Why should we conserve forests and wildlife?
Conservation means the management of human resources or natural resources of the biosphere for the maximum benefit from the present generation to meet the requirements of the future generation. Conservation of wildlife and forest has mainly three aspects- to maintain ecological process, air, water and soil systems; to preserve the diversity of species, to maintain the long ranging use of species. The conservation of natural resources, living or non- living resources, plants and animals, biotic or abiotic factors which support our environment should be maintained or used in the proper way. Many conservation strategies have been given for the use of living resources like World Conservation Strategy.
Forest conservation and wildlife conservation is the important act for growing trees as a regular crop, also fulfils the requirement of the wood for making wooden houses, villa or for making food etc. forest preserves the soil erosion. Forest provides us various medicines known as jadi- buti in hindi for the various diseases for their cure. Forests are also known as biodiversity hotspots which means that are rich in biodiversity (variety of species) includes bacteria, fungi, birds, animals, lichens, short plants, long trees etc. they are very important factors or species to maintain or for the conservation of forest. Loss of the biodiversity lowers the genetic variability, ecological stability or increase the risk of exploitation of resources, that’s why we should conserve forest where human interference is prohibited. Forest conservation act is given in 1980, to preserve forests. A special function is celebrated each year for the tree plantation during February and July since 1950, i.e, Van Mahotsava. Many international agencies are given for promoting the afforestation programs (afforestation should be done only when the areas are unfit for the agriculture) like World Bank, USAID (US Agency for International Development), Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) etc.
Find out about the traditional systems of water harvesting/management in your region.
Suggest some approaches towards the conservation of forests.
We saw in this chapter that there are four main stakeholders when it comes to forests and wildlife. Which among these should have the authority to decide the management of forest produce? Why do you think so?
List five things you have done over the last one week to —
(a) conserve our natural resources.
(b) increase the pressure on our natural resources.
Find out the source of water in your region/locality. Is water from this source available to all people living in that area?
How can you as an individual contribute or make a difference to the management of (a) forests and wildlife, (b) water resources and (c) coal and petroleum?
Compare the above system with the probable systems in hilly/mountainous areas or plains or plateau regions.
What changes can you make in your habits to become more environment-friendly?
What can you as an individual do to reduce your consumption of the various natural resources?
Why do you think that there should be equitable distribution of resources? What forces would be working against an equitable distribution of our resources?
Did Döbereiner’s triads also exist in the columns of Newlands’ Octaves? Compare and find out.
What is a good source of energy?
Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multi-cellular organisms like humans?
What are trophic levels? Give an example of a food chain and state the different trophic levels in it.
What is the difference between a reflex action and walking?
What is the importance of DNA copying in reproduction?
If a trait A exists in 10% of a population of an asexually reproducing species and a trait B exists in 60% of the same population, which trait is likely to have arisen earlier?
Why should a magnesium ribbon be cleared before burning in air?
Define the principal focus of a concave mirror.
You have been provided with three test tubes. One of them contains distilled water and the other two contain an acidic solution and a basic solution, respectively. If you are given only red litmus paper, how will you identify the contents of each test tube?
Translate the following statements into chemical equations and then balance them.
(a) Hydrogen gas combines with nitrogen to form ammonia.
(b) Hydrogen sulphide gas burns in air to give water and sulpur dioxide.
(c) Barium chloride reacts with aluminium sulphate to give aluminium chloride and a precipitate of barium sulphate.
(d) Potassium metal reacts with water to give potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
Which gas is produced when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to a reactive metal? Write the chemical reaction when iron reacts with dilute H2SO4.
Why are coils of electric toasters and electric irons made of an alloy rather than a pure metal?
An object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Find the position and nature of the image.
How is the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) affected when excess base is dissolved in a solution of sodium hydroxide?
Which of the following property of a proton can change while it moves freely in a magnetic field? (There may be more than one correct answer.)
(a) mass (b) speed
(c) velocity (d) momentum
Why are decomposition reactions called the opposite of combination reactions? Write equations for these reactions.
Why is respiration considered an exothermic reaction? Explain.
Explain the following in terms of gain or loss of oxygen with two examples each.
(a) Oxidation
(b) Reduction
Give an example of a double displacement reaction other than the one given in activity 1.10.