Saraswati Education & Medical Trust - Borsad

Shri R. A. Patel Gyanjyot Gujarati & English Medium School

Std: 10 Sub: Social Science

9 Forests and Wildlife Resources

 Answer the following questions:
1. Write a detailed note on types of forest.
Answer:
Types of forests according to administration:
1. Reserved Forests: The forests where government puts restriction on cutting and collecting
wood as well as on pasturing are known as reserved forests. Such forests are under the direct
control of the government.
2. Protected Forests: The forests where local people are permitted to collect the wood and to
graze their animals without causing any harm to the trees are called protected forests. These
forests are under the control of local administration.
3. Unclassified Forests: These types of forests are still not classified. So, there is no restriction on
deforestation or animal grazing.
Types of forests according to ownership, administration and management:
1. State Forest: Most of the forests of the country fall under this category. The Central or the State
Government controls such forests.
2. Communal Forests: Local self-government, institutions like gram panchayat, municipalities,
municipal corporations, district panchayat, etc. have control over such forests.
3. Private Forests: Forest land owned by individuals is called private forest. These types of forests
are found more in Odisha, Meghalaya, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Some of the forests of here
are in haphazard condition whereas some of them are totally barren.
2. State the remedies for forest conservation.
Answer: Following are the Remedies for Forest Conservation:
1) Research should be carried out to find the alternative of wood. This will reduce the usage of
wood and hence, forests.
2) In case if the trees are to be cut for development activities then new trees of the same species
should be planted. Cutting of trees that have not grown fully should be banned.
3) Industries that directly receive their raw material from the forests should be enforced to grow
trees to prevent to future death. Although eco-tourism should be encouraged but, it should be
strictly taken care that the forests do not get damaged due to these tourism activities.
4) Public awareness programmes should be organized among the local people and effort should be
made to reach maximum people.
5) The importance of forest and ways to conserve them should be included in school and college
syllabus.
 6) Social forestry and agro-forestry should be developed intensively by taking planned steps for
the necessity of fodder and firewood. In place of firewood, alternative options like solar energy,
natural gas, etc. should be brought in use.
7) Forest resource should be used judiciously. Infected trees should be either cured or if not
possible removed so that the infection does not spread. This will also increase the health and
speed of growth.
8) Forest fire cause heavy damage to forests. Hence, a separate special force should be formed at
national level to do use the forest fires.
9) The transport has become quite fast and comfortable now. So, the number of people going on
pilgrimage has increased drastically. These people visit religious places in forest area to attend
the bhandara, fairs or the parikramma. They leave a lot of litter behind. This litter should be
prevented. Also, it should be cleaned properly and regularly to prevent forests from getting
polluted.
10)Some part of forest areas should be systematically reserved for animal pasture.
3. Describe various projects for wildlife protection.
Answer: The Projects or wildlife protection are discussed below:
1) Project Tiger: As per an estimate, there were more than 40,000 tigers in India in the beginning of
20th century. At that time there were no strict laws on hunting tigers or cutting trees from forests.
The unrestricted illegal hunting and deforestation posed a major danger for the existence of tigers.
Hence, in order to save tigers, the government started Project Tiger in 1971. Under the project,
the government took several steps to protect natural habitat of tigers and to maintain ecological
balance at national level. Till now this project is implemented in about 44 regions of India.
2) Project Elephant: This project was started in 1992. The main aim of this project was to protect
elephants in their natural habitats and to protect their migratory corridors. Due to constant effort
of the government today, the number of elephants has increased considerably. Today, there are
about 26 protection zones for elephants in India. Over and above protecting elephants of the forest
this project also works for the protection and proper care of domesticated elephants.
3) Project Rhino: It was started for protecting One-Horned Rhino of India. In India most of the rhinos
are found in Sunderbans, West Bengal. Under the ‘Rhino Vision 2020’, the government has
targeted to increase the number of rhino to 3000.
4) Project Crocodile: In the decade of 1970, the species of alligators found in freshwater was on the
verge of extinction. At that time the Government of India started this project and saved this
species.
5) Project Vulture: Vulture is said to be the ‘cleaner of the nature’. It eats the meat of dead animals
and this way keeps the nature clean. There are about 9 sub-species of vulture in India. This project
was started in 2004 when their number started decreasing drastically.
6) Project Snow Leopard: This animal is found at an altitude of about 3000 metres in Himalayas. As
the name suggests it is found only in the snowy region. This project was started in 2000 with the
 objective of increasing the knowledge about snow leopard among the local people, so the people
would become aware and protect it.
7) Other Projects: Besides these projects the government has-also started projects like Kashmiri
Hangool Project, Red Panda Project, Manipur-Tamil Project for the special species of deer found
in Manipur, Ganga-Dolphin Project on Ganga-Brahmaputra rivers, etc.
