India is very rich in biological diversity. There are variety of plants and animals found in our country.
• India has nearly 8% of the total number of species found in the world.
• About 81,000 species of fauna [animals] and 47,000 species of flora [plants] are found in India.
• India is famous for rhino, elephant, tiger, lion, monkey, snakes, peacock etc.

Biodiversity and Its Importance                        

Meaning of Biodiversity: Various species of plants, trees, animals, birds, reptiles etc. found in an area is called biodiversity. They are good natural resources. They are important because:

• Plants and trees give us oxygen.
• Woods for furniture and construction are provided by forest.
• Some plants are of medicinal use e.g. tulsi, neem, sarpgandha, aawla etc.
• Leaves, roots, fruits, lac, rasin etc are collected from forest.
• Animals provides us meat, fur, skin, bone etc.
• Combine, plants and animals maintain food chain in the ecosystem.

Importance of Forest in Our Lives

• Forest provides timber for furniture and construction work.
  • It absorbs CO_{2­ ­}and provides us with oxygen.
  • Branches, leaves and roots of trees protect soil from erosion.
  • Forests are natural habitat for variety of wildlife.
  • Forest maintains ecological balance and food chain.
  • It provides fuel wood to rural people.
  • Lac, honey, herbs etc are collected from forest for commercial use.

Classification of Species by IUCN

Many species of plants and animals are under threat due to over exploitation by the human being. International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] has classified the species into following category:

• Normal Species: There is no threat to these species, their population is sufficient in the environment.
• Rare Species: Species with small population is called rare. They are rarely seen in the forest. Example – Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox etc.
• Vulnerable Species: Population of these species decreases to such an extent that they may become endangered. Example – blue sheep, Asiatic elephant etc.
• Endangered Species: Population of these species become so small that they come under danger of extinction. If negative factors continue, they may become extinction. Example – Indian rhino, black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass etc.
• Extinct Species: These species are not found anywhere in the world. They have gone from our earth for forever. Example – Asiatic Cheetah, pink head duck etc.

Reasons for Depletion of Biodiversity [Flora and Fauna]

Human activities are mainly responsible for depletion of biodiversity. Followings are the reasons or causes behind loss of flora and fauna.

• Deforestation, illegal cutting of trees, and forest fire.
  • Hunting and poaching of wild animals for skin, tusk, bone etc.
  • Construction of dam, road, railways in the forest.
  • Pollution and global warming leading to climatic change.
  • Increasing human population pressure on the forest resources.

Methods or Measures to Conserve Biodiversity

• Deforestation should be totally stopped. Instead, trees should be planted on degraded land and on land where was forest earlier.
• People should start movement against tree cutting such as ‘Chipko Movement’.
• ‘Vanmahotsava’ and similar kind of events should be celebrated to conserve forest.
• Mass media, e.g. TV, radio, newspapers etc, should used for creating awareness.
• Govt. should pass and implement [Indian Wildlife [Protection] Act – 1972] strict laws against illegal cutting of trees, hunting and poaching.
• Various project like Project Tiger; Project Rhine etc should be started.
• More National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserve should be identified.
• There should be frequent survey and census to count population of different species found in the forest.

Role of Community [local people] in Conserving Forest and Wildlife

Community or local people are very helpful in conserving biodiversity i.e. plants and animals. Many communities live in the forest. Forest is home of many traditional people.

• In Rajasthan, local people came forward to stop mining activities to protect Sariska Tiger Reserve.
  • People of Alwar District of Rajasthan have declared 1200 hectares of land as ‘Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri’ in which they don’t allow hunting.
  • In Jharkhand, Munda tribe worship Mahua and Kadamb trees and they protect them from cutting.
  • Famous Chipko Movement in Himalaya was started by local community only. Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya movements have also been started in Himalaya.
  • Joint Forest Management [JFM] stated in India is good method of involving local community in forest conservation.

Types of Forests in India

• Reserved Forests: These forests are earmarked only for production of timber. Grazing of animals and cultivation of crops are not allowed in these forests. About 54% forests are grouped under reserved forests.
• Protected Forests: These forests are protected from further depletion. Right of grazing and cultivation is allowed with certain restriction. About 29% forests come under protected forests.
• Unclassed Forests: There is no restriction in these forests. These forests belong to government and private individuals. About 16% forests are unclassed forests.

Distribution of Forest in India

•   About 33% land must be under forest for ecological balance. But, only 23% land is under forest in India. Distribution of forest in India is not uniform.
•   Andman and Nicobar has about 87% [Highest] land under forest while in Haryana only 4% land is under forest which lowest in India.
•   Most of the north-eastern states like Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh etc. have more 60% land under forest.
•   But in Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and J & K have less than 10% land under forest.
•  Southern states have moderately covered with forest. About 20-30% land is under forest in these states.

Project tiger

• Initiated in 1973.
• Tiger population has dwindled to about 1800 from 55000 in the early 20^th century.
• The main reasons for decline in the number of tigers include
• Poaching for trade in tiger skin
• Shrinking habitate
• Depletion of prey species growing population
• Growing human population
• There are 27 tiger reserves under the project tiger. Some major reserves are
• Corbett national park (Uttarakhand)
• Sunder bans national park (west bangal)
• Sariska wildlife sanctuary (Rajasthan)
• Mamas tiger reserve (Assam)
• Periyan tiger reserve (kerala )
•  

What is Sacred Groves?

In India, it is believed that everything – livings and non-livings, have been created by god. Old tribal and traditional societies have protected certain species from time immemorial. Munda tribes of Jharkhand protect Mahua and Kadamb trees and worship them. People of Bihar, UP worship Peepal, Banyan, Mango, Tamarind etc. Not only that, rivers, mountains, forests etc are considered as god and goddesses and they are worshipped and protected in India.

Nature worship by tribes

Tribe	Region	Reserved tree / animal
Mundas tribe santhal	Chota Nagpur plateau	Mahua and kadamba trees
Bishnoi tribe	Rajasthan	Blackbuck, nilgai
Tribes of Orissa and Jharkhand	Orissa and Jharkhand	Tamarind and mango trees

Wildlife conservation efforts

• Chipko movement
  • Started in 1970s in garwal in Uttarakhand.
  • Trees were prevented from being cu by forming a human circle around them.
  • It spread across the country.
• Beej bachao andolan
  • Started in 1980s in tehri region of Uttarakhand.
  • Led by farmer and social activist vijay jardhari
  • Aimed at saving the traditional seeds of the hills and promoting agricultural biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and local traditions
• Joint forest management
  • Started in 1988 by the government of india
  • First launched in  Orissa
  • Involves local communities for conserving wildlife and restoring degraded forests