-
Q1 Q1. Multiple choice questions
(i) Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna?
a) Agricultural expansion
b) Large scale developmental projects
c) Grazing and fuel wood collection
d) Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation(ii) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation?
a) Joint forest management
b) Beej Bachao Andolan
c) Chipko Movement
d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuariesAns: (i) c) Grazing and fuel wood collection
Animals can only graze to a limit but overgrazing may be a reason. Tribal or other people collect the wood that is spread unevenly in the forest on the land they only cut the trees in absence of wood on land.(ii) d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries
Wildlife sanctuaries aro demarcated to limit the entry of local communities into forest areas; this is done by the government and forest department.Q2 Q2. Match the following animals with their category of existence.
Animals/Plants Category of existence Black buck
Asiatic elephant
Andaman wild pig
Himalayan brown bear
Pink head duckExtinct
Rare
Endangered
Vulnerable
EndemicAns: Animals/Plants Category of existence Black buck
Asiatic elephant
Andaman wild pig
Himalayan brown bear
Pink head duckEndangered
Vulnerable
Endemic
Rare
ExtinctQ3 Match the following.
Reserved Forests
Protected Forests
Unclassed Forests
other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.
forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources.
forest lands are Protected from any further depletion.
Ans: Reserved Forests
Protected Forests
Unclassed Forests
forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources.
Forest lands are Protected from any further depletion.
other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities.
Q4 Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives?
(ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain.Ans: (i) All the species on this Earth are living in a system having multiple networks of interdependencies. Biodiversity is the variation of wildlife and cultivated species in a given ecosystem. In this interconnected web, each organism is a producer, consumer or decomposer.
Human beings also depend on several biotic and abiotic factors for their survival like they obtain food from plants and animals. They are dependent on many other species to run their business and industries.
(ii) Human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna are:
-
Hunting animals for their skin, tusk, bone teeth & horns etc, led many species to the verge of extinction.
-
Human activities such as deforestation, housing plans, factories infrastructure, commercial, scientific forestry, mining etc are to blame for the depletion of flora and fauna.
-
Various dam and river valley projects resulted in a decline of forest cover.
-
Increasing environmental pollution and forest fires due to global warming resulted in depletion of valuable forest and wildlife.
Q5 Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
(i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India.
(ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.Ans: i) In Indian forest & are close contact with the traditional communities. They depend on the forest produce. Indian forests are home to different communities such local communities are contributing significantly in conservation of the forest land for eg:
Villagers around the Sariska Reserve have opposed mining activities and fought against it. Villagers of Alwar district of Rajasthan, set their own roles and regulations in 1,200 hectares of forest land to stop hounding and lumbering. The Bishnois of Rajasthan protect black buck, chinkara and peacocks quite fervently. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chhota Nagpur region worship Mahua and Kadamba trees, the tribals of orissa and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango trees. Nature worship is an age old tradition for many local communities, Chipko movement is another example of community initiative that resisted deforestation in several areas.
(ii) Central and state governments in India have set up national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to protect forests and endangered species in wildlife, In India many governmental and non-governmental organisations are working towards creating public awareness for conserving forests and wildlife. Many laws had been passed in the past to protect the wildlife. In 1972, the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented. It released a list of wildlife species that had to be protected. Hunting these animals was considered as a criminal act. Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to save Tigers in the country. Biodiversity is the new by word of good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife. The Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme in India furnishes a good example of involving local Communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests, Various communities, especially in tribal areas, who are dependent on forests for their living are now taking an active role in this form of conservation.
-