4. What is meant by bio-reserve zone?
Answer:
 Biosphere reserve or Bio-reserve is a very large area of land which may cover multiple National
Parks, Sanctuaries and Reserves as well.
 It is established as per international norms.
 The purpose of bio-reserve is to protect the physical and cultural diversity of a region.
 The bio-reserve also protects insects, birds and animals, land of that area and even the life style
of the people living there.
 The government conducts programmes for encouraging research and training about bio-reserve.
 No external human movement is allowed in a bio-reserve.
 The average area of such zone is more than 5000 sq. kilometres. Nilgiri, Gulf of Mannar, Great
Nicobar, Sundarban, Pnachmadhi, etc. are important bio-reserves of India.
 The Rann of Kachchh of Gujarat was declared as a bio-reserve zone in 2008.
5. State the reason for forests destruction.
Answer:
Forests get destroyed in two ways. They are
(a) Natural reasons (b) Man-made reasons.
The rate of natural destruction of forests in quite less compared to that by man-made reasons.
The main reasons are:
 Cutting of forests by humans for their own benefits.
 Human greed to gain more land.
 To build canals and multipurpose projects.
 To make roads, airports and railways.
 Cutting trees for jhoom farming (shifting agriculture).
 To get raw materials for industries. To get wood for construction.
 To expand & develop cities and towns.
 To build new industries.
6. Write notes about the wildlife on the verge of extinction.
Answer:
 Today many wild animals of the world are on the verge of extinction.
 In the last century, tigers were found throughout India.
 One could see tigers even in Gujarat in the forests of Idar, Ambaji and Danta.
  Today, they have become completely extinct from Gujarat.
 Cheetah is also becoming extinct from Indian forests.
 Many species for birds which were very easily seen in Indian forests are now hardly seen.
 Birds like vulture, duck with pink throat, cranes and owls are on the verge of extinction.
 Chilotro bird which was once found in abundance in Arunachal Pradesh is hard to find today.
 The fresh water alligators and Ganga River dolphins are on the verge of extinction.
 The number of sea turtles that used to come to the coasts of Odisha and Gujarat is Constantly
decreasing.
7. What is meant by a Sanctuary?
Answer:
 A wildlife sanctuary is quite similar to a national park, except that local people living there can
continue living and the human activities are permitted.
 A wildlife sanctuary is basically established for protecting some specific species.
 Domesticated animals are allowed to graze after obtaining permission from the authorities.
 For example, Gir, Periyar, Chandraprabha, Eturnagaram, etc. are famous sanctuaries.
8. What is National Park?
Answer:
 A national park is a forest area and if need be the surrounding areas as notified by the
government established for the protection and propagation of the flora and fauna of the area.
 National Parks do not allow any human activities inside the marked area of national park.
 In this regard, it is more protected zone compared to the sanctuary.
 Unlike a sanctuary, it is not centered around one species.
 Hence, we can find more than one ecosystem in a national park.
 There is complete ban on animal grazing.
 It is established through the coordination of state and central government.
 Kaziranga, Corbett, Velavadar, Marine National Park, Gir, Dachigam, etc. are important National
Parks.
9. Define Forest and Virgin Vegetation.
Answer:
 Forest: The large collection of trees, shrubs or grass growing over a region is called a forest.
 Virgin vegetation: The natural vegetation which can raise itself naturally without the help of
man is called virgin vegetable. Today, in India, virgin vegetation exists only in Himalayas,
Sunderban and remote areas of Thar Desert.
10. Pilgrimage causes pollution of forests. Give reason.
Answer:
 Modern-day transport has become quite fast and comfortable.
 So, the number of people going on pilgrimage has increased drastically.
 These people visit religious places in forest area to attend the Bhandara, fairs or the parikrama.
  They leave a lot of litter behind. There are no proper laws and rules for stopping the litter.
 These activities pollute the forests.
11. Give an introduction about the red panda.
Answer:
 Red Panda is found in the cold forests of eastern Himalayas.
 It is also found in China, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
 It mainly survives by eating bamboo sprouts, eggs, small birds, insects, etc.
 It is less active during the day.
12. Write a short note on Ganges River Dolphin.
Answer:
 Ganges River Dolphin is a type of freshwater river dolphin found in India Nepal and Bangladesh.
 In India, it is found in river Brahmaputra and Ganga and few dolphins are found in Chambal
river.
 Generally, it lives in the river which is deep and calm. Although, Ganga is deep and calm at
various places but it flows through India which is one of the densely populated regions of the
world.
 India releases a very large amount of dirty water in the river.
 Moreover, sedimentation due to deforestation, fisheries, navigation in the river, release of
industrial waste, etc. have together caused severe danger to the extinction of these dolphins.
 These dolphins come to the surface quite frequently for breathing. While breathing they make
‘suu-suu’ type sound.
 Due to this typical sound that it makes this dolphin is also known as ‘sauns’, ‘susu’ and ‘suis’.
 At present, the existence of Ganga River Dolphin is a danger.
13. Planned development can save forests and wildlife. Give reason.
Answer:
 As the population grows and the world expands economic development also increases.
 Development is inevitable for a country’s economy.
 However, it is important to see that development does not destroy wildlife and nature.
 The government should make very strict laws and regulations to see that the amount of nature
or forest, destroyed is somehow restored.
 If cutting of trees of essential for development, new trees should be grown.
 Plans should be made for stopping human interference in areas where wildlife is getting extinct.
 Giving high priority in growth and maintenance of nature, ecosystem and animals in our
planning process can save forests and wildlife.
 Developmental process is inevitable.
 But along with it, it is necessary that we keep in mind its ill effects on the entire life system and
planning.
14. Loss of one species is a great loss to the entire food chain. Give reason.
Answer:
 Every organism in the food chain has a specific role. Loss of even one species disturbs the entire
structure.
 For example, caterpillars eat leaves, chameleons eat caterpillars, snakes eat chameleons and
eagles eats snakes.
 So, if caterpillars become extinct then chameleon will have to feed on other organisms.
 This will cause pressure on that species and pose danger for its extinction as it now consumed
more.
 Thus, loss of one species breaks the food chain in the long run.
 Man is also part of food chain and hence, the effect of one species will ultimately affect him too.
 Hence, loss of one species is a great loss to the entire food chain.
15. It is our moral duty to protect and preserve wildlife. Give reason.
Answer:
 Wildlife is destroyed by human activities and forest fire.
 Man does hunting as a part of his hobby, for adventure or to earn by selling animal products.
 Many animals have become extinct or are on the verge of extinction due to all these activities.
 Wildlife is also disturbed due to pollution, industrialization, urbanization and noise of vehicles
and machines.
 Wildlife is a part of nature and it plays a very important role in balancing the ecosystem.
 Hence, it is very important to protect and preserve wildlife.
16. Explain deforestation and discuss its impacts.
Answer:
 The destruction of forests is called deforestation and it’s a global problem.
 Natural calamities such as forest fire, flood and drought, etc. may destroy forests naturally.
 Impact of deforestation causes very far reaching effects.
 It increases the quantity of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
 Greenhouse effect becomes more severe.
 Soil erosion takes place and farm fertility deteriorates.
 The forests of peninsular India have mainly decreased due to deforestation.
 Due to deforestation many living organisms have lost their abodes.
 The wild animals have started entering urban settlements in search of food and water.
 Carnivorous animals entering human areas and killing them and their domestic animals has
become quite common now.
17. Write a short note on the diverse wildlife found in India.
Answer:
 India’s climate and physiography is highly diverse.
  There are about 15 lakh species of animals and birds in the world. Out of these, 81,251 species
are found in India.
 India stands 12th in the world in terms of bio-diversity.
 Animals from as far as Asia, Europe and Africa are found in India.
 Animals such as African Zarakh, European wolves, Wild goats and Kashmiri Deer, Elephants and
Gibbons from South-east Asia, etc. can be seen in India.
 Moreover, black bear, one- homed rhino, deer, different types of snakes, peacocks, ghora
(bustard), hawk, kingfisher, flamingo, etc. are also found in India.
 The snow leopard and red panda both are found at same altitude in Himalayas but have very
distinguished characteristics.
 Today, India is the only country in the world where one can find tigers and lions moving in their
natural abodes.
 During winter, migratory birds from distant places visit the watershed area of Keoladev National
Park, Bharatpur and Nal Sarovar in Gujarat.
 Sea turtless come to lay eggs along the sandy coasts of Odisha.
 Indian pythons, various types of snakes and the King Cobra are found in the southern rainforests.
18. How can we preserve wildlife? Discuss.
Answer: We can preserve wildlife by taking following measures:
 The biggest change needed to preserve the wildlife is to change our attitude towards forests.
 We consider forests as a source of unlimited in come and so keep on exploiting them to the
maximum capacity.
 We need to understand that forest resources are limited and hence must be preserved.
 Wildlife will be saved only if their natural habitats i.e. forests are saved.
 The balance between the number of herbivores and the carnivores in the forests should be
maintained.
 Active steps like maintaining the water sources in the forests and restricting the grazing of
domestic animals in forests should be taken to maintain this balance.
 Strict laws should be heavily punished for illegal mining in forest, area.
 Animals should not be disturbed during their procreative period.
 Necessary arrangements should be made to see that human interference does not occur in such
times.
 Programmes should be arranged to bring awareness in the society regarding the importance of
forests and wildlife.